George's POV
The next year passes by in a painful blur.
We finally finish our touring and decide a lengthy break is long overdue.
Being home all the time is great but it is terrifying knowing the day will too soon come when my family is short one member.
Kara and I spend our free days at the private beach we share with the other lads and their families, soaking up the sun - me and Alli more so than Kara. Alli is growing so big now. She hasn't said her first words yet but that's no worry to us.
She and I splash around in the water as Kara watches from under a big umbrella. She's coughing more and gradually losing weight. But other than that, she hasn't show any real signs of decline yet. Which is a good thing. The more time I can spend with her, the better. I pick up Allison and fly her over to Kara. She immediately crawls into her mother's arms. She's soaking wet but Kara doesn't seem to mind. She smiles as she tries to run her fingers through Allison's tangled hair.
"Hungry?" I ask.
Both Kara and Alli nod. I reach into our picnic basket and pull out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Alli digs into her cut up sandwich while Kara and I slowly chew ours. I go back into the basket and pull out a single lily. Kara's favorite flower. Her eyes water when she sees it. I stretch across and place it gently behind her ear. She's crying now. She puts a hand on the back of my neck and pulls me close for a kiss.
We never told anyone about Kara's cancer. We decided it was something we'd keep between us until it was unavoidable and we had to tell them.
We sit in silence as we eat, watching the waves crash onto the shore.
Kara's POV
George has been so much greater than I thought he'd be. I originally didn't tell him because I knew he'd flip. And I was so sick and tired of him treating me like I was fragile. Something that could break at any given moment. Sure, he was gentler with me, not involving me in his wrestling matches he and Allison had. But he still treated me normal. Well as normal as he could, knowing there'd come a day when I wouldn't be around.
I knew I'd get sick. I just knew it. Despite being vegetarian my whole life, rarely eating bad foods, and living as healthy a lifestyle as I could manage, there are some things you just can't get around. It broke my heart. I really loved my life and I didn't want to leave it yet. I wanted to watch my daughter grow up. I wanted to be there for her first day of university, her first dance, her first date, her first words. But I knew I wouldn't last long so I'd stick with staying around long enough to hear her first words.
I did go to a doctor. Only because George was adamant about that. It was breast cancer, as I assumed it would be. For George's sake I agreed to a few rounds of chemotherapy. Even though I knew it wouldn't work. Every woman in my family who got this cancer has died from it. No matter how hard they had tried to get better. No matter how much money they spent on treatments. This was just a very vicious familial cancer sickness.
It wasn't like I was giving up when I told George I wanted to stop with the chemo. I just wanted to spend what life I had left, outside and with him and Allison by my side. He was reluctant to let me stop but finally caved when he figured out that he wouldn't be able to get me to go back.
I feel the warmth of Allison in my lap as she finished her sandwich. She stood and grabbed my hand, pulling me with all her strength. George and I laughed. I stood and followed her to the ocean. She held my hand tight as we stood at the very edge. She squealed in utter delight every time the water rushed up onto our toes. I smiled down at her. I bent over and picked her up, giving her a shower of kisses. She loves being kissed and so I kiss her as much as I can. One day I won't be able to.
I turn and see George standing close behind, watching us. I walk towards him. When I get closer I see he's been crying. He doesn't try to hide it from me any longer and I don't try to tell him to stop. He's so tender and emotional. That's part of what I love about him.
He opens his arms and I walk into them, still holding Allison. We stand in an embrace for a long while. Eventually Allison starts squirming. I step back and set her down. She runs back to the blanket. George grabs my hand and holds tight as we slowly follow behind her. He stops about midway and gives me a long kiss. When he pulls away, he looks deep into my eyes.
"I love you Kara. I have no words to say how much. I wish I did. And I wish I could fix what's going wrong with you. It pains me immensely that I can't do anything but sit and wait for the inevitable."
I wipe tears from his eyes. I don't say anything because I know I'll start crying. And at least one of us needs to be strong right now. I give him a quick kiss before turning and leading the way back to Allison, who has searched the picnic basket for cookies and is now gulping them down. I smile and bend over to kiss her chocolatey face. She giggles innocently. I pick her up and look at her. I feel George's hand lightly on the small of my back.
"Mommy loves you very much." I say to her.
She has a sticky finger in her mouth and is looking around. She turns and points to me.
"Mommy." She says clearly.
George and I burst into smiles. I begin to cry as I nod my head at her.
"Mommy." I say, pointing at myself.
I kiss her cheeks as she continues to repeat.
"Mommy.... Mommy.... Mommy...."
I'm full on crying now and I have to set Allison down. As I bend to put her on the sand, she wraps her legs around me tight. I straighten back up and she wraps her arms around my neck. I close my eyes and sway back and forth as Allison hugs me tight.
