Dad shakes his head. “What’s that?”
I grab hold of Ryker’s hand, unable to say the words.
Ryker clears his throat, then says, “Danny has a tumor in her brain. It’s the most aggressive brain cancer. She’s scheduled for surgery on Tuesday morning.”
Mom lets out a cry, and then she rushes to me while Aunt Jamie covers her mouth with her hands.
When Mom grabs hold of me, I close my eyes and fight to keep it together. Her fingers grip hold of my sweater as she begins to gasp for air, and all I can do is stand frozen.
“What?” Dad gasps. “What are you saying?”
“There is a treatment plan in place. It’s had positive results,” Ryker continues.
“Ryker!” Uncle Rhett shouts. “What the fuck does it mean for Danny?”
“There’s only a five percent survival rate after five years.”
“Christ,” Tristan hisses. “Fucking fuck.” Then he snaps, “No, there has to be something we can do.”
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper.
Dad makes a painfilled sound, something between a growl and a sob. “Are you saying Danny’s dying?”
“No,” Ryker bites out. “She’s just sick. With treatment, she can fight this. She’s not dying.”
“Can’t Leigh help?” Uncle Rhett asks.
“Her field is cardiothoracic. Not brain cancer,” Ryker answers.
Mom begins to calm down, and as she pulls away, she stammers, “I… I… Not my baby.”
I can’t bring myself to look at my family. Sorrow drowns out all the light. Fear is palpable in the air.
I tighten my hold on Ryker’s hand as tight as I can, and it has him stepping in behind me. I feel his chest rise and fall against my back and try to match my quivering breaths to his.
“What’s most important is that Danny’s still here,” Ryker says, his voice firm and filled with the strength I need to just cope. “There’s hope. She’s going to fight this, and she needs every bit of support and strength we can give her.”
“But…” Christopher groans. “But…”
I raise my eyes, and then I’m hit with a wave of raw heartache, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Dad looks like he’s stuck in a daze. Uncle Rhett keeps shaking his head. Mom’s… just broken. Aunt Jamie has tears running down her pale face.
I glance at Christopher, who looks at me like I’m a ghost. I try to take a step back, but Ryker’s body stops me.
Then I look at Tristan, and I gasp when I see the pain etched into his features, a tear spiraling down his cheek.
“I’m so sorry,” I whimper.
Tristan moves forward, and then he grabs hold of me, yanking me away from Ryker. His arms lock around me, his grip bordering on painful. Then my brother says, “Shh… we’ll find a way to get through this.”
I nod against his chest. “I’m going to fight.”
I feel Tristan press a kiss to my head. “And I’ll be right there fighting with you. Okay? If you need anything, you tell me.”
I nod again.
Tristan pulls back only for Christopher to take hold of me. I feel his body shake, and bringing a hand to his back, I try to comfort him. “It’s going to be okay,” I whisper. “I want you to go on your honeymoon.”
Christopher shakes his head. “Not a chance of that happening. I’m not leaving you when you need me most. The honeymoon can wait until after you’re better.”
I pull back while nodding. “Thanks, Christopher.”
Knowing I have to, I walk to where Dad’s still standing in a trance. I try to force a smile to my lips. “Daddy.”
His eyes lower to mine, and it’s the first time in my life where all I see is fear. His movements are stilted as he lifts a hand to my shoulder, and then he whispers, “Princess.”
“I’m so sorry, Daddy. I wish… I wish…” My breaths speed up, and I begin to shiver from how much it hurts.
Dad takes a deep breath, and then his features harden. I watch as he reins in his pain, and then he asks, “Who’s the doctor?”
“Dr. Friedman. I have to check in tomorrow morning at Cedars-Sinai.”
“Do you have his contact number?” Dad asks.
I nod and walking to my handbag, I take the business card from it and then hand it to Dad.
I watch as Dad takes his phone out and dials Dr. Friedman’s number.
Chapter 18
RYKER
Uncle Carter must have the phone on speakerphone because the next minute, we all hear, “Dr. Friedman speaking.”
“Doctor, It’s Carter Hayes, Danny Hayes’ father,” Uncle Carter says, his eyes not leaving Danny. “She just told us the news. Explain everything to me.”
“Mr. Hayes, I’m glad to hear Danny told you. I was worried about her doing this on her own.” Dr. Friedman clears his throat, then he continues, “With the last MRI, the growth was roughly the size of half a fist. Glioblastoma is a tricky thing, though. It has tentacles that grow into the surrounding brain, and it’s hard to get it all out. That means it keeps coming back.”