Page 35 of Tiffanie

“I never want you to apologize again for the awful thing that happened to you. You didn’t ask for cancer. I will spank your bottom or stand you in a corner if you say that in the future.” Phineas’s blood boiled at the thought of her feeling bad about something no rational person would seek out—ever.

She nodded and threw herself into his arms. Phineas held her close, squeezing her against him with gentle hugs. She would be okay. Tiffanie had to recover.

Chapter Fourteen

Waiting for Tuesday to roll around took forever. Tiffanie slept at Phineas’s house every night except for Friday when he had a once-a-month evening teen gathering at the library. Then she stayed at Ivan’s because remaining awake until ten was too much for her after a long week. Phineas had snuck in to sleep with her when the event concluded.

She couldn’t figure out if she really felt as good as she thought or if having Phineas around simply made things better. The testing would tell everything. She’d crossed her fingers so many times they ached.

Monday, Tiffanie moped around the house, sure that she would get awful news the next day. She wasn’t interested in anything. TV was boring. Even the spiciest book couldn’t hold her attention. And forget napping. Her brain hopped from one worry to the next. What would she do if the numbers got worse? If the doctor recommended a more powerful chemo blend?

Could she physically and mentally handle another round of being so sick and fragile? Her weakened condition was better than the alternative, but at some point, she’d have to accept that she’d fought hard, but the chemo had won. Trying to distract herself from negative thoughts, Tiffanie had buried herself in tasks until she was completely drained.

Deciding to get some fresh air, Tiffanie walked out onto the small front porch and dropped into a rocking chair. She studied the clouds, enjoying the faint breeze that wafted over her. The mature trees and bushes on the estate perfumed the air. Today, honeysuckle was the strongest aroma. She closed her eyes to savor the sweet scent.

Heavy warmth plopped onto her thighs, startling Tiffanie. “What?” Tiffanie would have jumped from her seat, but a large fuzzy creature now trampled across her lap. “Marmalade.”

“Meow!”

“You scared me. What are you doing here?”

Marmalade turned his head and glared at Tiffanie. She relented and scratched his neck. Immediately, the cat responded to his favorite caresses with a loud purr.

Tiffanie petted the furry animal until her arm got tired. When she stopped, Marmalade stomped around in a circle, pressing all his weight into each paw. Grimacing, Tiffanie requested, “Could you get comfortable and stretch out, please?”

The feline stared at her with a highly offended expression.

“Sorry, Marmalade. Your feet are pointy.”

A loud sneeze burst from the cat, followed by a quick shake of his head. Tiffanie opened her mouth to apologize and froze when Marmalade extended his nose to sniff at her belly. Had she dropped food on herself at lunch? The cat brushed his large head against her abdomen and flopped into a comfortable position.

Tiffanie gawked at the cat. Did he sense something? She remembered how he’d acted when she first started working with Essie. Marmalade had started to get on her lap and had stopped and hissed at her abdomen. He’d stopped hanging around her at all…. Until the other day, when he’d settled next to her, stealing one section of the seat cushion in Essie’s office. He’d sniffed her there too.

“What’s up, Tiff? You looked shocked.” Her brother’s voice startled her.

“Hi, Ivan. I’m practicing my expressions for the Christmas play, Essie’s thinking about holding next year,” she invented.

“Tell me you’re lying. I don’t want camels and sheep dropping poo all over the stable area I’d have to figure out how to create.” Ivan held a hand to his forehead as if the thought alone already gave him a headache.

“I’m totally making excuses. I have no idea what I’m doing other than struggling not to move since Marmalade is napping on my lap.”

“Are you prepared for tomorrow?” Ivan guessed.

“Yes.”

“How do you feel?”

“A million times better. But what if the bloodwork comes back with high numbers? I’m going to lose it, and I’ve tried to be so brave in front of Phineas. Maybe I should have you take me instead.”

“You know I’ll go with you in a flash, but Phineas needs to be with you.”

His serious expression prompted Tiffanie to ask, “Why do you say that?”

“Because he’s in a role I could never be. You sleep better with him around. You’re eating more when he makes food. He cares for you deeply.”

“He does. I’ll be glad to have him with me, but you are invested too. You’ve been my rock since this started,” Tiffanie said, hoping her brother heard the mushy stuff infused in her words. She hoped he knew how thankful she was to have him in her life. “I love you, Ivan.”

“I love you too, Tiff. And unless I’m a complete idiot, so does Phineas.”