AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The day I lose her is also the day I get my first book deal after years of sending in manuscripts and queries. My agent, Lily, has been trying to reach me and fortunately for me, Nat took my phone and turned it off. Later, when I read the emails and hear the several voicemails, I feel better, stronger. Now I have something to work for, a purpose. I throw everything I have into a young adult fantasy trilogy and it becomes a best-seller almost overnight.
Steven and I fight over Fiona’s death. He argues that I just jumped into writing and failed to grieve properly for her. Maybe he’s right, but escaping into a new world to write about characters that I metaphorically gave birth to is healing for me. I think he is mostly mad because I wouldn’t talk to him about it. He also refused to try again for another baby.
A few years later, my mom calls me one day out of the blue. She and I get together a few times a year but she is still a workaholic and is even less reliable than she has been in the past. I invited her to a party celebrating my third book launch. It was ten blocks from her apartment. She came as we were leaving, apologizing because she had a client dinner that went long.
“Hey Molls, guess what?” she asks and I am surprised not only to hear from her, but on a Wednesday at like noon.
“Gee, hi mom, long time no talk,” I say because it has been months.
“I know, I know, worst mom ever,” she says and my jaw drops. My mom is the least self-aware woman I know so for her to make this joke is startling.
I ignore her quip. “What am I guessing, mom?”
“I quit my job,” she says in a sing-song voice and I check my phone to see if this is someone else prank calling me.
“Who is this?” I ask and she starts to cackle.
“Oh, baby girl it’s your mom and my life starts today!”
I must be quiet for a long time because she asks if I’m still there.
“Yeah, I’m just a little taken aback about your news. You told me you were going to work until you were forced six feet under,” I say the last part in her usual stern voice which has disappeared on this call.
“Well,” she says, her voice shaking. “Funny you say that. I also have some other news.”
My stomach drops as I can only guess what dire news would make her quit her beloved job.
“I was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer,” she says like it’s no big deal.
“Mom, I’m so sorry. What treatment will you do?”
“Oh, I’m already doing it, Molls. I have two more chemo appointments and then I’m done.”
“Wait, what? When did you get this diagnosis?” I ask getting angry.
“Don’t worry about that,” she says dismissing me. “I had a little surgery, now I’m finishing up chemo, and then I’ll be right as rain. I’m not going back to work though, I want to travel the world, with you.”
I take a deep cleansing breath. “So you were diagnosed with breast cancer, had surgery, and have been doing chemo treatments?”
“Yes,” she says, sounding impatient.
“You did all this and didn’t think to call your one and only daughter to help you get through it?” My voice is getting higher and louder.
“Well, I didn’t want to worry you until I had a better picture of what was going on. My oncologist thinks I’ll be fine and hopefully I’ll be cancer free in a few weeks.”
“Mom, I’m going to hang up now and go scream into a pillow.”
She laughs. “Why would you do that?”
“Because my mother is completely out of her mind.”
“Oh, you were always too sensitive. I had a problem and now I’m taking care of it. It’s none of your business really, but I thought you’d want to know about my job. Clear your calendar for the spring because we are going to Paris.”
“Sure, ya whackadoodle. I’ll clear all appointments.” She laughs again and this time I really do just hang up on her nutty ass.
Turns out, she was right, she was cancer free and so we make plans. She and I go wherever we feel an itch to go. We go to Iceland, Russia, Japan, Fiji, the Maldives, South Africa, and every last country in Europe. Sprinkled in our adventure trips are our relaxing trips. We island hop in Hawaii, take a cruise around the Caribbean, visit spas in Arizona, Colorado, and California.
My anger towards her melts away and I cherish every moment with her on these trips, then write books every moment in between. Unfortunately, it doesn’t leave a lot of time for me to pay attention to my husband.
