Love & Secrets (Hartbig)

Ch. 17 She's not going any where

"How long have you known? Does Grace know? What are you doing about it? Who's your doctor?" Mamrie stumbled question after question.

Hannah sat there waiting for Mamrie to ask all her questions before she spoke. "Are you done?"

"No," Mamrie took a pause as she looked up towards Hannah. With a tears in her eye. "Why?" Mamrie's voice cracked. "Why you? You finally have Grace, your happy. This can't be happening."

"It's going to be ok, I am seeing a doctor and he's figuring what I should do. It's a non- aggressive type of cancer. I found out two weeks ago. I was scared to tell Grace because I was scared that she would leave me. Yesterday she was supposed to be married. I was scared that she would leave once she found out I was sick."

"Hannah, Grace loves you and no matter what she's going to be there for you."

"I know that now. These last few months I have been walking around egg shells around so she wouldn't leave me. I didn't know how she truly felt until last night." Hannah sat there playing with the ring on her left finger. "I couldn't take the risk of losing her. It's not like it is a very serious type of cancer. "

"Cancer is cancer, you need to get treatment soon. Grace loves you. She isn't going to leave you just because your sick." Mamrie choked on that last word.

"I have another appointment set up at the end of the week with my doctors plan of attack. Will you go with me?" Hannah asked as she looked at her friend. They both sat there on the verge of tears.

"Hannah, I love you but I can't keep this from Grace. I will go with you only if you tell her. Last year I didn't tell her that you liked her, she was upset with me for that. I can't believe how she would react if she knew that I kept this from her." Mamrie grabbed Hannah's hand as she waited for her response.

"I know your right."

"You know I'm right shorty." They let out a laugh.

"Can you be there when I tell her?"

"Yes I can, we can do it tonight."

Hannah stared at Mamrie, "Tonight? I don't want to steal your thunder today is your day."

"Sweetie I don't care. Can we get out of her though I feel weird sitting in a parking lot?"

"Yeah let's go. Where do you want to go?"

Mamrie turn the key to car as the engine started to purr as she put it in reverse. "Let's go to my place I'll make a drink you need one."

"No, I deserve a drink." Hannah said as she let out a laugh. As she rolled down the window.

Mamrie drove down the road as she shakes her head. "Really?"

"Come on that was a good one." Hannah laughed as she sat back in her seat.

...

Grace said goodbye to Lilly as she packed up her equipment. They were proud of the videos they just made. They were planning on editing their separate videos and uploading them with a day apart of each other in three weeks.

Grace had a fun time with Lilly but she was excited to meet with Mamrie and Hannah. Everything in her life right now seemed perfect. She has a beautiful girlfriend, her best friend is engaged, and she is working on her third book. Everything seemed to be going great. As she got into her car she received a text, 'Babe meet us at Mamrie's place when you can. Bring some patron.'

Grace closed her car door as she started to text back. 'Will do, do you need me to bring food?'

Grace started the car and put on her sunglasses 'No we are making tacos so don't worry about. See you soon beautiful!' Grace smiled as she read the text. She put her car in reverse as she backed out of Lilly's apartment complex.

She drove down the the road looking for a party store to stop at. She pulled into one ran in to get a bottle of patron she was excited that she was about to celebrate her best friends engagement with margaritas.

Grace quickly got back into the car and headed to Mamrie's house. As she started getting closer to her house she noticed a for sale sign on a house a block from Mamrie's. She pulled over and got out of her car to take right down some information.

...

"It's going to be okay, you can do this, I will be there for you." Mamrie said as she chopped up a pepper.

"I just wish I knew how she was going to react. I can't handle this what if she freaks out and leaves." Hannah stopped making the salsa. She took a deep breath and turned towards Mamrie.

"It's going to be fine if I have to I will stand in front of the door so she can't leave." They  both let out a slight laugh.

They stood there mostly in silence finishing making the food waiting for their friend to get there. Hannah barley paid attention to what she was doing  she was focused on how she was going to tell the women that she loved that she had cancer. She just had to take it one step at a time because she didn't know what to do if Grace reacted negatively.

Grace grabbed the groceries and stepped out of the car. She made her way to the door.

Mamrie and Hannah stood there finishing the food as they heard a knock on the door as it opened. Hannah didn't even have to turn around to know Grace was the one to step into the house. The house suddenly filled with the smell of lavender from the Grace's shampoo. Hannah set her knife down and stood there. She didn't want to turn around because she was afraid that if Grace looked into her eyes she would know something was wrong.

Grace and Mamrie said hellos. Grace set the bag on the table as Mamrie put the items away. She made her way over to Hannah and wrapped her arms around Hannah kissing the top of her head.

"How are you doing babe? MMMM That looks good." As she whispered "But not as good as you" Grace squeezed her tighter embracing her smaller girlfriend.

Hannah turned around wrapping her arms around graces waist. "It was okay." Hannah stood on her toes as she gave Grace a kiss on the lips. As she let go her head fell. Grace raised a hand and graced the side of her face so she could look into her eyes. "Whats wrong babe?"

"It's just." Hannah took a deep breath as she looked into Grace's eyes. "Why don't we sit on the couch I need to tell you something."