Chapter 20
Ishifted in the uncomfortable plastic waiting room chair and leaned back against the wall, pulling out my phone as Michael and Mom talked. I opened up my messages and pulled up an old group message. Typing Grayson’s name into the add bar, I sent a quickmessage.
Harlow:I’m at the Care Center. Be homelater.
Bellamy:Is that where you went with yourbrother?
Harlow:Yeah.
Knix:K. I should be back from the construction sitesoon.
Texas:Hurryhome!
Marv:See you soon,Sunshine.
I sighed. Still no reply from Grayson. I knew I shouldn’t let it hurt me so, but it was difficult not to. We had known each other for months, and to be honest, it felt like we were always falling apart rather than together, and then bam—the stars had aligned. I closed my eyes, remembering the night he and I had gone out on adate.
"Promise me something?" I had said. "Promise me you won't regret this." And he hadpromised.
Now that promise was broken and with it, my heart was cracked. I bit my lip, feeling the well of rage and pain and hurt and heartbreak rise within me. It wasn't fair. I should have known better. Me dating multiple guys, there was a reason people didn't do that. This type of relationship—the one that the guys had started with me—it bred deceit andpain.
"Harlow?" My eyes popped open at the sound of a familiarvoice.
"Dr. Galston?" I sat up quickly as my mom's primary care physician approachedme.
"I didn't know you were visiting today," he said, "but I was hoping to speak with you. Do you have amoment?"
I glanced away from Dr. Galston's polite blue eyes towards the open doorway to my mom's room. "My brother's visiting," I said hesitantly. I didn't want him walking out and not knowing where I hadgone.
Guessing my predicament, the doctor nodded in understanding. "I can ask one of the nurses to let him know where you've gone if he should leave before you get back," heoffered.
I nodded. "Thanks, I appreciatethat."
As Dr. Galston strode over to the nurses' station to let them know, I got up and followed after him. He turned a small but strained smile my way before nodding down the hall. "To my office?" hegestured.
Frowning, I trailed behind him. When we reached his office, he held open the door for me and I entered, taking a seat in front of the wide oak desk against the far wall. Dr. Galston closed the door behind him quietly and my shoulders stiffened as unease began to infiltrate my nerves. I watched the doctor's face closely as he circled his desk and took a seat. His eyes moved to the papers on his desk and after sliding a few out of the way, he steepled his fingers and set them down, taking a deepbreath.
My stomach dropped. "I'm glad to see you, Harlow," Dr. Galston began. "I've been looking after your mother for the last few months and I know you're her next ofkin."
"Is there something wrong?" I asked. I knew there was. It was too obvious—from the way the doctor's shoulders drooped to the polite and gentle tone of voice—but some part of me still held out a shriveled slither of hope that he would just talk about expenses or maybe a new form of treatment that they wanted totry.
When Dr. Galston sighed and met my gaze, I knew that wasn't the case. "I’ve spoken with your mother’s oncologist,” he said. “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but she’s no longer responding to the treatment," hesaid.
Even though I knew it was inevitable, my breath caught, and my chest squeezed tight. My hands contracted into fists. I wished one of the guys was there with me. Someone to come forward and comfort me. I had gotten used to the support they gave me, even from Grayson—though he was struggling right now, I knew he wouldn't have left me alone to deal with this as I felt right in thatmoment.
"I'm sorry, Miss Hampton," Dr. Galston said. Miss Hampton. He said my name so politely, so formally, as though he were already trying to distance himself from the situation. I didn't blame him. I wished I could do thesame.
I nodded, but the movement was robotic. Jerky. "I understand," Isaid.
He took in a long breath. "The best we can offer her at this time is comfort. I would suggest that you and your mother discuss getting her things in order. If you don't have a family lawyer, our staff can recommend some local offices that deal with this kind of thing. They understand what you're going through and they will make the ordeal as painless as possible, I can assureyou."
I nodded again and again, it was as though my head were propped up by a puppeteer's string, bobbing with the movement that I couldn't seem to control. The guys would know who to go to. I was sure Knix or Marv would have a lawyer that I could contact. I wondered how much lawyers cost. I wondered if Alex would let me work a few extra shifts until we got a job from Iris. Maybe I could talk to Alex about getting a more financially substantial position at Iris. Regular work. Work would take my mind off of thingstoo.
"Thank you, Dr. Galston." I swallowed around a thick throat, questions rising. I knew they needed to be asked, but the little girl in me didn't want to know. She wanted to turn around, close her eyes and put her hands over her ears. She wanted to block out reality. I couldn't do that, I didn't have that luxury. "How long do you predict that she has?" Iasked.
When would my world fall apart again? When would I have to pick up the pieces of my shattered self? When would my mom die? When would she leaveme?
Dr. Galston sat up straighter, his lips pinched down as he considered. "I normally don't like giving a prediction of this kind," he said slowly. "Or if I do, then I like to be realistic. Harlow, I'm afraid your mother hasn't been responding to the treatment for some time. She hasn't been strong enough to leave her room. We switched up treatments—with her consent, of course—but..." He trailedoff.