Chapter Thirty-Nine
JULIETTE STUDIED THE childlike drawing on the wall of Dr. Santowski’s office, trying to hold on to the hope she saw in it. It was the end of January, almost seven weeks since Lucas had rung the bell after his last chemotherapy treatment. They’d all breathed a little easier over the holidays. He’d had another PET scan earlier in the week, and they were waiting for the results to see if he needed further treatment. Lucas was feeling good and bouncing back beautifully, and he’d already put on some of the weight he’d lost during his treatments.
That alone should give her hope that today’s news would be good.
She was hopeful, but she was also scared. She was having flashbacks to the first time they’d been in that office, sitting just as they were now, with her and Seeley flanking Lucas. As if they could protect him from the invisible disease that had brought them there. Lucas had been vibrant and had seemed healthy then, and they’d clung to hope because of that, only to have their legs kicked out from under them.
Even with the trials and tribulations of Lucas’s treatments and the ups and downs of life in general, their lives had been really good the last few months, and she worried they might not have any luck left.
It had been two months since the confrontation with her father at the hospital. They’d gotten lucky, and hadn’t had to go after him. The morning after that awful confrontation, she’d learned that Ana had made a deal with the FBI, and her parents and many of her father’s cohorts in crime had been arrested. It was all over the news—how they’d stormed her parents’ house and the houses and offices of all the others, including Josh’s father, which made her wonder how much Josh had known about that situation. She’d been shocked to hear that her mother had been arrested, but according to reports, her mother had known about, and been part of, some of her father’s shady business dealings.
She’d learned through the press that her father had been found badly beaten in a field. He claimed not to remember how he’d gotten there or who had beaten him up, but the media had a field day blaming it on a shady business deal gone wrong. The media had exposed a list of things her father had done, including how he’d deceived her and Seeley. Seeley had kept his promise to protect them. He’d hired Shea Steele, a high-powered public relations professional, and she’d done an incredible job of handling things for and with them to minimize the media circus.
But what her father had done to them was nowhere near the worst of his wrongdoings. It appeared the rumors were true, and he had an even more sinister side. He’d actually had people murdered to further his career and businesses. To say Juliette was relieved when the judge had deemed her father a threat to society and had sentenced him to be detained until the trial would be an understatement.
She felt safer than she ever had.
She glanced at Lucas, who was thumbing out a text, and wondered how scared he was today. He hadn’t said much other than he couldn’t wait to get today’s appointment over with. She was in awe of his strength. What her father had done to them and having cancer had forced him to grow up faster than any kid should have to, but he’d stood strong against those storms, showing the world that there was nothing he couldn’t survive.
He was so much like Seeley, he even always went the extra mile for his girl.
The Snow Ball had taken place five days after his last chemo treatment, and he’d been completely exhausted. But he was determined not to let Layla down. Seeley had been equally determined to make their night unforgettable. Juliette had planned a low-key pre-dance get-together for the kids with Layla’s and Robert’s families, so their parents could take pictures of all of the kids together. Seeley had taken it a step further, renting a limousine and giving the kids a Dark Knights escort.
Despite the bitter cold, he and Tiny had led the pack ahead of the shiny black limo, and Cowboy, Dare, Ezra, Rebel, Hyde, and Taz had driven their motorcycles alongside and behind the vehicle, giving the kids an air of royalty when they’d arrived at the dance.
Lucas, Layla, and their friends still hadn’t stopped raving about it.
They’d moved in with Seeley a few days later, right before Christmas, and they’d had the best holiday ever. Hazel’s house was too special to sell. For now, they were going to fix it up, and possibly rent it out. Juliette had started working with Seeley right after the New Year, and Lucas often joined them on rounds. Brave Heart had spent three weeks in the hospital before moving to the rehab barn, and she was doing great. She and Lucas had bonded deeply. Three days after her arrival, she was whinnying when she saw them and had tried to groom Lucas’s head. Queenie and Contessa were also well on their way to living a long, healthy life, and they’d both found a place in Lucas’s heart. He and the horses had been healing together.
They all had.
Lucas was back to school with his friends in Weston, and he was spending more time with them outside of school. He was enjoying working on his truck with Seeley and Dare, and he and Layla were still incredibly happy. She’d become part of their family, joining them for dinners and bonfires and hanging out at the ranch with Lucas and Kenny. They even let Gus tag along sometimes, which Gus loved.
“What?” Lucas asked, eyeing her as he thumbed out another text.
“Nothing.” Thinking fast, she said, “I was just thinking about how much you look like Seeley.” He’d never completely lost his hair. The stubble had grown to something akin to a crew cut. Some areas were sparser than before, but like Seeley, the short hair made his sharp, handsome features stand out that much more.
He glanced at Seeley, who cocked a grin and said, “You’re a lucky dude.”
Lucas scoffed, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he went back to texting.
Dr. Santowski walked into the room and said, “Good afternoon.”
“Hi,” Juliette said, motioning for Lucas to put his phone away.
“Doctor.” Seeley stood and shook his hand.
“It’s nice to see you again,” Dr. Santowski said as he went around his desk and sat down. “Lucas, how are you feeling?”
“Fine. Good ,” he said. “Do I still have cancer?”
“Honey, give him a second,” Juliette said, although she was anxious to know, too.
Dr. Santowski smiled. “That’s okay. I’m sure you’re all anxious to hear the results. Lucas, I’m happy to tell you that there was no evidence of active cancer on your scans, and you are officially in remission.”
“Yes!” Lucas jumped to his feet, doing a fist pump.
With tears of joy, Juliette and Seeley hugged him, and each other, nervous laughter bubbling out, along with thanking God and the doctor, and embracing their son again and again. Dr. Santowski patiently waited, allowing them to revel in their relief and excitement.
When they finally took their seats, grinning like they’d won the lottery, which they definitely had, Lucas said, “Can I get the port taken out now?”
“Absolutely,” Dr. Santowski said. “Your parents can make an appointment. It’s an outpatient procedure.”
“Does this mean I’m cured?” Lucas asked. “Can I start bull riding again?”
“We don’t use the term cured until you’ve been cancer free for five years, but this is the first step to getting there, and as far as bull riding goes, once your incision has healed from the port, you can return to your normal activities.”
“No more scans?” Lucas asked.
Dr. Santowski explained that Lucas would need to have follow-up visits every three months for the next year, and then they would move to every four months the following year, and every six months for the third through fifth years. “We’ll do exams and blood work, but unless we see something concerning in your blood work, or you experience symptoms of the cancer returning, like swollen lymph nodes, night sweats, itching, and the other symptoms we’ve gone over, there’s no need for scans…”
Most of what he said after that was a blur, but when they left the doctor’s office, hugging and so very grateful for their good fortune, Juliette was pretty sure anyone within a ten-mile radius could feel their joy. Seeley sent a group text to his family and Lucas texted Layla and his friends. In the parking lot, Lucas yelled, “I’m cancer free!” at the top of his lungs, and there were more elated hugs and I love you s.
As they climbed into Seeley’s truck, Seeley asked, “Are we dropping you at Layla’s, or are we picking her up to celebrate?”
“Neither,” Lucas said with blatant disappointment. “She had to go someplace with her mom, and she won’t be back until late.”
“Oh, honey. I’m sorry,” Juliette said.
“Maybe you can celebrate with her tomorrow,” Seeley suggested. “It’s Saturday. You’ll have all day.”
“Whatever,” he said sadly.
“Lucky for us, that means you’re all ours tonight,” Seeley said as he drove away from the hospital. “What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know. Maybe get pizza and not think about cancer.”
“Sounds like a plan,” he said.
The dogs greeted them in the driveway, lifting Lucas’s spirits. As he loved them up, he said, “Guess what, guys. I don’t have cancer anymore!” The dogs fed off his excitement, jumping up and barking. “I think they’re happy for me.”
“We all are, buddy.” Seeley draped an arm around Juliette. “Our boy is in remission.”
Her heart was bubbling over with joy. “I don’t think I’m ever going to stop smiling.”
“Just the way I like it.” Seeley kissed her.
Lucas barreled past them with the dogs, sprinting up the porch steps. “Can you unlock the door?”
“I forgot to lock it. It’s open,” she said.
Lucas threw the door open, and as they followed the dogs inside, “ Surprise! ” rang out from their living room, where Layla, Robert, and a handful of Lucas’s other friends from school and bull riding were cheering and clapping, along with Seeley’s family and their friends, Buck Waller, and Layla’s and Robert’s parents. Colorful balloons floated around the room, and a Congratulations, Rodeo! banner hung across the patio doors with sparkly streamers dangling all the way to the floor.
Lucas looked at Juliette and Seeley. “Are you kidding me? I can’t believe you did this! Thank you so much!”
“Thank your girlfriend,” Seeley said. “This was her idea.”
Lucas’s jaw dropped, and his gaze found Layla, who looked like she was going to climb out of her skin if she didn’t hug him soon. “I thought you were out with your mom.”
“I am out with my mom. She’s over there.” Layla pointed across the room to Brianna, and then she threw her arms around him and said, “I’d never miss such an important day.”
“Thank you.” Lucas sounded choked up, and he leaned back but didn’t let her go and said, “What if I’d gotten bad news?”
“Then we’d take down the banner and be less excited,” Layla said. “But we’d all still be here to support you because we love you.”
Lucas’s eyes teared up, and right there in front of everyone, he gave her a sweet peck on the lips that made her cheeks pink up. As she stepped out of his arms, he looked at her father and said, “Sorry, Mr. Braden.”
Hugh laughed. “It’s all right, Lucas. Congratulations. We couldn’t be happier for you.”
Lucas beamed, his gaze returning to Layla, who looked extra cute in a gray shirt with My Boyfriend Kicked Cancer’s Butt emblazoned across the front in ’70s-style pastel colors, a black miniskirt, gray tights, and black boots. His eyes lit up, and he said, “That’s a great shirt.”
“I’m glad you like it,” she exclaimed. “I got you a cool shirt, too.”
Her little brother, Christian, shouted, “ Now , Layla?”
“Yes, Christian.” As Christian ran over waving a black T-shirt, she said, “He’s been asking all day when he could give it to you.”
Christian shoved it into his hands. “Look at it, Lucas!”
“Thanks, buddy.” Lucas held up the shirt, pride shining in his eyes as he turned it for everyone else to see. Remission was written across the chest in white, and Accomplished was angled across it, printed like a stamp, in red.
As cheers rang out, he pulled the T-shirt on over his long-sleeve shirt and held his arms out, showing it off, earning whistles and catcalls from Dare and Cowboy. He hugged Layla again, and everyone converged on him.
Juliette and Seeley made their way around the room, their hearts overflowing as Lucas was showered with love and hugs and happiness, and they were, too.
As the night wore on and everyone ate and mingled, celebrating Lucas’s good fortune, Juliette got swept away by the girls. They were gathered around her, chatting about everything from Lucas and the party to Sully’s upcoming wedding and Sasha’s lack of a wedding date. Six months ago, Juliette never imagined their lives would look like this.
She glanced across the room at Lucas, huddled together with Layla and their friends, with smiles on their faces and snacks in hand. A few feet away, Seeley was laughing about something with the guys. These people had become her and Lucas’s family.
She was still so overcome with emotion, she didn’t think as she picked up a fork and tapped her wineglass, drawing everyone’s attention.
“ Um … Hi ,” she said with a little laugh.
Seeley lifted his chin, silently asking if everything was okay.
She held his gaze, answering all the questions in his and everyone else’s curious expressions. “Sorry to interrupt. I’ll only be a minute. These last few months have been a little crazy, and I feel like we’ve barely had time to breathe. Lucas and I were alone for a very long time, and we went through some really difficult situations. But we got through them, and I know there’s nothing the two of us can’t get through. I mean, look at my incredible son. He is so freaking brave and smart and strong. I got really lucky to be his mom.”
She looked at Lucas and said, “I couldn’t love you more, Lukey boo.”
“Mom!”
Laughter rang out. “You’re never living that down, Lukey boo,” Dare shouted, and more laughter rang out.
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry… Rodeo .” Juliette looked at the faces of the people who had been there for them every day since she and Seeley had come together and said, “As I was saying, while we can get through anything, we couldn’t have gotten through these last few months as well or as loved as we have without all of your support. There are no words big enough to express how much that means to me. Thank you for welcoming us into your family and loving us enough to be our soft place to land. We truly appreciate each and every one of you.”
“Yeah,” Lucas said. “Thank you all so much.”
Juliette lifted her wineglass and said, “Here’s to all of you, for helping us stay strong and sane during what I hope was the hardest thing we’ll ever have to go through.”
“Here! Here!” Tiny called out, sparking another round of cheers.
As everyone clinked glasses and drank, Seeley’s dark eyes held hers, and he strode toward her, mouthing, I love you .
It was hard to believe they’d been together for five months already. What a roller coaster it had been. But their love was stronger than their battles, and she knew that no matter what life threw their way—illnesses, disagreements, Lucas playing one of them against the other—nothing could ever tear them apart again.