“So now what?”
“Now we treat it. They’re going to take the lump and treat her with radiation a month later, after she’s healed from the surgery.”
“God. Okay. What does that look like?”
“She’ll go five days a week for six weeks for whole breast radiation. After that, they’ll do another week or so and target the tumor bed. A boost. Aim everything at the spot they took the lump.” Sarah placed her hands on her cheeks, probably still absorbing the enormity of it all herself. “The doctor thinks that might be enough. We’re going to hope that it is.”
“God, and here I am, going on about stupid work stuff that doesn’t even matter. How is she?”
“Who are we talking about?” I turned as Emory entered the room. “That businesswoman-turned-artist who was just diagnosed with the Big C? Certainly not her.” She looked from me to Sarah, serious expression on her face that luckily dissolved into a smile. “It’s okay. People have been speaking in hushed tones around me all week. You should have seen the look on my sister’s face. You’d have thought I had died already. Not that I’m going to.” I immediately moved into her arms and held on tight.
“You forgot devastatingly beautiful,” Sarah said. “But yes, that would be you. Just giving Skyler our official update.”
Emory lifted my chin and looked down at me. “I’m doing okay. Not the greatest week I’ve ever had, but I’m feeling ready to take this on. Don’t worry, okay?” I nodded and released her. “I’m going to be just fine.”
In my peripheral, I saw Sarah wipe away a stray tear as if she hoped no one had noticed. It tore at me. “You guys, what can I do? Do you need help with Grace? I’m an excellent shuttle service. I can pick her up from school or practice or pitch in around here.”
Emory waved me off. “We’re fine. But you get points for the offer. I’m going to take this one day at a time and not let a diagnosis consume me. Because that’s all it is. A jumping-off point. I’ll have the surgery and go from there.”
I had to hand it to her. She seemed so put together and ready to take on the world. I would have been a wreck and angry at life. “You two continue to amaze me.”
They shared a smile, and I was grateful they had each other.
“Will you be at Kristin’s tonight?” Emory asked, pulling herself away from Sarah’s gaze. She kissed my cheek with an affectionate smack as she rounded the counter.
I nodded, surprised to have received Kristin’s verbal invitation the day before, but happy to have been thought of. “Yes, she says she wants to get to know me better now that we work together and have, ya know, you people in common.”
Sarah placed a hand over her heart, touched. “I love being you people.”
“Me, too,” Emory said with a far-off look in her eye. “Dreams do come true.”
“What does one wear to an adult dinner party in a large city?” I asked. “I don’t want to wear one of my businessy work outfits, but jeans and a tank don’t exactly seem the way to go either.”
Sarah smoothed my hair from behind. “You’re too cute for anyone to care. God, Skyler, when did you grow up? I wasn’t looking, and you’re a stunner.” She turned to Emory. “Have you seen how beautiful my little cousin is? Look at this model face.” She grabbed me by the chin and squeezed my cheeks. “Great big eyes and a gorgeous smile. I could eat your face.”
I laughed and shook free. “Stop being nice to me and tell me what to wear.”
“Do you have a cocktail dress?” Emory asked.
“Do I have a cocktail dress?” I had several and kept them reserved for swankier events, but I wasn’t sure if this one qualified. Kristin hadn’t been specific.
“They’re usually pretty nice dinners,” Sarah said. “You’ve met Lucy, right? She does everything first class. Expect place cards. Long-stemmed glasses. That kind of thing.”
I grinned, loving the idea of attending a fancy-sounding party. “Oh, I’m all in on this. Plus, it will give me a chance to see Kristin and Lucy together, which honestly, I’m trying to imagine.” Lucy, who I’d met a handful of times, was Emory’s best friend in the world. She was charismatic, talkative, and the life of any party. Kristin, on the other hand, was friendly but definitely more conservative in her demeanor. Thoughtful, which made sense coming from her writing background.
“Kristin grounds Lucy, and Lucy inspires Kristin to let go.”
“Like you do for me,” Emory said, grinning.
“Now you’re just trying to score points.”
Emory mimed a jump shot. “And?”
“At least ten,” Sarah said and raised a seductive eyebrow. I felt like a voyeur just being in the room.
I waited, but they were still looking at each other like soap opera characters. “And that’s my cue to get the hell out of here and let you two be in love.” I pointed at Emory as I backed out of the kitchen. “I love you. And I’m serious about pitching in.” I turned my focus to Sarah. “Anything you two need, you call me, or I’ll be royally pissed off.”
Emory winced. “Can’t have an angry cousin-in-law.”
I stared at her. “I’m a bulldog with a reporter’s microphone. I’ll chew you up and take a quote.”
“Chilling,” Sarah said, hugging me with the protective arms of an older cousin. “You be good to the world, little Sky. I’ll see you at my mom’s for dinner on Sunday, okay?”
I grinned, enjoying the fact that I no longer had to miss out on those kinds of family gatherings. “I’ll be there with my stomach and its friend, my other stomach.”
“Good, because my mother wouldn’t have you otherwise. You’d be on the curb, thinking about what you’ve done.” She touched her chest. “Speaking from experience.”
Before I left, I raced back and gave Emory one last firm hug, tearing up in the process, and hoping that I communicated in that embrace all the love and respect I had for her. “You’re going to be okay,” I said in her ear.
“Thank you,” she whispered back, emotion choking her voice in a manner so uncharacteristic that it forced a lump in my throat. It was a startling reminder of the universe’s power when the strongest person you knew was the one shown vulnerable to an illness. It made me stop and take stock and say a little prayer of gratitude for all that I had. She gave me a little shove. “Now get out of here and go kick ass at the station. I’m going to need something good to watch when I’m stuck on the couch soon.”