Chapter 14

The operation was scheduled for two weeks later. The whole family was uneasy, and the time passed rapidly. The cancer had spread and a double mastectomy was necessary.

Lizzie spent much time with her mom. Jo tried to be strong about the whole thing, but Lizzie could see the pain and fear in her eyes. A mastectomy was nothing small. Lizzie felt for her mother. Part of her womanhood was being taken from her mother. She wished she could do something, anything.

"Oh Mom, I'm so sorry!" Lizzie told her mom as they sat sipping coffee on their back porch. Sam and Matt spent most of their time trying to tell her that it wouldn't be that bad, but Lizzie viewed the whole situation from a woman's point of view. She had a better take on the situation, and her mom thanked her for her understanding. She loved that her husband loved her that much, but she needed to vent with another woman.

"I'm just so frustrated. Your father keeps trying to comfort me, and I appreciate it, but I just want to scream every now and then. He doesn't understand. I'll be losing a part of myself."

"Then go ahead, mom."

"What, go ahead with what?"

"Yell Mom, you deserve it."

"What? No, Lizzie!"

"Come on Mom, you totally deserve it."

Jo laughed at her daughter's suggestion. "I have to say, it sounds nice."

"Go for it."

"Whyyyyyyyyy!" Jo bellowed at the top of her lungs.

""yes, there you go. Let it out."

"Whyyy! Whyyy! Whyyyy!" she continued.

"Whyyyy! Uuuugggggg!" Lizzie let out.

Jo laughed. "That did feel good."

"It did," the two women laughed.

\

But the two weeks came to a close, and the operation was the next day. The whole family tried to mask their anxiety, but it was hard to cover it. Gordo had stopped by earlier, but left to leave the McGuire family to spend the evening together. Sam prepared Jo's favorite meal, and they hung out together watching old family videos. It was the perfect night. The family laughed and cried.

But the night ended and the morning came. Sam and Jo rose early to get to the hospital at seven AM. Lizzie and Matt both wanted to accompany there mom to the hospital, but their parents voted against it. They thought it would be better for the two to go to school and go to the hospital after school.

Lizzie found it difficult to pay attention all day. Her mind wandered as she thought of her mother. She knew how hard it was for her mom, and wanted desperately to be there for her.

The clock ticked by slowly. Gordo tried to comfort her all he could, but he knew the only remedy would b to see her mother. So he allowed her to speak her mind.

The school day finally came to a close, and the two siblings raced to the car to speed to the hospital. As they drove, matt relayed his day to his older sister and it sounded much the same. He found it just as difficult to listen in his classes.

Speeding into the parking garage, Lizzie and Matt sprinted out of the car and ran into the hospital. Dialing her father's cell phone as they went, Lizzie inquired about what floor and room her mom was in. Her father delivered all the necessary information and the two exited onto the appropriate floor.

Slowing their pace when they exited the elevator, they walked silently to their mom's room. Neither knew what to expect. Both had wanted to see her so badly, but now that they were there, they were both a little nervous.

Locating the correct room, they stepped inside. Immediately, they spotted their dad sitting next to the bed. He was talking quietly to his wife. As they looked toward the bed, they saw their mom, lying buried beneath the pure white hospital blankets.

"Mom," Lizzie said quietly as they entered.

Turning her head, she saw both her children. She looked very groggy and pale. Lizzie could tell she was experiencing some pain.

"Hey you two" she tried to smile at her two kids.

"hey mom," Matt chimed in.

Pulling up two more chairs the whole family surrounded the bed and made small talk with Jo. She was in pain, and very sleepy, but having her family there made everything better. Through the whole ordeal, Jo had been eternally thankful for the love and support of her husband and kids.

Lizzie and Matt stayed for over an hour. They didn't want to leave their mother. But finally their dad suggested that they go home and do some homework and eat some dinner. After some protest, the two teenagers agreed to do so. Sam promised to come home later that evening.

"By mom, I love you," Lizzie gently kissed her mom's forehead. She couldn't imagine how her mom was feeling.

"By mom," Matt copied his older sister.

"I love you both," Jo said as her children left the hospital.

The two returned home and tried to begin homework, but the process was sluggishly slow. Lizzie made dinner for Matt and herself, and left leftovers in the fridge for her dad. Finishing up her last econ questions, after skipping almost half, Lizzie waited for her dad to return. She could only imagine what the day was like for him, and wanted to be there for him.

A/N:

I know you all want to know what Gordo's secret plan is. Well, I'm sorry it didn't come up in this chapter but I promise it will be in the next one.

Merry Christmas!