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“Molly is a saint for many reasons,” Cameron said as she put Murphy in a high chair and got busy cleaning up. “This is the least of those reasons.”
“Truth.” Mia got some trash bags and handed one to Lexi. “Hope you don’t mind being put to work.”
“Not at all.”
“So… you and Max dated in high school?” Cameron asked in a casual tone.
“Yes, for three years, until we went to college on separate coasts.”
“I haven’t heard him mention you,” Mia said in the same casual tone.
“That’s because he didn’t know where I was for the last ten years, and he had no choice but to move on.”
“Where were you?” Mia asked, and then seemed to think better of it. “I mean, if you want to tell us.”
“I was diagnosed with leukemia during our freshman year of college. I’ve spent almost every minute since then fighting it. I’m now in remission thanks to a stem cell transplant eighteen months ago.”
“Oh my God,” Mia said. “I’m so sorry you went through that.”
“Thanks. It was hell, but it’s in the past now, or so I hope. It’ll be four more years until they consider me cured, but my oncologist told me to go live my life. He says the worst is behind me.”
“That must be such a relief,” Cameron said as she added snacks to the tray in front of Murphy in the high chair while helping with cleanup, demonstrating multitasking at its finest.
“It is, but I’m still in panic mode. It’s going to take some time to stand down from that frantic struggle. Not sure if that makes sense, but that’s where I’m at.”
“I get what you mean,” Mia said. “I went through something a few years ago that left a similar impact on me. My ex was a drug dealer, and I helped to make the case against him. After all that was over, it took me a long time to accept that I was no longer under threat.”
“That’s very similar,” Lexi said, comforted to hear that someone else understood that sort of stress. “Does it seem like a long time ago now?”
“Like another lifetime, and someday, your illness will be like that for you, too,” Mia said. “I’m sure of it.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“We’re always right,” Cameron said. “Ask our husbands.”
The three of them shared a laugh that made baby Murphy laugh, too. He was so cute.
“Who watches all these kids for you guys while you work?”
“Funny story,” Mia said. “About four years ago, Dani’s parents moved here from Kentucky to be closer to her and Lucas and their family. Her mom, Jessie, said she wasn’t ready to retire, so she opened a childcare center and takes care of all our kids, with the help of five other women. Dani’s dad handles the business stuff for her. Jessie says that they’ll retire when the youngest of our kids goes to kindergarten, but we keep having babies, so who knows?”
“It’s so cool that she did that,” Lexi said.
“We say that all the time,” Cameron replied. “I don’t know what we’d do without her. She’s like another grandma to all our kids, and she’s become good friends with Molly and her sister, Hannah, and Gavin’s mom, Amelia, and Tyler’s mom, Vivienne.”
“Was she here today?”
“Yep, Dani’s parents were here,” Mia said. “There were so many people. Sorry you didn’t get to meet them.”
“Next time hopefully,” Lexi said.
“What’re your plans now?” Cameron asked.
“I’m working on that. I may come back to Butler after the holidays. My parents still own a home here, and the tenants are moving out. It comes with a garage apartment that I might take over while I figure out my life.”
“Does Max figure into that?” Cameron asked with a sly grin.
“I really hope so. I never got over him. Being with him again this weekend has been like a dream come true.”
