Loving Lizzy (The Serenity Mountain Series Book 6)

Chapter Forty Two

With Carol now engaged to Jake, she planned to move into his home. Knowing Diana and Debbie needed help and support, Carol suggested they offer them her old home.

Lizzy called Diana to discuss her friend’s suggestion.

“Hi Lizzy, what’s up?” Diana answered her phone.

“I wanted to discuss something with you. I want you to hear me out before saying no.” Lizzy told her friend.

Diana sighed. “Why do I feel like I’m not going to like this?”

“I promise, not to hound you if you say no. I want you to keep an open mind. Carol’s moving across the street with Jake. Kassie’s purchasing the house to use later for visitors to the hospital. Her construction crew can’t renovate it for months due to other projects. She doesn’t want it to appear abandoned and asked if you and your mother might consider staying in it.” Lizzy told her friend the white lie hoping to convince her to take the offer.

Diana remained silent for a moment. “I can barely afford the apartment, much less a house. Plus, I don’t have it in me to move. I’m already relying on my mom caring for the kids as it is.”

“Kassie said it’s a write off for the hospital, which means, no rent or utilities. Then the organization can continue helping you with the other needs. Come on, living across the street from me can be a bonus. Did I mention the perks of moving here? Bryanna always brings us treats from her bakery, Samantha always has a new product she wants to try on us and I’ve yet to find one I didn’t like. Not to mention Caleb will have friends to play with, giving you and your mom a break,” Lizzy pulled out all the excuses to convince her friend.

“I can barely fix dinner and care for the kids. I’m not ungrateful for the offer. I’m overwhelmed at the mere thought of trying to pack up our things and I can’t afford a mover,” Dianna sounded discouraged.

Lizzy lowered her voice, “Listen to me. Say the word, and I can ask the men to help move you. You won’t need to worry about a thing. They ask about you all the time. If it makes you feel any better, when I first got diagnosed, our friends offered us this house. In three days, they updated it, painted rooms, and moved us. You already mentioned how much you love it here.”

Diana laughed, “Did you ever consider a job in car sales or real estate? Fine. We’ll take it, if Kassie doesn’t need it.”

“Great, how soon can you move? I’ll call the gang and make arrangements,” Lizzy asked as she nodded her head to Michael and smiled. He picked up his phone to call his friends.

A few days later, the team loaded her meager belongings and moved her in one day while Carol moved across the street to Jake’s. Lizzy worried and fussed over her, making sure she ate, and Michael bathed the kids and put them to bed. She refused to attend her support group despite Barb calling and Michael volunteering to drive her into Seattle.

“I’m concerned for her,” Lizzy expressed her worry over breakfast.

“Diana’s exhausted. Can you imagine moving like we did while going through chemo? I know she’s paused now because her white blood cell count remains low, but she needs time to recuperate, and she cares for two young kids. Now, we’ll all support her, and she’ll head back to chemo in a couple of weeks.

Lizzy bit her lip, hoping he was right. After breakfast she planned to visit with Diana while Michael volunteered to take the kids to the mountain.

She crossed the street with Michael and knocked on the door. She answered, still in her robe. Caleb ran out to greet the couple and wrapped his arms around Michael’s legs. Faith gurgled happily in a highchair as Diana started giving her a bit of baby cereal.

Michael swept Caleb up and asked the little boy to fetch his sweatshirt while Lizzy finished feeding the baby and ordered her to get dressed. As soon as the baby finished, freshly diapered, and changed, Michael placed her in the carrier and kissed his wife goodbye and glanced in Diana’s direction. She sat on the couch while Lizzy sat next to her in the armchair.

“I know you’re struggling. What can I do to help?” Lizzy placed her hand on Diana’s knee.

“I thought about what you said about this journey, and how it may place us where we least expect it. I never thought I’d move here; my mom already appears more rested than she has in weeks thanks to you and your friends. I can’t thank you enough for helping with the kids. I know you set up the ‘organization’ to help us and it means the world to me. Hopefully, one day, I’ll pay it all forward.”

Lizzy shook her head, “I can’t claim the credit. They all pitched in. Nobody should go through this alone. Breast cancer can take a lot of things from us, but it can’t steal our hope, faith, or love for one another.

Diana slightly smiled.

“Come on, Michael’s letting me drive you up to the hospital. We’ll take a walk on the trails. Monday, he’ll take you for your bloodwork while Kassie takes me to chemo. We’ll get through this together,” Lizzy urged her.

Diana gazed out of the window as they drove up the mountain. Spring fully bloomed, giving off every color of the rainbow. They parked at the hospital and Lizzy waved to staff who recognized her. She handed her a walking stick and took one for herself from the side of the building.

“Let me know when you’re tired and we can rest. Remember we go back the same way. Don’t think we need to walk the entire way. We can come back and walk it again when we’ve recovered.” Diana started out quiet but as the fresh air hit her face and the sun shined down on them, her demeanor changed as they walked the path.

“When I die, I want to come back to live on this mountain. To wake up every morning and feel the warmth of the sun and this view, I can stare at this for days,” she exclaimed.

“It’s my favorite place to walk. When we finish chemo, there’s a spot right at the top where the sun rises between the two mountains. We’ll go up there and enjoy a picnic together. It’s almost as beautiful as where Kassie and Chase got married and where Samantha and Whiskey plan to carry out their recommitment ceremony.”

“I bet it’s stunning,” she stopped and held her side. Lizzy stopped and turned them back the way they started.

“You’ll get a chance to see it. She’s inviting you to the bachelorette party on Saturday and the ceremony the following week,” she told her.

“I can’t go. I don’t have anyone to watch the kids and I’m not in a celebrating mood. Promise me we’ll go up here together one day.”

“I promise, we’ll go, just the two of us.” Lizzy smiled. At least she seemed to enjoy the outing.

* * *

On Saturday,Lizzy pulled out her outfit for the get together. As hard as she tried, Diana refused to accompany her to the team building. Because Samantha insisted the two women remained compromised, they decided to hold the party at the team building. With a pool, hot tub, video games, pool tables and air hockey, the building guaranteed something to do. The team even set up two rooms for the ladies to rest. Deciding not to push Diana any further, Lizzy dressed, and Michael promised to take her a meal and help with the kids.

The women filed into the building. Kassie and Catherine led the way to the kitchen. Ty catered food and the men placed everything in the oven and refrigerator.

Claiming their age as a factor, Maddie, Edie, and Carol refused to attend. They sent gifts. Victoria, on the other hand, helped with the planning and promised a few surprises of her own.

“The women poured wine and sparkling cider, piled plates full of food and made their way to the pool area. A cozy lounge set, arranged in a circle, sat in the corner big enough for them to sit and visit one another. Bryanna handed a blanket to Lizzy before taking a seat.

“I asked all of you to fill out advice for Samantha as she recommits to Whiskey. Let’s read the cards,” Kassie told the group as she picked up the items.

Samantha reached into the basket and pulled out the first card. “Always remember the reasons you love him when he leaves the toilet seat up and experiences sudden memory loss when it comes to emptying the dishwasher,” Samantha laughed as she read it.

Kassie handed her a second card, “When you’re in a storm remember he’s the lighthouse to lead you home.” Everyone awed and glanced toward Lizzy who smiled.

Samantha dug her hand in and pulled out the third. “Keep the sex interesting and you’ll never have to worry about the other stuff.”

All the heads turned to Victoria. “What? Were we supposed to lie?”

Kassie shook her head as she grinned, “Pick another one.”

Samantha drew the next card, “Blow jobs go a long way when you find yourself in trouble.”

Kassie set the basket down and her eyes narrowed in Victoria’s direction.

“Did you stack the basket with marital advice?”

“You said a fun bachelorette party. You said nothing about a tea party with cozy anecdotes,” Victoria defended herself.

“What did you have in mind?” Catherine asked, intrigued.

“We’re all married here, or close to it. Let’s have some fun.” Victoria’s grin grew wider as she disappeared around the corner.

Kassie drew a deep breath and closed her eyes. Catherine practically bounced in anticipation. Lizzy settled in for the show, knowing if Victoria was involved, it meant something outrageous. Bryanna chugged back the glass of wine and went in for a second glass. She grabbed Kassie’s as she walked by.

Kassie leaned in and faced the women, “Whatever she comes up with, stays here.”

The woman solemnly nodded, sat back, and waited.