Risk of Falling

They looked little more than skeletons covered in fur, and they would need more care than she could give. Propping the bottle on a pillow so that the last kitten could still eat, she dialed her best girlfriend Presley’s number at the animal rescue. “Hey, Pres. I’ve got some little ones for you. Do you have room?”

A big sigh on the other end. “I’ll find room. What have you got?”

“The cutest little kittens in the world.” Suzy looked them over again and smiled as they rolled around each other trying to find a comfortable sleeping position. Almost as if they didn’t want to be separated from each other for very long. “Well, they will be once they get some meat on their bones. And they probably need shots. I found them abandoned in Daddy’s car.”

“Any sign of the mother?”

Suzy shook her head and petted the two kittens who had fallen asleep after eating their fill. “Orphans. Just like me.”

Funny how that word still hurt after six months. She kept the smile on her face. As if her best friend could see her through the phone. “I can bring them in before I go to work tonight.”

“Yeah, okay.” The line stayed silent. “Suze, are you all right?”

How many times had she been asked that question since her mom died? She gave the standard answer. Better that than admit she missed Mama so much it ached. “Perfect. Wait till you see these cuties.” She smiled brighter. “They’re going to break your heart.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

Once the last kitten had eaten and fallen asleep, Suzy took her shower then got ready for work. She had an hour or so before she needed to be at the nursing home, so she could stay at the animal rescue and help out with the animals. She knew Presley was swamped with strays, which meant less time to walk them and care for them. Suzy could volunteer to do that for her friend.

She nodded. That’s what she’d do. And she’d deal with the backyard tomorrow.

* * *

SEVEN HOURS. WILL paced the waiting room of the hospital. They’d been there over seven hours with no word. No diagnosis. No solution.

Tori sat on a plastic chair, her head bent over a romance novel, but he could see that she’d been on the same page for the last thirty minutes. She was just as worried as he was.

“Where’s the doctor? It shouldn’t be taking this long.” He stood in front of Tori and crossed his arms over his chest. Waiting for her to look at him.

Instead, she kept her eyes on the page. “Stop watching the clock and pacing, Will. It’ll go faster.” She looked up and patted the empty chair beside hers. “Now sit. Read a magazine. Or go get us some snacks. We haven’t had lunch, and I’m starving.”

He shook his head. “If I’m not here when the doctor comes in....”

“Then I’ll talk to him. Not the end of the world.” She put her bookmark in the book and laid it beside her. “Or how about I’ll go get us some food. I need something.” She stood and grabbed her purse from the floor. “Snickers bar? Mountain Dew? Doritos?”

“Fine. Whatever”

He took out his wallet and handed her a twenty which she waved away. “I’ve got this. And I’ll call my neighbor Teresa and ask if she can pick up the boys from school.” She checked her watch. “Hopefully I’ll catch her before she leaves to get her son Noah.”

She flipped her phone open and dialed as she walked out of the waiting room. Will watched her leave then took a seat in her abandoned chair. He noticed her romance novel and picked it up. Flipped through it. Read a particularly racy scene and raised his eyebrows. What was going on with his sister? First the dyed hair. Now the sexy book? Maybe she was finally over her ex.

About time.

When Tori returned with a bulging plastic bag from the gift shop, he held up the book to her. “You’re reading this?”

She nodded and took the seat next to him, before handing him a wrapped sandwich and pop can. “Teresa recommended it. It’s actually quite good.”

He noted the bookmark was more than halfway through the book. “Obviously.” He unwrapped the sandwich and toasted her with it. “Thanks.”

“Anything for you.” She popped the tab on her drink then took a sip. “Still no word?”

Will swallowed his bite and shook his head. “It’s gotta be soon, right? I mean how long can they make us wait for answers?”

“Teresa said she’d keep the boys at her house as long as I need her to.” She took a deep breath. “She’s been a good friend. Especially since the divorce.”

Will put one arm around her. “The hits keep coming, huh?”

She swiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “You don’t know how hard it is being a single mom. There’s no one around to give me a hand. To answer the nonstop questions. Or deal with the increasing emotions. To tell them no. And then there’s the hormones.” She shuddered as if a cold finger had run up her spine.

He bumped her shoulder. “Whenever you need me, just call.”

“I know. But I’ve got to do this on my own. I can’t depend on you all the time.” She straightened in her seat. “Stones know how to get the job done.”

She unwrapped her sandwich and took a bite. He did the same, and they sat in silence for a while. The only sound other families chatting while they waited for news and a talk show on the television in the corner.

After eating their late lunch, Will gathered the trash and threw it out in the receptacle. Tori returned to her book, so he checked his email on his phone and waited for word on his mom.

A doctor in blue-green scrubs entered the room. “Stone family?”

About time. Will and Tori stood and held hands as the doctor approached. “Why don’t we step into the privacy room?”

Uh oh. That couldn’t be good.

They followed her into the room. Tori sat on the bench while he remained standing. He could take whatever news it was. He could be strong. For his mom. For Tori.

For himself.

“I’m Dr. Westphal, and I’ve been supervising your mom’s care since they brought her in.” She consulted her tablet. “She arrived in the emergency room exhibiting pain and a possible bone fracture.”

Will frowned. “She broke something? It’s not her heart? I mean, we assumed...”

Dr. Westphal looked up at him. “The more persistent problem right now is her fractured hip. We need to get her into surgery.”

“You bet. I’ll sign whatever form you need me to.”

“Mrs. Stone has already given her consent and will go into surgery to repair the fracture shortly after you see her.” Dr. Westphal sighed. “But the problem is after surgery.” She looked up from the tablet at first Will, then Tori. “She’ll be in the hospital for a few days but then will need long term care. Physical therapy. Possibly a hip replacement. And when she’s stronger, chemotherapy.”

Will lost the strength of his legs and sat next to Tori. No. Not this.”Cancer then.”

“We’re still running tests, but it appears the cancer is attacking her bones. Making them brittle and fragile.” Dr. Westphal took a seat in front of them. “A simple fall should not break bones, even in a woman your mother’s age.”

Tori started to cry softly beside him. He held her hand and squeezed. Their mom had cancer.

He closed his eyes to keep the panic from invading his mind. When he opened them, he gave a short nod. “How bad is it? I mean, how long...”

The doctor shrugged. “We won’t know any answers until more tests can be run. Let’s focus on repairing the hip first.”

Will nodded again. “We can see her?”