Page 20 of Captiva Book Club

“Over the course of a year, she gradually discovered that her life as an ‘unfinished woman’ was full of possibilities.”

Maggie chuckled.

Is that what I am, an unfinished woman? Isn’t every woman?

She thought about how much she’d gone through in her life, and unfinished life made sense; she had many more years before she could claim her life was finished.

Do I? How many more years do I have?

The questions upset her and so she tossed the book to the side, and pulled her sweater close as she rocked the porch swing back and forth.

Her cellphone rang, and she recognized the ringtone as Lauren’s.

“Hey honey. How’s my girl?”

“Hi Mom, everyone is great here. We thought we’d check in and see how you were getting along.”

“Oh, things are the same around here. How is the baby doing? I miss that little boy.”

“He’s great, wait until you see him in a couple of weeks. It’s incredible how fast they grow.”

Maggie’s phone vibrated.

“Oh, honey, hang on. Beth’s calling.”

“Hey Bethy, I’m on the phone with Lauren right now. Can I call you back?”

“Sure, Mom. I’ll be here.”

Maggie returned to her call with Lauren.

“I don’t remember the last time that happened. Anyway, I told her I’d call her back. So, what’s up?”

“Not much, I just thought I’d call and say hello. So, everything is going well down there?”

“Yes, honey. Everything is fine. Oh…wait, I have another call. Hang on.”

“Hey Chris, honey, I’m on the phone with Lauren, and…”

Maggie stopped mid-sentence when it suddenly hit her that her children knew…Sarah had let the cat out of the bag.

“Chris, I’ll call you back.”

“Okay, Mom.”

When Maggie got Lauren back on the line, she knew what to say.

“Lauren, that was Chris. I have to assume that sometime tonight, maybe even while I’m talking to you, your brother, Michael, will call me, and I know why.”

Lauren didn’t respond.

“Tell me the truth, Sarah called you all, didn’t she?”

“Mom, she was worried and needed us. I would have done the same, don’t be angry with her.”

Maggie wanted to cry. She hated what her cancer had done to her family. It was one thing for her to worry about what was to come, but it wasn’t fair that people she loved suffered over it.

“Oh honey, I’m not mad at Sarah. I know you all are concerned, but let’s keep a positive attitude, okay? Trust me, if this is cancer, there will be plenty of moments when I’m going to be grateful for you and your siblings’ support. We’ve been through this before, and we’ll get through it again. But, if you all want to help me right now, what I need is for you all to get excited about Christmas. I want everyone to focus on us being together and having a wonderful time. Can you all do that for me?”

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