The length of her hesitation made Ty regret his suspicions of her. So far, after all of Ricky’s generosity and acknowledgment, rather than being excited about it, Rachel seemed withdrawn, like this was the last thing she wanted. All this time he’d been trying to protect Ricky from a gold digger, and this woman didn’t seem to want to have anything to do with him.
But that was also probably Ty’s fault.
He’d done nothing to make Rachel feel comfortable or welcome up to this point. He couldn’t blame her for being apprehensive about him or Ricky. Which meant he’d have to do more to make up for his previous treatment toward her.
Yet, it also didn’t erase the fact that she’d been so deceptive when they’d first met. If she’d just told the truth up front, he still would have been suspicious, but they’d have taken the test and there wouldn’t be all the bad feelings between them. That was why he hated lies and deception so much. You could plug up a hole in a board, but the scar would always be there.
“You don’t have to make a decision now,” Ricky said, looking nervously at Ty as he tried to fill the uncomfortable silence.
“That’s right,” Ty said. “It’s up to you if and when you tell people who you are in relation to Ricky. What’s more important is that we make your need for a kidney known, and hopefully, someone will be willing to step up.”
Rachel gave him a hard look. “Step up? You make it sound like paying child support, not donating a vital organ. This is a big deal, and even you aren’t willing to do it. You can’t simplify it like that. We’ll present the information, and if someone is willing to sacrifice, then fine. Otherwise, that’s fine, too.”
If he’d been closer to Ricky, Ricky would have probably kicked him. Saying he wasn’t willing to donate a kidney hadn’t been the brightest move on Ty’s part. But he also couldn’t lie and say the thought of being cut open didn’t creep him out a bit. Okay, a lot. He’d never been into blood and needles, which was why he’d become a lawyer and not a doctor. Besides, why would he risk his own health and safety for someone who was so deceptive? Yes, she was Ricky’s granddaughter. Which meant he’d be nice to her. But sacrifice a kidney?
Not for someone like her.
“I’m sorry, you’re right,” Ty said. “I’m not comfortable with stuff like this, but I’m sure someone else is, and we can keep praying that someone out there is willing to help you. I’ll do everything I can to support that endeavor.”
The resigned look on Rachel’s face told him he hadn’t quite fixed things. But he also wasn’t ready to give her a pass for how she’d deceived them.
“I don’t know what to do,” she said, sighing. “I came here looking for a donor, not a family. But I understand that things are done differently here. Why don’t you show me to my room and give me a chance to rest? I’ll think about what I want in terms of being known as Ricky’s granddaughter, and I’ll let you know my decision when I’m ready.”
Ty hated the pain in Ricky’s eyes, but he could also see the exhaustion in Rachel’s. Though her doctor wouldn’t give any information on Rachel’s condition, both he and Ricky had researched what they could piece together, and fatigue was a normal symptom Rachel would be feeling. It made him feel bad about how tired she’d been on her last visit, and all the ways he’d pushed her when she probably just needed some rest.
If only Janie could see him now, being sympathetic to Rachel, even when he was upset with her for how she’d acted.
“That sounds fine,” Ty said. “Take all the time you need. I’ll show you to your room, and then I’ll bring up your bags. You rest. Let Katie enjoy her time with Wanda.”
For a moment he was afraid she was going to refuse, but then she nodded. “Are you sure Katie won’t be a bother?”
Ricky cackled as he pounded on his desk. “You’re making Wanda’s dreams come true. Those kids of hers aren’t getting any closer to providing her with grandchildren, and her grandma biological clock is ticking so loud, it’s like a time bomb. You don’t know how desperate this house is to have a child in it again.”
At his words, a faint smile crossed Rachel’s face, but it made the exhaustion there all the more evident.
“All right,” she said, sounding defeated.
Ty led her out of the office and up the stairs to the guest suite. He’d stayed there once when his cabin had flooded due to a frozen pipe breaking, and he’d found it comfortable. Knowing Wanda, she’d probably also added some special touches to make it feel like home for Rachel and Katie.
While they wouldn’t go public with the information about Rachel, they had told Wanda, since she was practically family and she’d been running the house for years.
As Ty escorted her upstairs, he could sense her apprehension. What was he supposed to say that would make her feel better? What could he say?
“I just wanted to tell you,” he began, “I’m sorry if I was a bit rough on you the last time you were here. You need to understand that we’ve had a lot of people trying to cheat Ricky out of his money. I was torn because you seemed like a good person, but you’d be amazed at the masks people put on if they think they can trick you into getting what they want.”
As far as apologies went, it wasn’t perfect. And Ty knew it. But he also didn’t think she deserved the full apology. He hadn’t been the one to lie.
