Afraid To Lose Her

“And get a bra that opens in the front.” Page glanced at April. “That’s what she recommended, and it was some of her best advice.”

Sherri wrote every single thing down. She watched as the two women reminisced about chemo goody bags and pillows kept in their cars to protect the scars when wearing a seat belt. “I didn’t realize all this stuff.”

“And they’re things the doctors can’t tell you because most of them haven’t experienced it. They can explain all about the medical supplies you’ll need and things like that.” April took the pad of paper from Sherri and then wrote down several more things. “But someone who has lived through it has a different perspective.” She handed the book back to Sherri.

Sherri read what April had added, and smiled at the phone numbers she’d listed. “My ‘in case of emergency’ numbers?”

“You’re going to have some bad days, and that’s when you call one of us. We can talk you through it.” April slipped an arm around Page. “She helped me through mine. I helped her through hers. And now we’ll help you.”

“Why?”

“Consider us your boob squad.” At Sherri’s downturned lips, April shrugged. “We’ll come up with a better name. The price of membership stinks, but remember, you don’t have to go through this alone. And when you’re ready, you can stop in at the Hope Center. There’s a lot of great resources there for women like us.”

The waitress brought their salads, and conversation paused until she left the table. Page leaned in. “Have a spokesperson to give family and friends updates so you don’t have to repeat the same details over and over.”

April chimed in. “And let everyone who offers to help you have a chance to do something. Even if it’s bringing over a pizza, or doing a load of your laundry. This isn’t the time to be independent. That will come later.”

Sherri stabbed a tomato, then looked from one woman to the other. “I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”

Page stared at her and swallowed. “Good. Because you’re picking up the tab.”

CHAPTER FOUR (#ua5685325-381b-585e-8b10-b00b57138d52)

SHERRI CHANGED INTO the soft green hospital gown and footies that the nurse gave her, then sat on the edge of the hospital bed. She clasped her hands together to keep them from shaking and tried to swallow past the lump that had lodged in her throat. In just a matter of minutes, an orderly would wheel her to the operating room and her life would be turned upside down. Was she ready for that?

A knock at the door, and the nurse ushered Dez in. He kissed Sherri lightly on the cheek. “There she is.”

He looked hot in a baby blue T-shirt that stretched across his chest and was tucked into his worn denim jeans. She chastised herself. She shouldn’t be thinking like this when she was about to have surgery. She should be focused on herself. On her body. Instead, her traitorous mind pointed out how well Dez filled out that T-shirt. And those muscled arms. They both worked out regularly to stay in shape for the job, but he looked like he’d been putting in extra time with the weights. And surely those arms would hold her tight and keep her away from harm. She sighed, stowing those thoughts away. “Did you see my parents in the waiting room?”