Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
“The surgery was a success.” Dr. Newberry says before even sitting down. “We got clear margins on every tumor, and your mom is stable and recovering well.”
My mind is telling me this is good news, but my body hasn’t caught up yet. I still feel ready to cry. I still feel like the worst could happen at any moment.
Cosmos is behind Dr. Newberry, beaming in a way that makes him look young and irresistible. They both pull up chairs in front of us, keeping a respectful distance. Cosmos, a little farther away than Dr. Newberry.
“So, that’s it. She’s all good now, thank God,” Aunt Joan says.
I blink at her, not really understanding.
“Completing a successful surgery and being all good are two different things when dealing with stage four cancer. As I said, we’ve removed the tumors and achieved clear margins.
She’ll be here for a few more days for monitoring.
Then she’ll continue her recovery at home.
” He shifts his attention to me. “The recovery will be long. Her body has been significantly weakened by the drug and the surgery. She’ll be tired.
She’ll have some pain. You’ll need to watch her closely for any complications.
Dr. Kim will stop by later today or tomorrow to talk next steps.
Hopefully, once she’s released, we’ll never see her back here again. ”
I want to look at Cosmos, but I keep my gaze firmly on Dr. Newberry and nod along.
“Can we see her?” Aunt Joan asks. I’m glad she’s here to do the talking, because my brain is too slow and running on backup battery.
“Soon.” Dr. Newberry smiles. “A nurse will come back in a little while and tell you once she’s awake.” He leans back in his seat. “Do you have any more questions for us?”
If I had questions at one point, they’re gone now. My mind is completely blank, an empty screen with a blinking cursor.
Aunt Joan tilts her head and looks past Dr. Newberry to Cosmos. “Are you the resident who reads romance novels?”
Dr. Newberry looks confused, but Cosmos remains calm and collected. “The patient likes romance novels,” he says to Dr. Newberry in explanation. Then, he gives Aunt Joan that irresistible dimpled smile. “Are you the one providing the goods?”
I can’t believe Mom talked to Aunt Joan about Cosmos. The two of them playing matchmaker has never led to anything good. I need to put a stop to it before she gets the wrong idea and makes a mess of my love life the same way she made a mess of this waiting room.
“I got the goods.” Joan reaches into her bag. “You want one?”
He chuckles softly. Despite where we are and who we’re with, my skin tingles. It’s the most seductive sound I’ve ever heard, rumbling through me like a massage on aching muscles.
“I’m good. Thank you, though,” Cosmos says.
Dr. Newberry frowns. “Any other questions for us?”
“Yeah,” Aunt Joan says. “If I wanted to ask out… say, a doctor, here… how long would I have to wait?”
Dr. Newberrt blushes bright red and looks down at his hands. It’s clear he thinks she’s talking about him. “No set timeline,” he answers slowly, deliberately. “As long as the patient has been released from care, there are no ethical concerns.”
I almost laugh at how uncomfortable he is, but then Aunt Joan elbows me in the side. “Hear that?”
I want to sink into the floor. No, into the center of the earth. I want to get so far away that no one in this room will ever find me again. I really hope Cosmos doesn’t think I set Aunt Joan up to ask that.
“If that’s all…” Dr. Newberry stands.
“Yep, I’m good.” Aunt Joan jumps to her feet and extends her hand. “Thank you for saving her. I—” Her voice cracks. She clears her throat. “We’re really grateful.”
Not long after Dr. Newberry leaves, Kiara bursts through the door with a giant balloon and a bouquet of sunflowers. “There you are! You know how many surgical waiting rooms they have in this place?”
I’m so shocked to see her I can’t seem to form words. When I saw her at our workshop last week, she pushed me for information on my mom until I admitted surgery was today, but I never expected her to show up.
Kiara takes no notice of my speechlessness, just throws her arms around me in a hug, introduces herself to Aunt Joan, and then plops down in the seat across the aisle from us. “I would have been here sooner if someone had told me what waiting room you were in.”
“Did she tell you not to come too?” Aunt Joan asks.
“Yeah, what’s with that?” Kiara leans forward with her elbows on her knees. “Who wants to be alone in a hospital waiting room?”
“It’s not that I want to be alone,” I say, attempting to defend myself. They both give me their own version of a silent, ‘Well then, why didn’t you want us here?’
I avert my eyes and pick at a loose thread on my sweater. “I just didn’t want everyone turning their lives upside down for me.”
There’s a beat of silence before Kiara places her hand on my knee. “You’re worth turning our lives upside down for, Hazel. I want to be here.”
It’s hard for me to believe her. I’ve never been the girl people pursue.
Mom is. She has that magical sort of sparkle about her.
At least normally. She’s emotional and wears her heart on her sleeve, like Aunt Joan, but everyone finds it endearing because of that special something about her you can’t quite put your finger on.
That it factor. It’s what made her a talented actress when she was younger.
I don’t have that. I’m just awkward and quiet. Until I explode with more emotion than most people can handle.
The thread I’ve been twisting around my fingers breaks with a snap.
“Well, like it or not, you’re stuck with me, kiddo.” Aunt Joan nudges my shoulder. “Better get used to it.”
Kiara pats my knee one more time before picking up the book on my lap. “I love this one. Have you read Dragon King of New York? That’s my favorite of hers.”
That sets Aunt Joan off, and soon the two of them are talking about romance novels and sharing Aunt Joan’s bag of chips.
Every few minutes they throw a question my way, trying to draw me into the conversation, but I’m too exhausted to engage, and there’s something kind of nice about not needing to.
For once, I don’t feel like I have to worry about what to say. I can just be.
Warm gratitude spreads through me thinking about their easy acceptance and how they showed up for me today. Maybe it really will all be okay.