Parting Chances (Fighting Chance #1)
Read Parting Chances (Fighting Chance #1) Online
Authors: Caylie Marcoe
Copyright ©2014 by Caylie Marcoe
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First Printing: November 2014
Cover design by Cover Shot Creations
To Dad
You are the strongest man I know.
Thank you for always being there for me.
I love you.
I leaned against the counter in my parents’ kitchen, straining to hear their hushed voices coming from the hallway. My brother was slightly less invasive as he dug through the fridge for a drink.
“What do you think all that is about?” I asked Caleb.
“Who knows?” He shrugged, pouring himself a glass of orange juice. “They’ve been doing that all week.”
I had just finished my junior year of college and moved back home for the summer, so I was still slightly out of the loop of the happenings here. “Great. Something is probably wrong with Mom again.” My mind reeled back to my teenage years when she was sick all the time.
“Or they just have something to talk about privately and don’t want you eavesdropping.” Caleb bumped his shoulder against mine.
“I just got home and this is the first time we’re all together since Christmas. Why would they want to spend the whole time talking privately?”
“I don’t know, sis, but I’m sure it’s nothing,” Caleb said, finishing his juice and setting the cup in the sink.
I wished he was right. But I still had this nagging feeling something was wrong.
“Haley? Caleb? Can you come into the living room?” Mom called.
Caleb glanced down at me as I released a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, and he wrapped an arm around my shoulder.
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” he whispered in my ear.
He was only a year older, but I always clung to whatever Caleb told me, always clung to the superhero big brother image he always gave off. Even though he was hurting and scared that we would lose Mom back then, he kept that hidden from me. He was my rock and always told me things would be okay. I so desperately wanted to believe him right now. I leaned into him for support as we walked into the living room.
My stomach dropped. Dad sat on the couch watching us with somber eyes. Mom was on the loveseat opposite the couch, her lips turned down at the corners, wrinkles creasing her forehead as she stared at Dad.
“Come, have a seat,” Mom said to me, patting the cushion next to her.
I slowly made my way to her, while Caleb took a seat next to Dad. When we were both settled, Mom cleared her throat and glanced at Dad, who gave her a slight nod.
“We have some news—” Mom started.
“And we know it’s not something you expected to hear, after everything we’ve been through, but, unfortunately, it is happening,” Dad added softly.
“What the hell?” Caleb said, his eyes narrowed at our parents. “Are you guys getting a divorce?”
“No, sweetie. Calm down,” Mom spoke firmly.
I shot Caleb a glare as he settled back into the couch; all he could do was shrug at me. Why did he jump to
that
conclusion?
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I choked out, “So… it’s your cancer. It’s back?”
Please say no. Please be wrong.
“Yes.”
I sank back into the couch and took deep breaths.
It’s okay. There are many options out there. She’ll be fine.
She has to be fine.
“Kids, there is no easy way to say this…” Dad said, his voice catching.
“The cancer has spread. Since this is the second time it has come back, there’s nothing further we can do,” Mom said gingerly.
My heart stopped. I couldn’t breathe. “But…what does that mean?”
“The doctors are giving me a few more months, at best.” Mom wrapped her arms around me. “It’s just too far advanced.”
“But…but…” I muttered into her chest.
Caleb shoved to his feet and paced the living room. “There has to be
something
they can do for you!”
“Sweetie, it’s
too advanced
. It won’t respond to chemo or radiation anymore. My
body
cannot handle any more of that. We’ve exhausted all our other sources. There is just nothing…” Mom’s voice caught, and her body shook against mine. Her heart pounded against my ear as she tightened her arms around me.
“How long have you known?” I asked.
“Two months. We thought we could fight it,” Mom said, kissing my forehead. “It slowed slightly in the beginning, giving us a little more time. But eventually it just stopped responding.”
Caleb’s pacing stopped. He fisted his hair, pulling the dark brown strands, his eyes rimmed with tears. “I won’t believe this,” he said through his teeth. “You aren’t dying. You
can’t
die.” He sank back down on the couch next to Dad.
I cracked with his words. Tears started cascading down my face. My tough superhero of a brother was broken, sobbing uncontrollably. Caleb was bent over with his head in his hands, so Dad pulled him close and started rubbing his back.
“Mom, we don’t have enough time. We need more time,” I cried into her chest. There was so much she needed to see. She had to see me graduate college. Caleb was moving off to Boston for grad school; she had to see him get his master’s. What about when I got married or had babies? She needed to be there for all of it.
“Oh, sweetheart, I know,” Mom murmured into my chocolate brown hair. “Believe me, I know we need more time. But you’ll get through this. You are strong. You
all
are strong. It will suck for a while, but you will move past this. You will learn to accept this. You
will
live your life to the fullest,” Mom said sternly, looking between me and Caleb.
Of course Mom would be the one to make sure we moved on. And lived our lives. This wasn’t our first go around with cancer, and Mom had already told us many times that life would move on without her. Of course she would still stick to her guns and not let us wallow around feeling sorry for ourselves.
“I don’t want to accept this, or to learn to live without you,” Caleb said. He finally glanced up, his eyes red and watery.
“You need to. You need to live your life, just as you would if I were going to be around for a long time. We’ve talked about this a million times already, Caleb. I want you guys to be happy. Too many tears have been shed over this damn disease already.” Mom brushed off the single tear that escaped and looked at all three of us.
“You’re right, Jules,” Dad said, his voice sounding out of practice since he’d been quiet since they broke the news. “We’ve dealt with this on and off for the last eight years. Enough tears have already been shed between all of us. There is nothing we can do about the situation now.” He wiped at his eyes with a tissue and cleared his throat. “Sure, there are going to be hard days in our future, and it’s okay to be sad, but we shouldn’t let this stop us from living.” He pulled a now calm Caleb into a side hug, handing him some tissue to dry his tears.
I wasn’t as classy and used the sleeve of my shirt to wipe off the tears and snot from my face. When I was sufficiently dry, I turned to Mom. “Whatever you want, we’ll do it.”
“I want you to use a tissue,” Mom said dryly.
The room erupted with chuckles, and smiles started to form on our faces.
Well, that was one way to ease the tension.
“For the next few months, I just want us to be happy,” Mom continued when the laughter died down.
We all nodded to her request and sat in relaxed silence for the next few moments until Caleb’s stomach let out an ungodly groan.
“Well, Mom, what would make me happy right now, is some delicious lunch only you’re capable of creating.” Caleb smirked.
“Oh yes, let’s eat.” Mom stood and ushered Dad and Caleb out of the room.
I slowly followed, wondering how exactly I was going to be able to keep a smile on my face for the next few months.
