Page 82 of Until the Last Star Fades

“Maybe, but sometimes I need a reminder.” She smiled softly. “Thanks for being a good sport, Ben, climbing up here.”

“No probs. I think I’m gonna win our game of Never Dunnit—I deserve bonus points for risking life and limb today, just sayin’!”

She laughed, noticing a loose shoelace. “I still don’t believe the eighties club was the first time you’ve ever snuck in somewhere without paying.”

“Believe it. It’s true.”

“So, was the climb up here your favorite part of our Central Park tour?”

“Nope. That big lake with the turtles!” His playful grin was so infectious, Riley’s smile grew, too.

Turtles? Aw, bonus points to the cute Brit for loving turtles.

“And those arches with the tiled ceiling near the fountain. That was pretty cool.”

“Bethesda Fountain?” She tied her lace. “Yeah, it’s beautiful.”

“What’s your favorite?”

“The walk along the Mall.” Her eyes jumped to his socks. A face was peeking out between his jeans and sneakers. Is that…Santa Claus? The smile on her face reached for her ears. “I love how the benches face each other under the canopy of trees. It’s so peaceful and calm—right in the middle of the city, you can just stroll, eat ice cream, check out the artists and street performers. I love it.”

“Fancy an ice cream now?” Ben squinted into the sun. “I’d kill for an ice lolly.”

“You just want down.”

“No, don’t call the fire brigade yet. Give me twenty minutes, I might go full-on Spidey, clambering all the way up.”

“Bravery, thy name is Benjamin!” Riley snickered. “Well, while you plan your ascent, I’ll go grab us ice cream. What do you want?”

“Surprise me. Something silly.”

“Oh, you’ll regret saying that!” Riley laughed and slid down the rock, joining a bunch of squealing kids at the bottom. I’m so glad we’re hanging out. She jogged over to the vendor’s cart, her wait a lengthy one if the messy line of excitable children and their parents was anything to go by. Pushing up her sleeves, she smiled at Ben and shouted, “Don’t go anywhere!”

Watching her, he stretched out his legs and fished his phone from his front pocket, his Facebook app flagging a rare notification. With a finger tap, a post opened featuring a photo of Riley luminous in a sunny yellow dress. Her arms were full, hugging her mom and a retriever, its pink tongue lolling out the side of its mouth as it leaned against her. Below their loving embrace, a single sentence:

Click here to support Help Maggie’s Cancer Fight, organized by Piper Paisley.

Thirty-Five

Cancer?! Riley’s mom has cancer?

Ben’s stomach swirled with nausea. “Fuck no.” Brows peaked, his eyes dropped to the vendor’s cart. Still a dozen or so people ahead of her, Riley talked with a mom cradling a sleepy baby against her chest. With a heavy heart, he clicked on the link and read slowly and carefully.

My friends, Maggie and Riley Hope, are facing the most difficult challenge of their lives, and they need our help. Less than 6 months ago, Riley’s mom, Maggie, was diagnosed with cancer for the third time in 5 years. Maggie is only 48.

Oh, sweet girl. Oh, Riles… Ben’s lips pushed out in a reflective pout. I can’t believe…how…? He read on.

In 2012, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Maggie underwent invasive surgery and multiple cycles of chemotherapy and radiation, putting cancer in its place. She enjoyed 4 happy and healthy years until the fall of 2016 when the cancer returned. This time, it was ovarian cancer. Another surgery followed along with more chemotherapy, and once again, Maggie showed cancer who was boss, but the all-clear only lasted a few short months.

Not satisfied with taking Maggie on twice, cancer came back for a third time 6 months ago in November 2017 as a recurrence of ovarian cancer—Stage 3. But in the months since then, it has progressed to metastasized ovarian cancer, Stage 4 involving the liver.

Cancer—of the liver? Stage 4…oh no! Ben chased his breath. Can people survive that?

A cheeky laugh caught his attention. Riley was sharing a joke with the ice cream vendor, their hilarity echoing across the playground. She glanced back up at him, sticking out her tongue.

Um…wave at her! Pretend everything’s normal. He raised his hand and gave her a smile until she turned away. Read faster. I don’t think I was supposed to get this.

Maggie is currently undergoing more chemo to shrink the cancer and hopefully halt its progress. Right now, no other organs are affected, and Maggie continues to lead a vibrant and active life, but she needs our help. Her health insurance doesn’t cover most of her costs and due to her multiple bouts with cancer, she’s been unable to work for almost 2 years. In the past 6 years, bills for scans, surgeries, insurance premiums, chemo and radiation treatments, pain medications, blood transfusions, ER visits, and transportation costs have continued to mount. She recently had to sell her car and most of her belongings in order to keep her apartment at a time when she needs comfort and compassion the most.