Judy Christenberry - A Randall Thanksgiving

“Why does she have to have it? And who will take care of her?”

“I don’t know the answers to those questions. Again, you need to ask Caroline.”

“Will she tell me? Does Dad know?”

“I’m not sure, Melissa. I’ll probably get in trouble for telling you, but I thought you should know.”

“Of course I should!” She pushed her plate away. “I’m going to go see Caroline right now.” She reached into her purse for her wallet.

Tori stopped her. “No, Melissa, it’s my treat. Consider it a welcome-home present. I’ve missed you.”

“Thanks, Tori,” Melissa said, standing and bending down to kiss her cousin’s cheek. Then she rushed toward the door, anxious to find out about her mother.

In her mind she debated the information Tori had given her. If her condition was serious, wouldn’t her mother have told her? Wouldn’t she have gone ahead and had the surgery? Why would she wait until after Christmas? It came every year. Surely she would—Maybe that was it. Maybe they’d told her there would be no more Christmases.

Melissa started sobbing as that thought took hold. She’d been away for six years, and she’d missed all that time with her mother. But her mom wasn’t old. What was going on?

She wasn’t even aware of the tears that streamed from her eyes. Arriving at the hospital, she reached for the door just as someone came out. She pushed past him and was surprised when he caught her arm.

It was Harry Gowan.

“What’s wrong? Can I help?”

“No. I have to find Caroline.” She tugged on her arm, but Harry didn’t let go.

“She’s patching up the guy who got cut. You’ll have to wait a few minutes. Come in and sit down. I’ll tell them you’re here to see Caro. Is it— I mean, are you sick?”

“No, but I need to see her at once!”

He led her to the waiting area. “Just sit here. I’ll be right back out as soon as I talk to her.”

Melissa wondered why he could talk to Caro and she couldn’t. Caro was her cousin, not his!

She fixed her gaze on the door through which he had disappeared, trying to be patient, but her thoughts were bouncing off the walls of her mind.

Harry came back out and sat down beside her on the couch. “She’s got about ten more minutes of stitching up the guy. Then she’ll be out to talk to you. I told her what you said, that you needed to speak to her.”

He pulled out a handkerchief and started wiping her cheeks as if she were a child. Leaning closer, he said, “It won’t do me any good to mop you up if you keep crying.”

Melissa stared at him as if she couldn’t comprehend his words.

When he reached out to her again, she tried to pull away, but he held her in place and pressed his handkerchief to her cheeks once more.

One of the nurses opened the door. “Harry?”

He stood. “Come on, Melissa. Caroline’s free now.”

Melissa followed him, so anxious to see her cousin she didn’t even think about why Harry was with her.

Caroline turned as they entered her office. “Melissa, what’s wrong?”

“You have to tell me! Mom—”

“Did your mother say anything to you?” Caroline’s tone changed from a concerned cousin’s to that of a physician.

Melissa shook her head.

“Then I can’t discuss her case with you, not without her permission.”

Melissa took a deep breath, gathering herself together. “Give me the phone. I’ll call her and get permission.”

“Melissa, she didn’t want to spoil your holidays at home,” Caroline said softly.

Melissa ignored her and dialed. As she did, she heard Harry ask Caroline, “Is she going to be okay to drive herself home? She was sobbing as she came in, and the tears haven’t stopped.”

“I’ll make sure she’s okay, Harry. Thanks for taking care of her.”

“My pleasure. Call me if you need me.” He left without a word to her. Before she could call out to him, her mother answered the phone.

Without preamble, Melissa blurted, “Mom, I have to know how you are. I won’t let you sacrifice yourself just so I can enjoy the holidays. I want to help take care of you. It’s my privilege.”

She had to push her mother to get permission to talk with Caroline. And she had to promise not to tell her father. Melissa couldn’t believe her mom was keeping something this important a secret from her husband. It was another example of her mother’s strength that few people ever saw.

“Thanks, Mom,” she said. “Now tell Caroline it’s okay.” She handed the phone to her cousin.

After speaking to Camille a moment, Caroline hung up the phone. “I wasn’t sure you’d convince her, Melissa, but I’m glad you did.”

“Me, too. Now tell me.”

“Your mother has a tumor on one of her ovaries. Since she’s past childbearing age, we suggested she have a complete hysterectomy.”

Melissa studied Caroline’s face. “What are you not telling me?”

The woman hesitated, and finally said, “I was hoping to impress you with my doctorly manner so you wouldn’t ask questions.”

Melissa said nothing, just continuing to stare at her cousin.

With a sigh, Caroline said, “There’s the possibility of cancer.”

“Then why in hell are you waiting? Won’t it improve her chance of survival the sooner it’s treated?” Melissa demanded.

“Yes, and we explained that to your mom. We also told her it’s possible it’s not cancer. But she refused surgery until after you went back to France. She promised we could operate the moment she put you on a plane back to France.”

Melissa shook her head. Her worry turned to anger. “I’m going to wring her neck just before I march her down here.” Then, realizing what she’d said, she asked, “Can you do the operation here?”

“Yes. Both Jon and I have a lot of experience with this type of surgery. It’s not unusual. And we’ve expanded the clinic since I came back home.”

That was true. Melissa hadn’t stopped to notice before how big and up-to-date the facility was, compared to when she’d lived in Rawhide six years ago. Caroline and their cousin-in-law, Jon Wilson, must have worked day and night to elevate the level of care they could provide right here in Rawhide. If anyone was capable of that, she knew Caroline was.

“You’ve done a hell of a job, Caro,” she said.

“Thanks.” Caroline smiled. “Jon and I can clear our schedules with a day’s notice. I hope you can convince your mother. I had no idea she had such steel inside of her.”

“She doesn’t reveal it unless an issue is important to her. I can’t believe she hasn’t told Dad.”

“You can’t tell him, either,” Caroline warned. “Not unless she agrees.”

Melissa nodded. “I’ll talk to Mom now. I’ll call you and let you know what she says.” She hugged her cousin, grateful for her expertise and support.

As she made her way to the door, Caro called out to her.

“I almost forgot. Harry wanted to know if you would be okay to drive home. It might be nice if you stopped off at his office to tell him you’re okay.”

Melissa wrinkled her nose. “He’ll probably run in the opposite direction.”

Caroline gazed at her in surprise. “He seemed very concerned when he brought you in here. Harry is the sweetest man in town, next to Mike, of course.” She grinned.

“He didn’t look too sweet when he was breaking up the fight in the café.”

“Well, no, he knows when he needs to be sweet, like when he found you sobbing. Not when he’s breaking up a fight.”

Melissa had to admit the logic in Caro’s response. And she acquiesced. “Okay, I’ll stop by and thank Harry. Then I’m going home to fight Mom.”

“I hope you win,” Caroline said, her face suddenly serious.