It was one of those conversations that Birdie had never wanted to have with her kids. She’d had the same conversation with her mama and sister. Deep down, a part of Birdie had feared this for years, the shadow of what might happen looming large and terrible over her like a storm cloud waiting to spill. Jaxson’s hearty laughter pulled her out of her gloom.
“Hey, little bro. You’d better take it down a notch. You’re slathering it on a bit thick, even for you. It makes you sound desperate.”
Mason scoffed. “Desperate, my eye! I’m just speaking the truth.” He slid his arm around Selma’s shoulders and pulled her close as he zeroed in on Cash. “When you hear this woman sing, you’re gonna beg her to go on tour with you,” he boasted.
Selma’s cheeks went pink. “Mason,” she sighed in exasperation as she threw Cash a nervous look. “Don’t force the issue.”
Cash chuckled easily, not the slightest bit put out by Mason’s pestering. “What happens if I decide that I want Selma and not you?” There was a teasing glint in his eyes.
Ava grinned, shaking her head as she put a hand on Cash’s arm. “Quit razzing your brother,” she admonished.
“That’s the thing,” Mason drawled. “The two of us are a package deal.” He gave Selma an adoring look. “Right, babe?”
“Right,” she responded with a soft smile. The two seemed to get lost in one another’s eyes.”
Birdie couldn’t help but smile as she watched them. A lot had changed in Mason’s life recently. He’d just signed with a professional football team as their kicker, but his plans drastically shifted when he crossed paths with Selma. Birdie had nearly flipped out when she learned that Mason had almost been killed by Selma’s psychotic boyfriend who was trying to coerce her into marrying him. Thankfully, everything had turned out okay in the end and he was sitting in the den, fully intact. A prayer of gratitude flitted through her mind. Thank you for keeping Mason safe and for setting him on the right path with a good woman who knows how to keep his feet moving the right direction.
“Mason’s in love,” Ramsey taunted.
“Yes, I am,” Mason proclaimed loudly to the entire room. “This woman right here has stolen my heart.” His voice turned gooey like warm caramel as he peered into Selma’s eyes. “Isn’t she the most beautiful thing y’all have ever seen?”
Milo sniggered and placed a hand over his mouth as he looked at his mom.
Zoe just shook her head, grinning.
“Mason,” Selma blustered with a shaky chuckle, her face turning cherry red.
Delighted laughter gurgled from Mason’s throat. He enjoyed making Selma squirm. For all of his cockiness, it was obvious that Mason was over the moon for Selma. Birdie was glad that he’d finally met his match. She suspected it wouldn’t be long before Mason and Selma announced their engagement, and then all of her children would be married. At least I will have lived long enough to meet all of my children’s spouses. But what about all the grandchildren that were sure to come? She wanted to get to know them. She had so much to live for. A cold sweat broke over her body. Her throat thickened as she swallowed. She couldn’t lose it here in front of the family. She had to be strong.
At Birdie and Knox’s request, all of the family had gathered together this evening for dinner. They’d feasted on chicken fingers, mashed potatoes, gravy, biscuits, and all the fixings—compliments of Gina, Knox’s housekeeper and cook. Gina and her husband Hank were practically family and had wanted to join them tonight, but Knox diplomatically suggested that they come another time. “Birdie and I want to spend some alone time with the kids and grandkids,” Knox had said.
Lively chatter and laughter pinged around the den. It was good to see the entire family together. Noah and Piper’s photography took them around the world. Cash and Ramsey, along with their wives Ava and Hartley, were often away on a tour. It hadn’t been easy for the two couples to break away from their work to come home.
Birdie and Knox were seated side by side on the sofa. Knox reached for Birdie’s hand. When he cast her a concerned look, it dinged through her brain that her hand was ice cold.
“Are you doing okay?” he asked quietly.
She forced a smile. “I’m fine,” she said tersely. “Just ready to get this over with.”
He nodded in understanding as he pulled in a long breath. “Can I have everyone’s attention?” he said in a commanding tone. A few seconds later, the chatter ceased as all eyes turned to Knox. He glanced at Birdie. “Your mama and I have something that we need to say.”
“‘Bout time you put a ring on Mama’s finger,” Mason piped in with a cheeky grin.
“Hey, now, don’t steal their thunder,” Jaxson countered.
“I’m not stealing anything,” Mason argued.
Birdie jerked as she turned to Knox. He looked as surprised as she felt. Tears rose in her eyes and she blinked fast to stay them. Oh, how she wished that they were announcing happy news, such as an engagement. She and Knox had been dancing around the topic of their relationship for quite some time. While Birdie had hoped several times that Knox might propose, he hadn’t. Right now, a wedding proposal was the farthest thing from her mind. A wedding signified longevity and expectations for a future. Her gaze moved over the room of hopeful faces, settling on Zoe. Was her daughter’s body harboring those fateful genes that could one day lead to her demise? Or maybe Madison was. First her mother, her sister, and now Birdie … A shiver ran down her spine. She couldn’t think that way. She had to think positively.
“What’s the good word?” Noah prompted with a large smile as he looked expectantly from Birdie to Knox.
Birdie removed her hand from Knox’s and clasped her hands together tightly. She sucked in a deep breath, preparing to speak.
Madison jumped to her feet. “Before you make your announcement,” she blurted, “there’s something you need to hear.” Ten years old, Madison had shot up in height and was on the gangly side. With her dark hair and eyes, she was sure to be a beauty like Zoe. She twisted the ball of her foot into the floor as she looked at Zoe for approval.
Zoe nodded.
“My mama’s having a baby!” Madison exclaimed exuberantly.
Tears sprang to Birdie’s eyes as she looked at Zoe, whose grin stretched from here to Texas. Ah, it made sense. Birdie could see it now—that quiet, exquisite cape of motherhood nestled around her daughter. Zoe was resting her hands protectively over her flat stomach. Briggs had a proud glow over his face. It’s the best of times and the worst of times. Life moves on.
“How far along are you?” Lemon, Jaxson’s wife, asked with a trace of longing. Lemon had recently had a miscarriage. Birdie could tell that Lemon was putting on a brave face, but Zoe’s news had to cut at her insides. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be too long before Lemon and Jaxson would get the opportunity to announce happy news of their own. Jaxson draped an arm around Lemon and pulled her close. The tenderness of his embrace caused more tears to moisten Birdie’s eyes. Life was interesting … Everyone had their own share of trials that were specific to them.
“Four weeks,” Zoe answered.
“That’s fantastic,” Piper said as she and Noah shared a look. Something in their expressions made Birdie wonder if they were considering starting their family.
Zoe’s brothers offered their hearty congratulations as they hugged her and gave Briggs hearty pats on the back.
“I thought you were looking a little pudgy,” Mason teased. Zoe gave him a look that could kill.
Selma just shook her head. “Sorry, I can’t take him anywhere.”
“That’s wonderful news,” Knox said in a ponderous tone as he turned to Birdie.
She got the feeling that he was wondering the same thing as her—did they dare break the bad news to the family and ruin Zoe’s moment? Maybe if Birdie just kept everything to herself then it would somehow go away. She’d wanted to call all the kids and tell them her news, but Knox insisted that it would be better to tell everyone in person. He was probably right. It was just so hard to talk about it. Once the words left her mouth, it would all be out in the open. It would be painfully real.
“Okay, now tell us your news,” Zoe prompted.
Birdie swallowed. She got the uncanny feeling that time was frozen. Once she unleashed the words, there would be no calling them back. She couldn’t stop more wretched tears from filling her eyes.
“Go ahead,” Knox prompted gently as he draped a protective arm around her shoulder. She was grateful for Knox and his strength. When she’d first told him the news, they’d cried together. Knox kept telling her that everything would be okay, but she got the feeling that he was trying to reassure himself.
The mood in the room immediately shifted from joyous to tense.
“What’s going on?” Jaxson asked. He gave Lemon a nervous glance before turning his attention back to Birdie.
“I have breast cancer,” Birdie croaked.
A stunned silence fell over the group.
Birdie couldn’t stop hot tears from trailing down her cheeks.
“Tell them the rest,” Knox prompted.
“My prognosis is good. We caught it early, and it’s a very small cluster.” Her voice trembled as she took in a breath, trying to get ahold of her emotions. She could feel her children’s fear oozing out and mixing with her own. “I’ve already had a biopsy and an MRI done on both breasts. The cancer hasn’t spread.”
The relief in the room was palpable as Birdie continued, “My oncologist says that I won’t have to do chemotherapy, just radiation.” The thought of possibly losing her hair had filled her with dread. She was so relieved that she wouldn’t have to go down that path. Her voice sounded unnaturally high-pitched to her own ears. “My doctor expects me to make a full recovery. All in all, I’m really very lucky.” An image of Birdie’s mother and sister flashed through her mind. Both of them had died from ovarian cancer. Realizing she was at risk, Birdie opted to have a hysterectomy a few months after her sister Joleigh died. What Birdie hadn’t counted on was getting breast cancer. Even though they’d caught her cancer early and her doctor was optimistic about her treatment, Birdie was still petrified. The nights were the worst when she’d wake up bathed in a sickly sweat, terror overtaking her. All sorts of terrible thoughts assaulted her mind, such as what if the doctors were wrong? What if the cancer had spread? Doctors were fallible. They didn’t always catch everything. Would the cancer come back again and again until it destroyed her? During those times, all she could do was pray for strength.
Ramsey was the first to pepper her with questions. “When are you going in for surgery?”
“Next week.”
“Will it be inpatient or outpatient?”
“Outpatient.”
“When will you start the radiation?”
“Soon after the surgery. I’ll go every weekday for six weeks.”
Birdie caught eyes with Selma. Her expression was one of pure sympathy. Selma’s mother had overcome cancer. Selma, above anyone, knew the fear that came from hearing the word cancer. Selma’s mother had beaten the odds. When the traditional treatments failed to work, she’d opted for nontraditional treatments that cured her. Birdie felt a blip of envy for Selma’s mom. She’d faced the monster and had come off victorious. Birdie was hoping and praying that her doctor Christopher’s optimistic prognosis would prove to be right. She didn’t want to have to go through chemotherapy. Radiation would be bad enough. Her cancer was slow progressing. That was the good news. The bad news was that because of where the cancer was located, one of her lungs would be exposed to radiation. The radiation would most likely reduce her lung capacity by two percent. While it was a small number, it was her lungs they were talking about. Birdie was still finding it hard to wrap her mind around the situation. Life was sailing along like normal until she got that phone call telling her that her mammogram had turned up something concerning.
“Are you going to be okay, Momaw?” Madison asked, her voice tremulous.
“Yes, I am,” Birdie answered with all the confidence she could summon. She offered her granddaughter a confident smile. “I have the best doctors on my side.” She glanced at Knox, hoping he’d back her up.
“Momaw’s gonna be just fine,” Knox asserted, winking at Madison. Seeing the worry on her grandkids’ faces was the worst. She’d wanted to break the news to the children when Milo and Madison weren’t around, but Knox insisted that it was better to tell everyone at the same time. “Milo and Madison are mature for their ages. They can handle it. Besides, if you have to have cancer, it’s a good one to have. You’ll make a complete recovery.”
Her head kept assuring her of that, but the sick fear in the pit of her stomach spoke otherwise. Birdie was sure she was freaking out because she’d lost her mother and sister to cancer. Her mother’s death was what spiraled her into the dark depression that caused her marriage to fail. Well, that and Knox’s affair. She pushed aside the despondent thoughts. Birdie couldn’t let herself go down that path again. She had to remain positive so she could fight this illness. She’d have to take things one step at a time, fight the monster in front of her before seeking out the others lurking in the shadows.
“I’m not so sure about the doctor thing,” Knox grumbled.
“What do you mean?” Cash frowned.
Irritation traipsed through Birdie. Under different circumstances, she might’ve been flattered by Knox’s disgruntled attitude, but right now, he was getting on her nerves. “My oncologist is Christopher Wallace.”
Zoe’s jaw dropped. “Your boyfriend from high school?”
“Yep,” Birdie snipped. “Christopher happens to be one of the top oncologists in the nation. He’s the leading physician at the Hopewell Cancer Treatment Center in Nashville. I’m very fortunate that he’s overseeing my treatment.” She cut her eyes at Knox, daring him to disagree. “I’d rather have someone who knows me personally instead of being just another number.”
“Christopher Wallace would like nothing better than to get his hooks into you,” Knox muttered. “He’s probably glad you have cancer so he can swoop in on a white horse and save you.”
Fury burned through Birdie’s veins, causing her body to tremble. “Are you listening to yourself?” Her voice went shrill. “I have cancer. And all you can think about is Christopher trying to make a move on me? Seriously?”
Knox held up a hand. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” His pained expression caused Birdie’s anger to dissolve. Like her, Knox was scared. Aside from their divorce, they’d lived charmed lives in many ways. All of their children were healthy and successful. She and Knox had always been healthy. They had prosperous businesses and nice homes. Maybe fate was claiming its dues. There were so many people who were worse off. Yes, she had cancer, but the doctors had caught it early thanks to a routine mammogram. She had so much to be thankful for. She just needed to hold onto all of the good things in her life.
“Would you like for me to take ole’ Christopher out for you?” Ramsey asked dryly.
“Now’s not the time for jokes,” his wife Hartley cautioned, giving him a swift jab in the ribs with her elbow. She offered Birdie an apologetic look.
“Ouch,” Ramsey howled. “You’re vicious, Red.”
“That’s what they tell me,” Hartley smirked. She threw Ramsey a saucy grin. “Better not forget it, Superman.”
Mason turned to Selma. “Hey, babe. Why don’t you ever call me Superman?” His voice was petulantly wounded.
Laughter exploded amongst the brothers. Even the women in the room looked at one another, grinning. Birdie was grateful for the levity. It helped to ease some of her tension. This was familiar—the lighthearted banter that had always been an integral part of their family.
“You’re such a whiner,” Jaxson taunted. “You already have a nickname, One Kick Wonder.”
Mason made a face. “Not that again. I don’t even play football anymore.” He gave Cash a meaningful look. “I’m in the music business now.”
“Okay,” Cash relented. “You don’t have to beat a dead horse. You and Selma should stop by the house tomorrow, and I’ll listen to you sing.”
“Yes!” Mason said as he punched a victory fist into the air.
“It’ll be a pleasure to have you over,” Ava said to Selma.
Milo shot Ramsey a speculative glance. “Hey, Superman, I’ve gotta couple of dudes at school you can take out for me.” Fourteen years old, Milo was Zoe’s oldest son and Birdie’s oldest grandchild.
“Milo!” Zoe reprimanded.
Briggs chuckled. “Aw, now. He’s just teasing.” He shot Milo a piercing look. “Aren’t you, son?”
“Yes, sir,” Milo said dutifully, lowering his head. Briggs was Milo’s stepfather. While the two of them had gotten off to a rocky start, they were super close now. Briggs couldn’t love Milo and Madison any more if they were his own flesh and blood children.
Briggs slid an arm around Zoe’s shoulders as if trying to soothe her ruffled feathers. It worked. She gave him an affectionate smile.
“There’ll be no talk of taking anyone out.” Birdie gave Ramsey a sharp look.
“Yes, ma’am,” Ramsey replied with a sheepish grin. He threw Milo a wink. “Let’s talk about those dudes at your school. I can show you a way to take care of them.”
“Sounds good,” Milo beamed.
Zoe rolled her eyes at Ramsey. “Stop egging him on.” She gave Hartley a pleading look. “Help me out here.”
Hartley chuckled. “I wish I could, but you and I both know that I can’t do a dang thing about your brother. He’s gonna do exactly as he pleases.” She cut her eyes at Ramsey. Hartley and Ramsey had a fiery relationship—they fought hard and loved hard.
“Hey now,” Ramsey countered. “It can’t hurt to teach Milo how to defend himself.”
“Can you teach me too?” Madison asked with bright, eager eyes.
Zoe looked at Briggs for help, but he shrugged. “Your brother has a point. The kids do need to learn how to defend themselves.”
“We’ll talk about this later,” Zoe said, giving Milo a motherly scowl.
When the conversation lapsed, Birdie took in a long breath before looking around the room. “I’m sorry that we had to gather you all here for this.” Tears bubbled in her eyes. Those dang tears. She wished she could keep them at bay. She smiled, trying to sound braver than she felt. “I’ll get through this.” She wished she could snap her fingers and then it would all be over. She wanted to go back to when she was perfectly healthy. She’d been excited to see where her and Knox’s relationship would go. Now, everything was dead in the water. She had to focus on getting over the cancer before she could think of anything else. She felt a deep sadness as she mourned the deficiency in her body. It would be hard for her to submit herself to the will of the doctors, to trust that the treatments they recommended would cure her cancer.
“We know you will,” Noah stood and went to her side. “I love you, Mama,” he said gruffly, enfolding her in a tight hug.
“I love you too,” Birdie replied with throaty emotion.
A few seconds later, the rest of the family took turns hugging her.
Birdie had no idea what the next few weeks and even months would hold, but the one thing she was grateful for was that she had her family by her side.
