Of Flesh and Blood (64 page)

Erin hoisted her glass again. “And here’s to that kick-ass little broad, Dot Alfredson!”

They all laughed and shared another drink.

William stayed on his feet. “I also wanted to announce that I’m stepping down from my role.”

“You’re leaving the Alfredson, William? You got to be kidding!” Steve blurted out from where he sat beside Erin.

“But why now, Dad?” Tyler asked. “You just steered the Alfredson through one of its bleakest stretches.”

William shrugged modestly and then nodded to Eileen. “I had the best kind of help imaginable. Besides, if it weren’t for that”—he glanced at Erin—“ ‘kick-ass little broad,’ I might well have run her aground.” He chuckled. “However, I am pleased to tell you that we won’t face a similar vote any time soon.”

“How can you know that, William?” Steve asked.

“Because in the wake of our narrow victory, the board’s chairperson acted decisively”—William glanced at Eileen with unconcealed admiration—“brilliantly, I would say, to amend the Alfredson’s constitution and make it much harder—if not impossible—for the family to ever try to sell off the Alfredson in the future.”

Eileen smiled awkwardly and reddened while everyone else applauded enthusiastically. Steve even hooted a couple times.

Erin hopped to her feet. “The Alfredson still needs you, Dad.”

William broke into a contemplative smile. “Fool that I am, I used to think it did, too. Like there was some kind of divine-ordained reason for a McGrath to be in charge.” He sighed. “The Alfredson is a hospital, not a kingdom. Tomorrow, Eileen will announce my resignation and launch the search for a new CEO.” He glanced at her affectionately. “Meantime, she will act as the interim CEO.”

“So the Alfredson will be run by an Alfredson for a change?” Jill mused aloud.

“What would poor old Evan McGrath make of that?” Tyler asked with a small laugh.

William looked from Erin to Tyler. “I have no idea what the future holds for the Alfredson, but I am proud and a little relieved to know that for now the McGrath presence continues on in the form of such consummate doctors as you two. In my heart, I have to believe that would have meant a lot more to Evan than who the CEO is.” He paused. “It certainly does to me, now.”

Liesbeth stood slowly to her feet. “Congratulations on your retirement, William.” Her Dutch accent was more pronounced from the wine. She raised her coffee cup high. “And here’s to all the years of dedicated service to the Alfredson and the wonderful job you have done. Well done! If my daughter and my husband were here today, they both would be very proud of you.”

William flushed slightly as the others toasted him. His expression tightened and he lowered his glass. “On a less positive note, there is something else I need to share with you.” He looked down at his feet. “I have been diagnosed with cancer . . . multiple myeloma.”

A sudden silence descended as the elation was sucked from the room.

Of course!
Tyler felt foolish for not having seen this coming. “When, Dad?” he asked.

“A few months ago.”

Erin started to protest but William cut her off with a raised hand. “I am sorry. I had no right to conceal it from any of you. But I needed to see everything else through first. It was so important to me.”

Without a word, Erin walked over and wrapped her arms around her father. Even after she released him from her embrace, she stood beside him with an arm around his back.

“What is the treatment, William?” Eileen asked.

“Painkillers, and of course I require blood transfusions from time to time.”

“What about chemotherapy?” Tyler demanded. “They’re doing great things combining new drugs with bone marrow transplants.”

William stared at him for a long moment. “I never felt I could afford the time to go through chemo and a transplant. And to be blunt, I never used to think there was much point, really.”

“And now, Daddy?” Erin asked.

William looked around the room at his collected loved ones. He cleared his throat. “I’m beginning to reconsider,” he said softly.

They did not leave until almost midnight. Jill drove. Lost in his thoughts, Tyler stared out at the scattered few lights still lit in and around the town of Oakdale, while they drove home in intimate silence.

Jill pulled up into their driveway and turned off the engine. Before she could get out of the car, Tyler reached out and took hold of her wrist. “Jill?”

“Yeah?”

“I know you’re convinced we’re having a little girl.”

“Mmmm,” she murmured.

“But just on the outside chance little Angela Jeannette turns out to be a boy . . .”

“Not likely, but okay.”

He paused. “You think we could call him William Maarten McGrath?”

She smiled and then leaned closer to kiss him softly on the lips. “How could we go wrong with wonderful names like those?”