Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 80176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
I’d already witnessed our sister, and mother going through their own battles with cancer.
I knew that this was going to be tough.
So tough.
“Why not just take her ovaries?”
“No!” came my sister’s vehement denial.
“That would be why,” the doctor said. “When her endometriosis acted up, and I suggested having a hysterectomy, she refused. I knew that wasn’t something she’d want to do unless there was no other possible way to avoid it.”
I looked over at my sister.
“Trix,” I said carefully. “I realize that you want more kids, but…”
“I said no!”
Right.
“We’re going to run with this, Trixie. You don’t have time to waste.”
She didn’t have time to waste.
Right.
“I’ll expect you to start chemo on Monday,” he said. “I’m referring you to a doctor the next floor up.” He gestured with his hand. “Today. You have an appointment right after this one,” he sighed. “This is bad, yes, but it’s not completely the end of the world.”
Not the end of the world.
Right.
“Head on over there now. They’re expecting you.”
***
“If I’m being honest here, I realize that the best option would be to take the ovaries…”
The oncologist tried again.
I’d tried in the elevator. Hell, I was sure that her husband would try, too.
“Can I still go on our cruise?” she questioned. “It’s next week.”
He nodded, but I could tell that he wanted to start treatment right this second. Today, if possible.
“Yes, you can go as long as you feel up to it.” He stood up. “With your permission, we’ll schedule the procedure to implant your medical access port for tomorrow or the next day. Do you have any questions about that?”
He didn’t need to explain what that was or where it was going—at least not to me.
My brother had had one. My mom. My sister.
My stomach hurt.
My head was pounding, and I wanted nothing more than to crawl into a corner and cry.
But I wouldn’t.
Not in front of Trixie.
“No,” she cleared her throat. “That’ll be fine.”
He nodded soberly. “All right. Millie, my nurse, will be outside waiting to take some of your information down. Once we have you scheduled, you’ll need to go into the hospital to register the day before. Now you can do that at any time, but I recommend you go either mid-afternoon or closer to closing time. They’ll take a sample of your blood, just in case, and then get you all set-up and ready-to-go insurance wise. Anything else?”
She shook her head. “No.”
He stood up and offered her his hand.
She took it, and shook it once before dropping it.
“We’ll get through this,” the doctor, Albertson his name badge said, promised. “I’ll see you in a few days. Millie will also schedule your next few appointments, okay?”
Trixie continued to nod.
“Trixie…”
She shook her head. “Let’s get this scheduled, and then you can take me home. I need to talk to Darren.”
I did as she asked, and the entire way down the elevator, out into the parking lot and to her house, she never said a word.
When I pulled up in front of her house, it was to see her youngest running toward us, a look of utter glee on his face to see that his mother was home.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “Can you come pick DJ up in an hour and take him to baseball practice?”
I nodded mutely, not trusting myself to speak.
Then she was gone, picking Jaxon up into the air and spinning him around, a happy smile on her face.
I continued to watch for a little longer, smiling slightly when Darren came out of the house and looped a muscular arm around her shoulders.
The moment they started talking, I pulled out of their driveway, and made it about halfway down the street before I couldn’t help it anymore, and started to cry.
Maybe if I just sat here for an hour and cried, then I could go pick him up and not have to drive all the way home.
With my master plan written, I shoved the door open and nearly fell out, bringing my hands up to my head and trying to breathe through the pain.
It didn’t help, so I started to walk.
Chapter 3
I wish I could copy and paste you into my bed.
-Not a good pick-up line
Evander
“Hello?” I answered, looking at my watch to see if I’d have enough time to hit the grocery store before I had to go pick up Dalton.
Dalton was my sister’s stepson, and a complete and utter asshole to anyone who wasn’t his father.
But, like the total sucker that I was for my sister, even though she treated me like shit, I’d offered to pick him up and take him to baseball practice despite not really liking the kid all that much.
I’d missed a lot, being gone for the last four years, and one of those things was my sister’s remarriage to a man I wasn’t sure I liked.