Just a Little Hope

by Amy J. Norris

  Seb caressed her arm as he continued. “When we got there, we sat on the blanket and talked and reminisced over the past several months. It was nice to just hang out on our own for a little while.”

  Pax’s ring-bound hand squeezed Seb’s thigh. “And then all of a sudden, he jumped up and got down on one knee. I didn’t know what to think. But in my mind I was thinking, ‘Is this what I think it is?’”

  Seb brought his arm down and pulled her right hand into both of his. “If you could’ve seen her face! Pax looked like she was happy and scared all at the same time.”

  Pax laughed. “If you could’ve seen his face! He just looked scared!” Seb’s mouth dropped open.

  “I kid, Seb. Your face was as handsome as ever.”

  “That’s more like it!”

  “Anyway, well. He started talking. Actually, Seb, you’ll have to tell them what you said. My mind is still spinning.”

  Seb smiled. “Well, I told her from the day I met her, my life had never been the same. She didn’t back down when I went through the dark days of losing my girls and when I thought my career was over. She challenged me to think about things I’d never considered. Encouraged me to be a better person and motivated me to be a man she and God could be proud of. Without her, I would be floundering in life still trying to fill a hole I discovered only Christ could. I said if she’d be willing to do so, I’d spend the rest of my life trying to make her as happy as she had made me.”

  Carter could see Tori wiping tears from her eyes. He too seemed to have some surprising emotion rising to the surface as well. As he glanced around the room, he noticed they weren’t the only ones. Margaret and Alex were both brushing back signs of tears from their faces.

  Seb continued. “And then I just showed her the ring and asked her to marry me.”

  “It was the most beautiful moment. I actually remember that part. I think I said ‘yes’ one million times.”

  Tori wiped her eyes again. “You guys! You’re killing me. Seb, you are so romantic. What a beautiful proposal.”

  Carter realized if he ever proposed to Tori, he’d have to come up with something amazing to top Seb’s simple gesture. Tori practically swooned at their friends’ story.

  They sat in silence until Alex pulled Seb into a hug. That led to more hugs and exclamations of “Congratulations!” The mood in the room couldn’t have been more joyous.

  Through the din of the celebration, Carter heard the faint sounds of a cell phone ringing. He dug through his pockets, only to discover it wasn’t the one ringing.

  Carter traced the sound to the recliner behind him and found Tori’s phone had slipped between the cushions. He walked it over toward her. Tapping Tori on the shoulder, he showed her the phone.

  Laughing, she took it from him and put it to her ear. “Hey, Mom! I know it’s a little hard to hear. We’re celebrating Seb and Pax’s engagement. Isn’t it great?”

  Suddenly, Tori’s laughter stopped. Her face darkened. Carter stepped up to her and put his hand on her shoulder.

  “What are you telling me, Mom? What are you telling me? You’re making this up, right? Don’t tell me this is true!”

  Carter’s heart sank. Something was wrong.

  “Okay. I’ll get on the next flight out, and I’ll be there as soon as I can… No, Mom, I’m coming right now.”

  Carter noticed everyone in the room had grown quiet.

  “But what if it is something? I need to be there with you. Please, I will just be in agony otherwise.”

  Seb walked over to both of them and put his arm around Tori.

  “Promise me you will call as soon as you know anything for sure. You have to promise me, Mom… Okay. I’ll wait to hear from you before I do anything then. I love you. And tell Dad I love him too.”

  Tori hung up the phone and turned to Carter. “Oh, Carter! This can’t be happening. They think my dad has a brain tumor.”

  As the last word escaped her lips, she collapsed.

  Carter caught her before she hit the floor.

  Sobbing, Tori curled into his embrace. “It can’t be. It can’t be. My dad can’t be sick. He can’t be! Tell me I’m having a nightmare. Please just tell me this is a terrible dream.”

  Carter rocked her, silently praying God would give him the right words to say to make this better, but somehow he knew things weren’t going to get better.

  Chapter Twenty

  Tori woke to a darkened room. Looking around she realized she was in the bedroom she shared with Pax. Although the lights were off, daylight peered through slits the curtains didn’t quite cover.

  Adjusting to the dim light, she saw someone beside her bed. Rubbing her eyes, she realized Carter was asleep in a chair pulled up next to her bed.

  “Carter?”

  When he didn’t stir, she sat up. She was in her street clothes still. Then it hit her. Her dad. Her dad was very sick. Tears rolled down her face. She covered her face with her hands and shook uncontrollably as the remembrance of her mom’s phone call hit her full force.

  “Tori. Tori, baby.”

  Carter’s soft voice should have been comforting. But it did little good. The tears continued to rain down.

  The mattress sank as he crawled up beside her and pulled her into his arms. The warmth of his embrace soothed her, and she felt safe in his arms. If only she could stay there forever, safely locked away from the horribleness of the outside world.

  After several minutes, her tears lessened. She sat up and leaned against the headboard. Carter kept his arms around her.

  She brushed her hair out of her face and swallowed back a sob. “I must look a mess.”

  He squeezed her tighter. “You look beautiful.”

  “Don’t placate me. I know my face must be fire engine red. And my hair probably resembles something Medusa would consider stylish.”

  Carter chuckled and smoothed her flyaway curls with his hands. “What can I do for you? Anything?”

  Tori rested her head on his shoulder. “Can you tell me my mom didn’t call and tell me my dad might have a brain tumor?”

  “I’m sorry, sweetie, no.”

  “Well, then just keep doing what you’re doing because that’s the only thing keeping me from going crazy right about now.”

  Carter kept his arm around her but straightened his legs out on the bed. “Can you tell me exactly what your mom said on the phone?”

  Tori wiped her eyes and released a deep breath.

  “She said they went to see their general practitioner yesterday, Dr. Henry. Daddy had been complaining of headaches for a while. Mom told me, before I flew out here, she was going to make him an appointment at the doctor. She knew Daddy would never do it himself. Well, after Daddy described what was going on, Dr. Henry sent him over to get an MRI.” Tori stopped talking as she felt another round of tears starting.

  “You don’t have to tell me any more. Don’t upset yourself again.”

  “No, it’s okay.” She wiped her eyes again and took a deep breath. “So Daddy got the MRI, and on his way home the nurse called his cell phone and told him he needed to see a neurosurgeon tomorrow because there was something on his MRI that appeared suspicious. I told Mom I would fly home today, but she told me not to. She said there was no need to ruin my trip if it turned out it was a shadow on the MRI. We know some people who’ve had that happen. They get all worked up over a bad MRI, and it turns out its nothing.”

  “Well, she does have a point there. It could be nothing.”

  The slight caress of his hand on her arm began to relax her tension-filled body. “I know, Carter, but what if it is something?”

  “I don’t know. I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. I know it’s not much help.”

  She pressed his hand to her chest. “You just being here helps. Will you pray for my dad? Pray it’s just a shadowy MRI and he’ll be back to his normal silly self after some medication.”

  “Of course, I’ll pray right now.”

 
Carter took both of her hands in his and leaned his head against hers.

  “Dear Lord, we’re crying out to You for healing right now. We plead with You for Tori’s dad’s MRI to be a mistake, and any subsequent tests will show he has a clear scan with no problem areas. We know You have the power to make it happen, and we beg it be that way, if it’s Your will. Give them all the strength to endure the next few hours of waiting. Help us, as their friends, to be an encouragement to them. We love You, and we know Your will is what’s best for all of us. We ask all of this in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.”

  A tear escaped and rolled down her cheek, and Tori felt Carter’s thumb wipe it away. “Thank you, Carter. For everything.”

  ****

  Carter closed the bedroom door behind him. He went into the den where his friends sat in silence.

  Seb stood and pulled him in for a hug. “How’s Tori?”

  Sighing, he sat down on the edge of the coffee table. “She woke earlier. For a minute she forgot what happened. We talked and prayed together. She’s fallen back to sleep. I hate to leave her, but I’ve got to get to the ballpark. Part of me wishes I could just tell them I can’t make it, but I know she’d be upset if I missed the game.”

  Seb leaned forward and put a hand on Carter’s shoulder. “You’re right. Tori’d just feel guilty if you missed playing. Besides, there might be a time later on when she will need you more than now. You need to be ready if the time comes.”

  “Yeah. I know.” Carter dropped his head down toward his knees and took a deep breath. “I better get going.”

  Seb stood, “Let me drive you. Mom and Dad are going to come, too. Pax can stay here with Tori.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah. I think it might be good if Tori doesn’t have an audience when she decides to get up and face the world again.”

  Pax leaned over and rested her hand on Carter’s arm. “I’m pretty bushed after the events of the day. I don’t mind staying in anyway. I’ll rest some while it’s nice and quiet in the condo.”

  “Well, if you’re sure.”

  “Yep. It’s settled. Let me just go tell Mom and Dad we’re about to leave.” Seb kissed Pax on the cheek and then padded up the stairs.

  Pax squeezed Carter’s arm. “How are you holding up?”

  “Hmm?” His mind had been so full of happy thoughts earler. Now his emotions raced with doubt and worry.

  “I can tell you from experience, things like this can make or break a relationship. You’re lucky Tori and you already share faith in God. It should give you a great foundation for this difficult time.”

  He tried to concentrate on Pax’s words. Now more than ever he needed to be strong and help Tori to be strong too. “Yeah. You’re right. I’m doing okay. I just want to say and do the right things. I don’t want to make this any harder on her than it already is.”

  Pax smiled. “Just having you near, in person or by text or phone call, will be worth more than you know. Tori feels like her world is falling apart, and she needs anything resembling stability. Just be here for her. And keep praying.”

  “Yeah, I can keep praying.” Turning aside to look out the window, flashes from the past began infiltrating his mind. Doctors, hospitals, needles, and an overriding sense of fear.

  Dear Lord, please help us all.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The cool breeze of the morning wafted across her face, blowing tendrils of her hair into her eyes. Brushing them away, she turned her attention across the swimming pool to the palm trees bordering Seb’s property. The serene California morning did nothing to calm Tori’s racing heart. She stared down at her phone, willing it to ring.

  This is a nightmare, and I will wake up any moment.

  Yet, she knew deep down, the nightmare was only just beginning. Remembering her recent phone calls with her dad, his gentle voice tinged with an element of weariness, flooded her mind. The headaches he’d been complaining of and his uncharacteristic need to take naps during the day… all signs pointing to something not right with her otherwise healthy father.

  Dear Lord. Let it be something simple. Please.

  Tori gripped the arms of the pool chair and squeezed them until the pain of her fingernails embedding in her palms became too much to bear. Her fingers trembled as she released them.

  Tori’s thoughts jumped to Carter. Sweet, compassionate Carter. His heartfelt prayer the night before had been such a comfort. Yet, Tori worried about what might happen to them. Their relationship was so new. What kind of care would Dad need, no matter the results of his appointment? Her dad was her number one priority right now. Carter would have to understand that, surely he would. Her heart sank at the thought of not seeing Carter again. He could decide it was too much to take on.

  God, only you know what must happen now. Help me to deal with it. Heal my daddy.

  Her cell phone rang. Tori closed her eyes, too scared to look for fear she’d see her mom’s name on the display. Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes. She knew in that moment her life would change forever.

  ****

  Carter watched out the kitchen window overlooking the swimming pool. Tori sat motionless in the chair. Pax had told him where he could find Tori. He’d walked toward the back door and stopped. Maybe she needed to be by herself. Maybe she needed some time to gather her thoughts. There were so many maybes.

  She appeared calm as she sat by the pool. Seeing Tori’s head fall back against the chair, eyes closed, he hoped she was getting some rest. Pax had informed him it’d been a restless night for all of them. Carter included himself on that list. After the previous night’s game, he’d returned to the hotel only to find sleep elusive. His mind constantly raced with thoughts of Tori and how he might help her. Of course, Carter prayed the MRI was wrong and Tori’s family had nothing to worry about. But there was a lingering fear. A fear it was as bad as they thought. He acknowledged a selfish fear he’d lose Tori before he’d won her.

  Carter watched as Tori lifted her cell phone to her ear. This could be the call they’d been waiting for. The call that could change everything.

  Taking a breath, Carter looked away from the window and took in the house around him. Seb had been dealt a horrible blow just a few short months ago. He had survived it because of God and Pax’s love. Carter could be there for Tori.

  Lord, I am at a loss of what to pray for. Just help me be what you would have me to be.

  Tori’s sudden movement caught his eye as she put down her cell phone and slumped forward in the chair, her auburn hair falling down past her legs like a waterfall. Carter steadied himself and walked out the door.

  The sound of her sobs reached him before he could get close to her. His heart stopped. The news was not what they hoped.

  Okay, Lord. You’ve made Your decision. Please help me to make the right ones from here on out. And please give her the faith to not only rely on You but Pax, Seb, and me. Give us strength.

  ****

  Through her tears, Tori heard footsteps approaching. A warm hand graced the back of her neck and squeezed. Then she felt another hand lightly rub circles on her back. She’d know those calloused hands anywhere.

  “Oh, Carter!” and she pulled him toward her and hugged him for all she was worth.

  He didn’t say a word, only continued to soothe her with his touch and warm embrace. Tori wanted to stay in his arms forever, to be protected from the evil world where dads got sick and daughters’ hearts were crushed.

  Eventually, Tori sat back, her face still hot with tears that continued to fall even as she tried to gain control over her emotions. Carter carefully wiped each cheek with his thumbs and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

  “I am so sorry. I know it isn’t what you need to hear, but it’s all I can think of to say.”

  Tori reached her arms around his neck and pressed into his embrace once more. “It’s okay. I don’t know what else to think myself.”

  Lightly caressing the back of her neck he
sighed. “What new information did your Mom have?”

  “It’s exactly what the doctor thought. A brain tumor. Mom and Dad are on their way home from the neurosurgeon’s office right now to get his things together. Then they’re reporting to St. John’s so he can be admitted. They’ll do some follow-up testing, and then if all goes according to plan, he’ll have surgery on Monday to take out the tumor.”

  The warmth from Carter’s hands seeped into her skin. “I need to make some flight arrangements. I want to be there tonight.”

  “Of course, sweetie. I’ll take care of it. Although, I don’t think you should travel alone. Maybe Pax and Seb can go back with you?”

  Tori tucked her hair behind an ear. “I can’t ask them to do that. They just got engaged. They need to be spending time together enjoying this happy time of their lives. I’ll be fine. Hopefully, I can sleep on the plane anyway.”

  “I wish we didn’t have a game tonight. Then I could go with you. We’re flying back home tomorrow.”

  She laid her palm on his face and smiled. “It’s okay. I wouldn’t be much company anyway.”

  But secretly she wished he could be there. As strong as she wanted to be, she knew the battle ahead would take every bit of courage and faith she had. Tori didn’t know if that would be enough.

  ****

  Carter knocked on his manager’s door. The skipper spun around in his chair, phone to his ear, and held up a finger. Carter nodded and backed into the hall to give Anthony some privacy. Carter had made the decision on the drive to the stadium to see about missing the day’s game. He knew he might not get Anthony to agree, but he was keeping his fingers crossed his manager would understand. Carter wanted to be there for Tori, but he also knew he had to be there for the team.

  “What’dya’ need, Manning?”

  Carter entered the office and sat in the chair opposite his manager. “Skip, would it be too much of a problem if I didn’t play today?”