Chapter Thirty-Three
“DOC, WAKE UP.”
Doc startled awake at Lucas’s whisper and sat up. “What’s wrong?” It was Monday. Lucas had gotten a port put in his chest on Friday, and they’d stayed at Doc’s for the weekend. He was starting chemotherapy in a few hours.
“Nothing,” he whispered. “It’s five o’clock. We gotta go work on our project.”
Doc realized he was already dressed in a hoodie and jeans. “Buddy, we’ve got to be at the hospital in a few hours for your first treatment. Sure you don’t want a break?” They’d worked on the swing a few nights last week and again Saturday and Sunday mornings. One of the swings was almost finished.
“Yes. I want to finish one in case I get too sick to help.”
Doc’s chest constricted. Last night when Lucas asked if they could stay at the ranch for one more night, Doc had thought he was just tired. Now he understood his real motivation. “A’right.”
“I already put the dogs out. Meet me downstairs in five, and be careful not to wake Mom,” Lucas whispered, and headed for the door.
Doc grinned at his parroted words as Lucas walked out, closing the door behind him.
“He’s as bossy as you are,” Juliette said sleepily, rolling over onto her stomach.
Lucas had been so sullen and withdrawn lately, Doc had been worried about how stressed Juliette was. He’d surprised her with a massage at a local salon yesterday and had gifted Sasha and each of the girls the same, so she wouldn’t be able to beg out of it.
“I love that about him.” He nuzzled against her neck. “How’s my girl this morning?”
“Nervous and worried, but hopeful.”
“He’s going to be okay, darlin’. I can feel it.” He kissed her cheek. “Love you. Try to go back to sleep. We’ll meet you at the main house for breakfast at seven.”
Ten minutes later, he and Lucas were heading down to the workshop with the dogs. Lucas was bundled up in a hoodie under his jacket, but Doc ran hot, and he was fine in a Henley under his flannel shirt.
November had blown into Hope Valley with brisk air, clear skies, and worried hearts. Lucas had gotten his port installed the morning of Halloween and had wanted to lie low. Doc helped run the Dark Knights’ Trunk and Treat event, as he did every year, and Juliette and Lucas had stopped by, but they didn’t stay long.
Lucas had been pretty quiet all weekend, which wasn’t surprising, since he was on the cusp of starting treatment. Juliette offered to pick up Layla so they could spend some time together, but Lucas said she was busy. It had been weeks since they’d seen each other outside of school, but Kenny came by and hung out with him for a little while yesterday. That seemed to do him some good, but what helped the most was their family rallying around them. They kept mealtimes light and fun in the big house, spent time playing with the dogs, and kept their evenings low-key.
“How’re you feeling?” Doc asked as they crossed the lawn toward the workshop.
“Scared, but don’t tell Mom, okay?”
Glad Lucas was comfortable enough to tell him the truth, and wishing he could take that fear away, Doc agreed. “Are you afraid it’ll hurt?”
“Not really. I read about other kids who have gone through it. They all say different things, but nobody said it hurt.”
Doc had figured he’d be reading up on it online. “What did they say?”
He shrugged. “Some say they had more energy afterward because of the medicine they gave them with the chemo, and others said they went home and slept. I don’t really know what I’m afraid of. I’m just scared.”
Doc slung an arm over his shoulder. “It’s okay to be scared. We’re all a little scared, but we know you’re going to be okay.”
He nodded. “Ninety percent chance.”
“You’re going to be fine, Lucas. You might get sick and tired, and you might lose your hair, but you’re going to come out the other side of this, and you’re going to have a long, happy life driving me and your mom crazy.”
He smiled, but he stopped walking and turned toward Doc with a tentative expression. “Do you regret finding out about me?”
“Hell no. That’s something you never have to worry about. Why would you ask that? Do I act like it?”
“ No ,” he said quickly. “But you didn’t sign up for all this worry.”
Fuck . “Lucas, I love you with every ounce of my being, whether you’re sick or healthy, annoying or sweet, a good guy or a total prick. None of that affects my love for you. I wouldn’t trade a minute we’ve had for anyone or anything in this world. Do you understand that?”
Lucas nodded, his chin trembling. “I wouldn’t, either.”
Doc hauled him into an embrace. “You and your mom are the best things that have ever happened to me. My love for you is unconditional and unwavering. Don’t ever doubt that.”
Lucas nodded against his shoulder. “I love you, Doc. I’m really glad you’re my dad.”
Now they were both teary-eyed.
JULIETTE WAS WAITING in front of the main house at seven on the dot, and she looked as beautiful as ever in a brown suede jacket over a pretty gunmetal-blue sweater that made her eyes pop and what Doc had learned were her favorite jeans. The ones with a small tear under the right knee. They’d become his favorite, too, for the way they hugged her in all the right places. He whistled at her as they approached, and the dogs bounded over to her.
“You’re such a flirt,” she said lightly, but there was no missing the anxiousness in those baby blues.
“Only with you, darlin’. You look gorgeous.” He kissed her.
“Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.” She hugged Lucas. “Morning, sweetheart. Did you have fun?”
“Yeah,” Lucas said sullenly. “We’re almost done with the first part of the project.”
“That’s great. How’re you feeling?” Her gaze trailed over his face, and Doc knew she could see the worry in his eyes, too.
“Hungry.”
“I bet,” she said.
“Let’s go eat.” Doc pulled the door open, and the dogs and Lucas ran inside. He and Juliette followed them in.
When he took Juliette’s hand, she whispered, “Is he okay?”
“He will be.”
As Lucas walked into the dining area with his four-legged sidekicks, applause broke out, and everyone pushed to their feet, whistling and shouting, “You’ve got this!” and “We’re pulling for you!” Stunned, Doc took in the large banner hanging across the back wall that read Good Luck, Rodeo! and tried to calm the dogs as his family, their employees, and even the clients Lucas had met converged on Lucas with hugs and well-wishes.
Juliette turned to Doc and said, “Did you do this?”
“No. I’m as surprised as you are.” He glanced at his parents, waiting for their turn to hug Lucas, watching him with so much love, it emanated off them. Tiny looked over and winked, his words coming back to Doc. Love is the cornerstone of hope.
“First bull riding, and now this? Talk about street cred,” Birdie said, and hugged Lucas tight. “You’re the toughest kid I know.”
“Yeah, he is.” Dare hugged him. “You’re going to kick cancer’s ass, dude.”
“Damn right he is,” Cowboy said, wrapping his thick arms around Lucas’s lanky body. “This is tough, Rodeo, but you’re tougher.”
“You’re going to crush it,” Sasha said, tugging Lucas, who was grinning and damp eyed, into her arms. “You’ve got this, Lucas.” Gus hugged his legs and said, “I love you. The medicine’s gonna make you better.”
“Love you, too, buddy,” Lucas choked out as Ezra put his arms around all three of them and said, “We love you, Rodeo. I’m here if you want to talk.”
Doc got choked up as Lucas was passed from one caring person to the next, and then those loving arms found their way to Juliette, and she was surrounded by words of encouragement. Eventually, that support made its way to Doc.
Tiny and Wynnie were the last to embrace them, and as Lucas filled a plate at the breakfast buffet, Juliette stepped out of Tiny’s arms and said, “Thank you. I can’t imagine going through any of this without Seeley and all of you. We are so lucky to be loved by you and all these wonderful people.”
“We’re the lucky ones, darlin’,” Tiny said.
“We thank our lucky stars every day that you and Lucas are back where you belong,” Wynnie said.
Doc slid his arm around Juliette, hugging her against his side, and said, “They’ll never be alone again.”