Page 283 of Filthy Elites

I have no idea what she’s talking about, so I walk over and grab the card.

I’m well versed in appointment cards at this point, but this one is confusing. It says we have an appointment next Saturday at 2:15—at a cancer center in West Harrison, New York.

“Um… hang on. I need to text someone.”

“Aubrey.”

Mom’s tone is firm, like it used to be on the rare occasion I got in trouble.

I look up at her. “What?”

She’s giving me a look. “Why do you have that?”

“I’m not completely sure. Itmaybe the doctor a friend was telling me about, but I have to double check.”

“Aubrey,” Mom says on a sigh.

“I know, Mom. I know you’re tired of the doctors and the appointments,” I say, walking in to sit on the arm on her chair. “But Dare was telling me this guy helped his mom’s friend who they thought was a lost cause. They’re up on all the newest research, and they have access to trials maybe we didn’t know about. It can’t hurt to justtalkto the guy and see if there’s something he can do for you. What if there is?”

“Honey, we can’t afford to fly to New York for a consultation. Even if we could, you know how leery I am about flying. All those people crammed in a metal tube in the air, all their germs floating around. I get sick every time I travel on a plane. When I’m in perfect health, that’s mildly annoying, but now?”

“Well, yeah, I didn’t realize the guy was in New York. He didn’t tell me that part. It’s possible he just didn’t think about it because his family has money, so they could probably fly out for something like this. I’ll ask if they have a location we could drive to.”

Mom shakes her head. “Honey, I know you meant well, and I’m sure your friend did, too. This is very sweet, and I truly appreciate the effort, but we’ve already triedeverything.We’ve been through all this, and I made the decision to stop for a reason. It wasn’t working, and I don’t want to spend the rest of my life at doctor’s appointments.”

“I know, Mom, but what if—?”

“Honey.” She places her hand over mine, her eyes sad but resigned.

A lump forms in my throat. “I just don’t see how you can pass up—” I stop and try again. “We might not even have to go anywhere. I did ask Dare if he might be able to do a video call. The appointment could be for that and the card only says New York so we know it’s New York time.”

“Well, if it’s a call, I suppose it can’t hurt, but I’m not going to let you blow the money we need to live on sending me to some hopeless out-of-state meeting.”

I don’t argue with her because there’s not much time before school, and I don’t want to rile her up right before I leave, but I don’t want to believe it would be hopeless, either.

I guess that’s how I’ve felt every step of the way, though. Every time we heard about some new treatment we could try, I thought that would be the one.

And every time, it wasn’t.

It’s too depressing to think about, so I put it out of my mind. I don’t text Dare about it. I’ll just ask him about it at school.

___

It feelslike a shitty day as I head down the halls of Baymont High, the books for my first couple of periods held snugly against my chest. I got here early so I could give Hannah her lunch bag back. I forgot all about the recipe, but even if I would’ve remembered, I’m sure I would still stare at her in open confusion as she held out a basket full of baking supplies.

“What is this?” I ask.

“Everything you need to make the muffins,” she says. Her smile dims a bit. “Well, not everything. I couldn’t put eggs or butter in the basket or it would have to be refrigerated, but everything else is there.”

“That is unbelievably generous. You didn’t have to do that.”

She shrugs. “No biggie. I have to get to my locker, but if you have any questions about the recipe, just shoot me a DM. I gave you overripe bananas on purpose, by the way. Those work better for things like banana bread or banana muffins.”

“Noted. Thanks again, Hannah.”

She flashes me a smile and then she’s off.

I don’t have enough time to go back to my locker and stash the basket before class, so I guess I’m just going to be toting this basket around with me for a while.

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