Page 23 of Lovesick
I did need to check my calendar, though. I was never sure when I might have a late delivery that my mother had added without my knowledge.
At home, the delicious smell of salmon assailed my nostrils and my mom called to me, “Just in time! I’ve started the salmon. Will you make salads?”
“Sure, Momma.” I slipped my papers from the doctor’s office inside a drawer in the stand beside my bed and went to help with dinner.
After dinner, we had cleaning up to do, and then we sat in the living room as a family and watched TV for a while. Then, satisfied with the day, I went to bed…only remembering those papers and the biopsy when it was definitely way too late to call and make an appointment.Tomorrow,I decided sleepily, taking a quick selfie for Maggie along with a goodnight message.
The next day, the shop was busier than it had been in a while. I had brought the papers with me to call and book an appointment, but I left them in my truck and drove the company vehicle all day - again, only remembering them when I headed home after a long day’s work. One more day couldn’t hurt. I put them in my glove box.
One thing led to another, and a week passed. LaFleur Flowers was definitely more than passing sales goals, and my mother, although busy, was nearly always in a good mood. “I think I will hire someone to help out,” she told me on a Wednesday afternoon. “We’re busy enough. It’ll be different…having someone who isn’t in the family involved with the business, you know. But I think it’ll be good for us.”
I leaned against the counter since I’d been on my feet most of the day. Now, I was starting to feel kinda tired. “I agree. It’s been too busy for just the two of us to handle lately.”
“I sure wish Maggie wasn’t becoming a nurse.” My mom realized how she sounded and changed tack. “I don’t mean that! I mean, I wish she was still around and had some free time. That girl’s a hard worker. Reliable too.”
“Yeah, she is.”
My mom saw the dreamy stars in my eyes and patted me on the shoulder. “She’s good for you, Marty.”
That was Wednesday. Today was Saturday, and even though the day was just getting started, I was thinking of taking it off. I’d just been so tired lately. It was hard to wake up, hard to go about my work, hard to go out with friends after… I attributed it to overwork, honestly, and I hoped my mom found that new employee soon.Although, I might be catching a cold or something - I had a bit of a fever last night.
I lay there in bed, feeling too drained and limp to move and giving myself that “five more minutes” spiel. Just a couple minutes, and I’d get up…
She’s good for you, Marty. Good for you.She was… Maggie made me happy, gave me someone to talk to and put a smile on my face when I was at my busiest. She cared about me…and worried about me.
I reached down to the nightstand, opened the bottom drawer and pulled out those papers the doctor had given me. I flipped around to my back and dialed the number. “Hi. My name is Marshall LaFleur. Yeah, sure. I came in for an appointment…two weeks ago, and Dr. Willamon told me to get a biopsy?”
They were able to fit me in on Monday. A weight fell from my shoulders as another, different heaviness settled in its place, and I forced myself out of bed. I definitely wasn’t going to lay here now - time to go to work.
I made it through Saturday and Sunday, and although I didn’t say anything to my mom, I just felt this crushing, overwhelming exhaustion the whole time - like I had stayed awake for days. The fever went away for a while on Saturday, giving me something to be grateful for…then returned on Sunday with a vengeance.
I had to take off part of Monday morning, and I made up some excuse instead of telling my mom why. She was kind of like Maggie in some ways, and I knew she would worry if I told her the truth.
So, I walked into the hospital and went in to have the biopsy done. The whole process was nothing at all - pretty much akin to a shot. I had never been afraid of needles before, but I found myself glaring at this one when it came out.
Of course, after the biopsy itself, I had to wait for the results. On Tuesday, I really didn’t feel well and ended up taking off work. Momma put the back of her hand on my forehead and felt the cold sweat from the fever. Then she surprised… no scared me… when she decided to open the shop thirty minutes late staying to make me breakfast. Before she left, she set out an extra glass of orange juice and put some medicine on my nightstand.
A day of rest and I felt a bit better - up to working, anyway. My mom told me to work at the nursery today in case I decided I wanted to take the rest of the day off.
Then, I got a call from a number I didn’t recognize. So I set down the shovel, and answered, “Hello?”
“Hello, can I speak to Marshall LaFleur?”
“That’s me,” I said, a bit confused.
“I’m calling to inform you that your biopsy results have come in and we need to see you today, if you’re able - if not, as soon as possible.”
“Why, what did the results say?” My heart sank like a stone, robbing me of the little energy I had as I sat heavily on a large stump.
“I’m not allowed to give you the results over the phone.”
“No… it’s alright… tell me now.”
“Hold for a moment please while I get permission from Dr. Willamon.”
“Ah… okay…”
I heard a click and knew she had placed me on hold. While waiting, I was massaging the back of my neck and fighting the urge to hang up.
