Risk of Falling

The doctor stood. “I’ll take you to her.”

As they followed the doctor down the white, sterile hallway, Will turned to Tori. “No tears in front of mom. She needs our strength right now.”

Tori nodded and wiped her face. “I know the drill.”

Dr. Westphal led them through a maze of hospital beds and curtained off areas. Eventually she pushed a curtain aside to reveal his mom hooked up to monitors and an IV. She looked tiny in the huge bed. Fragile. Lost. She opened her eyes and gave them a smile. “My babies.”

The doctor left them, pulling the curtain closed behind her. Will moved to his mom’s side and took her hand. His emotions were pressing on him, but he’d deal with them later. “Are you in any pain?”

Eva shook her head and pointed to the IV. “They’re giving me the good stuff.” She pointed to the end of her bed. “Let’s talk.”

“They need to take you to surgery.”

“They will.” She pointed at the bed again. “I want to spend time with you before they take me away. Now sit.”

Tori took a seat on one side of her. Afraid to jostle his mom and cause pain, Will stood beside her and held her hand. Besides, he could control himself standing. Be a good soldier like his dad and the Marines had trained him. He tensed his muscles, ready for whatever followed.

His mom’s expression softened. “The doctor told you, didn’t she? She asked if she could, and I said yes, but I’d hoped—”

“We’ll fight this, Mom. I’ll get the best doctors. Specialists.” Emotion threatened to close his throat, and he swallowed it right away. “Stones don’t go down without a fight.”

His mom nodded. “Or they die trying.”

Tori started crying, holding their mom’s hand to her cheek. Will kept swallowing, unable to say anything. Unable to offer anything. Finally, his mom gave a soft smile. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

Will cleared his throat. “It’s okay, Mom.”

A nurse pulled the curtain open. “They’re ready for you, Mrs. Stone.” She turned to Will. “I can escort you to the surgical waiting room.”

Tori leaned over and kissed her mom on the cheek. “Lovey.”

“Lovey.”

Will kissed his mom and rested his forehead on hers. “Lovey.”

“Lovey.” She patted his cheek. “Everything is going to be fine. I promise.”

Fine. Right.

A team of nurses surrounded his mom’s hospital bed then wheeled her away. The first nurse led them to a different waiting room than before, but it looked much the same. “Surgery should be about two hours. Dr. Westphal will keep you updated.”

Will sighed as he took a seat near the window. Tori fished in her purse for her cell phone. “I’ll just call Teresa and tell her I’ll be late.”

She stepped away, leaving Will with his thoughts.

His mom had cancer. Life wasn’t ever going to be the same after today. No matter what they needed to do to fight this, they’d do it. If she needed chemo, bone marrow transplant, whatever, she would get it. She had to get better because their family didn’t work without her in it. She was their center.

He stood and resumed his pacing. How was he supposed to move on from this? Would they survive? He glanced at his phone. He should call Joanie and Carol. They had a right to know even if they didn’t choose to be involved. He started to dial the first number.

* * *

SUZY PARKED HER bright yellow VW bug in front of the animal rescue shelter. She must have been a good girl that day to get such a prime parking spot. Despite her intention to arrive early, she would only have enough time to drop off the kittens and then hurry to work before she was late. Again.

She hooked her arm through the Easter basket and carried it with her to the front door. The receptionist Thoramae spotted her and rushed to open the door for her. “Hey, Suzy. More critters for us?” The older woman with tight permed curls peeked into the basket and smiled. “Aren’t they the cutest fur balls?”

“They just need some TLC.” Suzy squeezed past Thoramae. “Is Presley in her office?”

“You bet. Can’t get her to leave.” Thoramae returned to her spot behind the reception desk. “She’s been asking for you.”

“Thanks.” Suzy looked down into her basket. Two of the kittens slept while the third licked its paw. “You’re gonna love Pres. She’ll help you get big and strong.”

Presley sat at her desk and looked up when Suzy walked in. “I’d ask if you always talk to yourself, but I know the answer to that one.” She came around the desk and gave Suzy a hug. “How are you doing today?”

“Fine.” Suzy avoided her friend’s eyes and placed the basket on Presley’s desk. “Tell me you can help these guys.” Presley picked one of the kittens and held him up. “He’s awfully scrawny. Good thing you found them when you did. Temperatures are supposed to fall over the weekend. They could have frozen out there.” She held the kitten close to her chest and stroked his head. “With a little time and a lot of food, they should be fine.”

Suzy wilted with relief into a chair. “Good. I can’t deal with any more loss.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Presley put down the kitten and turned her attention to Suzy. Probed her with the same intensity she usually reserved for her animal patients. “We haven’t hung out lately. Or talked much.”

“Well, you know my work schedule. Midnight shifts don’t help a social life.” Suzy gave a forced chuckle. “I’m fine. Tired, maybe. They had me working six days last week.” Her friend seemed to accept her words. At least for now. Suzy leaned in closer to Presley. “But I did meet a guy.”

Presley clapped her hands and perched on the edge of her desk. “When? How? Details, details.”

“Actually he showed up at my front door.” Suzy let that sink in then laughed at Presley’s expression. “He’s some kind of code enforcement inspector who knew Mama. Told her she had to clean up the backyard.”

“I can figure out how well that went over.”

Suzy rolled her eyes. “No kidding. He’s given me two weeks to clean it up. Or else.”

“Or else what?”

Suzy shrugged. “They charge me to get someone else to clean it up, I guess.” She thought about the mess. “It might be easier if they did. It’s not like they’d take the house from me. Right?” She wished she sounded more confident.

“You can’t afford that, Suze. Besides, I can help you.” Her friend crossed her legs at her ankles. For a moment, Suzy envied her long legs since she’d been born with short ones. Pres leaned back on her desk. “Anytime. Just ask.”

“But your job here...”

Presley laughed and shook her head. “Despite what Thoramae says, I do take time off from here occasionally.” She bit her lip and watched Suzy. “I notice you talked about what he did. But not what he looks like. That good, huh?”

Suzy fanned herself. “Hotter than hot. In an uptight, strait-laced kind of way.” She thought back to Mr. Stone. “He kind of reminds me of that guy who plays James Bond now.”

Presley smiled wider. “Yummy.”

“No kidding.” Suzy stood and hitched her purse higher on her shoulder. She glanced at the clock behind Presley’s desk and sighed. “I’ve got to get going, but...” She glanced at the kittens one more time. “You’ll keep me updated?”

“Absolutely.” Presley hugged her again. “And I mean it. I’ll help you. You don’t have to do this on your own, Suze.”

“I know.” That’s what she said, but she didn’t quite believe it.