Chapter 53 Junie
Junie
“I’m riding home with Eddie,” Junie calls behind her as she sprints to Eddie’s unassuming sedan. She slides in before any
of the Louise women can corner her. All of them look like they’re gasping for breath, emerging from a haunted house as they
exit that doctor’s office and head toward Cece’s Jeep. They deserve a moment on their own.
Maybe Junie wants a moment alone too.
Up until now her cancer MO has been ignoring it, cursing it, and reinventing it in her mind, and seeing all of them react
is doing something to her.
Junie has told herself this isn’t a big deal. She’s told herself she can beat it—which by all arguments is very possible.
But up until now she has ignored the other side of it, the possibility that maybe she can’t.
The driver’s door clicks open, and Eddie slides into the car. He’s quiet as he settles, unloading his phone and keys. He turns
to the center console and begins digging through. “I’m not sure any of us knew it was so serious.” He pulls out a bag of Twizzlers
and offers Junie one.
“And I thought you’d forgotten,” she says.
He shakes his head. “Georgia’s already ticked off enough—I didn’t want to fuel the fire by bringing along our traditional cancer candy.”
Junie pulls a licorice whip out of the crinkly plastic. “First of all, she’d totally deserve that.”
“She doesn’t deserve any additional hurt right now. Even if she’s being a total jerk to me.” Eddie’s eyes are so tender, Junie
wants to rib him for having the hots for her sister. “And the second thing?”
Junie chews the bite in her mouth. “Honestly? I think I’ve been downplaying this whole thing in my mind. Until the chemo.
And then until now. Seeing them all . . .”
“They love you, Junie, and if there’s anything that can help, it’s having that rowdy crowd of women on your side.”
“It’s also a whole lotta my favorite hearts to break.” As if on cue, the Jeep passes in front of them as it exits the lot,
Cece driving, Georgia shotgun, and Tina perched on the back seat.
Eddie just nods. He knows better than to argue with her, but she thinks on this point he must agree.
“I have been thinking though—about the possibility of an end.”
After a pause Eddie looks over carefully. “And what’ve you come up with?”
“I just want to make sure I do everything I want.”
“Like a bucket list?”
“Hell no. I’m not that far gone, you sicko.” Junie pushes his arm. “I want to make sure I tell people what I want them to
know. And as far as you go . . .” She intentionally leaves a dramatic pause, then waggles her brows.
“. . . it’s that you love getting a rise out of me?” Eddie asks.
Junie swats the air. “I wanted you to think I was confessing my love. Didn’t go over as planned.”
Eddie tosses his head back, cracking up, and Junie can’t help but do the same. It breaks the tightness of all the sad things
that surround her.
Finally she catches her breath and composes herself. “Georgia,” she says. “I want you to know that she’s the one for you.”
“I heard she pretends all the guys she likes are invisible,” Eddie says.
“Excuses, excuses,” Junie says. “I have removed all the obstacles from your way, so if you don’t at least try, you’ve only
got yourself to blame.”
“I told you about my no-dating pol—”
“Which we both know good and well is a cop-out. It’s a guaranteed way to avoid heartache, but it’s also a guaranteed way to
live out the rest of your life as a sad, lonely dummy doctor. You have a long runway of life ahead, my friend. Live a little.
I can promise you this: You’ll realize how stupid your little policy is if you let this chance slip away.”
He’s silent for the rest of the ride to the house.
And to Junie, it sounds a whole lot like agreement.