Page 40 of Too Much In Common
“Yes. I am taking a lighter schedule. I fly back to Boston in the morning. Then I’ll take two weeks of vacation until our Paris flight.” He referred to the flight as theirs, although she hadn’t answered him.
“I’ll go with you on one condition: if you are not well enough, you won’t fly.”
“I would never put a flight in danger.”
Tian wondered how sincere the answer was. Had he told the airline? Did she have an obligation to? She pushed that question out of her mind for now. “Does my mom know?”
“I told her two days ago.”
“What about Brit?”
“I wanted to talk to you first.”
“What about Simone? And legal?”
“I’m taking care of that.” Translation, none of her business.
With all of the practical questions out of the way, she asked, “How long?”
“Until I die? Probably years. Until the treatment is over? I’ll know better after this round of chemo. Hopefully, in less than six months.”
“Are you in pain?”
“No.”
“Anything I can do?”
“Just agree to fly to Paris with me.”
“Yes. What about the arrangements with scheduling?” Tian could put in a request for a Paris flight and with the needed the hours, she was likely to be assigned a Paris flight; however, the timing would be up to someone else.
“Make sure you request Paris to finish out your hours.”
“I will.” Tian gulped. As a child, she had no problem saying I love you to her parents. The little girl in her wanted to say those words now, but would he believe them? Would she? “Thank you for inviting me on your last flight. I know it will be special.”
“I’m so proud of you, peanut. Thanks. I’ll let you know when it is arranged.” The line went silent.
Tian stared at her phone screen. Cancer. Brit would not handle this well. Simone and Brit’s boyfriend would be there for Brit. She’d have to wait until Brit said something.
She texted her mom.
Tian: Dad gave me a lot to process.
Mom: Kurt has always been the go-big-or-go-home type. Are you okay?
Tian: I will be. I wish I had forgiven him before now.
Mom: You still have time. He is likely to recover from this with treatment.
Tian: I want to, but now I am bitter that he just ruined Hawaii.
Mom: You could have called him back sooner.
Tian: So I ruined Hawaii?
Mom: Only a volcano could do that. You can choose to enjoy your time or not.
Tian wanted to scream, not listen to her mother’s “life is what you make of it” speech.
