Based on a True Story>>The gift of life

Chapter 2: Visit with Dr. Stephens

"Hello Angel, good to see you back with us." Angel placed her purse on a nearby chair and smiled. "Yes, it has been a while Dr. Stephens..but I am here and ready to pop some things back into place." Dr. Stephens placed her gloves on. "Has there been any changes since I last saw you?" "Nope, everything is about the same." Dr. Stephens began to massage her back, then began feeling for other things. "You and James have plans for those kids of yours?" "Well, James wants to take them fishing and I for one want to work on my tan among you know mom stuff." "Oh yeah, I know how that is..me and Lee want to go on a cruise if he can get that week off of course." Angel laughed. "Yeah, that is about how it works." "Y'all going to the Bahamas?" "Nah, we were thinking Alaska?" "Oh, yes that sounds about right especially with the heat down here..go the complete opposite." "Yes ma'am, we..hang on a minute.." Angel froze. "What's wrong?" Dr. Amy Stephens massaged a spot more carefully. She stopped.  "Is everything okay?" "I am not sure, but I am going to send you to a specialist." "What for?" "Well, there is no cause for alarm just yet." "Doctor Amy? What is wrong? I have never seen you look this serious before." "It will be alright Angel..let's just verify with a biopsy and I will see you back here in two weeks alright?" "But you still haven't told me what you found?" Doctor Amy began disposing her gloves. "Angel, I found a lump on both sides on your back..they felt hard..it could be non-cancerous I just want to be sure." Angel felt the blood drain from her face. "What? But I..." Doctor Stephens walked over and touched her shoulder. "It will be okay Angel, we will do whatever it takes..you'll be alright."

Later that night, Angel laid her other children down. Now she laid in bed watching Dylan drink his milk bottle, until he feel asleep she watched his bottle fall to the side. Angel grabbed a close by pillow and held it to her breasts. "Me? Cancer? Why? What caused it? Did I do something wrong?" Her thoughts were distracted when she heard her husband walk through the front door. He walked in their room with his uniform on and he looked dirty. He leaned over the bed and met Angel with a kiss. "Hey baby, I missed you." "You know I did too..." she leaned closer. "Hey, I am going to go wash up and you can tell me all about your day." She giggled. "Okay, I left you some spaghetti in the microwave with some garlic bread." "Sounds good, okay..I'll be back." He walked to their bathroom and closed the door. Angel laid there in silence. Should she tell him? Or not? But he was her husband. She didn't want to worry him. But they always told each other everything. They were a team. She would tell him but not the cancer part. Not until it was certain which she didn't see it being the case. James wrapped his waist with a towel, and he headed to the kitchen for his microwaveable food. Once it heated, he brought the food in with a glass of sweet tea. "So, how did your visit go with the doctor?" Angel smiled. "Oh, fine..fine." "Your back feeling better now?" Angel shrugged. "Yes and no." "Yes and no?" "Well, she is sending me to a specialist." James placed his fork down. "A specialist for what?" "My back." "Oh, that serious huh? What day?" "Um, next week huh?" "Yeah, something like that." "Wow, okay uh..I get off early Friday if you want me to go with you..I can have mom pick the kids up. We can leave Dylan with her anyways she won't mind I am sure." Angel smiled. "Okay, if you say so..but she can't let them get near that pit in her front yard. Liam scared me last time he tried to jump his bike over it. James rolled his eyes. "I remember that, yikes, yeah no pit for them." Angel reached for a piece of garlic bread from his plate. Raising her eyebrows in delight. James just shrugged. "Nothing like that time you stole my ice cream off my plate in middle school." He said. Angel laughed. "Your back was turned, the opportunity was golden." James laughed.