Chapter Twenty Four: A Thorn in My Side

Ted and Tam's Apartment – 12:40PM

Tamera sat on the couch in her butter pecan ice cream. She had just gone to the doctor and received some unsettling news. She was perplexed as to what to do. She'd tried to reach her mother but she was unsuccessful. She wasn't surprised she never reached her on the first try anyway. She grabbed the Ready Whip off the coffee table and sprayed it directly into her pint of ice cream. After a few minutes she heard a knock on the door and Gina came bursting in wearing her black hair dye apron she must've come straight from work. She looked her cousin over and was expecting her to be in a dire state.

"What's wrong you texted me and I thought you were damn near dying?" Tam scoffed and was about to lead her cousin into the living room when she saw Ana coming towards her door. She groaned she needed advice from someone she was close to. She and Ana were getting along better but she really didn't want to discuss this with her.

"Hey Ana." Both girls looked at her expecting that she would explain what she was doing there.

"Hey, I'm guessing that Ava called you here too?" Ana directed her comment to Gina, but Gina and Tam looked confused. "Ava said she was having a wedding crisis and asked that we all meet at your place." Tam scratched her head how could Ava have possibly known she'd taken the day off? Tam escorted the ladies into the living room and while they got comfortable she took a pain pill. She settled in and Gina studied her cousin with wary eyes. Tam sat down and read through the text messages she'd received while she was in with the doctor. Ava had texted her asked/told her that they were using her place for an impromptu meeting at 1:00PM. She wished she'd seen it sooner so she could've swayed them to meet somewhere else. Tam had taken the day off because she needed to rest after seeing the doctor. She knew after all the poking and prodding she was going to be in pain and she was right. She repositioned and tried to nonchalantly hold her side. As soon as she found a comfortable way to sit there was a knock on the door. Tam struggled back to her feet. Mia and Kate breezed in. Mia brought little Sofi along with her. Normally Tam would be happy to play with the baby but not today. So while everyone was cooing over the adorable baby girl Tam watched from afar.

"Tam did you want to show me that thing before the others get here?" Gina asked and gave her cousin a look and nudged toward the stairs.

"Uh yeah, it shouldn't take long. We'll be back in a moment."

Gina glanced up at the mirror on the ceiling and back toward Tam and laughed. "Sooo, Teddy's a freak." Tam rolled her eyes and shook her head. She couldn't in good conscious lie and say he wasn't. "I would have a seat but ... y'all be doing all sorts of nasty things."

"You can I washed the bedding," Tam murmured and then sat down too. "I went to the doctor today."

"Oh my God you're pregnant!" Gina started clapping and Tam grabbed her hands and tears started to form in her eyes.

"No that's not it. I wanted to talk to mom about this!" Tam was conflicted but this was one to those decisions she just couldn't make by herself. "You remember how when I was younger I used to have unbearable periods and the doctor started giving me birth control shots when I was fourteen to cause the periods to stop?"

"I remember some of that. Tammy what's wrong? Are you okay?" Gina was getting worried she grabbed her cousins hand. Tam shook her head and her tears finally started to fall.

"Since I can remember I have had problems with my left side every now and again. I went to the doctor today and they found a really large cyst. The doctor said it was probably benign but they are still doing a lot of blood work. They put a rush on everything so I should get the results back today. I wanted you to come over and distract me and now I have a whole team of people I can use for that I guess," Tam chuckled but it came out more like a sob. Gina rocked her as Tam cried.

"You're going to be fine," Gina whispered Tam pulled away from her and wiped her tears.

"There's more. Dr. Joseph said that she thinks I should have an oophorectomy. She thinks it's unsafe for me to keep the left ovary since I keep having problems on that side. I don't want to have surgery. I don't want to feel like less of a woman but God I'm in so much pain! Last night I couldn't even think about being with Ted because I was in so much pain!" Tam whimpered and Gina held her again. After Tam calmed down Gina gave her cousin some advice that she wasn't sure she would take.

"Here's what I think you need to talk to your parents and Teddy," Gina said quietly.

"You're right. I just need some time to think about what I'm going to say, but I need to make this decision fast because either way I'm going to have to go under the knife. I will have to have an outpatient surgery to remove the cyst because it hasn't ruptured and I've been in pain for over two weeks. I need to get back in touch with the doctor by Friday."

"Do you want me to help you tell them?" Gina asked and Tam shook her head.

"I do want you to help me stay awake during Ava's rant. These pain pills make me kind of drowsy." The girls laughed and returned to Tam's unexpected guests. Tam could see that Ava was already in her hype mode and the rest of her evening was going to be filling with a whole bunch of bridezilla action.

"There's no way in hell Blane is going to some have some sleazy stripper all over him! So I have a plan we'll let the guys think they are going to see a show but then we are the entertainment!" Ava squealed delighted but no one else seemed to share her excitement.

"Come on everyone it will be fun!" Ava clapped and Phoebe scrunched her nose up.

"How on earth would you think that would be fun? You do know my dad and your dad were invited to this thing?" Phoebe reminded Ava sighed out a huff.

"Well we can be sexy and tasteful at the same time. I was thinking we could hire a choreographer and take some cute pictures and make some videos you know really do it up big!" Tam was balled up on the couch and she knew she wasn't going to be able to do that it would cause way too much pain.

"When are you planning to do this thing? I was talking to Ben he said the bachelor's party is going to be in two weeks you really think that's enough time to do whatever it is you want done. We all have pretty busy schedules." Normally Gina would've been all for it but she knew that she needed to refuse the idea because Tam wasn't going to be able to do it.

"Look! This is happening so you all might as well just get over it! I will get back to you all once I find a dance instructor and you will contact all of you and you better be there!" Ava stormed her out of the apartment and slammed the door. Everyone looked at each other and burst into laughter.

"God Kate, your daughter is getting a bit ridiculous," Ana chuckled.

"I know I'll have a talk with her and see if I can talk her out of it," Kate sighed. She was holding the baby and planted a little kiss on her head.

"It might not be such a bad idea. We could put on a cute little burlesque show but still let the boys have a little fun," Mia said as she went through her phone. "I know somebody who may be able to set us up with a choreographer."

"Wait!" Gina started and then nudged Tam. "You need to tell them," she whispered and Tamera groaned.

"Fine, I'm not going to be able to be a part of this thing. I have some medical issues that I'm trying to sort out … I'm going to be having surgery so I'm sure I won't be able to perform or whatever." Everyone got quiet and looked at Tam with shocked and alarmed expressions.

"What type surgery? I hope it's nothing serious!" Kate asked and Tam felt herself starting to get emotional again. Tam eventually explained everything and it caused another hush over the whole room.

"And you found all of this out today and you still allow Ava to spout all of her mess?" Ana was impressed with the girl anyone else would have kicked everyone out.

"She was a good distraction while I wait for the results on these tests anyway," Tam explained and then looked at her phone.

"I say get rid of the damn thing. It's obviously not agreeing with your bodies make up," Phoebe acted as though her fingers were scissors. "Snip! Snip!"

"It's not that simple there's a lot concerns that I have to address," Tam started to explain and then her phone finally rang. It was the call she'd been waiting for.

"Dr. Joseph?" She asked.

"Hey Tam, I have results sweetie. It's benign but I told you I thought it would be. I also talked with the hospital and was able to reserve time for you operation this week on Friday. I just need to know what your decision is regarding the ovary." Tam paused and looked at everyone. She'd gotten a lot of advice but she hadn't heard from the one person that she consulted with about everything.

"I … I just need to um." She looked at Ana and Phoebe smirked.

"She needs to talk to Teddy," Phoebe teased but she knew that was seriously the case. Everyone chuckled a little.

"Can I call you back? I will give you my answer by the close of business today?" Tam hung up on the doctor and Ana stood up.

"Well, are you going to call him?" Ana asked.

"I don't want to give him that sort of news at work," Tam explained.

"Knowing my son he'd want to know as soon as possible. It's probably best that you go and see him. I think it's time we all take a field trip don't you?" Everyone gathered their things and headed out the door. It was crazy how they'd all banded together so quickly. Ana got on the phone with Christian, who contacted his mother. Gina contacted her dad who got in touch with Isaac. The Black and Grey clan was most definitely becoming one family unit even if it wasn't official yet.

Author's Note: I hope you all liked the chapter.