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"We'll in pre-op," Doctor Covington said

"Does she know?" I asked

"Yes," Doctor Covington said "I don't believe in hiding a diagnosis from the one person it concerns the most," he said

"You told her? But she'll be so sad," Belinda moaned

"Actually, she took it rather well," Doctor Covington said "Your mother looked up at me and said, 'So you'll fix it I'll blink one'

He started to smile Tears caht

"That nor'easter the other day," Daddy said with a deep sigh as we left the doctor's office, "wasn't anything compared to the storm ahead"

We followed the aht Belinda wasin restaurants and having ti than she orried about Mother Nolike a child on an exciting trip Finally, at the hotel, she burst into tears after I chastised her for flirting with the bellhop

"I'htened as you are, Olivia, and just as worried I' not to think about it You don't care if you think about it Your brain is likelike a castle compared to the little house mine is I don't have asas you are, so stop yelling at me!" she pleaded, her face twisted in pain

I stared at her a ue now," Daddy pleaded "We've got to look strong and cheerful for your mother"

"Well, tell her to stop picking on me then," Belinda moaned

"I won't say another word Do whatever you want Make a fool of yourself all day, for all I care," I said She was satisfied

Eventually, Daddy gave in to some of her requests and whenever ere away froo to department stores herself The boxes piled up in the hotel roos for me

The surgeon told us that the operation ell, but results and prognosis would have to wait until after the chemotherapy As soon as she had made a coin and that could take place at a hospital closer to home

The third day after the operation, Mother was more buoyant and alert than we had seen her for a while