Nathan rubbed his forehead and temples as his headache grew worse. His heart told him to contact his neurologist. To schedule an MRI. To make sure it hadn't returned.
His thoughts told him he had just had an MRI six months before and everything was fine.
Then his heart got involved again because now, he had a lot of people that needed him.
He picked up his phone and dialed. "Dr. Yost? Nathan Grant. I may have a problem."
Elizabeth grew worried as she realized Nathan wasn't joining her that night. It had been six nights since their first kiss and every night he came to her around 9pm and they talked, held hands and kissed. A lot. Tonight though, he hadn't showed up and the lights were off at his house. Not to mention, his last text had been "good morning" before work.
"I hope you are okay. Goodnight N8."
Allie rang their doorbell at midnight, in tears.
"Honey? What's wrong?"
"Uncle Nate. He's in a lot of pain. Can you come? Please!"
"Of course, hon." She hurried into the girls room and woke Evie, letting her know she was going to his house and then they ran next door.
Elizabeth paused for a moment before entering Nate's room. She didn't know why he was in pain or anything.
"Help me have strength," she prayed.
"Nathan?" she said, walking in the room.
He was shielding his eyes from the minimal light in the hallway. "Beth? Allie, I said I was fine," he groaned.
"You're obviously not fine," Elizabeth told him. "Do you have any painkillers?"
"I took them. They don't help."
"Maybe we should go to the ER."
"No!" he told her, much more forcefully than he intended. "I'm fine."
"You're stubborn."
"So are you."
She sighed and sat down on the bed next to him. "Allie? Hon, school starts tomorrow. You should go to bed. I'll take care of your Uncle."
Allie walked over and kissed his forehead. "Night, Uncle Nathan. I love you."
"Al, don't worry."
"What if…"
"Don't. I'm okay."
She hugged Elizabeth. "Night. Thanks for coming."
Elizabeth patted her lap, communicating that she wanted his head there.
He complied, letting out a moan.
"Is this something that happens a lot? I've never heard you complain before about headaches."
"It used to," he told her, tensing as she massaged his temples.
"Just relax." She kissed his temple. "Used to?"
"Yeah. About three years ago."
He didn't want to tell her. She would only worry. And then he might lose her because she'd be afraid of losing him.
"What stopped them?"
"Beth…"
"Shhhh," she whispered, massaging his forehead now. After a few minutes of massage, she asked again. "Why did they stop?"
"I had surgery."
"Brain surgery?"
"Yeah."
"Nate, are we talking about cancer here?"
He sat up, or rather tried, but then laid back down. "Yes."
"Is it back?"
"I don't know. I have an MRI Tuesday."
She continued running her fingers through his hair as she watched him visibly relax. She couldn't lose him. She just finally found love again and now…
"Hey," he whispered. "I'm going to be fine, Beth."
"You can't promise that."
"I love you," he told her.
"I love you too. But, I swear, Nathan Grant, if you die, I'll never forgive you."
He smiled. "I'm not planning on dying anytime soon. I want to have a life with you, Beth. You, me and our plethora of kids. Its gonna be great."
"I want to be there on Tuesday."
"I won't get the results that day."
"I want to be there."
"Okay." He wanted her there too.
Elizabeth stayed until he fell asleep. The next morning, all five kids got on the bus and Elizabeth walked over to Nate's house.
"Good morning, Beth," he said, opening the door and straightening his tie.
"Hey." She reached up and touched his cheek. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired. That's normal after the pain."
"Well, whatever this turns out to be, I'll never leave you. It's you and me, together."
"You don't have to. Cancer isn't a walk in the park. You've got four…"
"Stop," she interrupted, touching his lips. "Don't be a hero, Nathan. Rely on me. I'll take you to chemo, I'll watch Allie, I'll do anything. I'm not leaving you."
He gave her a sweet kiss and then deepened it, holding her as close as possible, so grateful for her strength.
"I meant it when I said I love you," he told her, kissing her again. "I don't deserve you but I'm so grateful."
"I love you too."
His lips brushed hers yet again. "As much as I'd love to just stand here and kiss you all day, I need to get to work."
"Okay. Try not to overdo it."
"Promise." He walked her back to her house and then left for work. She went inside, showered, grabbed a travel mug of coffee and headed into the library.
She smiled and touched her lips. That man could certainly make her feel special, like the most important, desired woman ever.
Her phone rang as she drove so she hit the Bluetooth button. "Hello?"
"Beth, its Charlotte."
"Hi there. How are you and Bill?"
"Doing great. We are driving down for a visit. Should be there tonight around seven."
"That's great. JJ will be so excited to see you both. Where are you staying?"
"At Tommy's in Spring Lake."
"Oh good. His kids will be so excited too." Tommy was married to a nice girl named Fiona and they had two girls, Cana and Taylor.
"How is everything? Truth."
"Its been rough."
"JJ said Kendra was sick?"
"Yeah. She had a seizure but it turned out to be anxiety. She's on medicine now so hopefully that will help."
"JJ talks about Dr. Nate a lot."
Elizabeth paused. It felt weird to discuss her current relationship with her previous mother-in-law. "Um, yeah. We are dating."
"That's great, dear. I'm happy for you."
"You are?" she asked, relieved.
"Of course. I was hoping you would find someone again."
"I'm glad. I love him, Charlotte. And I'll always love Jack."
"Of course you will. I'll always love Tom too. But at some point, we need to move forward plus we will always have the memories."
"Yeah." Elizabeth pulled into the lot at the library. "Well, I'm glad you're coming. I'd like you to meet Nathan."
"I'd love to meet him."
Nathan finished with his last patient of the day around 2pm. Which was good because his head was pounding and now he was nauseated.
He texted Beth. "Hey, can Al stay with your kids? I can't leave work right now?"
"Of course," she answered quickly. "How r u?"
"I'll make it."
She called him. "Nate, is it your head?"
"Yeah. I can't drive plus I'm likely to throw up the way I'm feeling now so…"
"I'll come get you."
"No. I'm going to try to catch a nap in my office."
"Nate…"
"My MRI is tomorrow. I'll be fine."
"Okay. Call me later and I'll come get you."
"Okay. I love you."
"Love you too."
He called her about 7pm, just as Charlotte and Bill showed up.
"I hate to ask since you just got here but can you stay with the kids? I have to go help someone."
"Sure," Bill said, kissing her cheek. "Drive safe."
"Thank you. They are all doing homework so it shouldn't be too hard." She winked and hurried out the door.
She walked in his office about thirty minutes later and found him on the floor in his attached bathroom, holding his head.
"Nate, honey?"
He lifted his head and she saw the tears. "Beth?"
"Hey, I'm going to insist you go to the ER."
"Okay." She knelt in front of him.
"Honey, can you stand?"
"Beth, I'm scared."
"I know. That's why we need to get you checked out."
"If...if something happens to me, I need you to take care of Allie. My parents...they are getting older."
"Hey, what happened to 'I'm going to be fine?'"
"Promise me."
"I promise. But I need you to promise me that you are going to fight whatever this is. I want to be your wife one day."
"Soon," he whispered, leaning his head on her shoulder.
"Yeah. Soon."
The doctors admitted Nathan which was a relief to Elizabeth. At least they could manage his pain until his MRI tuesday morning.
Elizabeth left him, at his insistence, to go home and take care of the kids.
When she walked in the door, Allie walked up to her. "Mrs. Thornton? Is it Uncle Nathan?"
"Yeah. He's at the hospital for some tests."
"I don't want him to die," she cried, hugging her tight.
"Sweetie, the doctors are helping him. Don't worry about something that might not happen."
"I haven't told him….but I want him to adopt me."
"He would love that, Allie. I know he would." She kissed her forehead. "Why don't you run and get your pajamas and your clothes for school tomorrow? You can bunk with the girls tonight."
"Okay."
She wiped her cheeks as Allie ran across their yards. "What a sweet girl," she whispered.
"She is," Charlotte agreed from the doorway. "How's Nathan?"
Elizabeth sighed and sat down. "I don't know. He has an MRI scheduled for tomorrow."
"He's getting headaches?"
"Yeah. He said three years ago he was getting headaches and it ended up being cancer."
"Oh. Sweetie, are you okay with that? What if the worst happens?"
"I love him, Charlotte. I won't leave him. No matter what."
She meant it, but as she drove to the hospital the next day for his MRI, she was so worried, she second guessed her resolve. Was she strong enough?
But then when she walked into his room before his test, and she saw him, her heart filled with love and she knew she had to be strong enough. He had to feed off her strength at this point.
"Hey," he said, reaching his hand out. She took it and gave him a brave smile.
"You make that hospital gown look good," she teased.
"You make everything look good, even when you're trying really hard to be brave."
She looked at him, surprised.
"I know you, babe. I can see it."
She sat next to him and squeezed his hand, feeling her eyes fill with tears.
"I love you so much."
He sat up and wrapped his arms around her. "I love you too."
"Let's pray," she told him. "Please?"
He nodded and leaned back slightly, bowing his head, pressing his forehead to hers. "Heavenly Father, today is a scary day for us. Please be with us as we navigate whatever the outcome is of this test. Please give us the strength and courage we will need. Thank you for this wonderful, strong, amazing woman you've given to me to spend my life with. Please help me to be a good husband to her and a good father to all of our children. In Jesus name, Amen."
"Sorry to interrupt but we need to get the show on the road," a nurse said as she walked in the room. "Let's get some pictures of that pretty head of yours."
Nathan chuckled. "Babe, this is Nurse Patrick. Nurse Patrick, this is my girlfriend, Elizabeth."
"Nice to meet you, Elizabeth. Now give him a big smooch and we will take him to the big testing room."
Elizabeth couldn't help but like the woman.
"Love you, sweetheart." She leaned down and gave him a kiss.
"Love you more."
And just like that, he was wheeled away. She prayed again and then called Faith, needing her best friend's reassurance.
"Morning, Beth."
"Morning, Friend. I need you to tell me that everything is going to be fine."