Page 51 of Finding Forever

“With occasional bouts of great sex with a sexy man,” Abby added.

Rolling my eyes, I tried not to think about Maverick. He’d called and texted me several times since our phone call earlier and I didn’t even have the heart to open the thread. I felt both embarrassed and vindicated for the way I’d acted earlier, and I wasn’t anywhere near ready to confront him about it.

“I have Chris’ address, you know.” Abby looked at me with squinted eyes. “I can go cuss him out in person if it’ll make you feel better.”

Tanya chimed in. “And I can send a singing telegram that does the same thing.”

A reluctant laugh overtook some of the sadness I was feeling, and I felt so grateful for their friendship. Even in the crappy moments, they knew how to pull a smile out of me.

A small smile, but a smile, nonetheless.

“Are you really mad at Maverick, or was it just convenient for you to lash out at him?” Abby wanted to know.

Huffing, I rolled my eyes toward the ceiling and swore under my breath when tears started welling up. Every time I thought about my brief conversation with Maverick, the tears threatened to fall. But so far I had been successful in preventing the flood.

Because once I opened the dams, there was no telling when the tears would stop.

“Can we change the subject?” I pleaded with imploring eyes.

My best friends correctly read the expression on my face and didn’t push me further. I knew they were worried about me, but they would let me come to them in my own time. We had a beautiful understanding. The less they pried, the more I wanted to share.

“I had an honest conversation with my mom’s doctor today,” Tanya shared.

Abby and I stared into the phone with bated breath for the follow up.

“I asked her to be straight with me about things and she said she doesn’t think my mom has a high chance of making it past the year.”

When I asked to change the subject, I didn’t know it would get this gloomy. Sadness and sympathy took over my heart when I witnessed the resolution in Tanya’s eyes after her confession.

“Oh, honey,” Abby spoke first. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”

Tanya lifted her shoulder in a pitiful shrug. “I knew it was coming. I just didn’t expect to find out the expiration date was so near. I wish there was more I could do.”

“Tanya, you’ve done so much already,” I told her reassuringly. “You’ve been the best caretaker you could be and you’re doing everything you can to make sure your mother’s dignity is intact as she goes through any family’s worst nightmare.”

“Yeah,” Abby chimed in. “Give yourself more credit. You’ve done way more than most would, and you did so with a smile on your face. Your mother knows how much you love her and that you did everything in your power to make sure she was comfortable.”

Tanya nodded but didn’t speak. Seconds later, I saw twin streaks of tears move down her cheeks.

“Do you want me to fly to Virginia tomorrow?”

Never mind the fact that I was probably on thin ice at work and calling out a day after my verbal warning probably wouldn’t bode well, but I was willing to risk it all once I saw the heartbreak in my best friend’s eyes.

She was an awesome friend and daughter. And I just wanted to do anything to make things easier for her.

“No,” Tanya sniffed. “I just want to soak up whatever time she has left with her.”

Her words were broken as she swiped at the overflow of tears. Tanya’s mother was more than a mom. She was her best friend and biggest cheerleader. I couldn’t imagine how it felt to know that your biggest fan, your biggest ally, was on borrowed time. I thought about my own parents and felt a twinge of gratitude that my father was okay.

We chatted for another hour, talking about anything from food to wine to handbags. Anything to try to brighten the mood before we had to say goodbye.

When I finally hung up, I felt a little better, but not enough to tackle the messages from Maverick or answer his routine call before bed. I shoved my phone under my other pillow and settled into the soft sheets. Closing my eyes, I hoped tomorrow would be better.

Gina

“Good night, sweetie,” I whispered, kissing Mycah’s forehead as he settled under his favorite blanket the next day.

“Good night, Mommy. I love you.”

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