Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Nodding, I place the goodies I brought her on the small table next to what looks like a half-empty glass of lemonade and take a seat as she instructed.
“It’s in my lymph nodes,” she says, not beating around the bush. “The doctors are hopeful that they can get it all. We caught it early, but sitting here, I’ve decided that I’m going to have the mastectomy. They said we could try treatment without it, but I’m geared up for a fight. I will not let this disease win…” she says, her voice trailing off.
“Oh, Mary.” I reach over to take her hand in mine. Tears prick my eyes, but this strong woman sitting next to me gives me a soft smile, her eyes dry. “I need to see both of my boys happy and settled. I miss Heath every single day, but I’m not ready to join him yet. There is still just so much—” she says, and this time her voice wavers.
“What can I do?” I feel helpless.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I need to tell the boys my decision, and I’ll call the doctor to let them know. I already told them to fight aggressively. Based on what they’ve already told me, we’ll have to schedule surgery for the lymph node removal under my arm and the mastectomy, and then chemo will follow. We’ll do another scan and see if radiation is necessary. With the mastectomy, that might not be needed.”
“Lots of big choices being made,” I say, because I don’t have any other words.
“Yeah, but I’m going into this with my eyes wide open. I know what chemotherapy and radiation do to your body. I’m going to be sick, I’m going to lose my hair, lose weight, and I know that it’s going to be a tough road, but I want to travel it, Ellison.” She turns in her seat to face me, and I know before she opens her mouth she’s going to ask something of me, and no matter what it is, I’m not going to be able to tell her no.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know how my body will react, and my boys might need support. Chandler has Macie, and I don’t know if they’ll need help with the kids. Her parents are in Ohio, and then Copeland…” Her voice trails off as she clears her throat.
Mary was my rock when we lost our parents. We’ve lived next door to them our entire lives, and she helped me so much. I’d suddenly found myself running a business, with a sister still in high school, and Mary was my lifeline. I had Gram and Gramps, too, but they’d just lost their daughter and son-in-law, and I didn’t want to burden them with my fear and anxiety. It was Mary, my ex-boyfriend's mom, who pulled me through.
“Whatever you need,” I tell her, and I mean it. If that means I have to spend time around Copeland, the man I’ve gone out of my way to avoid, then so be it. This is more important. She is more important.
“I know that I’m asking a lot, but Copeland keeps things in here,” she says, tapping her chest. “He’s just left the life that he’s built for himself over seventeen years, and honestly, I’m more worried about him. I know Macie will take good care of Chandler and the kids, but Cope, he’s not going to want to put more on either of them, or me.”
“We’ll figure it out. Whatever it looks like.” I smile. “Appointments, meals, someone to sit with you, someone to stay with you, whatever you need, Mary, we’re all here. Leighton and Courtlynn can help or fill in for me at the Manor. We’ve got a strong foundation. You have a strong foundation in us, in your sons. Let us be the ones that help you through this,” I say, a tear sliding down my cheek.
“My sweet girl,” she says, leaning over to pull me into a hug. “You and your sisters, all four of you, are family. I don’t know everything about what happened back then, but that’s never changed my feelings for any of you girls. Love is complicated, and adulting is hard.” She laughs. “I hate to even ask this of you, but if I know they’re okay, then I know I’ll be okay. It sounds weird, but I’ve accepted this, and I’m ready to fight with everything I’ve got. My boys, after losing their dad so young, it was just me, and I fear this is going to hit them hard.”
“Understandably. Even if Heath were still with us, it would hit them hard, Mary. You’re their mother. My second mother.” More tears race down my cheeks, but I don’t bother to wipe them away. I know that more will take their place.