Keep Your Friends Close by Lucinda Berry

Author:Lucinda Berry [Berry, Lucinda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Published: 2023-11-06T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

THEN

WHITNEY

I took one last look in the mirror before I pulled open the door to meet Jade. She held the baby in one arm, and Lily clung to her other one. Lily’s body was slightly hidden behind Jade’s legs. Her chicken elbows poking out. She was so tiny already. The sixth percentile for height. The third for weight. Always had been. She had eating issues when she was young and ended up having to go to a specialized clinic to get it worked on. She’d never really caught up. And now this?

Jade looked frazzled, but she always looked frazzled these days. How could she not be? I held back from giving her a big hug even though I wanted to, but sometimes hugs made it harder for her when she was trying so hard to be brave and strong.

“Here, let me take her,” I said, grabbing Iris from her. It felt strange holding someone’s baby when mine was gone, but I promised Jade I’d help her, and I meant it. She had so much on her plate. I still couldn’t believe she’d been carrying around all those secrets with her for so many years. Stuff like that would eat your insides. No wonder she had irritable bowel syndrome.

Grace had taken Asher to the park. They’d been there all morning. It was a good thing because otherwise I’d have two babies. One was hard enough. Asher kept me up half the night, and I needed a break. I’d just woken up from my nap when Jade called. She was frantic. Lily had her first treatment today, and the babysitter canceled at the last minute.

“Of course. Bring her over. Asher’s at the park with Grace, so I’ve got free baby hands,” I’d said as I quickly jumped out of bed and hurried downstairs to make an espresso. I couldn’t believe I’d thrown myself together so quickly.

How’s she doing? I mouthed to Jade as she stood in the entryway. When she told me about Lily’s cancer diagnosis, she said the hardest part for Lily was all the needle pokes. Lily was terrified of needles, and her phobia had only grown worse. Jade said she was forced to hold her down, and it was the most traumatic thing she’d ever been through. Last time they’d given her kiddie Xanax. Who knew there was such a thing?

Not good, she mouthed back.

I gave her an apologetic smile, wishing I could do something more for her than watch Iris. And then, it hit me. Almost like I’d smacked into an actual wall.

I couldn’t take the pain of any of this away. I couldn’t make Lily any less afraid of shots or Jade’s lazy husband go to work. But I had a way to alleviate the financial burden this was taking on their already-battered finances. A way for Lily to get the experimental treatment that her regular insurance wouldn’t cover. Jade needed room to breathe, and I had air.

Could I trust her? I looked at her as she gave Iris a quick peck on the cheek and set her bag down on the entryway bench.

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