Page 26 of Loving Lizzy

“Consider it a preview of when we grow old,” he teased.

“Ha, I’ll be the one feeding you. I plan to run circles around you when you grow old and gray,” she shot back.

“May I remind you, you’re only a year younger than I am?”

“I’ll always stay young. You won’t ever see gray hair on me. I’ll stay active and catch all the younger men’s eyes while I push your wheelchair. Wanna know the best part?” She innocently gazed into his eyes and batted her lashes.

“What?” He fed her another spoonful and waited for her to swallow her food.

Lizzy gripped her side, and she sucked in her lips as if she were about to burst. He knew her face meant trouble and he raised his brow at her.

“My boobs won’t sag.” She burst out. Her eyes filled with merriment as his mouth fell open in shock. She attempted to contain the laughter to minimize the tenderness, but her body still quaked.

“What the hell has gotten into you? You don’t ever joke like this and I gotta tell ya, Lizzy, you’re beginning to worry me. Did you decide to use humor as a coping mechanism?” He sat back on his heels.

Her face turned to one of a chastised child. “I think I’m loopy from all the meds. You must think I’m so crass right now. Everything feels incredibly dire, and I felt we needed a laugh. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Believe me, I’m terrified of what the biopsy will show. I hate seeing you serious all the time. You’ll scare all your little patients away when they catch sight of your face.”

“I’m worried about you,” he whispered.

“I know. Unfortunately, we can’t control cancer. Honestly, I struggle more because I can’t plan and fix it. My brain doesn’t know how to fight something I can’t prepare for,” she told him.

“Your jokes are terrible,” he grumbled.

“Kassie says Victoria told her even when it’s dark to always find the light. It meant a lot to me when they showed up yesterday. I’m excited about getting to know everyone better. My one liners might be in poor taste, but the expression on your face made it totally worth it.” She grinned from ear to ear in a genuine smile. Not the one she used when she tried convincing everyone she felt fine.

“My dark began when I lost you and you’re my light,” He stroked her face with his thumb. “If telling terrible wisecracks relieves your stress, then by all means, keep it up.”

“Can I take my meds now and get one of those popsicles?” She shifted slightly and he noticed her face start to pale.

“I’ll get them.” He stood and went into the kitchen. He pulled the bottle of pills from the pharmacy bag and took out one. He noted down the time and returned to Lizzy. He watched as the drugs did their job and her features began to relax. He hung his tired head for a moment before shaking it off and getting up to cover her. She only ate half of the food and never touched the bread. He thought about texting Chase before deciding he didn’t want to bother him.

He checked Lizzy’s drains and yawned. Michael walked to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face. A fear settled low in his gut he couldn’t shake. Lizzy dealt with the crisis by telling bad jokes. All he managed to do was survive the day.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Michael leaned back on the couch his head jerked as he realized he started to doze off. He shook his head and glanced in Lizzy’s direction. She rested peacefully. Checking his phone, he sighed in relief that he didn’t miss the next dose of her meds. Thinking it might work better for him to set an alarm on his phone to vibrate in case he nodded off again, he grabbed his device, and set the time for the next medication round. At twenty-three hundred, he fought against the sleep trying to overtake him. What if she woke up and he didn’t hear her?

A soft knock made him glance at Lizzy before jumping up to answer the door. He tiptoed across the room and opened it to find Chase and Kassie standing in the opening. Kassie carried a bag with her and scowled deeply at her husband.

“What brought you down here in the middle of the night?” he whispered.

Kassie leaned in, “I came to relieve you. Chase insisted on driving me down because he’s an overprotective buffoon. May I come in?”

Michael backed up allowing the couple to come in. “Lizzy’s sleeping and I’m waiting to give her the next dose of meds.”

Kassie pursed her lips. “I’m on call tonight. Maddie and Joe slept at our house for Emma. I’m spending the night here.”

“I’ve got it covered. You don’t need to stay over,” he told her.

She turned toward Chase. “I told you he’d be the stubborn one.” She shook her head. “How much sleep did you get at the hospital?”

Scraping his hand over his tired face, he gazed at her.

“Exactly. You’ve cared for her all afternoon and plan to stay up all night again? As a doctor, what advice would you give your patient’s parents?”

He straightened and knew what point Kassie was trying to drive home.

“I’d advise my patient’s caregivers to take breaks. It keeps them from burning out and makes them better caregivers,” he sighed.

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