Page 65 of Silver Fake

I turn around and the look on Bill's face immediately has me scanning the room for Nancy. She's sitting in the corner alone, nervously toying with one of the cloth napkins. even from here, I swear her eyes look a little puffy like she's been crying.

"I know it's been a long day," Bill says, "but could you both wait before you head upstairs." His sad eyes look into John's. "There's something your mother and I need to talk to you about."

John's Adam's apple bobs as he swallows hard. "Sure, what's going on?"

The way his parents are acting this must be something personal. Given how John reacted when his mom needed to go to the hospital, I'm not sure he'll want me right in the middle of what looks to be serious family matters. I point towards the exit.

"If this is a family matter, I can wait upstairs. I don't want to intrude."

John squeezes my hand. "No, I want you with me."

It's probably the worst time, but his words make my heart swell. The fact that he wants me to be there regardless of what his parents want to discuss is a big deal.

"John's right," Bill says. "Nancy and I wanted to talk with both of you."

I nod. "Okay."

John laces our fingers together as we follow his dad to the table where his mom is waiting. The closer we get to his mom, the more obvious the worry is on her face. John must see it, too, because his grip on my hand is growing tighter.

Nancy looks up as John pulls a chair out for me to sit down and smiles at me, but something about it looks forced. John is looking back and forth between them like he's about to burst a coronary artery if they don't start talking.

"Did something happen?" he asks them. "I know Wyatt leaving is probably putting a lot on your plates. Do you need me to help out on weekends sometimes while you work on finding his replacement?"

John is spouting out words a mile a minute.

I've never seen him so nervous or worried before. He's still holding my hand under the table. He has it pulled close to him, with our hands resting on his thigh, which means we are side by side with our chairs pushed together like we are sharing a small bench.

Bill reaches over the table to Nancy and takes her hand, holding it between his hands. They stare at each other for a second, and she gives him a small nod of approval. Then he turns back to us, his focus shifting to John and meeting his eyes.

"I know you remember your mom passing out the last time you were both here." He nods to me.

"I thought the doctor said it was just a bad allergic reaction." John's eyes move to his mom. "That as long as you stopped using essential oils, you would be fine."

Nancy presses her mouth together, and I notice her eyes look blurry like she's holding back tears. "That's whatwetold you the doctor said. I'm a little ashamed to admit that wasn't the truth."

I feel John stiffen beside me. I squeeze his hand, moving my other hand across my body and placing it on his upper arm. It's not much, but I know he needs the support right now because whatever they are about to say, it isn't going to be good.

John's looking between his parents like he's lost and unsure of where to turn. "I don't understand. What happened if it wasn't that?"

Bill and Nancy look at each other again, and this time, when Bill looks back at John and me, he has a couple of tears rolling down his face. Nancy looks right at John, takes a deep breath, and says, "Honey, I have colon cancer. That's why I passed out before. I've been feeling bad lately from all the medicine they've got me on, and it overwhelmed me that day."

John looks frozen, staring at her. I can't even imagine the pain he's feeling. They aren't my parents, and I've only met them a couple of times, but even my heart is breaking right now. He's gripping my hand so hard it hurts, but I let him. He needs that from me right now, and I won't take it away.

After a couple of minutes of being silent, he starts shaking his head. "No. That can't be right. You're healthy. Cancer doesn't come after people like you. The doctor must have made a mistake. You need to get a second opinion."

"I have."

"And a third," Bill says. "Trust me, son. We didn't want it to be true. I argued with every doctor we saw, but the results were always the same."

John's taking deep breaths, and I can hear the tears fighting to break free with every ragged breath. My own tears are hovering on the edge of my eyelids, but I'm determined to keep it together for him as long as I can. Right now, he needs me to be the strong one.

Nancy reaches over the table for John, and he reaches back with his free hand, keeping the other under the table, holding my hand in a vice grip. His mom puts her hand over his and gently moves her thumb over his knuckles like she's trying to soothe him, making it harder for me not to cry.

"Honey, it's going to be okay."

"How can you know that?" John's voice cracks, and I lean closer into him, wanting to make sure he knows I'm right here with him.

"Well," she smiles kindly, "I know that whatever is going to happen, regardless of how I feel about it, and getting upset or mad won't take away the cancer. So, I'm choosing to take it one day at a time. What's meant to be will happen, and in the meantime, I will take the meds and radiation, or whatever the doctor orders, and do my best to beat this thing or at least get more time here with my family. Because that's what matters."

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