Page 251 of Heart’s Cove Hunks

“I’ve got a garage full of it,” Trina cuts in. “I already told her she was welcome to it.”

“You knew?” Mom looks outraged.

“Uh-oh,” Simone mumbles, voicing what everyone else is thinking.

Mute, I sit in my seat, head whipping from one person to the next. I’ve lost control of the conversation.

“I found out a few weeks ago,” Trina answers with a wave her hand. “I found out by accident.”

“A few weeks ago?” my mother screeches.

“And you didn’t tell anyone?” Candice is the one who looks upset now.

“It wasn’t my secret to tell!” Trina stands, picking up a mug from the coffee table and bringing it over to the sink. Jen shuffles out of the way. Nora gives me a sympathetic arch of her brows.

“How are you doing, hon?” Fiona leans forward to rest her elbows on her knees. “I’ve never been pregnant, but I’ll help in any way I can.”

“Me neither, and same,” Simone agrees with a nod. “Candice, you know how to do prenatal yoga, right? Maybe we can have regular sessions until the baby gets here.”

“That’s a good idea,” Candice says with a nod. “The studio is getting a final coat of paint today, but we could start in a couple days, once the smell of paint clears out.”

“Do you have a nursery?” Simone asks. “We could help prepare your apartment for the baby.” She tilts her head. “Are you going to stay in that apartment? You don’t think you should get something a bit bigger?”

“Babies don’t need much room,” Trina says. “The apartment will be fine for the first year at least, and it’ll be one less stress for Lily to worry about. The last thing she needs to be doing right now is moving all her stuff again.”

“True,” Simone says. “We should have a baby shower! Jen, you could make baby-themed cupcakes. Do we know if it’s a boy or a girl?”

As if they’ve remembered I’m here, all eyes turn to me. My head is spinning from the conversation, and I feel a weird mix of gratitude that I have such a support system, and sheer terror at what I need to tell them. “Not yet,” I start slowly, then clear my throat. “I, ah… There’s something else.”

My mother’s eyes narrow. Candice’s hand reappears on my knee. Silence crashes over the room, and I have to close my eyes.

I told Rudy. I should be able to say the words once more without puking all over myself.

The thought of Rudy’s reaction centers me, and I take a deep breath. “I have breast cancer,” I say in the silence. When no one answers, I open my eyes and keep going. “I was diagnosed a couple of weeks after the doctor confirmed I was pregnant. I’m getting surgery in two weeks. A mastectomy.” I point to my left boob. “They need to take the whole thing because radiation isn’t safe for the baby, which I would need to have if they weren’t removing the entire breast.”

Everyone is frozen. My mother makes a little squeaky noise, and I don’t have the courage to look at her. If I do, I might cry.

A deep breath buoys my courage. “I’ll have at least one round of chemotherapy, which will be once a week for six weeks following my surgery. It’s safe for the baby, but there’s a small risk of me giving birth early. My medical team assures me that everything is safe and it’s likely I’ll make a full recovery, but I, uh”—I gulp—“I’m just telling you because I don’t know how my treatment will affect me. I might need some help over the next few months.”

To my surprise, the first person to react is Simone. Exuberant, brash Simone, who always has a quip and a sarcastic remark. She jumps off the arm of Fiona’s chair and leans over me, planting a big kiss on my cheek. “You are so brave,” she says quietly, both hands on either side of my face. “Thank you for trusting us with this.”

Candice’s hand is clenched over my knee. I meet Trina’s eyes across the room and see them filled with tears. Oh no. She’s going to start me off.

Gathering my strength, I look at my mother. “Mom,” I say gently when I see her stricken face, “I’ll be fine.”

She snaps out of whatever stupor was holding her and gives me a sharp nod. “I know. Of course you will, honey.” Her smile is fierce and more than a little forced. “You will be fine.”

I have a feeling she’s saying it to convince herself more than me, but I manage to nod before the first of my tears spills over my cheek. From there, the library turns into waterworks central. Every single one of us turns into a blubbering mess. Even Jen, who I don’t know very well, has wet cheeks as she passes tissues around the room. I’m smothered in hugs and kisses and promises to help.

And…a weight lifts off my shoulders.

I was terrified that I’d be burdening them, that my fear and illness would drag them down with me. Instead, as we try in vain to dry our eyes, a strange, beautiful sort of lightness fills the room. For the first time—maybe in my whole life—I realize that friendship has a touch of magic to it. My soul feels lighter than it has in a long time.

Opening up to these women wasn’t a mistake. I’ve been shutting myself away for fear of dragging them all down, but I hadn’t considered that it could actually bring us closer together.

What if I’d trusted Rudy the same way I’ve trusted them? What if I was wrong, thinking he would’ve eventually walked away? What if there are people who will stick by you through thick and thin?

The father of my child walked away, but that doesn’t mean everyone else will. What if I don’t have to live the rest of my life alone?

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