Page 77 of Stolen Kisses

My heart feels swollen from all of the love and support my family’sgivingto me. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you, Sis.” He brushes by me, heading straight for the guest bedroom to dump his bag before finding everyone in the kitchen. I wipe down the counters for the five-millionth time, make sure everything’s put away in the living room, before checking the laundry room is tidy.

“Come on, Honey. We need to get moving.” Mom finds me digging a stray sock out of the back of the dryer. Straightening up, she folds me into her, rubbing my back in a soothing motion. “Everything will be okay. You’ll be back home before you know it.”

I nod, sucking in a deep breath. “I know. I don’t know why I’m so anxious. I’ve stayed in the hospital when I had the boys, but this feels different.”

She brushes my bangs out of my eyes. “I know, Honey. Everything will be fine though. You’ll see.” She gives me a smile, but I can see the tension surrounding her eyes. “Come on. Say bye to the boys. We need to get moving.”

I say my goodbyes, hugging both of my boys tight—even Lachlan understood it was important to let me hug him extra tight and hold on a little longer. It’s not like he never allows me to hug him, he just allows it less often than Austin does. I generally don’t compare my boys, because they’re each so different, but sometimes it’s hard not to.

Arriving at the hospital, my butterflies feel more like bats flying around at night looking for insects. It’s crazy how churned up I feel. I kiss Mom and Dad goodbye as a nurse leads me away to get prepped for surgery. A radioactive tracer is injected into my breasts where there is evidence of the DCIS. Over the next couple of hours, I’m monitored as the medical team waits for the tracer to reach the first nodes in my lymph glands under my armpits. Even though I know the amount of radioactive material is minuscule, it feels strange to know that I’ve got it in my body and that it will actually help the surgeon.

The surgeon does another ultrasound, using a felt-tip marker to draw on my breasts. He explains where he’ll be cutting into my body to remove the affected tissue. It’s already been decided that he’ll take outallof the breast tissue to be certain he gets every last bit of cancer. He’s going to work to save my nipples so my breasts look as normal as possible after the surgery. I’m taken into a room where tubes are inserted into the back of my hand and before I know it, I’m drifting off to sleep.

–theo–

Today’s the day.

I’m goingnext doorand I’m going to apologize and I’m going to grovel.

I’mgonnaget my girl back. I can’t go another day without seeing her smile, touching her, kissing her.

She’s everything I want, everything I need.

When I told Dad my plan, he offered to take Kenny for the weekend to give me the time and space I need to win back the woman I love. I can’t believe I didn’t see what I was doing. It wasn’t until I was talking with Bruce about his wife surviving breast cancer and I read Anna’s letter for the third time that the penny finally dropped and I realized what I’d done.

I’d let the past take away my future. The very thing Anna told menotto do.

Stepping out of the shower, I dry off, trim my beard and get dressed. I’ve got her favorite treats and I’m ready to apologize. My stomach rolls at the thought of her rejecting my apology as I put on my jacket and shoes. Stepping out of my front door, I see Max and Sarah’s cars parked behind Emma’s. Damn it! Too bad if Ihavean audience, I need to do this today. Too much time has already passed.Too much time has been wasted.

Knocking on Emma’s front door, my mouth goes dry as my heart hammers heavily in my chest. I’ve been running over what I want to say to her for the last couple of days. I only hope it comes out the right way. It seems to take ages for the door to open and when it does, I’m disappointed it’s not Emma.

“Hey, Theo.”

“Hiya, Austin. How are you, Buddy?”

“I’mgood.Aunty Sarah and Uncle Max are playing games with us.” He’s clearly happy about that if his huge smile is anything to go by.

“Is your mommy around? I’d like to speak with her if I can.”

“She’s in the hospital having an op-er-a-tion!”

My heart lurches, the edge of my vision going blurry. I grab onto the door frame for support.

“Austin, who are you—” Sarah’s words cut off when she lays eyes on me, her expression changing to one of disdain. I’m guessing she knows what an asshole I am. “You need to get back to your game, it’s your turn. Uncle Max and Lachlan are waiting for you.”

“Okay. Bye, Theo.”

“Bye, Austin.” He’s gone before I finish saying his name.

Sarah steps outside, pulling the door closed behind her. Crossing her arms, she scowls at me. “What in the hell doyouwant?”

“Why is Emma in hospital having an operation?” I need to know.

She drops her hands to her hips, eyes narrowing. “It’s none of your business. Remember?You completely ghosted her. You were an asshole to her. What makes you think you have the right to know what’s going on with my sister?”

As my heart hammers in my chest, I lamely hold up the three-and-a-half-pound tub of red vines I bought. “I was coming to apologize to her. I know I was an utter dick to her. I was going to explain and grovel like hell. I want her and the boys. I want them with Kenny and me for always.” I scrub my beard. “Please tell me what’s going on.” I’m not above begging. I’ll drop to my knees at her feet if I have to.

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