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Was that all he was going to say?
“She wasn’t good at taking care of herself either. She drank a lot.” He took a deep breath. “She got sick. I left school to come home and take care of her.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, squeezing his hand. “That must have been hard on you.”
“Not as hard as when she refused medical treatment to prolong her life.” His jaw tightened. “She didn’t have to die; she could have fought. She could have stayed for me, but she chose not to.”
Shock filtered through her. She had no idea. Her mother died of cancer, and she had to battle for her life with everything she had until, at last, she lost the fight against cancer.
Suzy couldn’t even comprehend not fighting to be here for your child. Daniel was still a young man when his mom died, and he needed his mom to fight for him.
Suzy embraced him. Tears were in both their eyes. She wanted to comfort him. Megan said he was damaged. Suzy would give anything to make him better.
“And then she made me promise on her deathbed to save her art gallery,” he mumbled.
“So, you never went back to school?”
He nodded.
“I don’t know what to say except I’m sorry that happened to you. It must have been terrible.”
“I don’t know why I told you.” He pulled her closer to him. “But thank you for listening.”
She held him for the longest time until he broke away.
“You must be starving. Let me order our food.” He touched her face one more time. “Now, do you see why I can’t get involved with an artist? I’ll be back.”
Her heart jolted. It all made horrible sense, but she hated it. She understood, but the idea of never being with Daniel was unbearable. She wanted to promise him she’d never hurt him,not the way his mother did, but the words stuck in her throat. This is what he wanted. Her heart broke into a thousand pieces for him, her, and what might have been.
Daniel walked to his office, shut the door, and leaned against it, tears streaming down his face. He loved his mom. She wasn’t perfect, but she was his mom.
He needed to forgive her and move on with his life for his sake. The therapy sessions were helping.
***
Suzy rushed into her apartment from her Friday morning classes. She had another dreadful appointment with Paris at one, which was not something she was looking forward to, but tonight was her big show.
Butterflies jumped inside, dizzying her with joy. She’s spent so much time with Daniel these last few days, getting ready for the show, but they hadn’t mentioned their conversation about his mom.
It had been wonderful working together, but knowing they could never be together was bittersweet. She couldn’t give up being an artist. He’d never ask her to, yet he made it clear he wouldn’t risk his heart again with an artist.
“Stinker?” Suzy searched her apartment for him. “Tonight is the show.”
Oddly, he wasn’t at his usual favorite spot by the heating vent. She glanced at his untouched food. Suddenly, her joy crumbled into uneasiness. He had acted odd these last few days but nothing too troublesome.
She set down her keys and bag. “Where are you, little guy?”
There was no answer. She quickly moved through her place, searching everywhere. Had she left the window open? Did the landlord come over and accidentally let him out?
She turned the corner. Fear gripped her heart as soon as she saw him. Stinker was on the bathroom floor, curled up tight by a pile of throw-ups.
She rushed to him, his breathing shallow. “We got to get you to the vet.” She carried him to the cat carrier and texted a friend for a ride.
***
“Suzy,” Stinker’s vet, Dr. Barb, said, walking back into the exam room. "I’m afraid he’s going to need surgery right away. Unfortunately, he has developed huge bladder stones that need to be removed as soon as possible.”
Tears slid down Suzy’s face as she stroked Stinker. She tried to swallow down her fear.
