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and proper. Niki was bedraggled and beat. Dr. Baxter thumbed through a file, then peered over half-moon glasses.
    “All the way from Durango? Does that little steam train still run to the mountains?”
    Niki nodded.
    Dr. Baxter smiled distantly. “I took my daughter there a long time ago.” The smile faded and Dr. Baxter came back to the room. “I haven’t been on a vacation in years, but you’re not here to hear that. Sorry you had to wait so long. We’re short-staffed during the holidays. You know, you could have called.”
    Niki sat nervously on the edge of a chair in front of the doctor’s desk. “I did, twice a week since we learned Alex needed a transplant. They said there was nothing they could do until they found a donor, but it’s taking too long. He was diagnosed almost a year ago. It’s not like someone has to die just to donate bone marrow.”
    “It must be incredibly frustrating for you, Ms. Michaels.” Dr. Baxter glanced at the medical file. “It looks like you’ve had some nursing experience. You are used to helping people, and now there is nothing you can do.”
    “I work in a nursing home. I’m used to seeing old people die. Alex is only twelve. He can’t die. You have to do something. How hard is it to find some bone marrow?”
    Dr. Baxter thought for a moment before replying. “You know it’s a relatively new procedure. The National Marrow Donor Program is less than five years old. We’ve only been able to find suitable donors for thirty percent of our patients.”
     Niki stared blankly. “Thirty percent. Nobody told me thirty percent. What about the seventy percent who don’t get transplants?”
    “We’re doing everything we can for your son. As donors are added to the list, we compare their antigen markers to your son’s. That’s all we can do. Niki, you’ve got to accept that Alex is very ill. Even if we find a donor, he may die. I’m sorry. I assumed someone had told you this.”
    “I suppose they did.” Niki moved closer. “But Alex is different. He’s strong. He skied to the top of a mountain with me to watch the sun come up. I brought photographs to show you what he’s like, but they’re lost at the airport. I could show you tomorrow.” Niki pulled the mud-streaked photo from the envelope in her pocket and laid it on the desk. “I only have this one with me. Isn’t Alex beautiful? And he’s smart, straight A’s except for English and Social Studies.”
    Dr. Baxter studied Niki for a moment. “Sweetheart, you’re shivering.” She picked up her phone.
    A few minutes later, Niki was sipping hot tea, a hospital blanket wrapped about her. Dr. Baxter draped Niki’s green jacket about another chair to dry.
    “I didn’t dress for rain,” explained Niki. “I thought California was supposed to be warm and sunny.”
    “San Francisco is surrounded by water,” said Dr. Baxter, peering over her glasses again. “Its vapor condenses in the cold air. We have fog and rain all winter.” She picked up her phone again. “Hold my calls. I’ll be a while.”
    “Why Alex?” asked Niki. “What did I do wrong?”
    “It’s not your fault, sweetheart. No one knows for sure, but we think leukemia is caused by DNA damage. Are there nuclear plants in Colorado?”
    Niki shook her head. “No, but there’s a uranium tailings pile. I never should have moved to Durango.”
    “Let’s look ahead,” said Dr. Baxter. “How is Alex now?”
     
     
    “Weak. He’s getting worse.” Tears trickled down Niki’s face. “His white blood cell count is going higher.”
    “Give me a few minutes.”
    Niki remained on the edge of her chair while Dr. Baxter read through Alex’s entire file. It seemed hours before she took off her glasses, walked to the window, and looked out at nothing. “I don’t think my staff missed anything, but let’s review a few things.” She returned to the desk, remained standing, but looked down at the open file. “Your father is unknown?”
    “There