Nick must’ve sensed that she was at the edge of her rope and placed his hand on the small of her back turning her back towards her car. “When do you want us to have it finished by?”
She took a deep breath and jiggled her keys in the palm of her hand. “Ideally, after his last dose of Chemo. I want him to be able to ride it the minute he feels well enough.” She bit her lip and turned to face Nick. “Look I planned this out in my head. I’ve gone over every scenario and at the risk of you throwing my money in my face or ripping up my check in front of my eyes, I’m asking you just to hear me out.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a check. “I want to do this for him. If I could build the damn thing myself I would. But I insist that I pay for it. It means a great deal to me, so please don’t do any of the things I mentioned. Take the check and let me have some peace of mind.” She held it out to him, with a shaky hand.
“You’re one in a million, Cara.” Nick said as he kept his hands in his pockets and studied her face. “If anyone deserves you, it’s Jake.” He sighed uncomfortably and lifted one of his hands and grabbed the check. He stared down at it and then lifted his head and smirked. “It’s not enough, you better add a couple of zeroes.”
She laughed and slapped his arm playfully. The tears that threatened, fell and they fell out of relief rather than sadness. “Thank you.” She said as wiped at her eyes.
“You’re welcome.” He looked over her shoulder at Luke. He gave him a quick nod probably assuring him that she was fine and not crying over something he had done.
“I’ve got to go to work.” She reached up and kissed his cheek, before opening her car door. “Thanks again, I know you guys will do a great job.”
Nick nodded and closed her door once she was inside. He tapped the roof of her car signaling her to go and took a step back. He watched as she drove out of the parking lot. He shoved the check into his back pocket. He would never cash the damn thing. He looked back to where Luke had been standing, to notice he had disappeared back into the office. He rolled his neck before he made his way back to working on the alternator he was installing.
Deb smiled down at Ava, who stood beside her on a stepstool, so that she could reach the counter.
“What else should we add?” Deb asked as she sliced a banana.
“How about strawberries, I bet Uncle Jake likes them.” Ava said excitedly.
“Uncle Jake loves strawberries.” Jake said as he walked into the kitchen. He winked at his niece before smiling at his mother. It pained him to see her so tired and worried, but he knew there was nothing he could really do about it. It was her nature to worry and fret over everyone and everything.
“Uncle Jake! We’re making you a smoothie so you can get big and strong!” She exclaimed proudly.
“You guys are the best.” He sat across from them at the breakfast nook, watching as his mother desperately tried not to run to him to assist. He laughed to himself, knowing it was eating her up alive. “I’m feeling good mom, go back to smoothing it up or whatever you call it.”
“Do you want to rinse the strawberries, Ava?” Deb asked as she dried her hands on a dishtowel.
“Sure.” She looked at Jake. “Don’t worry Uncle Jake, I’ll make sure I clean them good so you don’t get any germs.”
“Ava? You know what would make me feel better?”
“What?” She asked wide-eyed.
“A kiss, from my favorite niece.” He said and pushed back his stool. It took a lot of his energy but he managed to bend down and when she ran to him, he gripped the counter so he wouldn’t topple over and scare her. She pressed her lips to his cheek, emphasizing it with a smacking sound.
“Do you feel better?” She asked hopefully, her arms still wrapped around his neck.
“So much better,” Jake said before tousling her hair. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and she ran back to the sink. Jake made his way back into his seat and watched his mother set Ava up at the sink with the strawberries. When Ava was settled his mother turned to face him.
“How are you feeling?”
“Not so bad.” He lied. It had taken him twenty minutes to climb the stairs. He couldn’t sit in that room another second though. There was only so much daytime television a man could watch. Thankfully Nick had given him a journal, he passed most of his time writing and sketching when he felt strong enough to hold his head up.
“My son the warrior,” She said lovingly as she reached out and stroked his cheek. He flashed his mother a smile and tipped his hat to her. Today it was a Yankee hat. He had a nice size collection he had to admit. It actually didn’t bother him anymore that his hair was completely gone. He was a little sad that he had lost some of the hair on his eyebrows. He loved to wiggle them, but not so much anymore.
“So I crawled up the stairs to ask for your help with something.” He watched his mother’s eyes widen in fright. He chuckled, “Sorry mom, I was kidding. I climbed I swear.”
Deb clutched her chest as if her heart had jumped out of her body. “Jake, don’t joke like that!” She scolded halfheartedly.
“Okay, okay.” He repositioned his hat before splaying his hands across the counter. “Brace yourself mother.” He said jokingly, although it probably wasn’t a bad idea considering what he was about to say.
“Oh just tell me already, I’m getting grayer by the minute here.” She looked at him expectantly.
Jake shrugged his shoulders, here goes. “I want to ask Cara to marry me.” The words left his lips and he couldn’t help but smile at the sound of them.
Deb did indeed brace herself, as she gripped the counter and stared at him. Instantaneously her eyes filled, just as Jake assumed they would. He was used to the emotions that ran wild in this family. In fact he gathered would have the same reaction as their mother, genetics and all.
“You want to ask Cara to marry you?” She asked.
Jake eyed Ava over his shoulder, he didn’t want her to spill the beans, but she was too busy splashing water all over herself to pay any attention. He looked back at his mother and leaned forward. “You heard me. I’m going to ask Cara to marry me.” He smiled confidently.
His mother shrieked happily at his declaration and hurried around the counter to hug him. “Oh my God!” She sobbed causing him to chuckle. The typical Deb reaction he was expecting. “When?” She said when she pulled back and wiped at her cheeks.
“After my last dose of chemo.” He took a deep breath. “I don’t know mom, but I’ve got this feeling like I’m going to be alright, like I kicked the shit out of this disease.” He smiled and it was true, he believed with his whole being that when they ran those tests, he’d be in remission or damn well close to it. He wouldn’t ask her to marry him if he thought he was going to die. He made that decision a while ago. Jake knew Cara would run to the altar if he was dying and he wasn’t about to leave her a widow at twenty-nine. He wouldn’t subject her to that.
Deb smiled brightly through her tears and nodded. “That’s my boy.” She laughed and choked out a sob at the same time. “I’m so proud of you. You have no idea.”
He smiled and took her hand. “Thank you.”
“I believe you kicked the cancer’s ass too.” She said and then pulled up a stool beside him. “Does Cara have any idea?”
“No not at all.” Jake said. They’d barely discussed marriage, especially these days. “I want her to be surprised. That’s where you come in.”
Deb pointed to herself and raised an eyebrow. “Me? Tell me what to do.”
“I want you to come with me when I buy her a ring.” He had it all figured out. “She won’t question me if I go somewhere with you. She won’t worry or rush home from work. She’s the most at ease when you’re watching over me.” He rolled his eyes, he felt like a schoolboy. “Anyway will you take me? Besides, I’d like your help picking it out.”
And there were Deb’s tears again. She brought Jake into her arms and hugged him. “Of course I’d take you.” She pulled back and s
tared at him. “I’ll call George the jeweler.”
“Okay.” He smiled at the excitement that exuberated from his mother. “Let’s just keep this between us for now. I really, really want her to be surprised.”
“My lips are sealed!” She whispered, and Jake laughed. His father would probably know by the time Jake dragged his ass back down the stairs.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jake had been admitted into the hospital two days ago, and immediately the doctors worked to administer his last dose of chemotherapy. It was over. The pain and suffering he endured from the chemicals that were shot into his body, came to a close. The doctors wanted him to finish out the week in the hospital, feeling more comfortable with him being in their care, in case the side effects became too much. His nausea had left after the first day and mostly all he felt was tired. He glanced around his hospital room, he really couldn’t wait to break the hell out of there. He wanted more than anything to put this whole thing behind him and start living the life he dreamed of. He smiled as he watched Cara sleep in the chair beside his bed. He had an engagement ring sitting in his mother’s closet, and couldn’t wait to ask her to be his wife. He sat up at night, watching her sleep and thinking of all the ways he could ask her.
It was funny, if someone would’ve told him that he would be on the verge of proposing he’d laugh in that person’s face. Well, he shouldn’t say that, he didn’t think six months ago he’d get cancer either.
“Hey, why didn’t you wake me?” Cara asked groggily as she stretched her arms over her head.
Jake laughed. “Why would I do that? So you could stare at the paint on the walls with me?”
She glanced at the walls and made a face. “It’s such a horrible color too.” She shuddered as she turned her attention back towards him, smiling.
Jake stared at the putrid pink walls and glanced back at Cara, his face serious. “We should file a complaint.” He reached out for her hand and winked.
“Are you feeling okay?” She said as she bent and kissed his fingertips.
“Like a million bucks.” His thumb caressed the inside of her palm. “I hope they let me out earlier.”
“What’s the rush? You got some hot date I don’t know about?” She joked and squeezed his hand.
“Something like, that.” He cocked his head to the side and smiled at her. “The first thing I’m going to do when I have my strength back is take a ride with you.”
She smiled wistfully playing along. “Where would we go?”
“Who cares, we’ll just ride until we run out of gas.” He meant it; he didn’t care where they went. Just being able to ride his bike again with his girl, it’s something he dreamt about lately.
“I’m all for that.” Cara sighed. “Providing you feel well enough.”
“I told you, baby. I believe with my whole heart I beat this shit. You’re stuck with me girl, for the rest of our lives.”
“That sounds amazing.” She grinned.
“Yeah? You okay with you and me growing old together?” He asked huskily and was surprised by how nervous he felt asking her. He watched her eyes fill with unshed tears.
“In a perfect world I dream of growing old with you.” Her voice was hoarse, and she cleared her throat. She stood up and sat on the side of his bed, and her hand lifted to caress his face. “To watch each other’s hair turn gray and to count the lines on our faces.” A lone tear slid down her cheek.
Jake had to swallow the question he almost asked. Not now, not in a hospital, he told himself. Instead he leaned forward, gathering all of his strength and cupped her face in his hands. He stared into her hazel eyes, and saw so much love in them.
“I love you, Cara.” He whispered roughly before pressing his lips delicately against hers.
Before Cara could respond there was a knock on his door, and it swung open. They pulled apart and both turned to face his family.
“I told you to wait before you opened the damn door!” Joe growled at his wife.
“Shut up, Joe. I’m sorry are we interrupting?” Deb asked innocently.
“Of course you’re interrupting!” Joe bellowed as he rolled his eyes. Sam and Luke pushed through the door behind their parents.
Cara laughed. “It’s fine.” She ran her fingers through her hair.
“Before any of you and all of you ask, I feel fine.” Jake told them. Maybe if he just began every conversation with that, people would stop asking every minute.
“I wasn’t going to ask, I know you’re a beast.” Sam said as she plopped down on the foot of his bed. Jake kicked her ass playfully.
Jake looked around at the four of them and then at Luke in wonderment. If they were all there who was watching Ava, no way in hell did Nick Foti become Ava’s nanny. “Where’s Ava?”
Sam smirked as she too, looked at Luke. “Yeah, where is she, Luke?”
Jake eyed his sister curiously. She knew exactly where she was, then he turned back to Luke. He on the other hand looked like he wanted to throttle Sam. Jake clapped his hands together and rubbed them vigorously, let the fun begin.
“Sam, don’t embarrass your brother!” Deb demanded as she opened the blinds, letting the sunlight filter through the pink room.
“Hell I’d embarrass him if I knew what was going on.” Jake said, wishing someone would let the cat out of the bag.
Joe sat down on a chair, shaking his head. “He’s thirty-one Debra. If he gets embarrassed than we have a problem, don’t you think!”
“Guys, I’m right here, you know?” Luke said miserably.
“Would someone please tell me what the hell is going on?” Jake pleaded.
“Your brother got laid.” Joe said nonchalantly.
“Joe!” Deb said outraged.
“Pop!” Luke said before he covered his face with his hands.
Jake laughed wholeheartedly.
“Wait! How do you know he got laid?” Jake said as he turned to his father.
Joe shrugged his shoulders as he opened his newspaper. “I’m old, not dead.” He lifted the paper to cover his face. Cara laughed beside Jake, and he wrapped his arm around her. With his head on her shoulder, he looked back at his brother.
“I bet I know who the lucky lady is.” Jake grinned and Cara looked over her shoulder at him.
“Who?’ She asked him.
“Black Cherry! Go on, tell me I’m right. I know I’m right.” Jake said and then patted himself on the shoulder, proud of himself.
“Her name is Leah.” Luke muttered. “And we’re seeing each other.” He raised his voice so his father could hear him. Joe poked his head from the top of the newspaper and peered at Luke.
“Whatever you call it, you got some kid! Be proud.” He released the newspaper with one hand and pumped his fist in the air.
“You know Joe, I think you should get a CAT scan while you’re here.” Deb said as she hit him upside the head with the back of her hand.
“Damn you woman! You go and hit me in the head and shake shit up and then expect me to go for a CAT scan? You probably loosened a few screws with that hand.”
“Guys? Can we please focus?” Sam begged and then patted Jake’s leg. “I have something exciting to tell you guys.” She said as she looked at Jake and Cara.
Jake had to admit, this was exactly what the doctor ordered, his crazy family in all their dysfunctional glory. He grinned at his sister. “If you’re about to tell me you and---“
Sam cut him off and held her hand up in protest. “Before you go there, it has nothing to do with him.”
Jake looked at her skeptically, knowing that she was referring to Nick of course. “Then what exciting news is it that you have?”
Sam bounced off the bed and reached into her pocketbook and pulled out a stack of papers. She walked around handing one to everyone.
Jake and Cara shared one and they read it together. It was an invitation to a Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Awareness benefit. Jake’s eyes focused on one line specifically.
&
nbsp; Celebrating Survival
In Honor of Cancer Fighter & Survivor
Jake Lanza
It was odd seeing his own name on a piece of paper; that portrayed him as a fighter and survivor of a deadly disease. He needed a moment to process and was thankful that Cara spoke up, breaking the silence.
“You organized this?” Cara asked as she continued to look down at the flyer.
“Yes. I wanted to commemorate Jake’s struggle and raise awareness. I’ve contacted the Light the Night foundation and any money made from the event will go to Lymphoma research in Jake’s honor.” Sam said before she began to chew on her bottom lip.
“This is amazing.” Cara said, as she placed the flyer on her lap and looked at Sam. “I can’t believe you did this. What can I do to help?”
Sam smiled hopefully as she glanced from Cara to Jake. “I’ve done everything. The event is one month from today at Rudy’s. Rather than doing a walk, I asked Pete to spread the word at the track to do a motorcycle run. It would start at Rudy’s and ultimately end there. I have Jake’s favorite cover band playing. Pete even offered to do to tattoos in the bar, to raise more money.” She rambled excitedly but more nervous than anything else. “Jake?”
He slowly looked up at his sister, his eyes were full but he refused to cry. Truth was, he was in awe of her efforts. She believed in him. Believed he was a survivor as much as he believed it.
There were no words. He reached out for her. He felt Cara slide off the bed and then Sam leaned over him and he took her in his arms, hugged her with all his might
“Thank you.” He whispered hoarsely. He held her for a moment before pulling back and brushing back her hair that had fallen in her face. “Thank you for believing in me.”
“Always.” She whispered and kissed his cheek. They both turned when they heard their mother let out a sob, and simultaneously they laughed at her.
“She’s such a good girl, my Samantha.” Deb said as she cried. Luke handed her the box of tissues that sat on the table beside Jake’s bed, thankfully the hospital was equipped to handle their mother’s emotions.
Pieces (Riverdale #1) Page 22