Chapter 77 Junie
Junie
After her appointment that day, Junie makes sure she’s in bed by the time Georgia gets back. Tina and her father went with
her to the appointment, and she sends them home as soon as they’re back, claiming she needs a nap. What Junie really wants
is just a few more hours to herself before she has to explain. She’s felt like she’s been getting sicker over the past few
weeks, and that was made clear at the appointment today. Despite the chemo, the cancer has spread.
Today the doctor didn’t hold back when she asked for his professional opinion about her condition, and she was so grateful
because it was the permission she needed. Her scan did not look good. The cancer showed up larger in her bones and has spread
to her lungs. The chemo doesn’t seem to be working, and the blood work they pulled before the MRI was concerning as well.
She is scheduled for chemo in a few days, and at the bottom of her guts, Junie doesn’t want to go.
It’s entirely different from when she didn’t want to do it the first time around. Her reluctance is not because she’s afraid,
not because she wants to deny her reality, but quite the opposite. She has fully accepted what this means.
When she asked the doctor, he didn’t say she should stop chemo.
But he also didn’t blanch when she asked about it.
He said the chemo has not shrunk the growths, that the cancer has grown and spread. That the treatment has no guarantees either
way, and it’s up to her.
Neither she nor the doctor pretended like the outcome was looking good; neither pretended like their early optimism still
fit into this picture. Neither pretended that this wasn’t in line with the progression of this specific disease.
The next morning, Junie is up first. Most likely due to her 6:00 p.m. bedtime and the fact that Puds spooned her all night.
She goes to the fridge and pops the tab on a can of Diet Coke and slurps. She wanders out to the garden, and there is a slight
chill to the air. It feels like a promise from fall—be there soon. For now, thanks to the battering heat and routine thunderstorms of summer, her garden is green. She harvests a few zucchinis.
Puds runs out, and she stoops to pat him.
“Now this is the good life, my good boy,” she says.
She pulls a few weeds, then settles into a wooden slat-back chair. Junie turns her head to the sky.
Not long ago she could work out here for hours without even thinking about this chair. Still, what a miracle that she can
walk to and through her garden. She’s determined to delight in what remains.
A couple of hours later, and with many rest breaks in between, Junie arrives at June’s in her truck and parks as close as
humanly possible to the door. Her eyes well with happy tears when she sees the progress. The walls are new and complete. The
floor is now shiny LVT. She taps it with her foot and manages a quick boogie before dropping into a hair chair stashed against
the wall and covered in plastic wrap. It lets out a crinkly thud to welcome her.
Her phone buzzes with a text.
Dad: Hi honey, sorry to bother you, but the crew is ready for your paint selection. They want to get paint up before any of the lighting fixtures or decor is placed. I’m happy to take over on that. Or Georgia, I’m sure. Don’t want to pressure you.
“Ha,” Junie says out loud to herself, alone in the middle of her mama’s—no, all of their—beauty shop. “Little does he know.”
She lifts herself up and slides a few paint chips from her back pocket. It’s down to three front runners: Winsome Dove, Fresh
Porcelain, and Marshmallow Fluff. Junie holds them out in a fan and carries them around the room, pausing for angles. She
had an idea of her favorite, but now here in the shop, it’s obvious.
She settles back in the chair and texts her father. Marshmallow Fluff. Just ask at the hardware store, and they know the brand.
An answer pings. Final answer?
He always did love that game show. Junie types back: Final answer.
She watches the dots scroll, and then his response pops up. You win the million-dollar prize! You’re still a million bucks, Junie Bug.
The phone pings again, this time Georgia: Where are you? Then: Did you drive alone? And finally: Calling now.
Junie silences the phone and gets up. She needs to talk to Georgia about this face-to-face, and to be honest, she’s ready
to get back to her sofa. She’ll face her sister at home.