The Reluctant Romantics Box Set (The Fall, The Mind, The Heart)

I was stunned and furious at the same time. The disease seemed to affect almost everyone I knew. It was always someone’s mother or father or husband or best friend, only a single degree of separation. It was everywhere and a consistent threat to those I loved. In that very moment of his confession that he was orphaned by my nemesis, I vowed to fight harder, to work longer hours, to do whatever I could.

“I’m an oncologist now.” I admitted. “I’ve never felt a pull stronger than before I made this decision. It just felt so right. I can’t explain it. I haven’t told Rose. I knew it would alter our plans and I’m afraid she will never forgive me. You know we are supposed to start a general practice and I went and changed it all without telling her. I’m afraid she’ll never forgive me. I’m trying to figure out a way to make this work before I approach her with it. Please don’t tell her,” I pleaded, suddenly terrified I mentioned it at all.

“I won’t. But I will say, I think it’s a pretty cool thing. I had no luck with the doctors who helped my father. I know Rose just wants to be a surgeon. I know how much she loves it, and I know she would probably stand behind you one hundred percent. She looks up to you a lot, Dallas. I don’t think it would matter to her what you did as long as you did something together. I know I have kind of taken her away from you, but I promise as soon as the madness of her schooling and the wedding is over, we will make more of an effort. I know how much she treasures your relationship and it’s important to me, too.”

&nbsp

; My heart squeezed again painfully, and I couldn’t help making my way over to the man I knew was without a doubt the perfect match for my sister. I gave him a quick hug and he returned it, squeezing the life out of me. I chuckled as he pulled back.

“I have a good feeling about this. About you being an oncologist, I mean. I see all good things for you both. You should just tell her. See what happens. I think you’ll be surprised.”

I nodded and turned to clean up the mess, capping the mayo.

“Leave it. I’m going to make one for your sister, who I am sure will be down in a few to make her own.”

“You sure?” I said, smiling at his thoughtfulness. I loved that he would be the one taking care of her.

“Of course,” he said, rounding the counter. I felt like a tiny human standing next to him as he towered above me. He was truly a unique presence. I could see his appeal and knew exactly why the entire family had taken to him so quickly. I was sold.

“Well, okay, thanks for the talk.”

He kept his head down but didn’t let me escape the room before reminding me, “Better hurry up before you miss your next anniversary.” He smiled then looked up. I nodded then turned to hurry upstairs. I met Rose on her way down.

“Turkey sandwich.” She grinned sleepily. I nodded, already picturing Rose’s smile as she found the man of her dreams at the bottom of the stairs making it for her.

Dallas

Now

I got called in for a consult the next morning at work. It seemed the entire oncology department was not immune to the black Friday sales or the inevitable turkey coma. I was happy to go in and actually felt well rested despite having stayed up late. Looking forward to immersing myself into another case, but not forgetting about the ones I wasn’t currently working, I spent my first twenty minutes passing out dry turkey sandwiches, which they thanked me for with huge smiles. It was the little things.

My consult was in OB, and I was shocked when I found out Dean was the one who paged me. I walked into his office with a smile and saw him behind his desk with a set of printed sonogram x-rays lit up behind him. I saw the issue immediately, but greeted Dean first.

“Hi,” I said with a smile.

“Hi, Dally.” His voice alarmed me. I knew it couldn’t be easy on him to have to go back and tell his patient they had cancer. I could almost guarantee this case was terminal.

Dean stood up and pulled me into his arms. I pulled away, curious.

“I’m sorry, was she a regular patient of yours?”

“A really good friend. Is it as bad as I think?”

I studied the chart and nodded. “It looks bad, Dean. It’s improbable this isn’t malignant and even with a hysterectomy and a full dose of the highest level, I can predict this has already spread well beyond the pelvic regions and throughout the lymph nodes. But I will try my best, I promise. I mean, there is no such thing as a lost cause. We can fight it hard. There are a lot of things we can try.”

“Okay,” he said carefully. “This patient asked for you specifically.” I nodded. “Oh, Dean, is this Rita?”

“You might want to sit down, Dallas.” Fear and panic swept through me as I felt instant sweat bead on my forehead. “Dean, don’t make me wait—”

“It’s Beatrice,” he answered quickly as the axe swung and fully hit me in the chest. I jumped up quickly. “What room?”

“Dallas, take a minute to absorb, okay? She knows it’s bad.”

“I’m fine, Dean. What room.”

“Four,” he answered, following me out as I rushed to the door, my chest so tight I took only a deep breath before walking into the room.

Beatrice was sitting on the bed in a hospital gown, her arms folded. She greeted me with a smile and an immediate, “Oh shit, well I wasn’t sure until now. You really do have a terrible poker face.”