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“Is there any specific reason you wanted to hear them now?” he asked as he continued to rock and stare out over the backyard.
I nibbled my bottom lip as I approached him and sighed. “I saw you coming out of the doctors the other day.”
He nodded. “I thought that was you.” He turned and looked at me. “You haven’t said anything to anyone?”
I shook my head as I took a seat beside him. “No, I didn’t. How bad is it, Richard?”
He glanced at me, and blinked a few times. “As bad as it can be, I’m afraid.”
“Richard, I’m so sorry.” I reached for his hand and squeezed it. “When are you going to tell everyone?”
“We want to wait until Ethan comes home. We decided it would be easier to do it all at once, and I don’t want to tell him while he’s trying to focus on his class.” He turned to look at me. “You won’t say anything, will you?”
“Absolutely not! Although I think I should say something to my mother. I think it would be good for her to know. She can help with whatever you need.”
“Maybe you might mention it to her. I’m not sure I could tell her, not right now.”
“I will do that. In fact, I will go over there right now and speak to my parents, and I’ll make sure that they know not to tell anyone else.” I paused. “Richard, did the doctor suggest any treatment?”
He shook his head sadly. “There is no treatment.”
My heart ached at his words. “Was he able to say how long she might have?”
He lifted his chin, blinking a few times, and I saw the tears shimmer in his eyes. “Days, maybe a few weeks at most. They want to put her on hospice immediately.”
Tears ran silently down my cheeks. I could not imagine the pain and fear he was feeling. I squeezed his hand again. “I love you guys. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do. I’ll come to visit her again tomorrow.”
“She would like that, Riley. Thank you, sweetheart.”
I kissed his cheek and made it inside my car before I put my head back against the seat and sobbed. Oh, Ethan! I cannot imagine what you are about to go through.
* * *
The conversationwith my parents was hard, and my mother was devastated. They both promised to keep it quiet until Ethan returned, and everyone could learn at once. She told me that she’d check in with them the next morning and see to anything they might need. I told her I’d check in the afternoons.
That’s what we did for the next two days. I stopped in the afternoon and cooked for them. Then I’d sit with Rebecca and listen to her tell stories of her life if she wasn’t too tired.
I asked if the other kids had been around, but she said that they were all busy. She knew that once they found out, they wouldn’t leave her alone, and she hated the fact that it was going to disturb their busy lives.
“Oh, Rebecca, I don’t even know what to say to you about that.”
She took my hand. “You promise that you’ll put aside whatever problem that you have with Ethan and be there for him after I go.”
I held her hand tightly, swallowing the lump in my throat. “You know that I will.”
She smiled at me softly. “He’s going to make a good father.”
I shifted back, my eyes going wide. Was she talking in generalities?
She patted my hand. “Riley, I was pregnant six times. I know what a pregnant woman looks like. I recognize the protective hand over the belly and the queasy stomach. Why do you think I made us ginger tea the other day? Both of us were feeling a bit under the weather. I assume you haven’t told him yet.” She paused. “It is his, isn’t it?”
I closed my eyes briefly, sagging in my seat. “Yes, it is.” That was the first time I had admitted it out loud to anyone. “And no one knows. Only my doctor.”
She smiled sweetly. “How far along are you?”
“Eight weeks.”
“And are you taking care of yourself?”
