Jake stood and scowled down at her. “Are you sure you don’t feel sick?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Shouldn’t they remove the breast, to make sure?” Dan asked. She looked over at him, knowing that was what happened to their mother.
She shook her head. “No, there’s no history of breast cancer in my family and the doctor doesn’t think that was necessary. I’m going to be fine, Dan.”
“Oh God,” he whispered as he pulled her into his arms, rocking her slightly.
“I want to speak to your doctor. I want to make sure you’re getting the best treatment possible. I want to hear about this treatment plan,” Jake demanded.
Mari nodded, unable to refuse him. “Of course.”
Jake stared down at his wife, barely able to breathe.
Cancer.
Old memories of his mother sick, dying washed through his mind. He blinked and looked at Mari. She looked even thinner. She needed some care and attention.
“I’ll ring the doctor, arrange a meeting,” she told them.
Dan moved to get the phone, while Mari stared up at Jake.
“I’m really sorry,” she whispered.
“Finding you gone, it was devastating, Mari. We didn’t know where you were, if you were all right, what it was we’d even done. You may have thought you were doing the right thing, but it wasn’t, Mari. You made a mistake, and it’s going to take me a while to forgive you for that.”
“Do you want to spank me?” she asked quietly.
“I never want to spank you, Mari. I love you. But because I love you, I have to stop you from making foolish decisions—like leaving your husbands so you could cope with breast cancer on your own.”
Tears filled her beautiful green eyes. “I didn’t want you to have to go through it again.”
“We had a right to know,” Dan said as he returned. “A right to look after and protect you.” “I wanted to protect you.”
“No,” Jake snarled. “That’s not how this relationship works. We protect you. We look after you. Guide you. You broke so many rules, Mari. I won’t have it. You are not to run in order to protect us. You are not to run. Ever. You tell us what is happening, you open up to us, be truthful with us or there is no us.”
He saw her take a deep breath.
“And I am not going to give you up. Not without a fight,” Jake promised.
“Me neither,” Dan interjected then handed her the phone. “Ring the doctor.”
*****
Mari crossed her arms over her chest as she left the doctor’s office behind her husbands. Luckily, he’d been able to fit them in for a visit. She tucked her hands under her elbows to stop herself from reaching for them.
Dan turned as though hearing her thoughts and held out his hand. She took it gratefully as Jake unlocked his SUV and opened the back passenger’s door. She climbed in and closed her eyes, feeling emotionally exhausted and let Jake guide them home.
Once inside the apartment, she sat on the sofa and looked up at them.
“What now?” she asked quietly. She felt their pain, their hurt like a knife to her gut. How could she ever make this up to them? She hadn’t wanted to leave them. But she’d thought she was doing what was best for them.
Jake sat across from her. “Well
, you’re going to have to decide what you’d like to do, baby. And either way we’ll have to stay here for a while you’re getting treatment. Is Annabelle expected back any time soon? Shall we get a motel room?”
Mari shook her head. “No, she won’t be back for another month. But what about your work? You can’t stay here with me.”