Chapter 46 Junie
Junie
Georgia kept Junie up almost the entire night after their moment on the curb outside June’s. Shortly after the truth spilled
out, the pair left Eddie to cover for them and help the aunts wrap up Cards.
Back at the Clementine House, Georgia mostly just stared at Junie. For the whole night. She sat down in Junie’s desk chair
as Junie climbed into bed and wouldn’t leave her side, as if cancer were a covert assassin that might strike down her little
sister in one swift motion under the cover of dark. When Junie woke in the night to use the bathroom, Georgia was curled on
the floor beside the bed, spooning with Puds. By this morning, Georgia was finally gone. Hopefully she got at least a few
hours of sleep.
Frankly, Junie gets it. She knew Georgia would be worried. She knew she’d be protective. She’s Georgia.
The thing Junie wasn’t prepared for is how wrecked her sister is, and it was right to keep the rest of the discussion—about the old test results—for another time.
Last night, Georgia’s always-styled red waves frizzed into a mess that may or may not have been held up by an actual rubber band off the kitchen counter.
The sobs broke from her as soon as it seemed the height of it had passed.
She shook when she walked and only seemed to still once she took up her post in Junie’s room at bedtime.
Junie has never, not once in her thirty years of life, seen Georgia like this.
She might’ve finally broken her.
Even though the nausea is starting to hit from yesterday’s IV cocktail, Junie pulls herself up to go check on her sister in
the guest room. Before Junie’s even out from under the covers, Georgia bursts in with far more energy than someone who only
got a couple of spotty hours of sleep should have.
“I’m calling an emergency Good Hair Days meeting. To discuss you.” Her hair nest has grown larger overnight, but Junie stops
herself from smiling at it. She needs to be extra careful with this overripe version of Peach. She will bruise easily.
“That’s fine,” Junie says. “I need to tell the aunts too. And Dad. Just wanted to make sure you were first.”
Georgia huffs, but it’s only at half power. “Well, you certainly missed the mark on that one. Eddie was the first, and we can’t take that back.”
“I’m sorry. Really I am. I should’ve told you right away. But I didn’t want to be a burden. For once I wanted to take care
of an issue like an adult, on my own.”
“That might be the dumbest thing you’ve ever said,” Georgia replies. “No person should do cancer alone.”
Junie tries a tiny smile. “Never did I say I was the smart sister.”
Georgia sighs and reluctantly drops onto Junie’s bed. “Well, you played the part pretty well. Sure fooled me—and the aunts
as far as I can tell.”
Junie rolls over so she can see Georgia, and it reminds her of when they used to sleep over in each other’s rooms as kids.
“Be honest—were you ever really ok with me and Eddie?”
Georgia blinks her eyes closed for what feels like thirty seconds, then pops them open. “No. If I’m honest, I wasn’t. But also being honest, there isn’t a thing in this world I wouldn’t give up for you, Junie. You’ve always known that.”
Georgia’s words are a force field around Junie. You’re loved, so loved. You’re lovable.
“I guess I have,” Junie says.
“Not to mention, I wasn’t even giving him up, was I? I chased him off long ago. Eddie and I never really had a chance, considering—”
“The past?” Junie says. “Pshh. You two want each other so bad. Seeing you together at the bar last night was the main reason
I couldn’t wait any longer to tell you. Keeping you apart is such a waste.”
“I appreciate that. I do,” Georgia says. “But the next time I see Eddie, it won’t be friendly. Might even need someone there
to make sure I don’t start swinging.”
Junie sits up and crisscrosses her legs, stares down at her sister. “You can’t be serious.”
“Dead serious! He lied to me about my sister being sick and took my place going to appointments and being your person. He
could’ve told me any time. Any moment. I mean, what did he have to lose? What were you going to do? Break up with him?”
“You’ve got it wrong,” Junie says. “I made him promise.”
“These are exactly the times it’s ok to break a promise.”
“He didn’t say anything because I begged him to let me do it in my own time.”
“You don’t get to make the schedule for cancer!” Georgia yells it, then flops her arms over her face to hide.
Junie rubs gentle circles on her arm. “You’re right.
I should’ve told you. I should’ve let you be there.
I wanted you there, by the way—I just didn’t realize how important it was until I was already hooked up to that IV and I realized what an idiot I was thinking bravado and Twizzlers would get me through it. ”
Georgia uncovers her face. “I believe you. I just got my feelings hurt—on top of my devastation. Let me help you?”
Georgia looks so vulnerable, like she’s never been before. Not one piece of armor.
“One thousand times yes,” Junie says. “The first thing I need you to do is have my back when I tell the aunts.”