Kismet, Chapter 5
The following Sunday afternoon, Ashley and Oakley arrived again at the home of Derrick and Craig. Derrick, who was home alone at the time, came to the door as soon as he heard the car in the drive.
Oakley greeted him the second he was freed from his car seat. He took Derrick's hand, practically dragging him toward the gate which led to the backyard. Ashley told them to go ahead and play; she could manage carrying her small suitcase up to the bedroom.
A few minutes later, Ashley joined them out back.
"Oakley's been counting the days till we got here – practically the minutes. You've definitely become his buddy."
"I hope I'm not taking his daddy's place."
"Never fear, his heart is big enough to love a lot of people."
Eventually, Oakley tired of the swing and headed for the sandbox. Derrick took the opportunity to bring out cold water, tea, and lemonade to quench the thirst they'd built up.
Dinner at Olive Garden was even smoother this time. Ashley had Oakley remind Acorn of how he should behave in a restaurant, and Oakley exhibited his best manners as an example.
Craig was so proud of his little boy that he nearly popped the buttons on his shirt. Several people at nearby tables increased their tips when they learned that he was the father of this "perfect" child.
Ashley went to bed early because her appointment for the MRI was at 6:30 AM and she needed to be there a bit ahead. That left Derrick to give Oakley his bath and put him to bed. Craig came home just in time to read a story to his son.
In truth, father and son read it together. Craig figured Oakley had heard it so many times that he'd memorized the words. Still, it showed he had a good memory.
With all the attention, the boy didn't seem to miss his mother.
After Oakley was asleep, Craig showered and crawled in bed with his lover. With the A/C on and the ceiling fan going, it was cool enough to cuddled. That was exactly what Craig needed to do to unwind.
"I'm kinda worried about what they'll find tomorrow," he said.
"I am too," Derrick admitted. If this is something serious, we'll have to step up."
"You've already done a lot of that for Oakley and me and your grandma before that."
"Hey, that's what family's about."
"I wish my parents had felt that way."
"I wish mine did too.
Derrick was up early so he could get dressed and make a light breakfast for Ashley and him. He knew she'd be on edge, and he didn't want to feed her anything that would upset her stomach. Scrambled eggs, a lightly toasted piece of naan bread, and a cup of tea seemed to hit the spot for her.
Leaving father and son to sleep for as long as they wanted, the pair made their way to the hospital.
There are some positive things about having the first appointment on Monday morning. Parking was a breeze, and Ashley didn't have long to wait before she was seen.
The process didn't take much time either. The only negative parts of the experience were the noise of the machine and the small space in the tube. Ashley wasn't affected by claustrophobia, so she didn't suffer the anxiety some patients do.
She wouldn't get the results back for a few days, but she felt better knowing that she'd taken the first step toward finding what was wrong.
When Derick and Ashley arrived back at the house, they found Oakley "wrestling" with his dad in the latter's bed. He had awakened to a quiet house and had gone exploring the other upstairs rooms to see who was up. Finding Craig, he had crawled in bed and roused him as well.
Derrick said he was going down to cook a second breakfast for anyone who wanted it. Oakley was eager to have pancakes and bacon, but Ashley didn't feel like eating, and said she'd rather rest so she'd be better company later.
Oakley enjoyed the backyard to its fullest and was sorry to have to leave. By then, Ashley seemed to have her strength back and assured everyone that she'd be ready to work the following day.
After Ashley had left, Craig and Derrick discussed her health.
"I'm really concerned about her," Craig admitted.
"Me too."
"Did you get any inkling of her condition with the MRI?"
"Nope. It takes awhile to read the results and they wouldn't have discussed it with me anyway, unless she'd insisted. You know how private all that information is supposed to be these days."
"What if it's serious?"
"If it's a worst-case scenario, we'll bring them to live with us."
"Oh man, I can't ask you to take in my son and his mother in addition to me."
"You don't have to ask because I've already made the offer. If she needs surgery, followed by recovery time, it can be done by us instead of an institution. The family room was Grandma's living quarters when she was ill, and it can be used that way again without modifications."
"How did I get so lucky the day you took pity on me?" Craig sighed, squeezing Derrick's arm.
"I'm the lucky one, and it wasn't pity, just one human being helping another."
The afternoon appointment for Ashley to see the specialist and get her test results was scheduled when Craig had to work. Derrick offered to pick Ashley and Oakley up in Anamosa and drive them to the office so she wouldn't be distracted by her worry over the diagnosis. He would entertain the boy while she consulted with the physician.
It all came off as planned, but she asked if Derrick would mind awfully going in with her for moral support.
He said he'd be happy to, so long as it wouldn't upset Oakley.
Fortunately, it was Oakley's rest-time, and Derrick carried the drowsy child in his arms when they went in. He marveled at how much heavier he was when asleep.
"Is the prognosis as bad as I fear?" Ashley asked as soon as they were seated. "I know my symptoms are like my mother's were and she lasted only a few months after her diagnosis. It's the same kind of cancer, isn't it?"
Dr. Pitt expelled a long breath before speaking.
"I won't varnish the truth because I feel that would be cruel. You are correct. We've detected cancer in your lungs and in your brain. Those are the two environments in which this rare form thrives, but there are more treatment options than there were 10 years ago."
"But will those do anything more than prolong my life a few weeks and have terrible side-effects? Is it better to go for quality than quantity? What would you recommend I do?"
"Unlike some of the old-time doctors, I don't feel qualified to play God. The path you choose must be your own."
"What would you do in my shoes?"
"Intellectually, I'd like to believe I'd forego treatment. Emotionally, I'm not sure. I have young children too and I'd like to stick around to watch them grow up."
"Oakley IS the most precious gift I have. That's why I think it would be best for me not to prolong the inevitable and not spend everything I have to buy a few more painful weeks."
"Are you in a lot of discomfort now?"
"No, but I can feel my strength waning daily. I have business to take care of while I'm still in my right mind."
"You may refuse treatment, but it doesn't have to be your final answer. Please keep in touch to let me know. My nurse will give you hospice information before you leave, so you can make an informed decision."
"I know this is asking a lot, but could you help me in selling my business and settling my affairs?" Ashley asked of Derrick on the way back to her home.
"Of course, I'll help you with whatever you need."
"I know Tommy will want to buy it if he can swing the loan, and I'd like to sell it as quickly as possible, but that would mean giving up my living quarters unless he's willing to let me stay on for a while."
"Don't worry about a place to live. Craig and I would like you to move in with us."
"Are you sure he's okay with that?"
"We've discussed it as a possibility, and he was all for it."
"So, you've already figured out that I'm not long for this world," Ashley said wistfully.
"We talked about nursing you back to health if you needed a place to recuperate after surgery. We'll take care of you no matter what."
"And Oakley?"
"With your permission, I'd like to adopt him, so he has the security of a stable home."
"Do you fear Craig might fall off the wagon?"
"No, but it's always wise to have all bases covered if anything should happen to either of us. If he's my son too, I think it would be easier to keep him if it came to that."
"Hmm... It's ironic that I wished Oakley could grow up in a house like yours the first time I was there. Funny how that's likely to happen after I'm gone."
"Soon, it will be your home too. We'll welcome you whenever you decide to make the move."
On that drive, Oakley had been asleep in his seat – at least for the first part. When Ashley undid his seatbelt, he seemed to be wide awake. She wondered how much he'd overheard and how much he'd understood.
Tommy (Thomas G. Hartley, Jr.) made Ashley a fair offer on the salon. After his boyfriend and his mother, Marian, helped him with the down payment, the bank was willing to loan him the rest.
It would be a good deal for the men because they could be in business together. With the living quarters above the shop, they wouldn't have to pay rent, and Tommy could move out of Marian's basement.
Ashley would vacate the premises as soon as she could get her things packed up. She had no emotional attachment to the furnishing except for a rocking chair that had been handed down from her great grandmother, so she would leave everything else, other than her personal things, and Oakley's.
Derrick and Craig came down the following week, on Craig's day off, to help her with the packing. It took only one trip with her car and Derrick's SUV to haul everything she wanted.
"Will you be able to climb the stairs okay?" Derrick asked of Ashley when they got to his home.
"I've been doing it at home every day."
"But, do you have the strength to keep on doing it? I don't want you to wear yourself out."
"I can use the room I've been sleeping in for the time being, but I may have to make other arrangements."
"We'll rent a hospital-type bed and set it up in the family room like I did for Grandma. It's not all that expensive, and it's easier to get in and out of. Hospice will help if we request their services."
"I hate to admit that I need them," Ashley sighed. "It makes the end seem nearer."
"In that case, we won't get them involved until later."
"No, we'd better do it sooner than later. I may not have the presence of mind to do anything if the tumors in my brain spread. That reminds me, I'm going to give you power of attorney immediately. Can we make arrangements tomorrow?"
"I'm at your disposal, and I'll get an appointment with my attorney if you wish."
"I also want to go to the license bureau and sell my car to Craig for $1.00. He can use it for transportation to work, and I should probably give up driving soon. I know how rapidly my mother went downhill. Unfortunately, she lingered longer in a vegetative state than she should have. I hope I don't do that. I'm going to sign a living-will to prevent having `heroic measures' so they won't resuscitate me when it's my time."
Tuesday was a busy one, and it wore Ashley out. First, they went to the bank to open an account and to set up a trust fund for Oakley. Then they saw Derrick's lawyer who took care of the power of attorney and the living-will. While they were there, they set up another appointment to fill out the paperwork for Oakley's adoption.
After lunch, they went to the courthouse annex to replace her name with Craig's on the car title.
Craig felt rather emotional about the car. It was definitely a boon for him, but it came at such a terrible cost – the failing health of his son's mother. He was deeply grateful for everything she'd done for him over the past several years.
When they got home late in the afternoon, both Ashley and Oakley went down for a nap.
On Thursday, a lady from hospice came to talk to Ashley about their services. She had worked with Derrick several years before when his grandmother was terminal and assured Ashley that she was in an ideal situation.
"We have a facility where people may stay, but most feel that being at home with family is best. Our staff will come to administer medications and can be here overnight if that becomes necessary.
"I remember how Derrick had this place remodeled, and I see all the facilities are as they were. I'm sure you'll be as comfortable as possible."
"Yes, I know Derrick will help me through my final days. I just wish I didn't have to leave my baby. I know he'll be in good hands, but..."
"There, there, Dear, I understand how you must feel."
Ashley read Oakley's bedtime story with him, and after they finished, he seemed very thoughtful.
"Are you going away, Mommy?"
"Why do you ask that?"
"I heard you and Papa talk about it."
"Well, Mommy is very sick, and her body is going to give out."
"What is it going to give out?"
"Nothing, that's just a different way of saying I will eventually have to die and go to heaven."
"Like Kitty-cat?"
"Something like that."
"Can I go with you?"
"No, you need to stay to take care of your daddy and your papa. They need you. Can you do that for me?"
"Okay. Will I live with them like Papa said?"
"Yes. They love you very much. You'll have this bed and this room to call your own. You have a swing and a sandbox and lots of things. We brought your bike too."
"I love YOU very much. I wish you didn't have to go."
"I love you too, and I wish I could stay, but sometimes we don't get our wishes."
Author's notes: As you can see, what you've feared about Ashley's health is coming to pass. Chapter 6 will be the last one in this series.
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Thanks to David for editing.
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