Page 47 of Toxic Hope
What if we have taken it too far?
Usually, it’s only my twin who knows what I’m thinking, but apparently, today, so does Emma.
“I’m fine,” she tries to assure me, but I’m not buying it.
“You can barely stand on your own.”
“I’m just a bit tired. It will pass.”
I shake my head, not believing her one bit. I take her panties and hold them open for her to step in while Preston helps her steady herself. We do the same with her shorts. When her bottom half is covered, I guide her to sit on the table.
Preston helps her into her bra, while I make sure she gets her shirt on right. She is quiet as we dress her, but I know she won’t be for long.
“Let us take you home,” I offer. “I’ll drive your car, and Preston can follow us in our truck.”
“I don’t need your help getting home,” she assures me.
“I know you don’t need it, but you’re still going to take it,” I respond, leaving no room for an argument. “You can either walk out with us like a good girl, or I’ll throw you over my shoulder and make a scene.”
“You two are unbelievable,” she mumbles, but doesn’t fight as we walk her out of the classroom and toward the parking lot. Which I take as another small victory.
21
PRESTON
Can it be true? Am I actually looking forward to volunteering this afternoon?
Okay. Maybe I’m not looking forward to it. That would be like looking forward to a dentist appointment. I’m not dreading it, though, which is just as much of a surprise as we walk from the truck toward the revolving doors leading into the lobby.
“What if they don’t assign us to the oncology department today?” Easton looks and sounds about as worried as I was for the split second I had the same thought earlier, before the solution jumped out at me.
“We just go there without asking for an assignment.” The button on the panel glows bright when I press it to call the elevator. “If anybody asks why we’re there, we tell them we were only checking on our friend.” Though I doubt anybody will care so long as we look like we’re keeping busy.
It’s wild. I’ve seen her like this before. I know she’s sick. There’s still no way to prepare myself for the way my stomach drops at the first sight of pearls sitting through a chemo treatment. There’s something very wrong about somebody our age going through this.Get it together. I’m not helping anybodyby standing around, getting lost in my thoughts. Especially not once she notices us watching from outside the room.
“You’re kidding,” she mutters when we step inside. I can’t tell if she’s glad to see us or what.
“We heard there was a patient in here who needs cheering up.” My head swings from side to side as I look around the otherwise quiet room with its empty chairs. “I guess that means you.”
She doesn’t look surprised. Not exactly happy, but not surprised. “Are we making this our thing now?” she asks, smirking up at us. “You just, like, showing up when you know I’m stuck in one place?”
“Come on.” Easton cranes his neck to look out into the hall, like he’s making sure nobody is paying attention. “We have to be here, anyway. They might make us empty out bedpans, otherwise.”
When she arches her eyebrow, I know what she’s going to say. “And I’m supposed to feel bad about that? I might start screaming at somebody to get you out of here.”
“You could use the company.” Like I did the night we found her, I sit close to where she’s sitting with her feet up. She looks small in her chair, almost swallowed up by the blanket. It’s not easy, but I have to remind myself how she hates feeling pitied.
Easton asks, “Are you always alone when you do this?”
“Yeah.” That’s a sore spot. I can tell from the way she lifts her shoulders a little. Defensive. “It’s not a big deal. I don’t mind having a little peace and quiet.”
In a hospital? Where there are people walking around all the time? “If that’s how you feel about it, we can leave you alone.” I even stand like I’m ready to go.
“I mean, you’re already here.” She waves a hand at the chair. “Sit. Keep me company, I guess.”
Like I was ever really going anywhere. Flopping back down, I ask, “Why isn’t your grandma here with you?”
Her lips pull together in a thin line across the bottom part of her face. “Why do you have to make it sound like it’s weird? It’s not like she doesn’t care.”
