Chapter 12

Lizzie entered the house with a grin plastered across her face. It was Gordo and her six month anniversary and Gordo had taken her out for a special lunch. They'd gone to one of her favorite restaurants, And to top it off, he had purchased a new necklace for her, the one she had been eyeballing for weeks. She could barely comprehend the fact that she and Gordo had been going out for half a year. She would never have fathomed such a milestone. But here it was.

As she entered the kitchen, her grin quickly left. Mr. and Mrs. McGuire were seated at the kitchen table together. The two held each other's hands. The look on their faces indicated that something was pressing on their hearts and minds.

"Mom?" What's wrong?" Lizzie quickly occupied the kitchen chair opposite her mother.

"It's my test results. They haven't improved much. Actually, the results are getting worse. The treatment is not doing the job." Mrs. McGuire calmly explained to her daughter.

Lizzie was awed by her mother's calmness in such a time of great worries. If it was her, she would never be able to handle herself,. But then what else could she do? In such a time of great anguish, maybe it was the only way to act.

"Mom! I'm so sorry! I…" Lizzie leapt from her seat and embraced her mom. It was all she could offer.

"Thank you, Sweetheart."

"So..." Lizzzie looked anxiously at her mother. She felt like she was a young child again; going to her mother for direction, for clearance to make it all better.

But this time her mom didn't have the definite answer; the antidote to fix all the problems.

"Well, it looks like I'm going to have to have the mastectomy. It might not do the job either, but the doctor says I still have reason to be optimistic." Lizzie's mom delivered trying to look optimistic herself.

Mr. McGuire squeezed his wife's hand encouragingly. The last six months had taken a toll on his own health. Lizzie had noticed a change in his physical demeanor. He was looking much older. His youthful glow was beginning to fade. He had been working so many hours and taking care of the house.

"You can get through this, Mom. I know you can. You're amazing."

"Oh, thank you, Baby. I hope you're right."

"Can I do anything for you, Mom?"

"Just be here for me, ok?"

"I promise!"

Lizzie sat in her bedroom, trying to make a dent in the pile of homework that had accumulated. Thankfully, it being her senior year, her load was small, but lately she had allowed the work to pile up. Too many things had been pressing, and homework became the last priority. But she knew she had to complete it. Gordo would never let her skip and assignment, and she didn't want to let her mom down. She never wanted to let her mom think that her grades were slipping because of her.

As Lizzie combated her economics homework, her cell phone began to ring. Peering at the screen, Lizzie saw that it was Gordo and clicked on.

"Hey, Gordo!"

"Hey, Liz! You don't sound so good, what's wrong?"

"Um, it's my mom. Gordo, she has to have a mastectomy."

"Lizzie, I'm so, so sorry."

"I don't know what to do..."

"Lizzie…" Gordo was silent for a moment. "Lizzie, can I come and get you. I'll take you out."

"No, Gordo! I want to be here with my mom! Why would you want to take me out now, after such big news?" Lizzie shouted angrily.

"I'm sorry, Lizzie. I just want to help. I…"

"Well, think before you speak next time. I can't always go out with you. I need to be here for my mom. It's not always about you..."

"Lizzie, I'm sorry. That's not what I meant…"

"no, Gordo. I'll talk to you later!" Lizzie slammed her phone shut.

Gordo peered down at his phone. What had just happened? Why had she responded that way?

But Gordo knew why. Lizzie was scared. She had been trying to be strong for her mom for so long, but the idea of losing her mom was terrifying her. And the news must have been a horrible blow. What could he do for her? He wanted to be there for Lizzie, and her whole family. The McGuire's were always their for him.