ChapterTwenty-Two
Viv
Dr. Anderson had done Viv a favor. She knew that. But still, waiting in the exam room felt like time no longer existed.
She waited, she let her mind wander, and she tried to focus on all the good things that had happened in the last few weeks.
Maybe it would be good to just go back to the lake and distract herself. Maybe just let whatever her body was doing do it. Could she stop fighting? Had she already?
She was in the middle of a new kaftan, it was an overcast day, but sometimes a rainstorm was the perfect time to sit and watch the water. Clouds moved and shifted. The threat of rain changed the air. The tall grass swayed and danced, none of which happened on a hot still day with zero clouds. She could be there, not here.
But she was here, in the very nice exam room. She had no complaints about the accommodations, but the air here was heavy. Expectation and disappointment hovered in the shadows. Other women, just like her, sat in this very spot and got the news.
She was no different than they were. They were probably more upbeat, to be honest. Maybe she would face this next bit with less negativity. Maybe they bought into “you got this” and it worked.
She heard a little commotion outside in the hallway. Well, maybe Dr. Anderson was finally out there and headed her way. She swallowed hard; this was it.
There was the polite knock. Viv had long since dressed, and she sat on the table, fully clothed, with her sweater neatly folded on her lap.
“Come in.”
And a gaggle, a literal batch of hens clucking and pecking and acting like they owned the roost, tumbled into the space.
“What in the heck?” Viv asked, but she already knew the answer.
“Yes, we used my celebrity and Libby’s imperiousness to get back here,” Hope said with a smile.
“You forgot my winning sense of humor,” J.J. added.
“Oops, yes, that too!”
Viv tried not to cry. Why did she want to cry?
“You guys!” She dabbed the corners of her eyes. She was holding back tears because thisdidmake it better.
Yes, she wanted to face this without leaning on her too-mature daughter. She wanted to be strong. She knew she could be.
But in truth, seeing her friends, old made new, helped her realize that she didn’t have to do it alone. They were not going to let her get this news by herself. Even if she thought that was what she wanted.
“Wow, this place is posh,” J.J. said.
“Yeah, pretty nice digs for a doctor’s office,” Viv answered.
The four women arranged themselves as best as they could in the exam room.
“I mean, is it just me, or do you hide your underwear in your other clothes when you go get the yearly,” J.J. asked.
“Oh, I do that,” Hope replied.
“You’re nuts. They’re about to see everything, for goodness’s sake,” Viv said.
“Yeah, but I do it anyway. I do not know why,” J.J. said. “How about you, Libby?”
“Me?” Libby stood straighter and gave the impression this line of questioning was gauche and beneath her dignity.
J.J. and Hope looked at each other.
“I never wear underwear, so it’s not an issue,” Libby said.
