Hotel Berlin - Chapter 8

The door bell rang.
Ryan came inside, smiling at seeing Danielle. His life had gained colour after his marriage and the birth of his child.
He was now finally home after a hard day’s work.
After leaving his coat in the hall, he headed towards the living room. Right after perceiving his presence, a little boy hurried to his father. He took him in his arms and kissed him on the forehead.
-Tommy!
-Dad, I’ve been missing you!
-But I’ve only been gone for seven hours.
-That’s very much for me, Dad, he complained.
He stared for a moment at his child. He had so much of his mother...Her smile, her deep blue eyes, her manner of speaking, her kindness…Ryan was sometimes jealous of her because of that. He tried to find something at this boy that could be inherited from him, but it was impossible. But he always thought it had been the nature’s will to make him ressemble his mother.

Danielle was in the kitchen. She kept on reflecting. After about six years, she was still thinking of Richard…How could it be possible? She was trying to erase him from her mind, but it was hurting more and more with every attempt. However, she could now consider it was all over. She had sacrificed herself for the only people that mattered in her life: Ryan and Tom. “Well, if God decided that I should be what I am right now, it means that’s the way it must be.”

But neither of them could have possibly imagined what the next morning was about to bring, and how it would radically change their lives...

*
Danielle and Ryan had already woken up. They were in the kitchen waiting for their son as they daily did. They kept on talking about news without importance to spend their time.
Something was wrong, though. He was never late for breakfast; moreover, he was always waking up very early in the morning. They were both feeling worried, and, after waiting for half an hour, they went to his room.

-Thomas! cried Ryan.
He was lying on the floor, unconscious.
He immediately checked for pulse.
-He’s alive, he said to his wife.

*
They were waiting on the halls of the hospital. It seemed an eternity had passed until someone came to explain what had happened to their son.
-What happened? Ryan asked, almost in anger.
-It’s not easy...You need to be calm.
Danielle understood it was something very serious.
-Tom has...leukemia.
He was shocked at the news; his face went pale. Danielle was unclear of something, though.
-But, sir, excuse me if I ask, but...what is leukemia?
She was ashamed since she didn’t know. She felt like a fool in the middle of so many cultured people, but it wasn’t her fault that she hadn’t attended school. Fortunately, the doctor neglected that aspect and explained:
-This is a kind of cancer of the blood, Mrs. Taylor.
Danielle felt as if her whole world had collapsed. No, that couldn’t be possible! It couldn’t happen to her child...
No words could describe their state. Neither Danielle nor Ryan could speak. They felt more than desperate.

However, there was no time. The doctor told them the boy needed a transplant as quickly as possible to save his life.
First Danielle was tested, but she was told that she couldn’t donate blood to her son. A complicated matter of genetics.
Afterwards, it was Ryan’s turn. They were sure the doctor would tell them positive news, but he was quite worried.
-I must talk to you in particular, he said to them.
He went on.
-Well, there is a problem. Mrs. Taylor has group 0 and Tom has group B. In this case, the father can only have group B. But you, Mr. Taylor, have group A. And this can only mean one thing.
After a long break, he whispered:
-That I’m not his father...

After a few seconds of silence, he turned to his wife and, for the first time in his life, yelled out at her:
-How could you? How could you betray me this way?
Jealousy had blinded him, and, if not for the doctor, he would have strangled her in wrath. He had become uncontrollable. Despite her denying any affairs, he didn’t want to believe a word.

The doctor wanted to talk to Danielle in private. She tried to explain to him, between tears, that she had never betrayed her husband and that probably they were wrong with the blood tests.
-Madam, we have repeated them three times, he said kindly, trying to calm her down.
-And then...who is Tom's father?
He thought for a while, and then asked her:
-Have you been previously married?
-Yes, once. Why are you asking me?
-You will see. How much time did it pass since you divorced until you married Mr. Taylor?
-About two weeks.
-Then it’s clear. Tom is your first husband’s child.
-No! That can’t be true! I...I wasn’t pregnant when we broke up.
-How do you know it?
-Well, I don’t know, but…
She didn’t want to, but had to admit that he was right. “God! Richard’s child…”

She only had one solution to save her child. She hated that she had to do that, but her love for Tom was more powerful than anything else.
She needed to see Richard for another time. He was the only one who could save his life...