Page 137 of Breaking Point
The drive was short, and yet Mrs. Stratford took every available moment to pepper me with questions. Why am I doing the arrangement, why Bella, why do I love my team, why did I put myself in the position in the first place? I knew it was coming but as she got closer to the truth of why I became such a fuck-up the last year and a half, I choked and quickly changed the subject.
The questions slowed after that as we both fell into a comfortable silence, Trisha’s I surmise more out of tiredness. So it surprises me that as I’m moving her walker to the side of her bed, her soft airy voice floats through the room.
“Thank you.”
Lifting my head, I find her watching me. I give her a small smile. “It’s no problem, I don’t mind helping. Bella needed to stay another night and rest.”
“No.” She shakes her head. “Thank you for taking care ofher.”
My swallow is audible as I straighten. “I take it she doesn’t allow many people to?”
She snorts out a laugh. “Hit the nail on the head with that one.”
To stop myself from laughing, I busy myself making sure she has a glass of water and her medication on the bedside table.
“Do you want me to read to you?” I offer, noting the worn paperbacks that are collecting dust. While Bella tried to sleep, I read all I could about stage four ovarian cancer. How tired the patients get, how worn out and fuzzy their brain can feel to them at times.
It’s not just the cancer that is killing them, it’s the harsh chemical treatments. So, it’s not surprising to me that her books are collecting dust.
Surprise flickers in her eyes. “I haven’t been able to read in…well, months.”
“Then let’s make sure we pick a good one.” Walking over to the stack of books, I read through the titles. “Have anything in mind?”
I’m flipping through the piles, not knowing which one to choose, when I realize it’s been quiet for a while.
I turn back to Trisha, and there are tears gathering in her eyes. Clearing her throat, she blinks furiously. “House of Madness.” A watery smile stretches across her lips. “Please, I’m in the mood for a thriller.”
“House of Madnessit is.” Finding the book isn’t hard; it’s near the top of her many piles. I pull it out to see a red background with a black, creepy looking house sitting in the middle. “Is this going to terrify me?”
“Most likely.”
I chuckle as I take a seat on the rocker next to her bed. “I’ll take one for the team then.”
My gaze catches on the photo in the frame on the bedside table. It’s a stunning snapshot of Bella and her mom, no doubt before the cancer diagnosis. They both seem lighter—happier.
“You’ve fallen for her,” Trisha suddenly declares.
I’m not sure why—perhaps because my fondness for Trisha isgrowing or because I can’t tear my gaze away from such a happy version of Bella—but I find myself smiling as I confess, “Absolutely.”
Trisha is silent for a moment. “You won’t hurt her, will you?”
Now I look away to stare straight into Trisha’s eyes as I vow, “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Good, because she will need you when I’m gone.”
My head rears back at her blunt words. I open my mouth to deny it, but she simply holds up a shaky hand. “I’m dying, Grayson, and no medication will stop that. Bella just doesn’t want to admit it yet, so I’m doing this for her.”
“I spoke to your doctor. He seems hopeful,” I say quizzically, my frown deepening.
“They all seem hopeful when the treatment puts money in their pockets and gives them a test subject to work on.”
My heart utterly breaks at the desolate tone of her voice. “Do you really believe that?”
“Wholeheartedly. My body is failing me and there is nothing that will slow my cancer from killing me.”
I’m quiet as I watch Trisha gaze at the photo of her and her daughter, no doubt remembering happier times. “For your sake and Bella’s, I hope you’re wrong.”
She smiles, but it’s not one of joy. “I hope I’m wrong too. There’s so much I’m going to miss out on as a mother…” Her voice cracks, her eyes filling with silver. “So many moments Bella will need me.”
