Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Chapter 20
* * *
NAOMI
“You look better.” I smiled walking into my sister’s hospital room. Frannie sat upright in bed, wearing regular clothes instead of a hospital gown, watching TV, and eating what looked like ice cream.
“I feel so much better.” She set the Styrofoam container on the portable tray and pulled out her red T-shirt so I could see the wording on the front. “Like my new threads?”
“Threads? I don’t think you’re cool enough to pull off that word.” I chuckled and leaned over to read what was printed on her shirt. “There’s no party like a swab party?”
“The bone-marrow-registry people gave it to me. The website where you can get a free swab kit is on the back. I got you one, too, but yours has the slogan and website all on the back. I figured you’d like the bright red and maybe we could also put that fat ass that Mom gave you to work as you walk down the streets of New York and find me a donor.”
I laughed. “You really are feeling better.”
“Good as new.”
I’d spoken to her oncologist in the hall on my way in and knew that wasn’t true. The transfusions were only a temporary Band-Aid. Frannie needed a bone-marrow transplant, or this was going to keep happening. But she was in good spirits, and I wasn’t going to bring her head down by reminding her of that.
“Did they come in to draw your blood yet? I saw Dr. Stern in the hall, and he said discharge would depend on how your blood count holds.”
“Not yet. But the hematologist is really cute, and he should be in shortly. You should unbutton another button on that blouse. He doesn’t wear a wedding band.”
“Why are you trying to fix me up with the good doctor? You’re single too.”
Frannie snort-laughed. “I’m such a catch. A thirty-four-year-old widow with two kids and cancer.”
“You’re a catch, even with all that, and terrible taste in music.”
“You’re just jealous that Mom didn’t leave you her Barry Manilow album collection.”
I laughed. “Just because she left them to you doesn’t mean you have to play them daily.”
“He’s the showman of a generation.”
“Yeah, our great-grandmother’s generation. I’ve been introducing your kids to real music while you’re gone. I already have Molly humming Taylor Swift and Gaga.”
“Speaking of Gaga, how are my little monsters?”
Since my sister seemed like herself again, I thought it was time to be honest. “You need to tell them, Frannie. Ryder definitely knows something is going on. You feel better now, but the doctors said this was likely to keep happening until they can find you a donor. What are you going to tell the kids next time? You went to the same sushi place and got sick again?”
She sighed. “I know. I just don’t want to scare them. The C word is a lot to handle. I still remember when Mom told us she had it the first time twenty years ago. I was devastated and terrified. And back then there was no Google to fill your head with awful pictures and outcome statistics.”
“I get it, but they’re scared anyway. Ryder is playing his usual tough guy, but he’s smart. Dawson told me he even asked him what was really wrong with you.”
“What did Dawson say?”
“Bad sushi. He wouldn’t say anything out of turn.”
Frannie blew out a breath. “I’ll tell them when I get home.”
“I think it’s the right thing to do.”
“Okay, but no more depressing talk now. All I do is sit here and think about depressing stuff all day. The oncology ward is not a cheery place. Tell me something juicy.” She pulled her legs up and wrapped her arms around her knees. It made her look so young.
“Juicy? There’s nothing in my life that’s juicy. Heck, I don’t even eat juicy steak.”
“That boss of yours is pretty juicy.”
I smiled. “Dawson is handsome, yes.”
“He’s into you, too.”
“And you know this how? From the two minutes you were able to assess him from the backseat during the drive home from Hoboken before conking out?”
“He drove you to Jersey. Most men who live in New York won’t even do that for a blow job.”
I laughed. “Dawson is a good person. It just took me a while to allow myself to see it.”
“Why would you not want to see it?”
“Because I’m insanely attracted to him.”
“Attractive and a good person. That’s not exactly a bad combination, you know.”
I sighed. “Dawson isn’t the relationship type, and the last thing I need is to get hurt again.”
“You’ve gone out with men since you and Brad split up.”
“I know. But not ones like Dawson.”
“What does Dawson have that the others didn’t?”
I looked into my sister’s eyes. “Everything.”
“Oh wow. You really like him?”
“I think he has the potential to be important in my life, and that scares the crap out of me.”