age didn' t get tumors. They didn' t face down

in my ears. "It' s just a possibil

r. Surgery. I could die

you contact your family,

rtache, trying to protect her. And a father who saw me a

end?" the doctor asked.

er assistant. She had a new man to dote on her now. I wasn' t necessary anymore. M

was scheduled immediately. I took two weeks of medical leav

ospital lobby. She was with Kendal, but she wasn' t there for

er voice dripping with approval. "His family ow

nd," Kendal said, thou

fed. "He' s a nobody, Kendal. He' ll drag you down.

get married, that she would only ever

I was in a small, pre-op room,

e complained, not even asking how I was. "The ne

arted to tell her, to ex

pped. "It' s my birthday in two weeks. You know

arties I had planned for her, the thoughtf

ere?" I asked, a f

oice softening, confident she had me wrapp

s done. Done with the games, the lies, th

flat. "I' ll make you a

last supper. A

le dinner but eventually agreed, praisi

The recovery was painful, but I was alive. The doctor

the ingredients for her favorite meal: a rich, slow-cooked seafood chowder. I had learned to cook for her, because she had once promi

house and started cooki

ross the living room. The chowder gr

t to call, the fro

ack of Jaime Hodge. He was carrying her piggyba

ck t-shirts. His said, "I' m with

in her throat. She scrambled off his ba

lose. The sight of them together, so intimate and