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Since the whoosh had dropped lower than my belly now, I thought it time for a change of subject.
“I don’t think you should push Louise into getting the radiation.”
He frowned. “Why not?”
“Because I think she’s going to get there on her own. But if she doesn’t, the last thing she needs is to feel guilty for possibly robbing you of more time with her.”
Beck’s face changed. It looked like I’d shot an arrow and made a direct hit to his heart. “That’s how she feels?”
“She doesn’t say it in so many words, but yes. It took a lot for her to come to the decision to put herself first. She’s spent fifty years of her life raising a family—first your mom, and then you and your brother. I know she wouldn’t change that for anything, but this is what she wants, Beck.”
Tears filled his eyes. He nodded. “Okay.”
He was quiet through the rest of lunch. And he stayed that way until Dr. Cornelius came back at four o’clock in the afternoon.
“I heard you’re ready to run the NYC marathon,” he said as he entered.
“Not quite.” Louise smiled. “But I am ready for a Harry Styles concert.”
Dr. Cornelius sat on the edge of her bed. He took Louise’s hand. “So, have you given any thought to the treatment plan your doctor in New York suggested?”
She looked up at Beck. “I’ll try it, but if I feel sick or it’s making me too exhausted to live, I’m going to stop. I quit treatment to live out the end of my life, and that’s what I intend to do—whether it’s three days or three months.”
Beck turned to Dr. Cornelius. “How soon can I get her on a plane to New York?”
“I’ll discharge her into your care as soon as you can make arrangements.” He pointed at Louise. “But you need to go directly to the hospital in New York and let them admit you for continued monitoring. Do not pass go and collect two-hundred dollars—go directly to the hospital from the airport. Then it’s up to your oncologist to decide whether the radiation can be done inpatient or out.”
“Fine,” Louise said.
Beck took out his phone. “I’ll take care of the arrangements and make sure she goes right to the hospital once we land.”
Four-and-a-half hours later, we boarded a flight to New York. Beck had set up one of those motorized carts to take us from security to the gate. Louise was weak, and by the time we took off, she was already sound asleep next to him.
I sat across the aisle from them. I leaned over and whispered, “Thank you for buying my ticket home. You didn’t have to.” I smiled. “If I was paying, I’d be sitting back in the squishy seats instead of this comfy first class.”
“No problem. And thank you for taking such good care of my grandmother while she was sick.”
I nodded. “I’d do anything for Louise.”
Beck looked back and forth between my eyes. “I know you would.”
“I was thinking, when we get back, I’m sure you have to work, and you must have your daughter on certain days, so why don’t we plan to take shifts keeping an eye on Louise? Whether she’s in the hospital or not, I’d like to be there.”
Beck smiled sadly. “That would be great. Thank you. You’re a really good friend to her.”
“It works both ways. She gives more than she gets.”
He held my eyes again, but didn’t respond.
“As long as we’re having a moment of being nice to each other and saying thank you—which may not last with us—I want to say thank you for this morning. I needed that more than you could know.”
“Anytime.”
I looked down at his crotch and sighed. He seriously had the sexiest bulge in those dress pants. “As tempting as the prospect of another round or two might be, I think it was just a one-time thing. I hope you understand.”
He grinned. “We’ll see.”
CHAPTER 17
