Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 87152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Right now, it’s Emma I’m worried about, even so soon after coming down from the high we reached together. What if she gets bad news today? I don’t want to think about it in the shower, with the three of us going through the motions of washing up and none of us wanting to talk about what’s happening in a little while. What if she hasn’t responded well, and we are only fooling ourselves into thinking she’s feeling better? I’m in this for the long haul, and I know Easton feels the same way… but deep inside, I wrestle with the idea of losing her. It doesn’t seem right, the possibility of losing her when we just found her. We only just found this happiness together, even if it’s unusual, even if most people wouldn’t understand it.
There’s no question in my mind how this is going to go once we reach the hospital. “You’re not going in there alone,” I tell her as we walk through the lobby with her between us. “We’re going to be with you every step of the way, no matter what. Got it?”
“Whatever you say,” she murmurs. All right, now I know she’s worried if she didn’t give me any argument. My heart swells, and I want nothing more than to wrap her in my arms and promise everything’s going to be all right. She’s been so brave for so long. All I want now is to make her life as easy as I can. It’s a shame I can’t control everything.
If Dr. Pearson in oncology is surprised to see the three of us together, he gets over it fast enough once he finds us sitting in a row outside his office. “Am I speaking to all three of you?” he asks as we stand once he opens his door.
“I would like them in there with me,” Emma tells him. Her fingers dance over the pearls around her neck as we enter the office. This is it.
“We have your back, no matter what,” Easton whispers. All I can do is nod, the lump in my throat making it hard to speak. Somehow, when I wasn’t paying attention, she became the center of my life. I can’t let her go. I won’t.
Once the doctor sits across from us at his desk, the patience Emma’s shown so far dissolves. “How’s it looking?” she asks, leaning forward, her hands folded in her lap. All I can do is close a hand around her knee to silently remind her she’s not alone.
The doctor doesn’t keep us waiting long and thank god for that. When he smiles, I can breathe again. “I have to say I’m impressed.”
Easton and I look at each other behind the back of Emma’s head. “And that’s a good thing for me?” she whispers shakily.
“It’s a very good thing.” His smile is wide and reassuring, and the best thing I’ve seen yet today. “All of your markers are looking great. Exactly what I was hoping for at this point, if not a little better. You are on the right path with your treatment, Emma. I’m so happy to be able to give you this news today.”
Easton sits back, releasing a long breath and closing his eyes. I know how he feels. But it’s Emma’s sudden outburst of laughter that stands out above everything else. “Really? This is really happening? I’m getting better?”
“You are,” the doctor confirms with a wide smile. “You can believe it. I’m feeling optimistic. Let’s keep doing what we’re doing.”
“Whatever you say,” she agrees, laughing again. “I was hoping for this, but I was afraid at the same time. I don’t even know what to think.” She’s shaking, I realize, before I put my arm around her and pull her close.
“You’ve got this,” I tell her, closing my eyes the way Easton did, soaking in the relief of this moment. It isn’t over, but there’s hope. She’s going in the right direction.
And we are here with her, ready to stay by her side, no matter what the future holds.
“Thank you.” Her eyes shine up at me before she turns and cups Easton’s cheek. “Thank you both.… I don’t know what I would…”
Before she breaks down, I clear my throat. “Now that we have the good news, I think we need to go out and celebrate.”
“It’s 11 o’clock in the morning,” Emma points out with a laugh as we leave the doctor’s office. She’s still reeling, obviously—a little breathless, a little shaky. “And besides, I feel like we should go to the house so I can tell Grandma.”
“And how do you know that’s not exactly what I had in mind?” Throwing an arm around her shoulders as we walk down the hall, I cock an eyebrow at my brother. “What do you think? Should we pick up brunch and take it over?”