The Gift

By B. D. Anderson

Henrietta Young was born with the rarest blood type known, AB-negative. She found herself in high demand to give blood ever since she had been old enough to donate. When she decided to register with "Be the Match" Bone marrow institute, she had no idea that she would be a perfect match for Henry McDermont, a man suffering from myelodysplastic syndrome or MDS, who she had just learned was her biological father. 

 

Christmas was fast approaching, and Henrietta was going to finally meet her father face to face. Could she give this man the gift of life after he had so callously told her mother to terminate hers? The gift that Henrietta has to offer may be more than she wants to give.

• Language: English
• Publisher: B.D. Anderson
• Release date: Dec 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798989539802

B. D. Anderson

B.D. Anderson is an Associate Minister at her church.  She is married and has two adult sons and a granddaughter, Chloe.

Book preview

Chapter One

The Meeting

Henrietta Young sat back in the waiting room with her eyes closed, still trying to come to grips with the recent turn of events in her life.

At twenty-one years of age, she was legally considered an adult, yet it was at times like these when she felt like a young vulnerable child all over again. A part of her was afraid of what was about to go down in a very short while.

Henny as she was called by her family, always knew she was different. Born prematurely with a condition called Terry’s syndrome, she was almost completely blind in her left eye, though she had perfect vision in her right. Not only that, her mother had informed her when she was small that she had ‘special blood.’ Years later, when she was old enough to understand what her mother meant, she realized just what a gift she had been blessed with. She possessed the rarest blood type that a human being could have... A B negative. After she turned eighteen, she had given blood once and was then bombarded with requests to give once every other month. On her own, she had decided to sign up on the ‘Be the Match’ bone marrow registry after her aunt Maddie died of cancer when she was nineteen. Henrietta had forgotten all about having registered at the site until she received that fateful call a week ago, two years after having done so.

The Bone Marrow institute had informed her that she was a perfect match for a man who’d been suffering from myelodysplastic syndrome or MDS. She was told that the doctors had felt it would be nearly impossible to find a bone marrow match for him, but by some miracle, she was exactly that.

Henny had been somewhat skeptical about following through with the procedure because her mother was scheduled to have cataract surgery about the same time they wanted her to come to Washington to donate. Sensing her reluctance, the Institute had asked if she would like to fly to Washington to discuss the procedure with the staff. They also explained that the donor wanted to meet her, not to pressure her to give, but to thank her for taking the first step in registering. Meeting the donor was something that appealed to Henny and she immediately agreed. The Institute had then set up a meeting for her and the recipient so any questions she had could be answered.

Henny now recalled the shocked expression on her mother’s face when she told her she would be flying to DC to meet the recipient, Mr. Henry McDermont II, along with the doctors and staff from the Institute. She hadn’t been prepared for Vanessa Young’s shocked expression, nor the flood of tears that followed.

At first, Henny thought it was because her mother was concerned about her traveling with her limited sight. She reassured her mother that she would take her cane that she really didn’t need, but often used when traveling to new places. She didn’t do it for herself, but to make people aware so they wouldn’t walk up on her blind side unexpectedly or bump her. Most people gave her space when they thought they were approaching a completely blind person.

Her mother had shaken her head and pointed to a nearby chair. Henny sat down and listened as her mother talked through tears that Henry McDermont II was not just a recipient of her generosity, but was in fact her biological father.

Henny had been shocked at her mother’s confession. Vanessa Young had never talked about her biological father, saying it was much too painful, so over the years, Henny had given up trying to get information. Questioning relatives hadn’t helped, as her mother had been closed mouthed since the day she dropped out of college.

Henny only knew what Vanessa Young had told her...she had met him in college and had fallen in love, then in the end, he had chosen his family over her. She wouldn’t even say his name nor tell Henny anything about the man. Her mother had only told her that her father was white and that his family was very wealthy. She had explained that her father hadn’t been strong enough to go against his parent’s wishes, and he had given her $400 for her to get an abortion.

Hurt and broken hearted, her mother had dropped out of college and returned home. An abortion had not been an option for the deeply religious Vanessa. She told Henny it had been hard to accept that her father left her like he did, after he had professed to love her. Vanessa Young never married, raising Henny by herself. When Henny was two, she returned to night school and obtained her degree.

Now, twenty-two years later, Henny was now in a position to be her father’s savior. Her mother had asked her over and over what she was going to do, but Henny could only respond that she would go to DC and then make her decision after her visit.

Henny had always wondered if she looked anything like her father. With her fair complexion and long curly hair, she felt like she didn’t look anything like her mother who had a dark complexion and full lips. Henny knew her mother had never trusted another man with her heart after Henry McDermont. Henny had never known what it was like to have a father figure in her life.

Her grandfather had died when she was small, and she could hardly remember him. Her mother had been protective of her partly because of her disability and because she didn’t trust many men around her daughter.

Henrietta had agreed to meet the recipient, yet she wasn’t sure what she would say to him, telling her mother as much before she caught her flight.

Now Henny sat in the waiting room of the Bone Marrow Institute and waited. Dr. Manson who had orchestrated the visit walked into the room with a man that Henny determined must be Henry McDermont. Perusing him with her good eye, she was immediately pissed off. The man was gorgeous with curly brown hair and warm brown eyes and ridiculously long lashes. Except for a smidgen of gray around the temples, no one would have guessed him to be forty-one years of age or that he was sick with cancer. Her mother on the other hand, looked every bit her age after years of hard work and heartbreak.

This is Henrietta Young, Dr. Manson said making introductions as he looked at Henrietta. This is Henry McDermont.

Henry McDermont smiled showing perfectly white teeth and extended his well-manicured hand to her.

She hesitated a moment before giving him a weak handshake.

He looked at her curiously and sat down.

Henrietta could tell that this man was a charmer and immediately her defenses went up. Hello, Henny whispered; her mouth dry. So, this was her biological father! She stared at him, searching for some resemblance.

He smiled back, his eyes roaming over her in appreciation.

Henny held back a quick retort and clenched her teeth. He had no idea she was his daughter! He was looking at her the way a man sizes up a woman, causing her stomach to heave a bit. Then again, how was he supposed to know? After all, she wasn’t supposed to even exist!

His eyes fell on her cane and he looked at her again, apparently noticing a difference in her left eye. It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Young he said smiling. I understand from Dr. Manson that you had to leave college and I know this is nearing exam time with Christmas being right around the corner. I want you to know that I really appreciate you taking the time to at least consider the Institute’s request. I see that you carry a cane. Are you sight impaired?

Yes, in my left eye, she responded crisply. Normally, I don’t carry my cane because I can do well without it. However, I use it when traveling, so other people will give me consideration when walking near me.

Henry McDermont smile widened; his perfect teeth almost sparkling. Well, I can see that you are a very strong woman, not allowing your disability to hold you back.

Henny could just imagine why her mother fell for this man. This man was a smooth talker and yes, an obvious heart breaker with the charm that radiated off him. Henny took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. No problem. I had signed up for this program two years ago. It’s just that I had plans for my month-long holiday break, and I will have to change them if I decide to do this.

I understand, Dr. Manson replied. It’s just that we want to do this before Mr. McDermont’s condition worsens. Blood transfusions are helping him now, but once the situation becomes full blown, his chance of full recovery even with a bone marrow transplant diminishes considerably. If we move forward now, he has a greater chance for a full recovery.

I do appreciate you coming to meet me, Henry was saying, causing her to focus back on her father. I realize that as a young woman, you have taken time from your schedule and I want you to know just how much I appreciate it. The Institute won’t allow me to reimburse you in any way, but if I could I would gladly pay you for your time.

Henny smiled at him, but she was far from pleased at his comment. Did he think everything was about money? I don’t want your money, Mr. McDermont, she responded, deliberately sounding condescending. I’m doing this because it’s the right thing to do. God made me A B negative for a reason...to help someone who needed it. I came today to meet you and to see what kind of person you really are.

Well then, Dr. Manson said grinning, I’ll give you two a little time to get to know each other. I’ll return shortly.

Henny watched as Dr. Manson walked out of the room and she could feel Henry’s eyes on her. She didn’t know where to even begin asking questions. She glanced at him sideways, noting the small loop earrings that he wore.

You’re mighty quiet. Henry chuckled nervously. 

Henny stared at the man who was her father and she had to swallow heavily. She needed to get herself together and get on with this. She had always wanted to meet her father, now she was here and she could ask him anything she wanted to, but her mind was a complete blank. Tell me about yourself, Henny ventured finally. Are you married? Do you have children? Are your parents still living? She thought about the money his parents gave him to give to her mother for the abortion.

Henry chuckled. I’m divorced. No, I don’t have any children, which is unfortunate. I’m the last in the line of the McDermont’s it seems. My parents are very much alive. They live in Florida.

Why did you get divorced? Henny asked.

I wanted children and she didn’t, he explained. I thought we could work it out...but she wanted out of the marriage.

Henny stared at him a moment, not responding. Karma is a son of a bitch, isn’t it? Do you remember your first love, Henny asked, pleased with his obvious surprise at her question.

Henry stared at her. My first love? He chuckled. That was so long ago...when I was in college. Why do you ask?

Henny raised her voice as she spoke, Do you or don’t you remember her?

Of course, I remember her, Henry replied, looking confused.

Henry cleared his throat , feeling uncomfortable under her intense stare. Henrietta seemed happy that she was making him uncomfortable, as she appeared to be monitoring his every response to her questions. He glanced away from her not wanting to elaborate on his first love, leaving an awkward silence in the room. The last thing he wanted to do was to talk about Vanessa, his college sweetheart to a total stranger. He glanced up his eyes meeting hers, and found her watching him.

Henry took a deep breath, wondering what he had said to upset this young woman. Something wasn’t quite right with her, and he felt that more than likely she would refuse to commit to giving him the donation he so desperately needed. He knew he had to say something to get her to relax a bit in his presence. You look much younger than your twenty-one years. I was surprised when the Institute called and told me they had found a perfect match. Being A B negative, I knew that my chances of finding a donor were slim.

Henrietta just stared and didn’t respond.

Are you feeling alright? he asked. You look a bit pale.

I’m fine, Henrietta responded with a smile glued on her face.

You look anything but fine, Henry insisted.

Maybe I should tell you something about myself now, the young woman replied, folding her hands in her lap.

That would be nice. Henry felt relieved that she would be the one talking.

Well, I’m a product of a single parent household, Henrietta began. My mother met my father in college, but when she became pregnant, he didn’t want the responsibility.

That’s terrible, Henry responded sympathetically.

Her lips appeared to turn down in disapproval and her eyes narrowed at his attempt to comfort her. Yeah, they were young, so it’s not surprising, she continued. It seems that his parents were against interracial relationships, and they didn’t want a Black grandchild. So, my father gave my mother four hundred dollars to get an abortion and then he decided to transfer to another University.

Is that so? Henry responded, wondering why she was sharing all of this personal information with him. After all, they were total strangers, and her past had nothing to do with the bone marrow donation. However, he felt that maybe she just wanted to talk, so he decided to indulge her. Did your mother ever hear from him?

No. Out of sight, out of mind I guess. Henrietta chuckled, sounding bitter. He went on with his life, and she went on with hers.

Well, you seem to have done alright for yourself, Henry replied, attempting to sound encouraging. You’re in college. You have a career planned out. You’ve overcome a disability. You appear well adjusted with a bright future. Henry could tell his words were anything but comforting to her.

The young lady looked down at her hands before she spoke again, A child always wonders though, if her father ever thinks about her... and if he wonders what happened to his first love. How can a man just forget about something like that?

Henry knew his attempts of sympathy had failed miserably thus far, and he didn’t know what to say to her. She looked up at him then, and he knew she was expecting some sort of response. I couldn’t begin to answer that, he replied slowly, hoping not to offend her further.

Really? she asked, cocking her head to the side and raised an eyebrow at him. No wise words from Mr. Henry McDermont? I’m disappointed.

Henry stared back at her, wondering what was really going on here. This young woman appeared to be putting him to some sort of test, and he was failing miserably.

She then cleared her throat and crossed her arms across her chest, leaning forward with her brown eyes locking with his own. "My mother named me Henrietta, after my father, Henny stressed. She couldn’t give me his last name, so she gave me his given name instead. My name is Henrietta, but everyone calls me Henny."

Henry stared at her trying to figure out what she was trying to tell him. Your mother named you Henrietta... His mind raced as he searched for whatever answer Henrietta was obviously seeking from him. He watched as she rolled her eyes, making him feel as if he were an idiot on a game show who didn’t know the answers to the questions being asked.

My mother’s name is Vanessa Young. Sound familiar Henry? 

Henry stared at her in total disbelief. This girl couldn’t be Vanessa’s child! How can you be Vanessa’s...child, Henry stammered in shock. Vanessa from college whom he had fallen in love with so long ago; Vanessa, tall dark and lovely, who had taken his virginity and given him hers. Vanessa, who had been his first real love, who came to him telling him she was pregnant. He now recalled telling his parents that he had wanted to marry Vanessa because she was having his baby.

They had threatened to take away the life he had always known...threatened to disown him and cut him off if he went through with it. He had only been nineteen and had never worked a day in his life. His future had been cut out for him from the day he was born. He was a McDermont, heir to a fortune his parent’s controlled. He had been overcome with fear by their threat, caving in almost immediately.

I am Vanessa Young’s child...and yours, Henny fumed. I guess you’re glad that she didn’t use that $400 for the purpose for which it was given, huh?

Henry continued to stare at her in disbelief. This woman...this girl before him was his own flesh and blood. All of the pieces now fell into place. He was A B negative and so was she—a perfect match, and her bone marrow would give him new life. He looked at her with new eyes and he could see her resemblance to his mother; taking his breath away. He realized his life was in the hands of the child he had rejected, the child that wasn’t supposed to exist.

You knew...all this time you knew, he said wondering now if she came here to flaunt the power she now possessed. 

I didn’t know, Henrietta insisted. I never even knew your name. My mother never talked about you. I’ve asked questions over the years and she only told me that you two were college sweethearts and that your parents disapproved of the relationship. You paid her to get an abortion but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She never even told me your name.

How is your mother? he asked looking up at her.

You have no right to ask about my mother, she replied sharply.

I know, he stated quietly. You may not believe me, but I have thought about her over the years...I didn’t know she had kept you. So...did you come here now to tell me to my face that you hate me and you’re not going to make the donation?

I don’t hate you, Henrietta retorted. I’ll give the donation because it’s the right thing to do. I just wish you would have been strong and had done the right thing yourself, twenty-two years ago.

Henry felt surprised. I’d think you’d want revenge...for your mother at least...that you’d want me to grovel and beg for mercy or something.

I don’t do revenge. It doesn’t serve any purpose. I needed a father and I never had one. Helping you toward your demise won’t change that or make me feel any better; but maybe the good feeling I get from doing this will help me to move on. Henrietta stood up and grabbed her cane. I’ve always wondered about you, now my questions have been answered. I know what you look like, and after this you can go back to your life and I can go back to mine. I’m happy that I was able to do a good deed.

Miss Young—

Henrietta, she said interrupting him. My name is Henrietta.

Henrietta, he said clearing his throat. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know if I could be as generous as you are being to me if I was in your position.

If our positions were reversed, I would be your daughter, she declared. No one would have kept me from the person I loved or the child we created in that love.

Touché, he murmured, embarrassed.

"Just say ‘Thank you’ and pay it forward. You can’t change the past, She sighed, pushing the chair back against the wall. Be grateful that my mother used that $400 to pay for her prenatal visits."

Just then, Dr. Manson came back into the room.

Well, have you two become better acquainted? he asked curiously, glancing from one to the other.

Yes, Henrietta said smiling. Do you still want to schedule the harvesting of my bone marrow on December 15th?

Yes, Dr. Manson replied, nodding. You’ll be home in plenty of time for Christmas. He turned to Henry. You should be home by Christmas also. This young woman has given you the best Christmas gift possible. She’s given you a second chance at life itself!

I know, Henry replied, unable to meet Henrietta’s gaze. Thank you, again...Henrietta, he murmured.

You’re welcome, Mr. McDermont and Merry Christmas, she replied sincerely before turning to Dr. Manson. Merry Christmas, Dr. Manson, she said shaking his hand.

Merry Christmas to you Henrietta. He nodded, releasing her hand. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.

I’ll be here, she responded. She looked back at Henry, smiled, and then walked out the door.

Chapter Two

Henry’s New Year’s Resolution

Henry McDermont was on a mission. A year had passed since receiving the bone marrow donation from his daughter, and he was now back to full health. She had declared that he would never hear from her again, and directed him to return to the life he had before his cancer, but he could not do so. Henry thought about Henrietta and her mother every single day.

He knew the chances of ever hearing from Henrietta again were slim, but he still had hope. She had given the donation and then promptly dropped back out of his life. He had waited a whole year, hoping perhaps she would contact him. She hadn’t. Henrietta, his namesake had given him new life and he now felt that things could never be the way they were before. He knew he had to locate her, whether she wanted to accept him in her life or not.

He couldn’t let the matter rest; he had to find her...and Vanessa. It had been twenty-two years since he had walked away from the love of his life. His decision to leave Vanessa had been the biggest mistake he had ever made, caving into his parent’s demands continued to haunt him. Henry’s near-death experience left him desiring the family that had been stolen from him by his parents, and by his own immaturity and fear. He’d accepted the truth that he had discarded the most precious gift he had ever received, and now he wanted to make amends.

When he had fully recovered from his surgery, he hired a private investigator to find everything he could on Henrietta and her mother. He knew that most likely Vanessa would be married after all this time, and it was too much to hope for or to imagine she could still be single. He would offer to pay for Henrietta’s college costs and anything else they would allow him to do.

When he got the detailed report and saw that Vanessa Young had NEVER been married, he had been stunned. His eyes greedily scanned the information he’d been given. Vanessa had obtained her nursing degree and she was now working long hours to help put her daughter through college. The report also noted there appeared to be no men currently in either of their lives, and Henry’s hope escalated.

The images before him revealed Vanessa with her hair, lightly streaked with gray pulled back in a ponytail. She was buxom now and no longer the slim girl she had been in college. The photos he held now revealed a pear-shaped woman with full hips and generous breasts. His eyes devoured the pictures, hungry for more knowledge of her. Her body may be fuller than he remembered, but she was still his Vanessa. Her kissable lips and mahogany complexion hadn’t changed. She was his first love, and he silently berated himself for the time he had wasted.

There were pictures of Henrietta also, with several taken close up where he could see her defective eye. He read that she had been born two months premature with a condition called Retinopathy or R.O.P, which was also called Terry’s Syndrome. She was mostly blind in her left eye, but had normal vision in the right. She had no depth of perception and had been instructed to use her cane, however it appeared she only used it about fifty percent of the time. She had attended two years of community college, had obtained an Associate’s degree in Business Management, and was now attending Johnson and Wales University in Charlotte, North Carolina, majoring in Hotel Management.

Henry smiled to himself, remembering their initial visit. He hadn’t realized something was wrong with one of her eyes until he spotted her cane.

Staring death in the face had changed Henry’s attitude. He didn’t care about the thirty-five million he inherited or any other material possessions. None of those things were a comfort to him once he had been told there had been only an eight percent chance of finding an acceptable donor for his cancer, due to his rare blood type. Henry had accepted the fact that most likely he would die. The doctor had been diplomatic about it, but he knew after he had listened carefully to all the risks along with the slim chances of finding an AB negative donor, that he needed to get his affairs in order.

The one-year anniversary of his surgery had been quiet yet reflective, and