Every Time

by Lexy Timms

  “Better than ever,” I said.

  “How did the tests go yesterday? Have you heard back from the doctor?”

  “As often this morning, I’m cancer free,” I said, smiling.

  She hugged my neck tightly and we stood there for a while, simply basking in the information I’d just given her. I could never have imagined saying that phrase two months ago, with my ribcage protruding in the mirror and my body sleeping thirteen hours a day. I breathed a sigh of relief in her ear before she let me go. Then she pulled out her recorder and held it to my face.

  “What’s all this?” I asked.

  “Not gonna lie, Hailey, this story of cancer recovery and coming back to your gallery is another great story angle. Would you mind if I did another story on you?”

  I smiled at her before I nodded my head.

  “Whatcha wanna know?” I asked.

  “Hailey Ryan, artist extraordinaire, what type of cancer did you have?” she asked.

  “Renal cell carcinoma that metastasized to my brain.”

  “How much of a chance did the doctor give you of surviving?” she asked.

  “A ten percent chance, even with immunotherapy and chemo shots. The chances of living went up to forty with surgery, but they were still against me.”

  “What was your reaction to the idea of surgery?”

  I sighed and looked over my shoulder, watching as my parents regaled Drew and Bryan about stories of Anna’s and my youth. They were standing at a painting that showcased our home, with its white paint and its eerily black shutters. My mother was pointing at a figure in the background, so faint that no one had ever noticed it until before. But it was there, and it was prominent to my mother.

  Mostly because it was a scene from my childhood I’d never forget.

  “At first, I didn’t want to have the surgery,” I said as I turned back to Jennifer. “Wait, you didn’t want it?” she asked. “Nope. I wanted to live out what life I did have without the idea of poison running through my body and breaking me down. My parents tried to talk me out of it. My sister tried to talk me out of it. But it was Bryan who succeeded.” I turned back toward them while my mother told them the story. It was the moment in my life I realized my father wasn’t impenetrable. I’d driven up to the house after I’d gotten my license. My mother had been begging my father to cut down that damn oak free for years. She thought it was getting too big, and with Anna and me always running around in the yard, she thought it was going to fall with us climbing in it one day. So, she went out there with her four-wheeler and her chainsaw to cut it down herself. “How did Bryan convince you?” she asked. I fingered the engagement ring on my hand as I smiled back at Jennifer. “He proposed,” I said plainly. “But there was a catch. He said that if I was going to marry him, I was going to be the fighter he always knew me to be. If I said yes to him, it meant saying yes to the surgery.” There were tears in Jennifer’s eyes to match the tears in my mother’s eyes as Bryan wrapped his arm around my mother. That day had been one of the scariest of my life. When I pulled up into the driveway, I saw my father running across the field. I watched him disappear into the shadows of the forest beyond our house, and it wasn’t until I noticed the oak tree wasn’t standing anymore that I ended up driving the car out to where my father had run to. In an attempt to cut down the tree, my mother chipped at it the wrong way. It fell right on top of her, trapping her legs to the ground while she screamed and cried for help.

  “How did the surgery go?” Jennifer asked.

  “Hm?”

  “The surgery. I assume it went well?”

  “Better than could be expected,” I said. “They removed the cancerous kidney, set my chemo port, and chopped away over half the tumor in my brain. I’ve still got a lot of recovering to do energy-wise, but I feel healthier than ever.”

  “So, what now?” she asked. “Where do you go from here after such an incredible story?”

  “Well, Bryan and I have a wedding to plan, and I think I have another showcase brewing for another Saturday night. You’ll be the first to know, by the way,” I said, winking.

  “Good. Because I’ll definitely want to feature this story when you’ve got it planned, so get on that,” Jennifer said, grinning.

  “Any other questions?” I asked.

  “Just one more,” she said.

  “What’s up?”

  “Who is that handsome man in the tailored suit, and can you introduce me?”

  I threw my head back and laughed before I took her hand and dragged her over to Ramon. He turned around with a broad smile on his face, but the look was short-lived once he saw the shapely legs Jennifer Skyles was standing on.

  “And who is this breathtaking woman on your arm, Miss Ryan?” Ramon asked.

  “This is Jennifer Skyles. One of the biggest—”

  “I’m familiar with her name,” he said as he took her hand. “It is wonderful to finally meet you.”

  Their eyes connected heavily, and I quickly backed out of the moment.

  While the two of them got to know one another, I made my rounds

  and thanked everyone for coming out. For the first time in months, I was stressed without a headache. I was running around on my feet without pain in my side. I had one of the many scarves Bryan ended up purchasing for me tied around my head, and with his engagement ring on my finger, I felt more beautiful than I ever had. People were purchasing pieces of artwork here and there, asking me questions and wondering if I was ever going to strike up any sort of class people could come and attend.

  For the first time since John’s art showcase, I actually considered it.

  My new part-time employee was ringing everyone up and getting their information, so I decided to slip into the back room for a little bit. I was feeling overwhelmed with all the people and the rejoicing, and I simply needed a space to breathe. I wanted to take time and soak up being back in my gallery because, after two and a half months, I’d missed it. I’d missed hanging up the artwork and painting in the window. I’d missed the group discussions with customers who came in wanting to know answers to all sorts of things. I’d missed the camaraderie and the support and the network of people I’d built up during my time in San Diego.

  But mostly, I missed the sense of purpose.

  Damn, it was good to be back.

  “Knock, knock.”

  I smiled at Bryan’s voice as he slipped in and shut the door. I was leaning against the wall as he walked up to me, his hands automatically descending to my hips before I turned around in his grasp.

  “I see Ramon and Jennifer are getting to know one another,” he said.

  “Let’s just say she had her eye on him,” I said, grinning.

  “Good. Now maybe his eye won’t be on you.”

  “Bryan McBride, are you jealous?” I asked.

  “Nope. I just know when a man wants to lay claim to something that isn’t his.”

  “Lay claim, huh? That what you’re trying to do now?”

  “I don’t know. Why don’t you ask that ring on your finger?”

  I giggled as he lips descended on mine, and in an instant, I was silenced by the gentle power of his lips.

  “You all right?” he asked.

  “I’m fine, I promise. Maybe feeling a bit overwhelmed.”

  “Are you getting tired? We can slip out and go home if you want,” he said.

  “Bryan, it’s okay. You’ve done enough worrying over me. I needed a moment of quiet is all.”

  He pulled me into his arms, and I pressed my cheek against his chest, listening to his heartbeating against my skin as I sighed. This had become home to me. The place where I could truly rest my head and feel loved against the swell and strength of his chest with his strong, tattooed arms around my back was where I felt my strongest and where I felt my most beautiful and invincible.

  “I was thinking,” he said.

  “Mhm?”

  “About when we should get married.”

  “It’s ab
out time we talked about that,” I said. “People are starting to bug me about dates.”

  “I was actually thinking about getting married sooner rather than later.”

  I looked up at him and locked our eyes, studying the sweet expression on his face as a smile crossed my cheeks.

  “Really?” I asked.

  “Really. If there’s anything being with you has taught me, it’s that every moment is precious. I don’t want to waste our time together planning something over-the-top that will eventually stress us out so much, we can’t even enjoy our day.”

  “You don’t know how relieved I am to hear you say that,” I said. “I might be an artist, but I couldn’t care less if the napkins were cream

  colored or eggshell.”

  “What?” he asked. “An artist who doesn’t care about color? I’ll be damned.” I giggled at his sarcasm before I pressed a kiss to his chest. “So, what should we do?” I asked. “Whatever we want,” he said. “So, if I said we should get married this weekend, you’d just roll with it?” “Why? Are you wanting to get married this weekend?” I took a step back from him and sat on the stool, beckoning him toward me as he slid his strong body in between my legs. “I mean, we could elope. It would be small. Simple. All we’d need is a magistrate of some sort and a license.” “Drew and Anna could be our witnesses,” he said. “Then we could all do something small, like go to the diner for dinner or something.” “Then we could plan an epic honeymoon of some sort,” I said. “Would you be willing to step away from the gallery like that after being away for two months?” he asked. “Well, I sort of already had the honeymoon planned. In a way.” “Oh, really? Do tell,” he said as he rushed his hands up my arms. “I will once I talk to Ramon,” I said. I watched his face fall, and I couldn’t help but giggle. “Why do you have to talk to Ramon about our honeymoon?” “Do you trust me?” I asked. “With all my soul,” he said. “Then trust me. Ramon will have a hand in the best honeymoon ever.” I could feel him tense up as I slid my arms around his body, and it only served to boost my amusement of the situation. I’d given things a lot of thought, and while Bryan and I continued to discuss our future plans, it simply made sense. Why not combine our honeymoon with my European art tour?

  “Just make me one promise,” Bryan said.

  “Anything, my love.”

  “Don’t let Ramon officiate our wedding.”

  I threw my head back and laughed before I pulled Bryan down to my lips for a kiss.

  “I promise,” I said.

  Chapter 27

  Bryan

  E ven though the wedding was going to be quick and painless, I wanted Hailey to have the best dress she could’ve ever imagined. I talked to Anna after the gallery party and told them of our plans this weekend, and she was absolutely thrilled. Drew clapped me on the back and congratulated me while Hailey broke the news to her parents, and that’s when I threw my plan into order. I told Anna it was her responsibility to drag Hailey out dress shopping. I took Drew with me to get us fitted for tailored suits. We smoked cigars and drank scotch and spent a day to ourselves, and I gave Anna my card and told her to treat Hailey to a glorious day out. Anna booked them an entire spa day, complete with hair and nail appointments. Then, they spent the next two days running around trying to find Hailey a wedding dress. I thought she was going to kill me by the time it was all said and done. But now, we were all at the courthouse. I was in a tailored suit standing next to Drew while Anna was in a beautiful little dress that I knew caught my best friend’s eye. Hailey was walking into the courthouse room now while the magistrate smiled at us, and like always, she took my breath away. Her wedding dress was strapless, boasting of her beautiful bosom while it hugged her entire torso. The dip in her waist was accentuated by a ribbon of pink, symbolizing her strength throughout the entire ordeal we had just gone through. The fluttering of the gown around her legs was absolutely stunning, and instead of wearing a scarf around her head, she simply allowed her bald head to shine. She hadn’t grown to like the shape of her head, but she did enjoy the strength her scars reminded her of. I held my breath while she walked up the aisle, her shoulders rolled back and proud. I tried to keep my tears at bay as she came and stood next to me, her hands clutching the small bouquet of flowers her mother had purchased for her that morning. “By the way?” Anna said. “That bouquet cost more than her dress.” “Wait, seriously?” I asked. “Yeah. Mom’s still a bit upset at the quickie wedding,” Hailey said. “But it’s wonderfully cost-effective.” Everyone had a decent chuckle at that little joke before we both turned toward the magistrate. “Who gives this woman away?” the magistrate asked. “We do.” Hailey’s head whipped around at the sound of her parent’s voices, and she took off running for them. I smiled broadly as her father wrapped his arms around her, holding her close while her mother cupped her head. She eyed me closely before she walked past her daughter, approaching me at the front with something shiny in her hand. And when she presented it to me, I couldn’t believe my eyes. “This was mine when I was Hailey’s age. My fingers are way too big now after having two children, but I had it tailored to fit the ring you got her. It’s beautiful, by the way.” She placed the wedding band in my hand and I curled my fingers around it delicately. “I recognize this,” I said. “It was in one of Hailey’s paintings at the party,” she said. “Thank you,” I said as I embraced her. “Thank you for being here.”

  “You’re part of this family now, whether you like it or not,” she said, grinning. “And I’m so lucky Hailey found a good man like you.” I hugged her close, wishing my own parents could’ve been here. They were off traveling to some place or whatever, but they did send their regards in the form of a very expensive reception. Instead of eating at the diner like we all had planned before, my parents made us reservations at the single hardest restaurant to get into during the year. They already had our menu tailored and paid for, so all we had to do was arrive, sit, and enjoy. I had to come to terms with the fact that my parents simply had a different way of expressing their love for people, and I was thankful for the time they put into arranging that for us. “So, I take it no one objects?” the magistrate asked. We all chuckled to ourselves as I beckoned for Hailey to come stand next to me. “Are we ready?” the magistrate asked. I looked over at Hailey, and she nodded her headlightly. “Yes. We’re ready,” I said. “I’ve been told the couple has their own wedding vows planned.” “Yes,” I said as I drew in a deep breath, “and I’ll go first.” Hailey’s eyes were trained wholly on mine as I took both of her hands and wrapped them in my own. “From the moment I saw that purple hair of yours in that bar, I knew you were someone special. I didn’t know who you were, and I didn’t know why you were there, but the mere fact that you were among strangers and paying homage to someone who was so near and dear to me, it told me everything I needed to know about you.” Tears rose in Hailey’s eyes while I tried my best to continue. “Your artistic journey parallels your own life journey, the struggles you faced and the death you were exposed to, the seedy underbelly of this world you were thrust into by someone you wanted to help and the past you were running from. We walked through the mire before we even knew one another, and when the time came for us to join forces, I was the one who walked away.” Now, tears were rising in my eyes, and I wasn’t sure how to stop them. “I promise you, Hailey Ryan, I will spend the rest of my life showing you exactly what it means to stand by your side. I promise you I will work endlessly to prove to you I will never walk away from you again. No matter what befalls you and no matter where our paths take us, there will never be a moment where I won’t reach out for your hand. Even when you hate me and even when I can’t stand you, there will never be a moment where I don’t reach for you.” A tear made its way down my cheek as Anna sniffled behind Hailey’s body. “And I can promise you, my beautiful bride, that I will spend every last breath my body has making sure you understand you are not just my bride. You are not just the love of my life, but you are the foundation and
the cement that holds me together. You fixed me, Hailey Ryan, and I will spend the rest of my days thanking you for that.” Hailey brushed a tear away from her eyes before I slid her mother’s wedding band onto her finger. Then, the magistrate turned his head. “Miss Hailey?” he asked. “Bryan, from the moment I saw you in that bar, the image of you had been forever cemented into my memory. The love you showed on that stage with the darkness of the bar surrounding you was more powerful than any image I could’ve ever conjured on my own. Then, when you knocked on the door of that rickety shack I now call my gallery, I almost sucked my own tongue down my throat.” A small chuckle ricocheted through the room before Hailey continued. “We made mistakes, so many mistakes with one another. But the true testament is the fact that we’re standing here right now with one another. We learned how to forgive, and we’re learning how to communicate. We’re learning to lean on one another and trust one another in ways I don’t think either of us is used to. We’re traveling this new road with a revived sense of vigor and life, and there’s no one else I’d rather travel it with.” She squeezed my hands tightly before she took a step toward me, my own wedding band held between her delicate fingers. “Here is my promise to you,” she said as she slid it onto my finger. “I will never give up on you, I will never toss you away, and I will never allow anything to become any more important than our relationship with one another. I will never betray you, hide from you, or cower away from you ever again. From now until the end of time, you are my partner, my best friend, my soul mate, and together, we will conquer the world.” She slid the ring on my finger and looked up into my eyes, and I saw my entire future. I saw the gray hair that would line my temples while I smoothed my hand over her bald skin. I saw the artwork that would hang on the walls of houses all over the world. I saw the foundation I would work for and the people whose hands I would take to pull them out from the darkness and into the light Hailey and I owned. I saw the children we would have and the vacations we would take, the fights we would have and the nights I would tell her how sorry I was between the folds of her legs. I saw myself kissing every single wrinkle and licking every single stretch mark her body would acquire over the years. And then I saw myself holding her hand while I passed. Just a few seconds before her, so I would never have to live another moment of my life without her in it. “By the power vested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you man and wife. Bryan, you may kiss the strongest bride I’ve ever known to live.” I gathered her up in my arms and crashed my lips on hers. Our tongues found one another’s in a dance of passion and fire, and immediately, my hands rounded the swell of her ass. Her arms linked behind my neck, her bouquet falling to the ground, and she jumped and wrapped her legs around me. I sunk to my knees, holding her body as close as I could get it, and it wasn’t until Drew cleared his throat that I realized where we still were. We pulled away and looked around the room, clocking all the blushing faces before Hailey giggled into the crook of my neck. “Now that’s what I call a kiss,” the magistrate said. I picked Hailey up and sat her back down on her feet while everyone clapped their hands for us. Hailey and I took the time to sign the marriage license, and then we handed it off to the magistrate before we left. Hailey’s parents had a limo waiting outside to take all of us to the restaurant my parents had booked for us. My stomach was growling. I had been so nervous all day that I hadn’t bothered to eat, and Hailey shot me a curious look before she started giggling. I still couldn’t believe I’d get to listen to that sound for the rest of my life. “Hungry?” she asked. “Don’t worry. So am I.” “I still can’t believe your parents got us into 1500 Ocean,” Drew said. “It’s practically impossible to get a reservation there unless you know someone who knows someone.” “What’s 1500 Ocean?” Anna asked. “An absolutely decadent place to eat, that’s what it is,” Drew said. “I’m honestly surprised you know it,” I said, grinning. “Hey, man, just because I surf and do tattoos doesn’t mean I don’t know food,” Drew said. “Oh, so you’re in the tattoo business?” Hailey’s mother asked. “Drew actually built my construction company with me before he branched off this past year,” I said. “He was my business partner for almost nine years.” “Why the switch?” Hailey’s father asked.