Chapter 442

By 11:00 pm, Nicholas and Martha were still awake as they had been on most nights lately. Martha refused to leave the chapel until she finished her prayers, while Nicholas lay awake, unable to sleep under the weight of Alexander's illness. Avery was carrying a kombucha to check on Martha when she froze in shock. Wendy was walking in from outside, carrying the bite of winter with her. "Greetings, Mrs. Grant," Avery greeted her. But Wendy ignored her. She walked up the stairs, each step weighted with a grim resolve, as if she were ready to see it through to the bitter end. Avery froze, wondering what on earth was going on. At the study door, Wendy spotted Valeria standing outside holding a fruit platter. She grabbed Valeria's hand and shoved the door open. Inside, their conversation was suddenly cut off. Nicholas asked instinctively, "Wendy, it's late. Why are you here?" "Nicholas, I found a matching donor," Wendy explained. As soon as the words left her mouth, a smile broke