Chapter Nine
United
"I found a swelling of a lymph node in her neck. I told her about that and I have drawn blood and have sent to the lab. The lab will do a complete blood count to check the number of blood cells. I have set up a biopsy for this coming Wednesday. This is the only sure way to diagnose lymphoma. I have consulted a Doctor Walter Adams. He will remove part of a lymph node and it will be sent to a pathologist to check the tissues for lymphoma cells."
Alex is watching him and she notices the look on his face and the fact that he has not spoken a word.
"Bobby we have to wait and be sure."
Bobby says, "Yeah, and if it is?"
"There are treatments for lymphoma which are tailored to meet with each individual patient, depending on the type of lymphoma present, how fast it grows, and how far it has spread. I must be honest with you, patients over age 60 are less likely to be cured than younger patients. But there is always hope. I'm sorry, Bobby, will I see you on Wednesday?"
"Yes I be there, I'm always there, definitely."
"I told your Mom that I would be there in the morning to see her."
"That's very nice of you, I'm sure she appreciated that. How long before the results will be known?"
"No more than ten days, I'll see you Wednesday and again I am sorry."
"I'll see you then and thank you."
He slowly closes the phone and shakes his head. "Bobby, what's has happened."
"Maybe nothing," he takes off his jacket and hangs it up in the closet.
"Maybe nothing, what the hell does that mean?"
"I'm hungry, are you?"
"Don't shut me out, talk to me. That's what I'm here for."
"The doctor found a swelling of a lymph node in her neck. He has drawn blood and it has been sent it to the lab. The lab will do blood work to check the number of blood cells. She will have a biopsy performed this coming Wednesday, to see if she has lymphoma."
"I'm sorry." She walks over to him and as she extends her arms, "I told you it might be nothing." They embrace.
He hears his cell phone ring, but he doesn't see it. "Damn, where did I put that thing?"
Alex sees it, "Here," she tosses it to him.
"Thanks," he flips it open. "Goren."
"Man don't you ever just say hello."
"Sometimes, what's going on Frank?"
Alex is standing next to him, she jabs him in the side, "Tell him." Bobby waves his hand in front of her face and nods his head.
"Do you think they would let me take Michelle up to see Mom on Sunday?"
"I don't see why not, you just have to ask them. But I would call Mom first, you show up last Sunday and this Sunday you're bringing your daughter………."
Frank cuts him off, "You think she'll be upset?"
"No I think she'll be thrilled but give her some warning."
"I see your point, are you alright, you sound funny."
"Tell him," she says.
"I just got a phone call from one of Mom's doctor's he found swelling of a lymph node in her neck. He is going to run some blood tests and she will have a biopsy performed this coming Wednesday, to see if she has…………..lymphoma."
"I've heard of that but what exactly is it?"
"It's a group of cancers that arise in the lymphatic system. The body tissues that fight infection and perform several other vital functions in the body are affected. It might not be anything, we'll just have to wait and see."
"Have you called her?"
"No I haven't but I will. I'm going to go up on Wednesday, can you get the day off?"
"I will talk to my boss tomorrow and ask for the day off. I'll call you tomorrow, goodnight."
"Bye."
Alex is staring at him, "What?"
"You weren't going to tell him, were you? You bitch and complain about doing everything for her but in a way I think you enjoy it, being in control."
"No I don't, it's just that for the first time in a long time there are actually people in my life who I can tell my troubles to and………not that I like to tell anyone bad news but it feels good, I feel a little relief."
He places the phone down and reaches for her and they hug. Bobby lightly kisses her lips, "I love you, Alex. Now can we eat, I'm starved."
"Don't you want to call your Mom first?"
"Yeah you're right she's probably sitting by the phone waiting." He grabs the phone off the table and flips it open and punches in the number, "Hi Mom, how are you doing tonight?"
"I'm fine, just a little tired. Did you hear from the Doctor?"
"Yes I jut got off the phone with him and he informed me about everything that will be happening and I told him that I would be there on Wednesday and hopefully Frank will be there also."
"I would like that, very much. Will the two of you be visiting me again on Sunday?"
"I talked with Frank this afternoon and he is going to drive up. I told you a month ago that I have tickets for a Jets game this Sunday, check your calendar."
"Oh yes now I remember. Good then I will have company on Sunday."
"Mom my phone is beeping I'll call you tomorrow, have a good night."
"Goodnight Bobby."
"Goren."
"Hey Bobby, its Mike is Alex there?"
"Yeah sure hold on." Bobby walks into the kitchen, "Why is your partner calling you on my cell phone." He hands her the phone. "Because this is my phone."
"Oh gees, well that explains that, doesn't it? I'm gonna take a shower before we eat."
"Hey Mike."
That Night
They have settled down on the couch and Bobby is starting to dose off, the ringing of the phone wakes him as Alex answers the call. "Hello."
"Hi Alex."
"Hi Frances, is everything alright?"
"More than alright. May I please speak with Bobby?"
"Sure." She holds the phone out to him, "It's your Mom."
"I figured that." They switch positions on the couch. "Hi Mom."
"Why didn't you tell me that your brother had started up a relationship with Michelle?"
"Because it was his news not mine, that's why I told him to call you first before they showed up on Sunday."
"I am so excited to see her."
"Yeah I know how you feel. We were worried about her for a few days but thank God everything worked out."
"I know that the next few weeks may bring forth sad news but everything that has happened in the past two weeks have made me so very happy."
Bobby flashes a smile. "I really enjoy hearing you speak this way."
"I enjoy saying these things."
Wednesday Morning
The brothers will be driving Frances to the hospital where her biopsy will be preformed. The procedure should take about an hour and she shall be released from the hospital that afternoon.
They arrive at Carmel Ridge before nine AM. They expect her to be down but her mood is very up, which changes the mood that they have been in throughout the drive.
Frances is admitted to the hospital, all the papers are signed, and within the hour, she is in surgery. Frank is very quiet and Bobby paces around the room while the procedure is performed, "Damn in situations like this I wish I still smoked."
"You and me both," Frank says.
Doctor Adams enters the waiting room and informs them that the procedure went by without a hitch. She should sleep for about another half hour to forty-five minutes. The specimen will be sent to a pathologist that afternoon.
She is still groggy when they enter her room, but when she sees them she smiles. Each of them takes a hold of one her hands. "Wow what did they give me?"
"The doctor said that it should wear off in about half an hour and then you can leave."
"Good, I'm looking for to the weekend."
"Mom it's only Wednesday."
"I know that, Misses Harper is having a birthday party and her daughter has invited me to join them. I need to get a new dress and get my hair done." She looks around the room. "What are you looking for Mom?"
"Alex, I thought I remember Alex being here this morning."
"No just us."
"Yes now I remember," She tries to sit up, "Oh I feel so woozy."
"Just sit back and relax for a while."
Bobby lets go of her hand, "Don't leave."
"I'm not going anywhere. I just want to sit down."
A Week Later
Thursday
One Police Plaza
"You know when people say that they are going to call you by a certain time, Goddamnit, I wish they would."
"Bobby cursing and staring at your phone is not going to help."
"I know."
"Hey Captain," Alex says
"I was wondering if one of you were going to change desks, you know sit across from your new partners."
They speak not a word but the look they give him says it all. "I guess not, like I said I was just wondering. Bobby, any news yet?"
He shakes his head, "No Captain, not yet and my patience is slowly evaporating."
He pats him on the back, "I hope everything turns out alright."
"Thanks."
An Hour Later
He checks the time, "Alex, I'm gonna go home."
"Alright I'll follow you in about an hour."
A quick look around the room and he gives her a quick kiss.
As he pulls into his driveway, his cell phone rings, "Goren."
"Hey Bobby, are you still at the station?"
"Hey Frank, no I'm home, just pulled in the drive way."
"Would it be alright if I came over?"
"That would be fine. We can worry and pace around the house together."
"See you soon."
"Bye," as he closes his phone it rings again. "Goren."
"Bobby I'm leaving now, should I stop off and pick up something for dinner."
"Sure."
"What are you in the mood for?"
"Anything, you know I'll eat whatever you bring home. Oh get extra Frank will be here."
"Ok, love ya, see you soon."
"Love you too, Bye."
Jimmy and Alex show up at the house within minutes of each other. She picked up two large pizzas, soda and beer.
Not many words are spoken while they eat. The pizzas are gone and as they clean up his cell phone rings. He flips it open and Alex and Frank are staring at him. He slowly nods his head. "Hello."
"Good evening Bobby, It's Doctor Adams, I am so sorry for the delay but the results ended up in another office."
"I would like to say that it's alright but, it's not."
"The results show that she does indeed have lymphoma, I am so very sorry."
"Yeah," he says.
"I would like to speak to you and your Mom as soon as possible to talk about the treatments."
"My Mom will have the final say in your choice."
"Yes I know that, I have not known Frances long but I can tell she is a very intelligent woman and speaks her mind. Again I am sorry."
"Goodbye, Doctor, talk to you next week."
Bobby doesn't have to say anything they both know the results. "Don't you have anything to say, Frank?"
Bobby walks over to his brother nose to nose. "What are you thinking about, huh? A way to get out of here?"
He shakes his head, "No."
"If you plan on disappearing you better think twice because I will hunt you down and I will find you, I found your daughter and I'll find you."
He pokes him in the chest as he raises his voice, "Because there is no fuckin' way that I am going to go through all of this by myself."
"I understand."
"You better because if there was anytime in her life that she needs you it's now, do not disappoint he again. Try to think of her for a change, not yourself. Do you think you can do that?"
"Of course I can. I'm not a child Bobby and you……….."
"What? Have no right to speak to you this way? Yes, I do, so you better listen to everything I have to say, thirty years, thirty fuckin' years, you selfish son of a bitch, that's how long I have been taking care of that woman, and where have you been? Taking care of Frank, that's where. Did it ever occur to you to pick up the phone and inquire if there was anything you could do to help…………..me!"
"I'm sorry."
"Yeah you're sorry, you're always sorry. I want to ask you something. I want you to tell what the hell I ever did to you to treat me like shit?" He lightly pushes me. "Tell me!"
Alex says, "Bobby, please calm down."
He turns quickly to face her and then he steps away from his brother and sits down. "No Alex it's alright he has every right to talk to me that way. I understand."
Frank positions himself in front of his brother, "Nothing Bobby, you never did anything, it was me, can you understand that? I hated myself and I never wanted you to see how I lived. I was your older brother and I couldn't live up to that. Not when we were kids and not now, even my own daughter questioned who the older one was."
Bobby looks up at him and then he stands. "I'm here to help and I'm not going anywhere, please believe me you stubborn son of bitch."
Bobby smiles and they shake hands and then they hug. "Twice, two times we've done that."
"Bobby, do you think we should drive up tonight?"
"Yeah I have to see her now, let me call the center and tell them that we'll be there in about two hours." He walks over to Alex and takes her hands. "Would you please come with us?"
"Yes I will and I'll drive."
"I was hoping she'd say that."
Carmel Ridge
Nine PM
Bobby knocks softly on the door as he opens it. Frances usually retires around ten thirty. She is sitting in her easy chair reading a book. She looks up as she hears the knocking. "Come in."
"Hi Mom," Bobby says.
She looks past Bobby and smiles as she sees Frank and Alex. "Mom," Frank says.
She stands up and places her book on the chair. "I have cancer don't I?"
"How do you know? Did someone tell you?"
"No one had to tell me I can see it on your faces. Come here." She waves for them to come closer. She opens her arms and they embrace. "Alex, you too."
They break the hug and Frances returns to her chair. "Don't look so sad, I'm not. Just seeing the two of you here together makes me so very happy. I have waited years and years for my boys to come to terms with each other."
They smile. "That's better. I'm not going to just roll over and die."
Bobby pats his brother on the back. "We didn't think you would."
"I'm gonna go out kicking and screaming. But there is one thing that I want you both to do."
"What?" They say practically at the same time. "Be there for each other, will you do that for me?"
Bobby says, "Yes Mom."
"We will Mom."
TBC