“Oh, well, I guess you’d have to ask Charlotte. I know your mom and dad, but she doesn’t. It’s okay because I’ll be home this evening.”

“I don’t mean to . . . interfere,” Lauren said, lowering her voice. “The girls told me about your situation, and I might be able to help.” She had an idea simmering but couldn’t reveal it just yet.

“I can’t let you do this, whatever it is. I’m fine, truly.”

Lauren wanted to say she knew better but didn’t want to say anything that would hurt Lee’s feelings. “It’s probably not a good idea for you to leave the hospital yet. Charlotte told me about the bone-marrow transplant. I don’t know much about that, but I think I know a way that will allow you to stay in the hospital a few more days.”

She waited for Lee to respond.

“Lee?” she asked, her tone a bit anxious.

“Sorry, I get short of breath.”

“I’ll let Charlotte say hi, and as I said, I might know a way to keep you there if you want to stay. I didn’t ask. I’m sorry.”

She was digging herself into a hole, with no idea what she was doing. She was giving false hope and knew that was wrong. She did have an idea but couldn’t speak of it until she knew she had the proper information.

“I’ll speak to Charlotte for a minute. Thank you, Lauren, but I’ve come to terms with this . . . situation. I’ll be fine,” she said.

Lauren could hear that Lee’s drawing out of each word was an effort. “I’ll let you talk with Charlotte then.” She gave her cell phone to the girl and motioned for Kiley and Lacey to follow her.

“I thought Charlotte could use some privacy,” she explained. “This must be a nightmare for them.”

“Char cries at night. She tries to act all cool, like she can handle it, but she doesn’t have anyone but her mom. I don’t know what she’ll do if, well, you know Lee doesn’t get better,” Lacey said. “We’re fifteen, all three of us.”

Lauren had guessed them to be around fourteen or fifteen. At least, they knew they were young and unable to make decisions for Charlotte.

“Has Lee asked either of your parents to take legal responsibility for Charlotte, if God forbid, she doesn’t make it? I don’t like asking this, but I need to know.”

“Both of our parents have signed some kind of paper that if something happens to Char, they have permission to take her to the doctor, but that’s all I know,” Kiley explained.

Lauren nodded. “It’s very kind of your parents to do this.”

“They’ve known Char since we all started kindergarten. We’re like sisters,” Lacey said. “I don’t think Lee has plans to give her up for adoption or anything, though we could ask our parents.” Lacey looked at Kiley, who nodded in agreement. “But I can ask my parents as soon as possible. They don’t tell me everything.”