Canvas Skies (Reliance on Citizens Makes Us Great!) (28 page)

“Dani?”

“Scott.” Danielle's tone demanded my
attention.

“Just a minute.”

I pushed my notepad to Geoffrey, stood and
quickly moved to the outer office.

From behind the welcome desk, a young woman
with long dark hair and ruby red fingernails watched a newsvid on
the teleview embedded in the wall. Guy Bensen, the reason for all
this change and my best friend, gave his daily newscast. With an
air of stoicism and serenity, he faced the vid-recorder. His words
and manner reassured the masses that the process of change would
continue. Guy was exactly what Terene needed. Only his closest
friends knew that he hated being the center of attention.

I hurried across the room to the window and
spoke to my wife. “What is it? What's wrong?”

“It's Noah.”

My heart jumped to my throat as I thought of
my five year-old son, and I swallowed nervously.

“It's his liver,” she continued. “The
doctors say he has cirrhosis. Scott, he needs another
transplant.”

I reached down and remembered the removal of
my kidney. “Cirrhosis? How long does he have?” I whispered.

“We have a little time.”

“How much?”

“A few months, according to his doctor. When
can you come home?”

“We'll finish here by the end of the week.
Then we're scheduled to fly back to Tkaron before heading for the
eastern seaboard, but I can be back in a day or two.” I glanced at
the secretary. I'd give her Brody Delaney's number. That would
assure me a flight out tonight, and I'd be back home by dinnertime
tomorrow.

“We'll be all right for a week or two,”
Danielle said.

“I'll try to get a flight out tonight,” I
assured her. “I love you.”

“Love you, too.”

I stared out the window and took a deep
breath. Another transplant. The golden yellow, flaming orange and
scarlet red leaves of a Douglas maple shone in the midday sun. We'd
break for lunch soon. I'd have to talk with Geoffrey about a change
of plans. I'd been away from my family far too long.

S.L. Wallace is a teacher and lifelong
writer who is a descendant of the famous William Wallace. Like him,
she believes in freedom and independence. Unlike him, she fights
her battles with the pen, most recently taking a political stand
against recent changes in government at both local and state
levels.

Connect with S.L. Wallace at:

Smashwords:
www.smashwords.com/profile/view/slwallace

Her Blog:
crossroadsofhumanity.blogspot.com/p/sl-wallace.html

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/pages/Reliance-on-Citizens/269905359690713

Goodreads:
www.goodreads.com/author/show/5247133.S_L_Wallace

Twitter:
twitter.com/authorSLWallace

Other books in the Reliance on Citizens series:

Price of a Bounty

Heart of Humanity