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I offer her a cup and it hits , and the minute she takes her drink, I flatten my hand on her lower back and pull her close "You can tellWhatever you think I can’t handle, believe me, sweetheart, I can" I don’t wait for a reply or push her, releasing her and opening the door

She stands there looking ata bit shell-shocked, but her eyes slowly soften She reaches out, flattens her pal it there a moment before she looks up at me "Not yet," she says "It’s too soon" Her hand falls away as she steps into the hallway

Pleased with an answer that wasn’t "never" or "no," I join her in the hallway and we travel to the elevator Stepping inside, I punch the lobby level "You know ht?"

"Yes I’ve never been around anyone going through this Will he be in, do you think?"

"He’s proven stubborn enough to work through it in the past, but I know nothing about how aggressive this flare-up is, or how intense the treatet a better picture of where he stands"

"I’m sorry, Shane" Her hand co emotion in my chest "I know this sucks"

"Cancer is a hens my voice "That it’s found another iving et the best of me, and that would be unacceptable E on us," I say, having ordered it brought around when I ordered the coffee Her reply is to lace her are of support exactly what I needed, even though I didn’t know it

We exit to the front of the hotel, and a doorman holds the door to the Bentley for Emily, while Tai waves to her and stops in front of ht and when he left, he was coughing One of rinds through me and I reach into my pocket to offer hiive hi me one more reason to respect hi the door and resting ht with that wo exactly what is bothering ht before chemo" I place the car in drive

"Oh my God He’s such a bastard"

"That’s my old man" I cut the car onto the road, and I don’t ask E I know it, and I do

It’s about three minutes later when I pull into the driveway of her apart to face her "If you have any trouble today--"

"I’ll call you," she supplies "You’ve told me that many times You take care of you and the business I’ll take care of ave a shit about s off site I’m not sure when I’ll be in, but call or text if you need e to pick you up or send a car for you"

"Okay" She hesitates as if she wants to say soo, so you can get to the hospital"

I give a nod and she turns to the door but I grab her arm She faces me and I don’t have to pull her to me Suddenly she’s inher or her kissing le in her hair, hers tunnel into mine, and the taste of desperateness and fear in her kiss, hasmy mouth from hers Before I can speak, she says, "You call ets out of the car, shutting the door and leaving me alone

I watch her walk to her door and disappear, and only then do I look away, her words replaying in my head You calldaear, andthe hospital, I’m unsurprised to find my father is in the private section that costs a hefty fee and ensures his room will be more of a luxury suite than the cold discoh security and head toward the corner of the here I’istered I’m almost to the door when my mother steps out of the room, dressed to kill in a tan pantsuit that screams fashion show, not cancer treat to show up," she says,behind me "He wants coffee Walk with me"

My brow furrows "Coffee? They let hi it, not curing him, and do you really think they could stop hi,’" I repeat "You say that like you’re reciting the weather"

"What am I supposed to do? Sit here and weep?"

"Yes You are He’s your husband"

"And how do you think he’d react to le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true">