Best Friends Forever (6 page)

T
he phone rang, and Celine's heart skipped a beat. It was just after two p.m. on Wednesday, and while she'd been waiting nervously for this very call, she paused before answering. The caller ID screen showed that it was Dr. Jones's office, but she debated letting it go to voice mail. In a split second, she grabbed the phone from its base and answered it.

“Hello?”

“Celine?” Dr. Jones said.

“Yes,” she answered, knowing that the only time a doctor called a patient directly was when the news was serious. Still, she held her breath.

“I have your pathology report back, and I'm afraid your tumor is cancerous.”

Celine breathed freely now, but her nerves were shot. On Sunday, she'd decided that she wouldn't worry and that she was prepared for whatever the outcome of her biopsy would be, but this morning, she'd become upset again.

“So where do we go from here?” she asked.

“I'd definitely like to schedule a lumpectomy as soon as possible, and the good news is that you're only at stage two, and I don't believe you'll need chemo. I won't know that for sure until I remove your tumor and send it over to pathology, but if I'm right, then you'll only need radiation. That would be five days per week for six weeks, though.”

Celine felt like she was having an out-of-body experience.

“So you think you'll be able to get it all?”

“I think we're in a great position. There's no way I can guarantee anything, but if we can remove all the cells through surgery and radiation, that will be a huge plus.”

“Well, I trust your judgment, and I trust God, so I'm good.”

“I'm glad you feel that way, and let me just say that your overall attitude will make a world of difference. Being positive about every aspect of this will help you tremendously.”

“I'll remember that.”

“Sounds good. Tina will call you to get you scheduled, but if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call.”

“Thank you so much, Doctor. I will, and I really appreciate it.”

“No problem, and you hang in there.”

“Thank you again.”

Celine hung up the phone and sat for a few minutes.
Dear Lord, help me to be strong for my daughter. Give me what I need to get through this. Lord, I trust You, I believe in You, I have faith in You
.

Celine sighed and felt somewhat better, so she picked up her phone to call Lauren. Normally Keith would have been the first person she contacted with any important news, but right now, she needed to talk to someone who genuinely cared about her. Thankfully, Lauren answered on the second ring.

“This is Lauren speaking.”

“Hey,” Celine said.

“Hey, how are you? Have you heard from the doctor yet?”

“He just called, and the tumor is cancerous.”

“I'll be there as soon as I can.”

“You really don't have to leave work. I'm okay.”

“I'll see you in about an hour. Maybe less than that.”

“Thanks, girl.”

“I love you much.”

“I love you, too.”

Celine set the phone down and thought about Kassie. Her class had ventured over to Chicago on an end-of-the-school-year field trip, and Celine was sort of glad she wouldn't be back until around six. That way she could talk to Lauren for a couple of hours and mentally prepare how she was going to explain things to Kassie. Celine dreaded the conversation already, but it had to be done.

Celine thought about things for a few minutes and then made the call she'd been putting off for days. Jackson answered as soon as she finished dialing.

“Hey, Sis, what's up? I've been meaning to call you for the last couple of days. We haven't talked in over a week, and you know that's not like us. I've really been busy at work, though. A lot busier than usual. But how are you?”

He sounded so upbeat that Celine hated having to tell him why she was calling.

“Not too good, and there's something I need to tell you.”

“What's that?”

“I have breast cancer.”

“You have what?”

“Breast cancer. My doctor did a biopsy, and he just called me with the results.”

“Biopsy? When did you find out you needed one?”

“I found a lump a little over a week ago.”

“And you're just telling me about it? Why?”

“I didn't want to worry you, and I was hoping there wouldn't be anything to tell.”

“You're wrong for that, Sis. How could you keep something like that from me? Your own brother? We're all we've got.”

“I know, Jack,” she said, “and I'm sorry.”

“So now what? Are you having surgery?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“Soon. They'll be calling me with a date.”

“Well, I hope you'll at least let me know that right away.”

“Of course I will. I'll call you as soon as I know.”

“So are you having a mastectomy?”

“No, he thinks removing the tumor will be enough, but I'll also need to have six weeks of radiation. Thirty treatments in all.”

“That's all fine and well, but why don't you just have your whole breast removed? That way you have a better chance of it not coming back.”

“Dr. Jones says I'm only at stage two, so he thinks I'll be fine. And what do you know about mastectomies, anyway?”

“One of my coworkers' wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.”

“What stage was she in?”

“Third.”

“Well, Dr. Jones is one of the best in the area, so I have to trust his opinion on this.”

“You have to do what you feel is right, but I just thought I'd ask.”

“I appreciate it, and you know I love you.”

“I love you, too, and as soon as you know more, I'll be making my airline reservations.”

“You don't have to do that. The procedure will be outpatient, so I'll be home by afternoon or evening.”

“Having any surgery is still a risk. So I'm coming, and that's all there is to it.”

Celine smiled because even though she didn't want to burden him, she needed her brother there with her.

“And hey,” he said, “how are Keith and Kassie doing? How are they taking the news?”

Celine had been hoping Jackson wouldn't ask about his brother-in-law, but now that he had, she wasn't going to hide anything else from him.

“He's leaving me.”

“What do you mean?”

“He's moving out.”

“Why?”

“Says he's unhappy, and he doesn't want to be here anymore.”

“And he knows you have breast cancer?”

“No, but I told him a few days ago that the doctor was pretty sure I did.”

“And what did he say?”

“Not a lot, and yesterday all he did was apologize for the timing.”

“That bastard! He's going to leave you while you're sick? Who does that? I oughta jump on a plane and come tear that clown apart.”

“Jack, please.”

“Please, what? Did that fool even go with you to your appointments?”

“Jack, listen to me,” she said. “I'm fine. Really.”

“Did he or didn't he?”

“No, but what does that matter now?”

“It matters a lot, and the only way a man acts like this is when he's laying up with some skank. Period.”

“I can't worry about that,” she said. “I have to worry about Kassie and my surgery.”

Jackson sighed loudly. “You're right. I'm sorry if I upset you, but I don't like what Keith is doing to you. I don't like it at all.”

“I know, but you can't make someone be with you if they don't want to. Am I hurt? Of course I am. Do I wish he'd change his mind? Absolutely. Will staying mad and losing sleep change anything? Definitely not. So I've got to focus on me right now.”

“I agree. I'm just stunned. I had no idea things were bad between you and Keith.”

“Neither did I. At least not this bad, anyway.”

“I'm so sorry you're having to deal with all of this, and like I said, please let me know as soon as you find out your surgery date. That way, I can let my manager know I need some time off.”

Jackson was a senior systems analyst for a pharmaceutical company, and Celine was proud of all that her brother had accomplished. Especially since it had taken him eight years of being an undergrad to find himself. He'd always been a straight-A student, but changing his major three different times had extended his graduation date. Now, though, he had not only a bachelor's but a master's, too. Jackson was just a year younger than Celine, but she still saw him as her baby brother—and whether he liked it or not, that would never change. Although now the tables would need to turn a little. Because of her illness, she was counting on him to be her protector. She no longer had her parents to turn to, but she knew Jackson would be there for her in every way possible. He and Lauren would never let her down. Not even if their lives depended on it.

Lauren had arrived about a half hour ago, and Celine had told her that Keith was moving out.

“Surely you must be making this up,” she said.

“I wish I were, but I'm not. He's having an affair, and he wants out.”

“How long has this been going on?”

“I don't know. He just started staying out late, and two Sundays ago was the first time he was gone past midnight. He didn't come home until five a.m.”

“Wow.”

“I was just as shocked as you are. Keith has never done anything like this before.”

“And he just started this for no reason? You didn't notice anything was wrong?”

“Not really. He says I haven't been paying him any attention.”

“Please. That's just an excuse. I mean, work and everything else can sometimes get in the way of any relationship, but he couldn't come to you like a man? He couldn't express what he was feeling?”

“Those are my thoughts exactly.”

“So he just went out and found some tramp?”

“I guess so. At first he wouldn't admit it, but he also never denied it. Then, yesterday, I asked him if he loved her, and he said he didn't know.”

“This is crazy, and it just goes to show that you can't trust anyone.”

“Tell me about it. But if he wants out, he wants out.”

“I just think it's pretty awful, though, that Keith is leaving right before you have surgery. It just doesn't get more low-down than that, and I'm really disappointed in him. And what about Kassie?”

“I know, I've already told him all that, but he doesn't seem to care. All he's thinking about is being with his woman,” Celine said, starting to feel sad again, and Lauren must have noticed.

“I am so, so sorry. Here I came over to support you, yet I'm obsessing over Keith and what he's doing to you.”

“It's not a problem. I know this is taking you totally by surprise, and you're upset. I'm upset, too, but I can't spend all my time worrying about Keith. What I have to do now is try to stay as calm as I can. I need to meditate and pray more than ever before and be here for Kassie.”

“You're right, and I'm going to be here for both of you.”

“I appreciate that, and Jackson says he'll be home for my surgery, too.”

“Good. I'm glad you called him.”

“The one thing I am going to have to figure out, though, is how I'll get to all my radiation treatments. Because Dr. Jones is already planning for that to happen. I might be able to drive myself to the first few, but I saw online that one of the common symptoms of radiation is heavy fatigue. Everyone is different, but I still need to prepare for it.”

“We'll get all that worked out when the time comes. So please don't worry about that. I'm also going to plan on taking a week of vacation when you have your surgery. That way, when you come home, I can stay here with you. Someone is going to need to cook, wash, and clean.”

Celine listened as Lauren sat figuring out everything, and she thanked God for her best friend. She was grateful to have Lauren in her life, since she no longer had a husband to depend on; at least not one who cared what happened to her. He was only concerned about himself, and that made Celine think about something else. Not only would she have to sit Kassie down this evening to explain about her cancer and surgery, she and Keith would also need to tell her he was leaving. Celine was having a hard time digesting both pieces of news herself, so she couldn't imagine how traumatized Kassie would be. Her heart would be broken like never before, and the thought of it all made Celine's own heart ache. Too much was happening way too fast, and Celine just hoped Kassie could survive it. She prayed that God would protect her daughter completely.

C
eline walked upstairs and then down the hall to Kassie's room. Kassie had her door slightly closed, and Celine could hear her singing along with one of her favorite Disney Channel characters. She sounded so happy, and it killed Celine to have to tell her about her illness. It wasn't the kind of thing you wanted to tell any child, and Celine prayed for strength.

She knocked on her daughter's door.

“Come in,” Kassie said in her same singing voice.

Celine opened the door. “Hey, sweetie, can you pause that for a minute?”

“Okay,” she said. She was sitting in bed on top of her comforter, resting against three pillow shams.

Celine sat on the side of the bed, facing her.

“What's wrong, Mom? You look sad again. You look sad a lot.”

“I know, honey, but I don't mean to.”

“Are you okay? I'm starting to get scared.”

“Well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Mom's going to need surgery.”

“Why?”

“I have a lump in my breast.”

Kassie looked at her mom's chest. “Which one?”

“My left one.”

“So your doctor is going to take it out?”

“Yes.”

“Does it hurt?”

“No.”

“Then why do you have to have surgery?”

“Because it wouldn't be good to let it stay in there. My doctor wants to remove it before it gets bigger.”

“If it does, will it make you sick?”

“Yes.”

Kassie stared at her mom, seemingly trying to decide whether she should say what she was thinking.

“What is it, honey?” Celine asked.

“Do you have cancer?”

Celine had sort of been hoping she wouldn't have to use that word, but she also wasn't going to lie to her daughter.

“I do, but how do you know about cancer?”

“Delia's aunt had it. Remember?”

“I'd forgotten about that, but yes, she did.”

“Are you going to die like her?”

Celine grabbed both of Kassie's hands. “No, sweetie. They caught mine very early. Once I heal up from my surgery, though, I'll need to have something called radiation.”

“Will that hurt?”

“No, but I might be a little tired from it.”

“Will you have to stay in the hospital a long time?”

“No. When I have my surgery, I'll be home later that same day. I won't have to stay there for any of my radiation treatments, either.”

“Will I be able to come to the hospital with you?”

“Not for the surgery, but you'll see me after school.”

“Is Daddy going to be off work so he can take care of you?”

Celine tried to think quickly, but she wasn't sure how to answer. The same as she hadn't wanted to lie about her diagnosis, she didn't want to lie about Keith.

“I'm going to have a lot of people helping to take care of me.”

“Like Auntie Lauren and Uncle Jackson?”

“Yes, and they'll be helping take care of you as well.”

“I'm glad, because I don't think Daddy can take care of us by himself. Remember that time you had the flu, Mom?” she said, giggling. “He burned up our breakfast, and then he burned the shirt he was trying to iron. And then he accidentally put some bleach on our jeans!” she said, laughing louder.

Celine couldn't help laughing with her. “Yeah, I remember all right.”

“That was funny,” she said, still smiling.

“But back to what we were talking about. Do you have any questions?”

“Can I catch your cancer? I mean, when I get older, will I have it, too?”

Celine hadn't been counting on this particular question, either. Not from a ten-year-old. But then, Kassie had always been wise beyond her years. She had both book and common sense.

“Well, it's not contagious, but none of us ever knows what we might get down the road. Our job is to pray that God protects us and keeps us healthy.”

“Is that why you got sick? Because we didn't pray enough? I pray for me, you, Daddy, Uncle Jackson, Auntie Lauren, and all my friends every night. But maybe I didn't say the right things.”

“Oh, sweetie,” Celine said, caressing her daughter's face. “This isn't your fault. It's nobody's fault, okay?”

Kassie didn't seem convinced, but she didn't argue.

“You hear me?” Celine said. “There's nothing you could have done to prevent this from happening.”

“You really mean that?”

“Yes.”

“Well, then why did this happen to you?”

“Because it just did. People sometimes get sick, but then they get better.”

“I hope you get better really soon. I don't want you to be sick.”

“I don't want to be sick, either, and I believe God is going to heal me.”

“I believe He will, too. Pastor Black says that we just have to ask and believe about anything, and that's what I'm going to do, Mom.”

“Good for you. And no matter what, I want you to know that I love you and I always will.”

Kassie moved closer to the edge of the bed next to her mom and hugged her. “I love you, too, Mom, and I'll do anything you want. I'll help you the whole time until you get better.”

Celine held her baby girl tightly, trying to fight back tears. Kassie was so innocent and caring. So loving and genuine. She was a major blessing from God and the kind of daughter every parent should have.

After watching the rest of Kassie's Disney program with her, Celine went downstairs to her office. But then she heard Keith walking in. She knew he might try avoiding her, so she went into the kitchen.

“We need to talk,” she said.

“I already told you my mind is made up.”

“That's not what this is about, and since I don't want Kassie to hear us, I need to talk to you privately.”

Celine could tell from Keith's body language that she was the last person he wanted to be closed up in a room with. But he followed her back to her office anyway.

Celine shut the door. “Didn't my biopsy results cross your mind at all today?”

“No, because I wasn't even sure when you'd have them.”

“Well, Dr. Jones called this afternoon, and my tumor is malignant.”

“I'm sorry to hear that, but I know you'll be fine.”

“Yes, I will be,” she said matter-of-factly, and Keith looked shocked.

“You sound a lot more confident than you did a couple of days ago, and I'm glad to see it.”

Celine shook her head. “You never cease to amaze me, you know that? But right now you're the least of my worries. Kassie is my main concern, and she should also be yours.”

“What is that supposed to mean? I love my daughter, and I'm always going to be there for her.”

“How?”

“What do you mean, how?”

“How can you move out and still be here for her?”

“Easily.”

“Yeah, well, we'll see.”

“I guess we will.”

For a second and only a second, Celine had wanted to plead with him to postpone his plans, at least until she finished her radiation treatments. But no matter how much she still loved him, she wouldn't beg a man who'd become as cruel as Hitler. She wouldn't ask him to do anything, not when he was callous enough to leave a daughter who adored him.

“So when do you want to tell Kassie that we're separating?” he said.

Celine frowned. “Separating? No, you've got it all wrong. What you're doing is walking out on us.”

Keith glared at her. “Why do you insist on trying to make things difficult?”

“This is all your doing, but just so you know, we're not telling Kassie anything tonight.”

“And why not?”

“Because I just told her about my surgery. She had a lot of questions about cancer, and we're not piling any more bad news on her.”

“Fine, but it'll have to be tomorrow or Friday because I'm moving out on Saturday.”

Celine wanted to ask him why he was moving in such a hurry, but she still didn't have the energy to do it.

“I'm really sorry you're sick,” he said, opening the door. “I'm sorry about everything.”

“Please don't say that anymore.”

“What?”

“How sorry you are. If you were
that
sorry, we wouldn't be having this conversation. You never would have started sleeping around, and you wouldn't be abandoning your daughter. You wouldn't be deserting either one of us.”

“I can't talk to you when you're like this,” he said, and left.

Celine knew it wasn't right to hate anyone, but she was starting to feel that way about Keith. She was beginning to loathe the ground he walked on, and she knew that wasn't good. She was hurt, but she was also infuriated. She was trying her best not to become a woman scorned, however, Keith wasn't making it easy. He was pushing her to her limit, and she wanted to get back at him. Maybe then she could feel better about all this. Although, truth was, she didn't have to do anything. The reason: Everyone on this earth paid a price for treating people badly, and Keith would be no different.