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She wrinkled her nose. “Is that the real reason why you asked me? So that you could be with me when I got the results? Because I already told you that I'd share the results with you when I got home.”
We’d spent a lot of time talking and getting to know each other better over the past two weeks. Our relationship seemed strong, but at the same time, I had to honor what I’d promised and hadn’t mentioned the test or cancer since she’d agreed to take the test. At least not until now. She wouldn’t admit it, but she was scared. Rightly so. This could change how she lived her life.
“I asked you to come because I wanted you here. And I know what you said. You don’t need me there. But I’m offering to come because if it were me, I’d want a hand to hold.”I’d want your hand to hold.“What do you say? Want me with you?”
What I couldn’t tell her was how badly I needed to be there. I wanted to be part of her life, the good times and the bad.Hopefully, this isn’t one of those bad times.I wanted to tell her how I felt, but this wasn’t the time.
“Okay, you can come,” she sighed. “But no matter what the results are, what I do is my decision,” she stated firmly.
“Of course.” I turned the SUV to head towards the hospital. This wasn’t my test, results, or my life, but her life was more important to me than my own.
Reaching over, I placed my hand on her thigh. She placed her hand on mine.
“Niko.”
“Yes?”
“Thank you. I don’t just mean about coming with me today, but for insisting that I get the testing done. It’s...important. I just don’t know what I’m going to do if Dr. O’Connor tells me that I have the same BRCA1 mutation as my mother.”
“Sweetheart, just remember, that this result isn’t a diagnosis of cancer.”
“I know. I wish...I wish my mother had known. You’d have liked her.” She turned to me and smiled. “And you would’ve grown on her.”
Her teasing me was a good sign.
“You mean like I've grown on you?” I asked.
She shrugged. “You’re getting there. Maybe another foot massage or backrub tonight might help.”
Bringing her hand to my lips, I kissed her fingers. “Consider it done.”
We pulled into the parking lot at the hospital, and I felt her tense all over again. Nothing I said was going to change that until she was given the results. Walking hand in hand, we headed for Dr. O’Connor’s office. The door was open, and he waved us in.
“Hello Miss Mayas. How are you today?” he asked.
“I guess you’re going to tell me,” Ovi replied.
He looked at me, and then to Ovi. “Are you comfortable discussing this here, or would you like us to do it in private?”
“Please, here. Niko is the one who suggested I do this. I’m sure he is anxious to learn the results.” I reached over and held her hand. Then she said to Finn, “Let’s hear what the results are.”
Her fingers trembled and her toe tapped on the floor nervously. I was pretending to be in control, but on the inside, I was a wreck.
Dr. O’Connor opened her file and flipped through a few pages. When he closed the file and placed it on his desk, he said, “I’m sure you are aware that your mother had the BRCA1 gene mutation.” Ovi nodded. “You do not carry that gene.”
Her hand gripped mine tightly as the words sunk in. As though she needed to confirm she heard correctly, she said, “I...I don’t?”
“No. You don’t. That does not mean you won’t ever get cancer, but it means your risk is much lower. Continue to eat healthily, exercise, and be happy. I believe all three of those things are key to one's overall health. But I did want to mention something. If the two of you ever choose to have children, you would want them to get tested as well when they become adults. It can skip a generation. Once again, the odds are they won’t carry the gene either, but at least you will know to tell them.”
Children? Me?I had no plans of having any. Never had a role model to show me how to be a parent, never mind a good one. Iknew many things I’d never do if I had children. Basically, don’t be like my parents. They had read the ‘How to Fail at Parenting’ handbook.
If I was ever going to have children, it would be with Ovi. She would be an amazing mother. She was so full of love and patience. She was good at listening and atoning to other's needs. But would what Finn just said discourage her from having children? God, I hope not. She might not want them at this moment, but I know she would one day.
“I...I guess that’s it. I’m okay,” she said.
“Yes. You’re okay. And Miss Mayas, I wish other people would be as brave as you were. I know it was scary coming in and taking the test, but it is so much better than ignoring something. As physicians, we can only do so much. We need our patients to help us help them. I...I have a question for you.”
“What is it?” she asked.
