Page 25 of Dragon Slayer

She hiked herself a little higher up on the pillows. “What if I refuse treatment?”

Donna gave her a sharp look…then checked it. “Wait and see what the doctor says, hm?” She got to her feet. “I’ll let you get some rest. Don’t worry about Brando. Javi’s spoiling him rotten and I’ll ride him this week.”

“’Kay. Thank you.”

“Let me know how things are going.” She offered a tight, awkward smile as she headed for the door.

She stopped, though, lingering with her hand on the knob, and cast a look back over her shoulder, frowning. “Oh, one thing I’ve been wondering. Do you know who that was in the ring with us? He was calling your name. Screaming it, actually. Thought he was gonna faint.”

A wave moved through her, a surge of something between dread and panic that threatened to rip apart her carefully taped seams, send all those jagged pieces slicing through her. She went through a series of swallows again, breathing past the sharp pain until it dissipated. “Who?”

“That guy.” Donna snorted. “The pretty one with the long hair and the Halloween costume. He work at a Ren Faire or something?”

“I…” Val. Donna had seen Val. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Donna’s frown deepened; she looked like she started to say something else, drawing in a breath. But then she gave a little headshake and said, “Huh. Oh well. Rest up. Eat your Jell-O.” She gave an awkward smile and slipped out.

~*~

Donna had seen Val.

~*~

Dr. Patel stood at the foot of her bed, hands clasped together, expression one of practiced sympathy and gravity. He had a warm bearing, and a gentle voice, and was one of the preeminent neurosurgeons in this part of the country. So when he said, “Mia, I’m very sorry…” Mia knew that he spoke the truth.

Her tumor was inoperable.

Too risky; too much chance of cutting into some life-sustaining part of her brain.

There was a chance radiation could shrink it…

Mia stared down at her hands.

“Oh, sweetheart,” Kate murmured, voice tear-choked.

Mia’s voice came out detached, oddly calm. “How long do I have.”

“It’s hard to say,” Dr. Patel said.

Because they didn’t know.

~*~

Donnahad seen Val.

~*~

Mia let her duffel bag slide down off her shoulder and hit her bedroom floor with a thump. She sat down hard on the edge of the bed and just…

Stared at the wall. Took a breath.

She had another tumor.

She was dying.

Donna had seen Val. Those were the three most pressing issues weighing on her mind at the moment.

Mom had flown back home that morning; she’d had another realtor cover her clients for the week she was in Denver, but she was losing commissions, which she needed, and Mia was feeling better; had urged her mother over and over again to leave until Kate finally caved with a grief-stricken look. Mia had tried to smile at her. “I have time.” And she did…just probably not a whole lot of it.

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