Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
A lthough late in the evening, Sarah parked her car in front of the carriage house and went inside. It was dark and the Key Lime Garden Inn was quiet except for the wind chimes blowing in the breeze.
“Mom!” she yelled. “Are you up there?”
“Sarah? What are you doing here so late? Did you drive here alone?”
“It’s not that far, Mom. I’m only in Sanibel, I’m pretty sure I can drive myself at nine o’clock at night. I highly recommend it considering there was no one on the road. I should come over here late all the time.”
“Sarah?” Paolo asked, “Is Trevor with you?”
“Nope, just me. I wanted to stop by and wish Mom good luck tomorrow.”
“Oh, honey, that's so sweet. You didn’t have to drive here though, you could have called.”
Sarah wrapped her arms around Maggie and squeezed, her eyes wet from letting her tears form.
“I couldn’t hug you if I didn’t come in person.”
They lingered in the embrace for a while, before Maggie pulled back and looked at her daughter.
“Everything is going to be okay. I’m convinced of it. Please don’t worry.”
Sarah laughed. “I’m supposed to comfort you, not the other way around.”
“Would you like a cup of tea?”
Sarah nodded, wiping her eyes with her sweater.
“Yes, please.”
Maggie put her arm around Sarah’s waist, and they walked into the kitchen.
“Sit down and relax, while I make our tea. I could use something warm myself. I just spent the afternoon with your grandmother. She made us tea, proving that this tea-drinking and talking thing is inherited.”
Sarah laughed. “I’ve been known to prepare a cup or two for the same reason.”
“Oh? Who have you been having a heart-to-heart with these days? I doubt your children’s attention span warrants a serious long talk about anything.”
“Trevor…who else? He’s so excited about starting his new job in the new year, it’s all he talks about. He’s seriously pumped with energy.”
“That doesn’t sound like someone who needs a pep talk,” Maggie said.
“You’re right, we aren’t having those kinds of talks, it’s more that I’m trying to keep his feet solidly on the ground. He has so many new ideas about his job that I have to remind him it’s possible his new boss might reject some of them. I don’t want him to be disappointed.”
“I can understand that. What kind of ideas?”
“Well, he wants Ciara and me to talk to the Outreach Center’s board and propose they work together with Thompson Green Developments about merging mission statements and business plans. In essence, what he wants is to give people affordable housing that is also environmentally sound.”
“Oh, Sarah, I think that’s a fantastic idea. You don’t?”
Sarah shook her head. “Not at all. I think it’s a great idea too, it’s just that I don’t want him to be disappointed if it doesn’t get accepted by the people who make these decisions. I haven’t had a moment to talk to Ciara about it, but I will soon. I don’t want to have that conversation at Christmas dinner. I don’t want to talk about work instead of enjoying my family. I’m so excited we’re all going to be together soon.”
Maggie smiled. “Me too, honey.”
When the tea was ready, Sarah and her mother sat at the kitchen table and talked about many things. Creating new memories on Captiva Island the last four years was wonderful, but, for Sarah, nothing matched the years growing up in Andover, Massachusetts, when her father and mother were together, and everyone was under the same roof. She loved the times spent with her mother alone, without having to share her with her siblings, but she also couldn’t wait for the eventual noise and chaos when everyone tried to talk at the same time.
“It’s going to be crazy here in about ten days. Are you ready for it?” Sarah asked.
Maggie nodded. “I am. Nothing makes me happier than having my family by my side. It’s the best medicine.”
When it was time to go, Sarah hugged her mother again.
“Thanks for the tea talk, Mom. I came to comfort you and help ease any stress you might have. I didn’t know I was the one with the stress. But, you did, didn’t you?”
“I think you’ll agree that a mother knows when her babies are hurting. That feeling never goes away, and I’m glad for it.”
Sarah walked to the top of the stairs, turned to look at her mother, and placed her hand on her heart. She held on to the belief that if love was stronger than anything, her mother was well-protected against this latest health challenge. But, just for extra protection, she’d keep praying for strength, because their family would soon need it.
Maggie received so many well wishes before she and Paolo arrived at the hospital. Chelsea wouldn’t let them get into the car until she hugged Maggie several times, and insisted Maggie call her the minute she knew more.
From the moment they left the Key Lime Garden Inn to walk into the doctor’s office, Maggie’s thoughts were not about her illness, but about the countless others around the world, and certainly across the country, who were about to hear the same devastating news: they had cancer.
Maggie turned to Paolo as they reached the hospital entrance.
“Paolo, why don’t you go for a walk or grab a coffee? It’s crazy for you to sit in the waiting room. I have no idea how long this will take. I’ll text when I’m ready to go home.”
Paolo hesitated. “Are you sure?”
Maggie gave him a reassuring smile. “Yes, I’m sure. I’ll be fine.”
With a reluctant nod, Paolo leaned in to kiss her on the forehead before heading out. Maggie watched him, then took a deep breath and entered the building.
The waiting room was a sea of neutral colors, the hum of quiet conversations, and the rustle of magazine pages filling the air. She checked in at the desk and then found a seat near the window, where she could look out and find distraction below.
As she waited for her name to be called, Maggie’s gaze drifted to a young woman across the room. The woman, about her daughter Lauren’s age, wore a colorful headscarf that covered her hair, and her face was pale, with no eyebrows. Maggie’s heart ached with a pang of recognition—another cancer patient, likely further along in her journey.
Maggie’s attention was caught by a pamphlet on the table beside her It was titled “Women Helping Women: A Breast Cancer Support Network.”
She picked it up and began to read about the volunteer program, where survivors supported others going through treatment.
“That’s a great program,” a soft voice said.
Maggie looked up to see the young woman with the headscarf smiling at her.
“I’m part of it,” she continued. “It’s been such a blessing to give and receive support. It makes a difference.”
Maggie felt a spark of interest. “It sounds wonderful. I hadn’t heard of it before today.”
The woman nodded. “It’s not always well-publicized, but it’s been life-changing for me. If you’re interested, I can tell you more.”
They spoke for a few minutes, the conversation easy and comforting. As Maggie learned more about the program, she felt a growing desire to get involved, to turn her own experience into something positive for others.
Before Maggie’s name was called, the young woman reached into her bag and pulled out a business card.
“Here’s my contact information. If you decide you want to volunteer or even just talk, give me a call.”
Maggie accepted the card with a smile.
“Thank you, I’ll definitely think about it.”
As she tucked the card into her purse, Maggie felt a sense of purpose beginning to form. Maybe, just maybe, this was a way to find meaning in the midst of uncertainty.
“Mrs. Moretti?” the nurse called out.
“Yes, that’s me.”
Maggie got up to follow the nurse, but first turned to the young woman.
“I’ll be in touch.”
Maggie followed the nurse into the examination room, and after taking her vitals, the nurse left the room.
Maggie sat quietly, her mind still lingering on the conversation she’d just had in the waiting room. The young woman’s words had resonated with her, giving her hope she hadn’t expected to find today.
The door opened and Dr. Renolt, her oncologist, walked in with a warm but serious expression.
“Maggie, it's good to see you, although I’m sure you’d rather be anywhere but here right now.”
Maggie smiled and nodded. “That’s accurate, but it’s good to see you too .”
“Okay, so let’s take a look at this lump, shall we?”
Maggie lay back as Dr. Renolt carefully examined the area. His touch was gentle but precise, and she focused on the ceiling, trying to keep her thoughts from spiraling.
After a few moments, he stepped back.
“Maggie, the lump you’ve found…it doesn’t feel like a typical cancerous mass to me. It’s more consistent with Lymphedema, which as you may have been told, is common after someone has undergone treatment for breast cancer.”
Maggie exhaled slowly, her heart pounding.
“So…it’s not cancer?”
Dr. Renolt offered a reassuring smile, though his face remained serious.
“It’s probably not cancer. Lymphedema is a condition where lymph fluid builds up in the tissue, causing swelling. It’s something we monitor closely because, while it doesn’t mean you have lymphatic cancer, there is a risk it could develop into something more serious over time.”
Maggie nodded, absorbing the information.
“What happens next?”
“I’ve already scheduled an MRI for you,” Dr. Renolt said. “I want to get a clearer picture of what’s going on before we consider any further steps. I don’t want to rush into a biopsy unless it’s absolutely necessary. Then, if we need a biopsy, we’ll get it done as quickly as possible. Both the MRI and biopsy should give us definitive answers.”
Maggie appreciated his caution, but the uncertainty still gnawed at her. “So, I go down now?”
“Yes,” he confirmed. “Just head to Radiology, they’re expecting you. We’ll have the results soon, and then we can discuss the best course of action.”
Maggie sat up, feeling a mixture of relief and apprehension.
“Thank you, Doctor. I’m sorry for being such a wreck about all this.”
Dr. Renolt reached out and gently touched her arm.
“That’s perfectly understandable, Maggie. But remember, we’re being proactive. You’ve been through this before, and you’re strong. We’ll take it one step at a time.”
Maggie managed a small smile.
One step at a time. So easy to say, so difficult to do.
As she left the examination room, uncertainty still lingered, but there was also a new sense of resolve. She texted Paolo to let him know she was heading for the MRI. She walked down the hallway with a small glimmer of hope that maybe, she could find her way through this with the support of others—and perhaps even offer that same support in return.