Page 92 of Sneak Attack

“Okay.” Eden drew out the word and glanced at Marley.

She was focused on the nurse with little emotion. “I think I’m doing okay.”

“I know. You’re doing great, actually, but after speaking with you both today, it’s clear there’s been changes since your last doctor visit.”

Marley huffed. “Minor.”

“Marley—” Eden said quietly. “I can cut back the hours, they’d understand.”

“Or you can call our service. We have a half dozen nurses who are on call at all times for those who have short-term notice of plans.” She faced Marley again. Ultimately, this was all her decision anyway and while she still had more good days than not, Eden would let her decide. “We aren’t here to be intrusive or disruptive. Sometimes, clients simply need someone to sit here and read. It gives them reassurance while they’re out that their loved one is okay. It doesn’t mean they’ll take over your life or boss you around.”

“Well, thank God for that,” Marley said.

“I’d like that,” Eden said, so quietly, like she didn’t want to hurt Marley’s feelings. I couldn’t blame her there. None of this was pretty or easy. “It’d make me feel better leaving knowing someone is here when I’m not.”

“I told you weeks ago you’ll know when to make those calls.”

“Thank you,” Eden whispered, and her voice was hoarse. She’d had a hell of a night last night and by the time I called her when I got home and Jasper to bed, she’d been too tired to talk. But I knew she hadn’t only spoken with her mom for the first time in five years, she’d also seen them on the phone and talked to her dad.

She’d probably stayed up half the night crying.

That would change for tonight, though. I wasn’t leaving either of them for longer than I had to.

* * *

After Melanie left, I spent some time with Eden and Marley. Marley was as chipper and sassy as always, seemingly accepting, or ignoring the fact she’d soon need much more help than Eden could provide. Eden was quiet, and I hated to leave her, but after giving her a kiss at my truck before I headed back to the training facility for a light practice, I’d promised her I’d be back later.

“You don’t need to do that,” she’d said.

“I know. I want to, and Selma has the night off, so Jasper is with her tonight. I’ll come back here when I’m done and bring dinner so make sure you text me what kind of pizza you want.”

“Oh.” Her blue eyes had turned round. “Okay then.”

I’d left, gone to practice and stopped by my house to grab a few things. After a quick trip at BarkTown to grab Bongo, who was surprisingly not soaking wet, I picked up dinner and returned to Marley’s.

We were eating the pizza, Marley and I drinking water while Eden sipped on a lemonade and watching Bongo run around the backyard, jumping at every stray leaf that blew in the breeze.

“It surprises me he doesn’t take off and run more often for still being so young.”

“He’s pretty good about staying close, always has been. It’s the mischief he gets into when left alone that makes him a full-on puppy.”

Marley chuckled. “Sounds like dogs aren’t that much different than you and Graham growing up.”

“We never tore couch cushions to shreds, but you have a point.”

She closed her eyes as she rested her head against the back of the Adirondack chair, and a faint smile curled her lips. “No cushions, but you two made plenty of mess and broke furniture so often you forced your mom to replace the pieces with thrift finds.”

“Maybe if she would have bought stuff new it would have held up better.”

“Nothing’s going to hold up well when two teenage boys decide having a dance party on the kitchen table is a good idea…with friends.”

Next to me, Eden laughed. Such a soft, beautiful sound, I forgot to remind Marley that it was Graham and his friends that did that, not mine. It could have been her age or cancer making her memory blurred, but I wasn’t about to do a thing to ruin the sweet mood.

“I should get to bed.” She yawned. “It’s getting late, and you kids deserve some time alone.”

“Marley—” Eden started and moved to push out of her chair, but I beat her to it and helped Marley.

“No, no. It’s time anyway.” I curled her arm around mine and tucked her close to me as she found her footing. “Never forget to remember those silly moments in life, you two. They’ll keep you smiling when you don’t feel much reason to.”

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