Feels Like Home

Chapter 28

Austin kept looking at his phone as he sat next to his grandfather, as it kept lighting up with Andy's number.

"Either turn off the phone or answer her."

He looked at his grandfather and sighed, getting up just as the man they were waiting for came in.

"Mr. Caldwell and Mr. Caldwell, please have a seat."

Austin sat back down, turning off his phone.

"Well we got the test results back and as we suspected your HCG levels are high which means..."

"Cancer?"

"Yes."

Austin covered his face and stood up.

"Austin calm down."

"Grandfather its cancer."

"Mr. Caldwell with a simple surgery to remove the infected testicle you'll be just fine."

"What are my chances of children?"

"Austin, sit down, please."

Austin sat down and listened to the doctor tell him about the risks, treatment options and what he can do to ensure his own children.

By the end of the visit Austin was exhausted and wanted to be alone.

"Call Andy, I'm sure she'll want to know."

The thing was that Austin didn't want to tell her. She had already been through so much already and hitting her with this would be like holding her back again and he didn't want that for her, especially if there was a possibility that he couldn't give her any babies.

Andy was beginning to worry. She hadn't heard from him in two days and it was already Monday the day he was supposed to be home and still nothing.

Going to her OBGYN's office she was beginning to get concerned and something told her that she should maybe go to California after her appointment.

"Ms. Anderson, right his way."

Andy kept playing with her engagement ring as she followed the nurse.

Waiting for her doctor she finally got a call from Austin.

"Hello."

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Nothing, what about you?"

Andy didn't want to tell him anything just yet until they were sure it wasn't anything else.

"Still here, looks like I'll be staying here for a while."

"Okay, how much longer?"

"A while. Look Andy, I've been thinking a lot these couple of days and I don't know how to tell you this..."

Andy knew what was coming so she let him continue.

"I can't do this anymore, I thought I could, but I can't and I think you should move out."

Her doctor then walked in.

"I have to go."

Andy hung up as her doctor came in.

It seemed like the world had a funny way of working, but to Andy this was just another test in her faith in God. Taking a deep breath, Andy took the news and was going to do what was best for her.

After taking a moment to herself, Andy headed back to the ranch to begin her next step with or without Austin.

Coming home Austin saw the difference in everyone right away. She was gone, she had left just like he wanted her to and it hurt. The house felt empty and going further and further into it, he was hoping she would pop out and tell him that she wasn't going anywhere, but his wish would be just that, a wish.

"She left Texas."

Austin turned around to see Leo.

"Where?"

"Like I'd tell you that. Look I'm just here to give this back to you."

Leo went into his pocket and pulled out the engagement ring and keys.

"How is she?"

"Come on man you don't care, you never have."

"That's not true, I love your sister."

"Really then tell me, why? Why go through all the trouble with her if you're just going to throw her out again? You promised all of us that you wouldn't do this again!"

"I had to, she deserves better."

"Better, that's your excuse?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"You're right I wouldn't because I'm not a fucken jack ass like you and if it wasn't because Vivian asked me not to kick the living daylights out of you, I'd kill you right now."

"I did what I had to do, what was best for the both of us."

"You're right because Andy does deserves better, someone who's willing to fight for her, for their family and for their love, but don't you worry Andy is going to be just fine. Life chokes, but doesn't kill and Andy will get through this with or without you. It's just sad that you won't be a part of it, every man should experience love like that and you just threw it away before you saw the miracle of it."

"That's enough Leo."

Leo laughed, shaking his head.

"Of course, the famous Grandfather comes to poor Austin's aid. God Austin don't you get tired of being a damn jack ass?"

"LEO!"

Leo threw his hands up.

"You both go to hell and if you still haven't figured it out, I quit."

They both watched as Leo walked away with Austin holding to as much as he could until he took the first thing he saw and threw it against the wall. Austin was hurting, he had lost the most important person in his life and all because he couldn't tell her the truth.