Welcomed in by an excited Traci, Lily holds back tears as she informs that this isn’t a happy catch-up visit – her whole world is imploding.
Malcolm knows he’s asking a lot. Yeah, Holden didn’t even know his biological father was alive an hour ago. Stephanie explains the steps – a cheek swab – blood test – if he’s a match, a full health screening, then a transplant.
Agreeing with Malcolm, Stephanie tells Holden that they’ll just see if he’s a match before tackling everything else. After she excuses herself to make a call, father and son stare at one another.
Knowing Traci won’t repeat what she tells her, Lily confides Malcolm’s secret. If he doesn’t find a donor, I don’t know what I’ll do, she bursts into tears.
Holden can’t believe he and Lily are brother and sister. Of all people… We had some rocky patches but we’re civil with each other. This all feels surreal, he can’t believe his Mom sat on this all these years. Malcolm understands if he’s angry; he’s shell-shocked himself.
Lily tells Traci about Malcolm having aplastic anemia and her anguish over not being able to save his life (as she couldn’t Neil’s) Crying on Traci’s shoulder, Lily doesn’t know what she’ll do if she loses him after losing her Dad.
When Holden empathizes with what he’s going through, Malcolm hopes he wants to have a relationship. Stephanie returns to say that the clinic can test Holden now. After he leaves, Malcolm scowls at her – how could you keep my son from me?
Lily lost her Mom, then the best Dad she could ask for. Malcolm’s all she has left. Traci encourages her to believe and have hope. Pulling out her phone to text Malcolm, Lily sees that he sent her a text asking to meet. How will I tell him? she whimpers.
Having gone to the clinic, Holden calls them from Society – you’ll call me with the results, right? Looking at his Mom’s contact in his phone, he mutters about her lying to him his entire life. Audra appears to ask where his Mom is. Did something happen?
On the patio, Stephanie can’t justify keeping the truth from Malcolm – she didn’t see the point in telling him and didn’t want to disrupt his life. It wasn’t just a fling, Malcolm reminds. Flashback decades ago to when they first ‘hooked up’. Blaming their careers for the break up, she wonders if he would have been ready to welcome a child into his world. Would you have resented not being able to pursue your dreams? We’ll never know, Malcolm grumbles.