by Dorie Graham
Good question. Alex blew out a breath. It did appear her new circumstances made her a prime candidate for the job. Heaven help her brother.
Sighing, she pulled out her phone and opened a new contact. “Okay, give me Dad’s number. I deleted it.”
CHAPTER FOUR
THE CHIRPING OF Chase’s phone sounded over the NPR broadcaster’s piece in their series on meat eating in the United States. He checked the display and exhaled in relief when he saw it was Kara. Mrs. Dixon, one of the museum’s benefactors, had already called twice since he’d been back, but he wasn’t yet ready to face her and her requests for the collection.
He turned down his radio and answered. “What’s up, Kara?”
“Hey, Chase, are you working?”
“I’m on my way to see an old friend.”
“Cool. So, did you call Pansy?” Kara asked. “About me spending the night? I texted you her number.”
“I left her a voice mail.”
“She’s not going to call you back,” she said. “You’ll just have to keep calling her until she answers.”
He frowned. “I left her a message and told her who I was.”
“She doesn’t listen to her messages.”
“Fine. I’ll just stop to see her, then.”
“You’d come all the way out here?”
“It’s important you go in early, right?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Okay. I won’t have a chance today, but I promise I’ll stop by before I leave town again. If she doesn’t want you spending the night, I’ll come get you early one morning.”
“Thanks, Chase, I really appreciate it. I want to spend the night, though. I’ll do your laundry or something while I’m there.”
“No problem, Kara. We’ll get you taken care of.”
He disconnected as he turned down a familiar Brookhaven street. He hadn’t been in this part of Atlanta in years. A memory of walking along the old sidewalk hand in hand with Alex swept over him.
Alex. How was she? The thought of her possible return sent anticipation shimmering through him.
The area held some good memories. Slowing, he passed what used to be the Caryns’ place. He and Robert had hung out with Matt Caryn until he’d moved junior year. The house had gotten run-down after the family had left, but it looked like it had been renovated at some point. He counted two more driveways, then pulled up in front of the Petersons’ house. The house appeared much as it had the last time he’d seen it, maybe a little more worn, but neat, with trimmed bushes and fresh paint on the mailbox, if not on the shutters.
How had he lost touch with Robert? Guilt filled him as he walked up the brick-lined steps, then along the flagstone walk. He and Robert had helped lay the stones for that walk. They’d been barely big enough to carry them one at a time, but Robert’s dad had been very patient. The man was twice the father his had ever been. It was a shame Alex had never gotten over her parents’ breakup.
He pressed the doorbell and waited, glancing along the railed porch. The old swing he and Alex had spent many a summer evening in still hung at the far end.
The door creaked open and her dad smiled as he stepped back and gestured him in. “Chase, I was hoping that might be you.”
He shook the man’s hand. “Mr. Peterson, it’s so good to see you again.”
Robert’s father waved his hand. “We’re all adults here. Why don’t you call me Jacob? Mr. Peterson makes me feel like my father.”
“Yes, sir, Jacob it is.”
“Robert is out back.” He shook his head. “His doctor finally cleared him to be outdoors and he’s insisting on working in the yard. Though he won’t be able to keep it up for long.”
Chase followed him through the familiar rooms, though the decor had changed over the years. Even though he’d seen Robert since high school, he’d only been by the house on rare occasion since Alex had moved out after her high school graduation.
They exited the house through the French doors opening onto the patio. The May sun filtered through an overhang of bright green branches, casting dappled light over the cool space below. Robert stood over a bush off to one side, wielding a pair of hedge clippers. He straightened as Chase approached, his movements stiff and slow.
Chase schooled his features. He’d braced himself, not knowing how Robert might appear. Besides the short crop of evidently newly grown hair, deep circles ringed his childhood friend’s eyes, and his clothes hung on him, his frame slighter than it had been, even in high school. Fatigue etched lines in Robert’s face, even as he extended his hand and pulled Chase into a hug.
“Robert,” Chase said, shocked at the slight feel of his friend, his shoulder blades protruding through his T-shirt.
Yet, when he pulled back, light shone in his friend’s eyes, a tired light, but a light nonetheless. Maybe the chemo and first transplant had failed, but Robert seemed to still have some fight left in him.
“Chase.” Robert stepped back, shaking his head. “I’m sorry I’ve been out of touch, man.”
“No, I got distracted myself. New job, school, all the other usual stuff. Still, I should have made more of an effort.” Chase gestured to Jacob, who’d taken the clippers from Robert. “I’m so glad I ran into your dad. I can’t believe you’ve been going through all of this and I had no idea.”
Before Robert could respond, Jacob pointed toward the French doors with the clippers. “Robert, why don’t you take Chase inside and get him something cold to drink?”
“Sure,” Robert said as he gestured for Chase to precede him inside. “It’s getting a little hot out and I could use something myself.”
When they reached the kitchen, Robert lowered himself into one of the chairs and nodded toward a cabinet. “Glasses are in there. I hope water’s okay. We don’t have much else. I’m on a no-sugar diet and most of the good stuff is full of sugar. Ice maker is out, though. Unless you want to use the old cubed stuff in the trays.”
“I think this is where the glasses were the last time I was here,” Chase said as he pulled out two glasses.
“Yes, some things never change.”
Chase nodded as he filled the glasses from the station on the refrigerator door. “Are you hungry?”
Robert’s shoulders shifted in a heavy sigh. “I should probably eat something.” He stared out the window as Chase set his water glass on the table. “I thought I’d have more of an appetite, you know, since I’ve been off the chemo for a few weeks. I’m doing radiation until we find a donor. I’m not sure why we’re bothering, since I seem nonresponsive to everything they’ve thrown at me so far. But, since they think it’s worth trying, I figure I might as well.”
“It must be hell.”
“It hasn’t been a picnic, but every time I think I have it bad, I come across someone who’s in a worse place.” Robert shrugged. “I’m not going to complain. I have my good days and my bad. Complaining won’t change anything.”
“You should probably try to eat, though,” Chase said. “So, any other diet restrictions?”
“I should probably limit more than I do, but I try to cut back on meat and dairy.”
“What do you eat, then?”
“That’s part of the problem. I’m not sure what to eat without that, but Megan sent some articles about fighting cancer with nutrition and there are charts about what to eat and not eat to raise my alkalinity.” He paused. “I looked online and for every argument for it, there’s one against it. It’s hard to tell what’s what. It’s important to her, though, so I’m giving it a try. Doc says as long as I’m getting the nutrition I need it’s okay. There’s some whole-grain bread we could use for some veggie sandwiches. I think that would probably work. All the veggies have already been cleaned. Dad’s diligent about that, since my immune system is still not back to where it should be.”
“Okay.” Chase gathered sandwich ingredients onto the table, so he could sit with Robert while he prepared their meal.
Robert reached for a cu
cumber. “I can slice this if you hand me a knife. I’m not totally useless.”
“Go for it,” Chase said and handed him a knife before cutting into a tomato. “Your dad said you’re having a stem cell transplant. It’s like a bone marrow transplant, right?”
“More or less.”
“It’s a tough process?” Chase asked.
“They try to kill the cancer without killing the patient. Sometimes it works.”
“I’d like to come by to help, however you need me, as long as I’m in town. I travel more than I’d like for work, but I’m never gone for more than a couple of days.”
“Still at the museum?”
“Yes, and these days it takes me all over the place, though I’m going to have to put my foot down on that at some point.” He shook his head. Mrs. Dixon and her collection couldn’t keep running his work life. “But like I said, I’m around a good bit and I can pitch in here. Do chores, figure out what it is you’re supposed to be eating, make sure you get your lazy ass out and moving.”
Robert shook his head. “I’m not going to be beating you in any races anytime soon.”
“Ha, like you ever could.”
His blue eyes glittered. “I recall a time or two.”
“You’ll get back to it.”
The crease between Robert’s eyebrows deepened. “Chase, I really appreciate you coming by, but you should know this isn’t easy for me.”
“I can’t imagine it would be.”
Robert stared again out the window, the knife still in his hand. “I don’t mean the chemo and the transplants, which can be pretty damn debilitating. I mean having people over, having to deal with all this...concern. I don’t...like having to put up a front that everything’s okay when it isn’t.”
“Robert, you don’t have to be like that with me—”
“Especially with you.” He lowered his head. “You knew me when I was strong and healthy. And now look at me....”
“You look fine to me—besides, I don’t give a damn about any of that. This is a temporary setback. You’ll kick this cancer’s ass and come back stronger than ever.”
“I know you mean well, but I don’t want you coming by here until I’m back to the old me.”
“Robert—”
“Thank you for your offer of help, but I’m okay.” He slowly stood, bracing himself on the table. “I’m sorry, Chase, I’m going to rest. It was good to see you.”
Stunned, Chase stared at his friend as he walked stiffly out of the kitchen. Robert didn’t want his help.
“He’ll be all right,” Jacob said from the hall entryway. “He’s just proud. It can’t be easy for him to see how strong and healthy you are—how he thinks he should be. He hates people seeing him like this.”
“But I’d like to help.”
“Actually—” Jacob waved his cell phone “—it looks like we won’t be needing any extra help, after all. We’ve got a new recruit on the way.”
“Yeah, well, I hope it isn’t another able body. That might put him over the edge.”
“He’ll have to deal with it,” Jacob said.
“So, who’s the new recruit?”
Jacob’s mouth curved into a smile. “Someone who will probably start some fireworks around here. Alexandra is coming home.”
“Alex?” A memory of laughing with her in that very kitchen drifted through Chase’s mind. “She’s coming for the transplant?”
“She was going to get typed then come once we had a donor and this new transplant was a go, but I talked her into coming right away. Seems her schedule just freed up.”
“When will she be here?”
“As soon as she can pack and load up her car. She’s shooting for the day after tomorrow. She’s breaking the drive into two days.”
“That soon?” Chase asked. At least Robert and Jacob would have some help. But the last time he’d seen Alex, she’d been pretty upset with her brother and father. “I can’t believe she’s coming.”
Jacob sucked in a breath. “I’m a little surprised myself, but I’m glad. Maybe we can finally work things out. I know I’d like that.”
“Oh, Jacob, I hope so. She was a hardheaded girl, though. I’m guessing she might still be the same.”
“Yes.” Jacob nodded slowly. “I’m guessing you’re probably right.”
* * *
ALEX STOOD ON THE PORCH of the house she’d grown up in, staring at the door. She hadn’t been here since her mother had left and her father had moved back in. Why had her mother ever agreed to that? Becky swore Mom had suggested the move while she’d been of sound mind, but Alex couldn’t fathom why her mother had remained on good terms with the man after he’d destroyed their marriage.
Alex certainly hadn’t been as charitable toward her father.
How strange to not feel right about walking into her childhood home. A light breeze rustled the wind chimes hanging above the porch swing, the tinkling stirring memories of summers past. Alex deliberately ignored the urge to glance in that direction. Giving in to that urge would only serve to raise thoughts of Chase Carrolton. And she couldn’t think about Chase right now, not when she had to face her father and brother.
Before she could knock, the door swung open. Her father stood on the threshold. Gray framed his face and filtered through the darker strands of his hair. The lines around his eyes and mouth had deepened and he seemed somehow smaller than she’d remembered.
“Alexandra,” he said and stepped back, gesturing her forward. “Come inside.”
She hesitated for another second, then moved inside, stopping to face him in the entryway, her arms folded tightly across her chest. “Dad.”
“I’m so glad you came.” He shifted his arms, not quite opening them, but not dropping them back to his sides.
“Of course I came.” She inhaled and straightened. “Look, I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding. I’m only here for Robert. I hope that you and I can live together in a civil manner, but nothing is forgiven or forgotten on my part.”
He nodded slowly, his gaze falling. “Of course. I understand. I gathered that from our phone conversation.”
She turned toward the entry table, hating having to be so blunt, but relieved to have the situation clearly addressed. Stacks of mail covered most of the entry table’s surface. She cocked her head. “Is that all junk mail or are there bills in there?”
“You won’t have to worry about any of that.” He scooped the envelopes into one pile. “I pay everything automatically online.”
“You can ask them to not send the bills.”
“It’s fine, honey. Where are your bags?” The crease between his eyebrows deepened. “You are staying, aren’t you?”
Exhaustion rolled over her. Driving from Baltimore had taken its toll and now she had little energy to deal with her home-wrecking father. “Yes, I’m staying. I only have a few bags. I’ll get them later.”
He continued to frown, as though he might argue, but then he nodded. “Well, I washed the sheets on your bed and there are clean towels in the bathroom. You’re in your old room that Megan moved into when you left. Most of her stuff is still in there, though. We can sort through it and get rid of anything you don’t want or put it into storage. You’ll be sharing the bathroom with your brother again.”
She nodded. “How is he, really?”
“He’s holding his own. Has a great attitude, though I worry about him getting depressed. He gets tired more than he’d like. He’s slowly building back up his strength.”
“You said on the phone he needs the second transplant because the first one didn’t work, but he’s having radiation in the meanwhile until we find a donor.”
“The radiation is tough, too, but it’s just to keep the cancer at bay until the transplant.”
“And what happens with the transplant? How long before all the typing is done and we have results?”
“His doctor is moving pretty quickly on it. He’s having the lab expedite everything. I
think everyone but you has gone in for the blood work. He’s already started a search with the national donor center, just in case they find a stronger match there.”
“I scheduled mine for tomorrow at the lab you gave me. Can they really find a better match than someone in his own family?” she asked.
“It’s possible,” her brother Robert said as he stepped into the entryway. His gaze flickered over her, but he offered no greeting. “Doc Braden is just being proactive. I appreciate that.”
“Hey, Robert,” she said.
Her unease intensified. Robert had never looked more frail. She hadn’t known what to expect, but she hadn’t been prepared for this. And to top things off, he didn’t seem happy to see her.
So many bad feelings lingered between her and both her father and her brother now. How were they ever going to manage living together again?
Silence fell over them. Alex pressed her lips together to keep from asking Robert how he was. What a stupid thing to ask someone with cancer.
“Can I make everyone lunch?” her father asked.
Robert nodded. “Sure.”
“I can help,” Alex offered.
“We’ve got some new vegan stuff we’re trying out. I downloaded a new recipe,” her father said.
Her gaze swung from her father to her brother. “You guys are vegan now?”
Robert’s eyes narrowed. “We’re pretty new to it. You can thank Megan for sending all the articles about fighting cancer on the nutritional front.”
“Okay...so does that mean if I’m staying here I have to give up meat and cheese?”
“Do whatever you want,” Robert said. “I’m just humoring Megan. I promised her I’d give it a try.”
Dad folded his arms. “I’m in on this vegan thing as a show of solidarity for your brother.”
The rumbling in Alex’s stomach did little to comfort her. “Hell, I guess I’m in, too, then.”
She followed Robert and her father into the kitchen. Robert filled water glasses for them while their father consulted his tablet for the recipe.
“Thanks,” Alex said as she accepted the glass from her brother, though he seemed indifferent to her appreciation. “Dad, what can I do?”