All I Need: Rod & Daisy (All Of Me Duet Book 2) by A.D. Justice (books to read to improve english TXT) 📗

Rod. We’re both dealing with the unknown the best we can. When the time comes where none of the treatment works anymore, you have to accept my decision to stop. If I can’t spend my final days with my family, what’s the point of it all?”

“One day at a time, Jules. For now, we’ll enjoy the holidays. When you go back after the first of the year, we’ll talk about a new plan then. Deal?”

“Deal.”

“All right, I’ll let you rest so maybe you’ll feel up to caroling later. Text me if you need anything.”

Before I close the door behind me, I sneak one last glance just in time to see her quickly wiping away tears. Now I know she was only placating me by agreeing to our deal. As I walk away, I replay our conversation and realize I was so focused on my needs I didn’t hear hers. She’s tired in so many ways—of being sick, of not feeling well enough to spend time with her daughter, and of battling a disease that doesn’t fight fair.

After the holidays, I’ll offer to go to the doctor with her. If he agrees with her wishes, I’ll respect them too. For the time being, I’m counting on this little white bird pendant to do its job and carry our prayers on its wings. Since I’m no longer very good company after our talk, I head to the bedroom to be alone while Daisy’s out with Tracy.

She’s the only respite I’ve found from the nearly unbearable stress I’ve been under. While I’m relaxing on the bed, I wonder how Daisy would recommend handling this situation. Would she think I’m being selfish or prudent for encouraging Juliana not to give up yet? Daisy’s the most giving and selfless person I know, donating her time off in the summer to help less fortunate children change their circumstances. I picture her at the camp, coordinating activities and overseeing every minute detail.

When I examine the facts and consider how Daisy would respond versus how I took the news, I realize I already know what her generous heart and mind would say. Daisy would encourage me to spend the time with my sister while I can, let her make her own decisions about her body and her medical status, and realize she wouldn’t make any choice without weighing the many facets of it first.

Daisy would tell me to trust Juliana’s instincts and support her regardless of the cost to me.

Daisy would be correct in her assessment.

Acceptance isn’t easy to come by, but I know in my soul I have to respect Juliana’s wishes. Whatever it takes to make her final days peaceful and happy is exactly what I’ll do. Lying down with thoughts of Juliana, Daisy, and cancer treatments swirling in my head, I can’t help but want to escape what I know is coming way too soon. When I let go of the invisible tight grip I have on control and allow myself to relax, the black hole of sleep overtakes me.

Noises from down the hall rouse me from my nap, with Daisy’s sweet voice acting as the final catalyst. I rub my eyes, yawn, and swing my feet around to the floor. When I open the bedroom door, I hear another one closing and see Kevin rounding the corner to head back downstairs. He has an extra spring in his step and quickness to his pace, as if he’s excited about something.

But then, it is Christmas and the girls just returned from a shopping trip, so maybe Tracy brought back an extra special surprise for him. Naughty lingerie, maybe? Sex games to play in the privacy of their room, perhaps? A booked trip to visit her parents, sealing their relationship and dousing his fears of their racial phobia? The possibilities are endless.

My girl will know, though.

I knock lightly on Tracy and Kevin’s bedroom door so I don’t wake Juliana and to alert them of my presence, just in case they’re wrapping presents in there. But there’s no answer. When I turn the knob, I find the door unlocked and no one in the bedroom. The bathroom door is closed, and it shares a wall with my bedroom, so I bet they’re hiding in there with the gifts.

This time, I grip the doorknob tightly and fling it open all at once to surprise them. But I’m the one with the bewildered expression because they’re not in here either. Before turning to leave, I notice a slender, white plastic stick sitting on top of Kevin’s toiletry bag. When I pick it up, I instantly realize what it is.

A very clearly positive pregnancy test. The YES+ indicator on the digital display hardly can be misinterpreted. That would certainly explain the new spring in Kevin’s step. He and Tracy are having a baby. Well then, Merry Christmas to them.

I follow Kevin’s lead and quicken my pace downstairs and find him behind the bar in the den. He’s all smiles while chatting with Daisy’s family and pouring mixed frozen drinks into red and green plastic cups. When several people take theirs and move out of the way, I saddle up to the bar, slide into the chair, and hold up a cup toward him.

He lifts his drink and clinks the plastic cup against mine. “What are we toasting?”

“You, your good health, and your good news.” I smile and bring my cup back to my mouth.

“What good news is that?” His brows draw downward, and he tilts his head, waiting for me to fill in the blanks.

Then it occurs to me that maybe Tracy left the test results there for him to find, but he hasn’t seen it yet. Did I just spoil the surprise?

“Um, maybe you don’t know yet. I don’t want to ruin anything by telling you too soon. When you see it, you’ll know what I’m talking about.”

“No, you don’t. You don’t get to drop that vague bomb and back pedal on me now. Let’s have it. I’ll still