Home Away From Home

Chapter 11

"Mom.." Nick sat down next to his mother.

"Yes honey?" He grabbed her hand and said to her,

"I love you." Sally smiled, her first real smile ever since she found out she has cancer. She put one of her hand on her son's face.

"I love you too." The doctor came in.

"Sally, how are you feeling today?" He asked.

"Better." She looked at Nick.

"This must be your son."

"Nice to meet you Dr..." Nick got up and shook the doctor's hand.

"Scott."

"Pleasure to meet you, Dr. Scott."

"Pleasure's all mine."

"So Doc, how's my mom doing?"

"Well, better than yesterday, but unfortunately that won't make the brain tumor go away. Can I talk to you alone, Nick?"

"Yeah sure." Nick and Dr. Scott stepped out the room.

"There is some bad news."

"What is it?" Nick wasn't sure if he could handle any more bad news.

"I want you to know that Dr. Johnson and I are doing everything we can, but apparently it's not enough..."

"What are you saying?"

"Your mother doesn't have much time."

"W-What?" His voice cracked.

"I'm sorry, son. We are doing everything we can, but we can't seem to beat the cancer. You're mother is very strong, but not enough to beat it. It has spread, I'm sorry." Nick almost fell backwards in shock.

"How long does she have?" He managed to ask.

"A month or two. We're not sure yet, but we're doing everything we can to keep her alive. So it's not certain yet, but I just want to warn you that she may not have much time."

"Can I at least take her home? To spend time with her."

"In a week."

"Please do everything you can. I need my mom in my life." A tear rolled down his cheek.

"Of course." Nick walked back into the room. He did his best trying to hide his pain, but Valerie caught him.

"Nick? Is everything okay?" Valerie asked.

"Um, yeah." Thankfully, Dr. Scott came in to the rescue.

"I'm sorry, but you guys need to leave. I have to run some tests on Sally."

"We'll be back, mom." Sally smiled. Valerie and Nick walked out the hospital together. They sat in the car, but Nick didn't drive yet.

"Nick, is everything okay?" Nick didn't answer. "Nick?"

"Huh?" He blinked out of his gaze.

"Is everything okay?" Her eyebrows rose forming a worried expression.

"Yeah...No.." A tear rolled down his cheek. "My mom is dying." He started crying. Valerie hugged him, he put his head on her shoulder. "Dr.Scott says she might have a month or two to live. That is not okay." He kept crying. Valerie couldn't think of any words to say. "What am I gonna do?" He looked at her like a lost puppy.

"Well, you're gonna spend as much time with her. At least he told you so you have a chance to say goodbye."

"But I don't want to say goodbye."

"I know, nobody does." They sat there for a few minutes. Nick calmed down a little.

"I shouldn't be crying. I have to be strong."

"Nick, you are strong. You're mom is dying, it's okay for you to cry. Sometimes crying means you are strong."

"How Valerie? How! My mother is lying in that hospital bed with only a month or 2 to live! I don't really care if I'm strong or not! All I care about is her getting better... she cannot die. It's not time for her to leave!" He smashed his hands on the wheel.

"I don't want her to leave, too. She's the only parent in my life that hasn't left me. But you shouldn't be moping around. Be with her, make her last month or 2 worth living. Make her smile and laugh and feel good. And make her happy that she is spending it with her son." Nick sat up straight and wiped his tears. He looked at Valerie, she was trying her best to not cry. He knew he had to be strong for her, too.

"Let's go home." He started the car and they drove to Nick's house. When they got in the house, Nick looked around. "I missed this place."

"It was a little empty without you."

"You have no idea how much I've missed you." Nick turned around to Valerie. He walked closer to her and out his arms around his waist.

"Well I did miss you too, so maybe I do."

"No, I'm positive you don't." He kissed her. "I missed your lips." He whispered. He then kissed her eyelids. "And your gorgeous eyes." Then he kissed her cheeks. "And your chubby cheeks."

"My cheeks are not chubby."

"If that's your story." Valerie smiled. "And I missed your smile." He picked her up, her legs went around his waist and arms around his neck. He kissed her and carried her upstairs. Valerie started laughing. "And I missed your beautiful laugh." He put her gently on his bed and kissed her more. He then stopped and looked into her eyes. He couldn't believe how lucky he was. He finally has the girl of his dreams in his arms and she's his. He couldn't believe how crazy he is about her. He smiled and kissed her.

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