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“Hey. Sorry.” She smiles wryly at me. “As you can see, we’re making hamburgers.”
I giggle. “I noticed.”
She drops her flattened patty on a plate and gestures to Dillon. “Dillon, this is my good friend Ally. Ally, meet Dillon.”
I wave. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Dillon. Ashlyn’s talked about you so much, I feel like I already know you.”
He holds up his hands. “I would offer you a handshake, but I doubt you’ll want one.”
“You’d be right,” I say with a laugh. “Is there anything I can do?” I ask Ashlyn.
“Nope. I think we’ve got it covered.” She moves to the sink and washes her hands, throwing over her shoulder, “It’s such a nice day out today, so we figured we’d grill and eat out on the back porch.”
My gaze moves to a glass door and the sun shining brightly beyond it. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. But please let me do something to help.”
She walks to the fridge. “Fine.” She sighs with fake annoyance. “If you insist.” She pulls out a head of lettuce and a tomato. “Can you get this ready?”
“Sure thing.”
I grab the items from her, and she gets out the cutting board and a knife. After I wash and dry my hands, I start working on the veggies while Destiny and Dillon finish the patties. Ashlyn begins peeling potatoes, then slices them into french fry shapes.
“Ashlyn says you’re going to see Dr. Fowler in Nashville,” Dillon says, helping Destiny wash her hands after they’re done with the hamburger meat.
“Yeah. My doctor back home recommended him when I told him I would be coming here.”
Dillon nods, drying his hands on a towel. “The wife of a friend of mine went to him when her leukemia came back for the second time. She’s been in remission for a year now.”
“That’s great news. I hope it stays that way.”
“I can put you in contact with her if you’d like. Just so you’ll have an idea of who he is and how he runs his practice.”
“That would be great. Thank you.”
He writes the woman’s name and phone number down on a piece of paper and leaves it on the counter. Grabbing the plate of hamburger patties, he gives Ashlyn a kiss before he takes them out back to put on the grill. Destiny skips out the door behind him.
“They are so cute together,” I tell Ashlyn.
A soft smile plays on her lips as she watches the pair through the glass. “They are, aren’t they? I’m so lucky to have them both.”
“I’d say they’re lucky to have you too.”
She aims her smile my way.
Tossing the lettuce in one bowl and the tomatoes in another, I cover them with the lids Ashlyn hands me, then put them in the fridge to stay cool.
“Are you nervous about your appointment?”
I think about her question for a moment. “A little. The same doctor treated me the last two times. So I’m a little anxious to see someone new.”
She nods. “Understandable. But I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“Yeah,” I agree, and hope she’s right.
Thirty minutes later, the four of us are on the back porch eating our delicious hamburgers and fries. Destiny entertains us with silly stories, and we all laugh at her crazy jokes.
As much as I miss Trent and wish he was here with me, I have to admit, I’m having a good time.
I know though, as the days pass by and my treatments start to take my strength, my need to see him and have him comfort me will grow.
I straighten my back in the chair, determined to keep my resolve. I’ll keep this pain from touching Trent for as long as I can.
