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"Poor baby Sounds like you need a little R & R"

"Mohed "I’m not quite in need of a break yet"

"You work hard, Brody You could always use a break When do Lucy and Piper start school?"

"Uh… a couple weeks Why?"

"Your dad and I were thinking we’d really like to get to know Kacie and the girls better The hospital wasn’t exactly the ideal location for our first introduction, and other than a few phones calls here and there, we haven’t really talked to her since Would you four want to come spend next weekend here?"

Kacie and I hadn’t even approached the topic of her bringing the kids to oing to interrogate her, are you, Ma?"

"Absolutely not!" she snapped "But I’d like to get to know the woman who has stolen my son’s heart… and all of his time"

Ah, so that was it

"Ahhh, so that’s what this is about Mom, if you want me to co you, but I do want to get to know Kacie and the girls I promise, no ulterior motives here"

"Okay Let me talk to her and have her look at her work schedule, and I’ll get back to you toood! One more question--will you be in toeeks from Friday? I have to co day, I was hoping I could stay there Maybe a mother-son sleepover?"

My stomach dropped I knew these scans were norot anxious every tih I would never ado of the fear that her cancer would coot the all clear from her doctor

"Of course, Mom," I said flatly

She sensed my tension "Honey, relax These are just routine scans"

"I know, I know This will be fun I’ll grab a bunch of movies and cook you dinner" I tried to sound upbeat

"That sounds perfect, actually"

"Great I’ll pick up Saw, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Night of the Living Dead… Wait, do you like Freddy or Jason?"

"Anything with Meg Ryan in it"

"Mom," I whined "She’s in chick movies I don’t want to watch chick movies, especially not with my mother"

"You want Toll House bars?" she threatened with a laugh

Mmmm Toll House bars

She kneeakness

"Evil, Mohed "You’ve Got Mail or Sleepless in… wherever?"

Completely exhausted froh it was the last thing I wanted to do My mom never batted an eye when I asked her if she would watch the girls fordinner was the least I could do Things would be easier in a couple weeks when school started for the otten so used to having hiuest roole up with him for a bit

My text alert went off and I ju I’d dozed off

B: YOU STILL AWAKE?

I didn’t waste ti sigh sounded in my ear as he answered the phone