Chapter Five
Kassie, Catherine, and Bryanna piled out of the truck. Each woman grabbed supplies from the vehicle”s back seat containing paint samples, flooring options, food, and a bouquet of flowers. They stood in the doorway and smiled as Lizzy opened the door.
“Oh, I didn’t expect any company,” she said, making excuses as she tightened the robe around her.
“I tried calling, but you didn’t answer. Michael got held up with Chase at the hospital. I accepted a new patient this afternoon, and he needed immediate intervention. I told him how much we wanted to come visit you, and we decided to bring you dinner.” When she made no move to let them in, Kassie stared at her. “May we come in?”
She stepped back and allowed the women in. Suddenly ashamed of her messy condo.
“My place appears such a disaster—” she started to explain.
“Ha! You call this a disaster? Right now, Kassie’s entire living room consists of a quilt fort and every single pillow in the house represents a barrier against the snow queen. As we left, Joe and Maddie crawled in the middle, providing snacks to the trapped princesses,” Catherine interrupted as she placed the flowers on the table. “Can you point me in the direction of a bathroom? I gotta pee again.”
Lizzy laughed. “Straight down the hall and to the right.”
Catherine made her way down the hallway. Bryanna pulled out containers from the takeout bags while Kassie grabbed the utensils and napkins.
“Michael mentioned he planned to bring you dinner. We brought it instead.” Bryanna told her. “Catherine’s craving Chinese food. Kassie requested pasta, and I voted for a salad, so we got all three. Samantha wants us to video call her as soon as we get set up. She’s in New York this week.”
“You didn’t have to go through all this trouble. What about the bakery? Shouldn’t you be at the hospital?” Lizzy asked as she watched them pull out container after container.
“We wanted to see you.” Kassie gestured to Lizzy to sit on one of the kitchen chairs. “Plus, we need your help.”
She sat down as her friend set a plate in front of her. Bryanna grabbed glasses and poured water with lime for each of them. Catherine moved to the table and her eyes lit up at the sight of all the food. “I’m starving. Morning sickness sucks and this turns out to be the only time I get to eat. Let’s dig in.”
Bryanna and Kassie began to pass around the containers. Bryanna dialed Samantha’s number and placed the phone on the table facing the women.
Samantha picked up on the first ring. She was at her desk, dressed in a white lab coat, and eating an orange. “Hey ladies, how’s things in Serenity?”
A chorus of hellos rang out.
Kassie leaned closer to the device. “We brought dinner to Lizzy. She’s avoiding our calls; we decided an intervention might remind her we’re her friends too.”
Lizzy’s mouth dropped open at her straightforward confession. “I…I didn’t want to bother you. You’re busy. Kassie’s got the hospital, Catherine, you have to pee every five minutes and Bryanna runs a bakery. Samantha works all the way across the other side of the map. I don’t need any help.”
The women’s eyes all narrowed in her direction.
Kassie took her hand. “You said you wanted one true friend you can talk to. Not one, but four of us sit right here. You can smile and say you’re fine and we’ll still support you. Or you can lean on us and know letting down your guard doesn’t mean you’re weak or we’ll think of you any differently. You have breast cancer. We can’t imagine how scared you felt when you faced this alone. This time you’ll have us to assist you,” she told her quietly.
Lizzy met each woman’s eyes and then Samantha’s on the phone. “I’ve never experienced a friendship like what I’ve seen among you ladies. Most women act petty, and from my experience, they don’t mean what they say. I want to believe you want me as your friend, but I don’t want my diagnosis to be the reason you’re here.”
Bryanna rolled her eyes at the same time as Kassie. Catherine huffed and Samantha laughed. Bryanna shook her head as she addressed Lizzy’s worry.
“They may be stubborn and hardheaded, but their hearts lay in the right place. I heard how you walked in on their little conversation. They represent the true-blue friends you want to have at your back. Even fighting, they still asked me if I saw the other. If Victoria, Maddie, and Carol, refused to step in when they did, I planned to cut them all off their favorite bakery treats.” The rest of the women laughed.
“We have our moments. The offer of friendship comes from the heart. I didn’t realize how difficult it must be to make friends with the nurses when you’re the hospital administrator. You needed to maintain an invisible line because you’re the boss. Luckily, we don’t have to deal with those issues in this group. You aren’t ours,” Kassie clarified.
Lizzy nodded as she thought it over. “You’re right. I’m not. I can establish friendships without having to toe the line.”
“Exactly,” Catherine stated. “Can we eat now? I want some of your pasta. Bryanna, did you happen to make dessert?” She grinned widely as she thought of it.
Bryanna looked at her in disbelief. “Lord, save me from the cravings of pregnant women.” She rolled her eyes heavenward. “I brought a fresh apple pie with vanilla bean ice cream I made this morning.”
Catherine let out a sigh, “Oh, pie sounds wonderful. Did you bring a second one for the rest of you?”
The group erupted in laughter. They dug into the food as each of them updated the others on the current happenings in their lives. Elizabeth listened, amazed at how they each took turns and asked questions, completely invested in the other. She felt the support and confidence in them.
When they finished, Kassie packed the remaining leftovers, Bryanna gathered the utensils, and Catherine wiped down the table.
Catherine ran to the bathroom while the other two women dragged items in bags toward the living room. Lizzy sat in the armchair while Kassie took the edge of the couch. Bryanna sat next to her with Samantha on the phone, and Catherine slid in beside her.
“We want to talk to you about moving to Serenity. Whiskey has offered the house in town for you and Michael. Do you not like it?” Kassie asked.
Lizzy glanced at Samantha, noticing her sad face. “It’s lovely. Honestly, it’s not the house,” she confessed. “I already admitted to you the day the older women held the intervention for all of you, Michael and I were married. When the rebels took Chase and him, I gave birth to Conner. Michael promised to return before my due date, and it didn’t go as planned with him held captive. I prepared for the baby alone, and when Conner arrived, he became my world. When he died from SIDS, I found out a couple of days later about the rescue attempt for the men. When I felt the first lump, I thought it was a blocked milk duct. I didn’t know pregnant women could get cancer. I know it sounds naive, but I never really thought about it. Michael’s mom suffered for two years with breast cancer. I didn’t want him to grieve the loss of our child and watch me deal with this disease at the same time. I left Michael once I knew he returned safely. I allowed the fear of the diagnosis and grief for my son to cloud my judgment. I hurt the man I love.”
“I’m sure he understands. I can’t imagine the pain of losing a child,” Bryanna stated. Catherine soothed her rounded tummy and Kassie’s eyes filled with unshed tears.
“He does. It doesn’t mean we’ve gotten over it. When he discovered me the night Chase and Leo saved Kassie and Em, I thought we had received a second chance. I beat the cancer and didn’t think he had to know about it. We’ve taken things slow. Partially because Kassie needed Michael after the helo crashed with the team. Then I never found the right time to explain the lumpectomy and I made excuses to keep him at a distance,” she confessed.
Catherine leaned her head on Kassie’s shoulder. “Honey, you aren’t the only one who did something dumb thinking it was for the best. I’m a nurse and know the signs of abuse. Yet, I refused to tell anyone, fearing Ash might harm Melody or Leo. Kassie stopped me from making the biggest mistake of my life.”
“I’m not a role model by any means. I kept a bunch of stuff from Chase. It surprises me to this day he stuck around.” She smiled slightly. “Even when I lost the baby, he stayed by my side and continued to support me. These men carry the capacity to love us regardless of our mistakes. Michael’s cut from the same cloth,” she reminded Elizabeth.
“If we move to Serenity, it’ll feel like we’re together and if something happens…I don’t want to hurt him all over again,” she whispered.
Kassie shook her head. “I understand what you’re saying. I won’t lie to you. I can’t imagine the feelings going through your mind at this moment. Michael wants to help you beat this. You can stay and fight it, but the man will refuse to leave your side. Or you can move to Serenity, and we can care for both of you. The team and Chase will be available to help too. We’ll support you even if you decide to remain here, but we want you close. You’re our friend.”
Lizzy focused on her hands in her lap. “I can’t possibly move now. I’m scheduled for surgery in four days. Michael owns our old house and I have this condo. There’s no way we can do everything before I have the procedure and I honestly don’t think I can focus on anything else while this lingers over my head.”
“We explained we’re here to help. What does Samantha’s house need to feel like yours?” Kassie asked.
“I have to run. I gave the house to Whiskey in the divorce. I can’t go back in while it resembles my home. It’s a lovely place and needs something good to fill it again. Make it yours with my blessing. I love you, ladies.” Samantha blew kisses into the phone as they made their goodbyes.
Elizabeth sighed. “No offense to Samantha. I enjoy how the house holds the scents of her products. But it requires painting, and LJ’s floor in his room, replaced. I love the backyard with the view of the mountains. The all-season room must be updated. Michael said something about using the salon as a small practice. I’d want to turn one of the back rooms into a personal office, and instead of a wood-burning fireplace, I want a gas one. I don’t like dealing with the wood and bugs in winter.”
Bryanna pulled out the book of paint samples and set it on the coffee table. Kassie moved items out of the way while Catherine gathered the flooring selections.
“What did you do?” Elizabeth asked. She stared at the piles of materials in front of her.
“We’ve got three days. The men await our orders, except for Shadow and Saint. They’re visiting Jameson. Taco’s on assignment. He’ll help tomorrow while Leo’s working,” Kassie explained.
“Three days? We can’t possibly move in that short of time. What about packing and consolidating our furniture? You’re absolutely insane,” Lizzy declared.
The women grinned in her direction.
“We won’t get done if you don’t start picking colors. First, tackle the living room and go down the hall,” Catherine advised.
“Are you serious?” Elizabeth exclaimed.
Kassie nodded her head.
Elizabeth blew out a breath, “Let’s begin with the light gray pallets.”
The group shuffled the books around until they found the colors Lizzy wanted. Kassie called the hardware store to order the paint and the contractors to start remodeling the all-season room.
“What about Michael’s practice? I think the salon will comfortably hold two exam rooms, and Michael’s office can be in the back, where Samantha had storerooms. Lizzy, what do you think about tearing out the back wall and adding a big window to see the mountains?” Kassie sketched a crude drawing of the room.
“It’s a great idea. Don’t we need permits? How long will this take? I didn’t call Michael or even ask him. What if he’s changed his mind?” The insecurity echoed in her voice.
Each woman leaned over and piled their hands on hers while she held the book of paint samples.
“We’re in this together. Joe already called in a favor to get the paperwork moving. Ivan sent over some men who slacked off on their duties. They’re on painting assignments. They’ll love doing your office in the pale rose,” Kassie giggled.
“Are we done with the planning yet?” Catherine asked.
“I think we covered everything. The contractor will meet you and Michael in the morning. Go over what you want changed and he’ll take care of it,” Kassie explained.
“Oh good, can we have pie now? I really can’t stop thinking about it,” Catherine practically salivated.
Bryanna stood and headed toward the kitchen. “Kassie, this can’t be normal. Maybe she’s having twins?”
Catherine cast a worried glance in Kassie’s direction.
Kassie laughed as she placed her hand on her friend’s tummy. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful? Poor Leo barely handles leaving you alone for a couple of hours at a time. I can’t imagine his reaction if he discovered you carrying two.”
Catherine slid her hand over the top of her friend’s. “Your time will come.” They shared a silent communication with each other.
“Is everything going well with the pregnancy?” Lizzy asked, concerned.
Kassie stood and walked to the kitchen to help Bryanna.
Catherine’s sad expression followed her. “Yeah, it’s going great. I only wish…”
Bryanna handed Catherine a large chunk of pie with a scoop of ice cream. Leaning over, she passed a slice to Lizzy.
“Don’t dwell on things we can’t control. Hold on to faith and believe it will happen,” Bryanna advised.
Lizzy scooped a bite of ice cream with the warmed pie. The treat comforted her almost as much as the women beside her. She only hoped she carried enough faith to face the battle ahead.