Family Bonds

Chapter 13, Episode 2

Jane picked up the phone. "You said you had good news."

"First, tell me what's going on," Chet replied.

"It's been two weeks since he came home, and he won't stay in bed. I don't dare leave him more than I am already."

"What about the radiation?"

"After the doctor told him what they found—and what it means, that the cancer may already have spread—Bert said no. He said he wants to enjoy the time he has left."

"So he's going to have hospice care."

Jane's heart did a slow roll at the word, knowing that meant Bert would be close to dying. "He's not ready for that yet." She didn't want to think about it. "The doctor said that's usually when he's in his last six months." She sucked in a quick breath. "Thank goodness Mrs. O'Hara stays with him when I'm in class. He painted her place last year, even after I told him he shouldn't go up on the ladder. She was too cheap to hire anyone to paint her house. So she paid him in his favorite peanut butter cookies." She huffed out a little laugh. "Anyway, she keeps him in bed most of the time. Otherwise, he'd be trying to do too much." She looked at the clock. "I've got to go. I'll meet you between class—at the library—so you can tell me your good news. Love you. Bye."

Three hours later, Jane waited for Chet as he crossed the square toward her, two lunch bags in his hands. He picked up his pace and was practically running before he stopped in front of her.

"I heard."

She waved her hands. "What did you hear? Tell me."

"Law school. I've been accepted. This fall." He handed her one of the lunches, almost squashing it between them as he hugged her.

"Wonderful!" She unwrapped her sandwich and took a bite. "Who else knows?"

"I'll tell Oliver tonight, when I go to work."

"I know he'll be happy for you. What about your folks?"

"I'll call them after work."

"No, Chet. This is too important. You need to tell them in person. I know your mom will want to celebrate with you. And your uncle, the lawyer. And Ashley's dad, your other uncle. Maybe even your dad."

He grimaced. "Not him."

"Maybe he'll change his mind. And you're graduating with honors, too, just like me. They have to be proud of you for that."

"Maybe." He grinned at her. "I'll call home tonight. If my mom wants to celebrate, I want you there, too. With me."

"Nuh—uh." She shook her head. "Your dad'll have a cow if I show up. You should celebrate with them. We'll celebrate ... separately." She reached for the extra apple. "I've got good news, too."

"About Bert?"

"No. But he acts like he feels a lot better now."

"So?" His brown eyes seemed to caress her face. "Did you get that job, the one you interviewed for over spring break?"

"They offered, but I turned it down." She looked sidelong at him and then allowed her grin to slowly grow.

"I thought you liked that school. You said it looked like a great place to work."

"I didn't take it because I got another offer, in Seattle. Not far from where you'll be spending all your time, as soon as you start law school." She laughed and hugged him.

"What?!" He whirled her around. "When did you interview? You never told me you interviewed anywhere but in Evergreen."

"My student teaching supervisor knows someone. She called her, and I skipped two of my classes last week to visit the school. They said they were especially impressed with that project I did on reading skills, when I was student teaching. They're putting together an experimental class from different grades with similar skill levels and they want me to teach it, along with one of their master teachers. I met him and he's so excited about the new program. So am I. I start in August! Isn't that great?" She hugged him again.