The Protector by Shelley Shepard Gray

Author:Shelley Shepard Gray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins US
Published: 2011-07-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

“You didn’t have to come with me to the doctor, you know,” Mattie told Lucy as they rode in the back of Charlie’s van to the Geauga County Medical Center.

“Sure I did. I promised you I’d be with you every step of the way.”

Remembering how Lucy had come by train to help take care of her for a whole month while she’d been receiving chemotherapy treatments, Mattie knew that her friend had more than fulfilled her promise. “Hopefully, this journey will be over one day.”

Lucy paused as she narrowed her eyes. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“I know you, Mattie, and I know that tone in your voice. I know you almost better than I know myself. What’s happened?”

“I . . . I found another lump,” she reluctantly admitted. “It’s under my arm.”

Lucy’s eyes widened and she breathed in sharply. “When?”

“A few days ago.”

“Is that why you’re going in today? The doctor wanted to see you right away?”

“No, this is simply a checkup.”

“He’s not worried? What did he say? Is this normal?” The questions came out in a rush. Forceful.

So forceful that Mattie had to smile in spite of the million butterflies fluttering in her stomach. “What happened to my shy, timid friend Lucy?”

After a moment’s pause, Lucy grinned, too. “She’s inside of me still. But now I let this bossy part speak sometimes, too. Forgive me, am I making you uncomfortable?”

“Verra much so.” She cleared her throat. “So will you stop the questions now?”

“Nee. Mattie, what did the doktah say?”

“I haven’t told anyone.”

Lucy blinked. “No one?”

“Well, you,” Mattie allowed.

“Are you going to tell the doktah today?”

“I wasn’t going to, but I guess I should.” Looking at Lucy’s determined expression, Mattie said, “After all, I have a feeling if I don’t say anything, you will. Right?”

“Oh, yes.”

Mattie watched Charlie exit the highway and turn right. In the distance, she could already see the medical center looming. And though the men and women who worked there had been kind to her, she still felt a bit of distaste when she eyed the place.

She so did not want to go back to twice-weekly visits. To sitting in a chair hooked up to too many needles.

“I don’t want to go through this again,” she finally whispered. “I don’t think I can survive another round of chemotherapy.”

“Let’s not jump to conclusions.” Lucy slipped her hand through hers and squeezed tightly. “But if that’s what is needed, why . . . yes, you can. You can do anything you want, with God’s help.”

“But I don’t want this.”

“Then let me rephrase my words. You can survive just about anything, with God’s help.”

Mattie swallowed hard. Lucy had been through so much, she knew her friend believed that with all her heart.

It wasn’t the same for Mattie. Over the last year, her faith had steadily dissipated, like air out of a balloon. Now there was hardly any faith left.

Though she’d talked to Lucy about it, Lucy was under the impression that Mattie had worked through her issues and was a believer again.

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