Chapter Thirty-Three #2
“I’m… I’m sorry to hear that,” Sam said.
“I’m having a lumpectomy in two weeks, and if that goes well, I shouldn’t need more treatment. I’m very cautiously optimistic.”
“That’s good news,” Sam said. “But I’m sorry you have to go through all that.”
“I’ve made up my mind to remain positive and to be thankful for the early diagnosis and that it’s treatable.”
“We’ve talked her into having the surgery up here so we can take care of her afterward,” Tracy said. “She’ll be staying with me.”
“I’ve been thinking about moving back to DC permanently,” Brenda said, taking her daughters by surprise.
“My grandchildren are growing up too fast, and being so far from my family gets kind of lonely sometimes.” The man she’d left Skip for was long gone, and Sam had no idea if there was someone else in her mother’s life. Apparently not if she was lonely.
The news that her mother was moving home would’ve knocked her for a loop only a few months ago, but now… It was fine with her.
“I promise not to cramp your style too badly,” Brenda said. “It’ll be nice to have you all close by.” To Sam, she said, “I’m sure you must be thinking that I have a lot of nerve coming here after all these years to tell you bad news and that I’m coming home.”
“That’s not what I’m thinking.”
While they waited for her to say something more, Sam tried to get her thoughts together.
“I’ve regretted that so much time has gone by and that we’ve been out of touch for so long.
I… I’ve come to realize there was a lot more to the story of what happened between you and Dad than I knew back then.
And… It’s probably time to put the past where it belongs.
I want you to know Scotty and Nick, and me, too, I guess. ”
“I’d love that, Sam,” Brenda said softly as she dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.
“I’m sorry for the way I left and for what happened with Jerry.
I never should’ve let that happen while your father and I were still married.
That was wrong, and I’m sorry I hurt you—and your dad. You all deserved better from me.”
Sam had waited nearly twenty years to hear her mother express regret over what’d happened the day after Sam’s high school graduation.
And after carrying deep-seated resentment for all those years, she was surprised at how a few sincerely spoken words could effectively dispose of the resentment. “Apology accepted.”
“I also want you to know that I’ve been to see your dad and Celia, and we had a nice talk. It was good to see him, and to have a chance to talk to her. He seems to be doing well, all things considered.”
“He’s better than he was,” Sam said. “We’ve learned to be grateful for small victories.”
The four of them chatted for another hour before Brenda got up to leave. “It was so nice to see you, Sam. Thank you for having me.”
Sam hugged her mother, holding on for longer than she’d intended. When she pulled back, there were tears in her eyes and her mother’s. “It was good to see you. Keep me in the loop on the surgery and everything.”
“I’ll do that.” She hugged and kissed Angela and Tracy and thanked Zach who held the door for her.
“That went well,” Angela said.
“Very well,” Tracy added. “How do you feel about it, Sam?”
“I feel… relieved and concerned for her and for us due to her diagnosis.”
“Knowledge is power,” Tracy said. “Now that we know, we can be proactive. That’s how I’m choosing to see it.”
“That’s a good way to look at it,” Sam said.
After she saw her sisters out, Sam went upstairs to look for Nick and Scotty and found them lying on their bed with the Caps game on much louder than she would have it. She crawled in between them and straight into her husband’s arms.
“I’m outta here if you start anything,” Scotty said.
“He’s such a buzz killer,” Sam said. “What were we thinking adopting him?”
“You were thinking you’re the luckiest parents ever.”
“You know it, buddy,” Nick said with a chuckle.
“The pizza’s here!” Scotty bolted from the room and flew down the stairs.
“How does he know that?” Sam asked.
“There’s an app for that.”
“He’s got a pizza app? For real?”
“Yep, and it comes in handy at times like this. How’d the visit go, babe?”
“Better than expected.”
“What did she want to tell you?”
Sam sighed. “She’s been diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. Very treatable, great prognosis.”
“That’s too bad.”
“It is. For her—and for us. It puts us at higher risk.”
“I sure do hate to hear that.”
“Like Tracy said, it means we have to be more proactive. It’s nothing we can’t handle.”
“I’ve begun to think there’s nothing you can’t handle.”
Sam raised her head off his chest so she could look into his eyes. “As long as I have you, I can handle anything.”
“Since there’s nowhere else in this world I’d rather be than with you, then I guess you’re all set.”
Smiling, she leaned in to kiss him and didn’t stop until Scotty’s loud groan ruined the moment.
“I swear to God I’m going to ground you guys if this kissing stuff doesn’t stop.” He’d brought the pizza, paper plates and a roll of paper towels upstairs with him.
As Nick bit his lip to keep from laughing out loud, Sam sat up and took the pizza box from Scotty. “We’re living for the day you get your first girlfriend. I hope you’re prepared for a lifetime of revenge.”
“To quote my mom, the badass cop, ‘bring it on.’”
Laughing, Sam dished out the pizza and settled in to enjoy the picnic with her two favorite people. For once, everything in her world was perfect, and she intended to enjoy the peace while it lasted.