The Greatest Is Love: The Somewhere Under Heaven Series

Finding Hope

Casey's POV

It's the night before my surgery. I'm standing in the mirror in the bedroom looking at my figure. I normally don't but I know after today, it's going to look at little different.

This body has been through a lot. I had a couple of knee surgeries, a back injury from a car accident and then there's miscarriages which were tough. Also, carrying two kids to term and giving birth can be rough on the body.  Despite all that, I pretty much have a similar figure to what I did over 20 years ago which I'm quite impressed about.

I have been working to maintain a healthy weight and appearance since my mom's heart attack. I keep worrying about how I could be next considering Cheyanne died of a stroke at a young age and my mom died of a heart attack at a young age. I thank God that I have a husband who has understood the reason to my madness on this one. I told him one night that I would be damned if I was going to leave him unexpectedly like my mom left us.

But then there is my appearance. I know to him I am amazing and the same beauty he married all those years ago. I only wonder if he'll think I'm beautiful after the surgery. Yes, there will be reconstruction but I don't know if I will ever be the same afterwards. 

But maybe I shouldn't worry. I mean, it really does beat the alternative which is I'm dead. 

Rob's POV

I really wish Casey would stop freaking out about her looks because to me, she's still that sweet girl that caught my eye years ago. I get it, she's nervous about the surgery and what the outcome will be but she's going to still be my queen no matter what.

I found Casey staring into the mirror for the 9,000th time and I just have to say it. "You look great, Case. Stop freaking out already."

"It's not that," she tells me. "It's I'm just getting one last look at the girls if you will."

"You're getting reconstruction."

"It's not the same. I mean, these were the ones that were factory made. They changed size so many times with weight gain and loss, the birth of the kids, pumping for several hours a day when the kids were first born, and now they're going away for aftermarket parts." 

I keep forgetting I married a woman who has filmed car auctions. Okay, she has a point, when she wakes up from the surgery, those aren't going to be there but rather something that looks like them. Truth is I don't care if it's the real deal or not because to me, she's still the same Casey I adored for years. She could have a cyborg bust or one with those machine gun like things like the Fembots in Austin Powers and I wouldn't care because all I want is for my queen to beat cancer. I just wish she would see that. 

"You know," I tell her as I slide my arms around her waist, "I could care less about you losing the factory made parts. All I care about is you beating this. We went through a lot, Case. I want you around for a few more years so if it means that you have to get the stock modification, then so be it." 

She turns around. "Are you serious," she asks me. 

I assure her that I'm serious. "You know you caught my eye since day one, Case. In a way I was glad that your friend ditched the shoot that day because it gave me a chance to get to know you and what I saw, I loved."

"You better not be lying to me." Ah, there's the Casey I fell for...the feisty spitfire from Delanco who keeps me in line. Of course this time, she doesn't have to because I'm speaking the truth. 

I lift up her left hand. "Why else would I put a ring on this," I say to her before kissing her hand. 

"I love you," she says to me pulling me closer.