Chapter Fourteen:

A Family's Bond:

Over the next few weeks Ephram sees that life after Amy's death stays the same for some and completely change for others.

Ephram was probably the most affected. His heart just couldn't handle losing Amy right after Adam. He was even starting to wonder if he was bad luck. He had already lost his mom, a family friend, his son, and now his wife. He didn't want to put anyone else in danger, which is why he started avoiding his family immediately following the wake.

A Family's Bond:

His in-laws thought he was having a nervous breakdown. Andy and Nina, however, refused to believe that he was that unstable.

Monday night Andy and Nina decided to go check on Ephram. When they got to Ephram's they were welcomed by an unfamiliar quiet. Jenny and TJ were normally playing outside, but the house seemed still. Nina and Andy were starting to wonder if Ephram was even home, but when they saw both cars they knew that he had to be here.

A Family's Bond:

When they entered the house they found Jenny and TJ playing in the living room. "Jenny, TJ, where's your daddy?" Andy asked coming into the room.

"In the nursery with the babies." Jenny and TJ responded at the same time. "Can we spend the night?"

"I'll ask your daddy."

"Maybe we shouldn't mess with him." Nina said as she and Andy headed to the nursery.

"I need to know if he's okay. Something's not right. He's not answering his phone, no matter who calls him that's not like Ephram."

A Family's Bond:

When Andy and Nina got to the nursery they found Ephram feeding Kayla. "Hey Ephram."

"Dad what are you doing here?"

"We were just wondering what was going on."

"Nothing."

"I can tell when you're lying."

"I'm not lying."

"Ephram Mathew Brown!"

"I'm trying to protect you!" Ephram said giving in. He knew that when his dad used his full name he meant business and Ephram really didn't have the energy to argue with him.

"Protect us? From what?"

A Family's Bond:

"Me." Ephram answered as Kayla stopped eating.

"You? What? Why?"

"Because I'm bad luck. I hurt everyone I get close to and they end up dying. Look at Mom, Irv, Adam, and Amy. What's the one thing they all had in common? I don't want to hurt or worse lose you guys."

"Ephram nothing's going to happen to us."

"You don't know that."

"There's more than one way to hurt someone, ignoring them for one."

"I never thought of that." Ephram responded putting Kayla to bed. "I'll stop ignoring you."

A Family's Bond:

"Thank you, now TJ and Jenny wanted to know if they can spend the night."

"I guess they haven't seen you in awhile have they? Sure if you don't mind."

"No of course not, we were actually wondering if we could have Ali, Cassie, and Kay too."

"I guess it'll be okay if you can handle it. This way you can spend sometime with your new granddaughters."

"Exactly, so how have you been feeling lately?"

"Alright, I guess. I'm starting chemo on Wednesday."

"You're starting chemo? It's getting worse?"

A Family's Bond:

"It spread so the doctor wants me to start the chemo right away. It's just a precaution."

"It spread? Nina could you give us a minute alone please?" Andy asked turning to his wife who was still standing by the door.

"Sure." Nina answered leaving the room.

"I know you're mad, but please don't yell at me here. I don't want Ali, Cassie, and Kay to wake up."

"I'm not mad, I'm disappointed. Why didn't you tell me when you found out about it spreading?"

"I thought that since I felt fine that there was nothing to worry about."

"Your sick, there's always something to worry about."

A Family's Bond:

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Can I show you something?"

"Yeah, of course." Andy said as Ephram lifted his shirt a little. To Andy's horror there was a big bruise on Ephram's stomach.

"It showed up a couple of days ago when I hit a door knob. I thought that's where it came from, but it's spreading so it can't be." all of a sudden Ephram started to feel a burning sensation in his stomach. "Dad something doesn't feel right." he added right before collapsing.

Andy drove Ephram to the hospital and waited as the doctors tried to save his son. After he received word on Ephram he went to call Nina and fill her in.

A Family's Bond:

"How's Ephram?" Nina asked not even waiting for Andy to say something.

"How?"

"Caller id." Nina interrupted.

"Oh right, well the doctors found out what caused him to collapse and the bruise."

"What's causing it?"

"He has stomach cancer."

"Can he fight two cancers?" Nina asked starting to get worried.

A Family's Bond:

"Where's Daddy?" Jenny asked coming into the room.

"He's … hold on Baby. Jenny wants to know where Ephram is, what should I say?" Nina asked as Jenny sat down.

"Just tell her that Ephram's with me."

"Your daddy is with grandpa." Nina told Jenny reassuringly. She then went into the other room so Jenny wouldn't hear her. "When can you see Ephram?"

"I can see him after we hang up."

"Go, we'll talk later."

"I love you."

"I love you too." Nina's last word was cut off by a dial tone indicating that Andy had hung up. That one action made Nina wonder if Andy would ever love her as much as he loved Ephram.

A Family's Bond:

When Andy got to Ephram's room he entered quietly, as not to wake him up. As soon as the door shut, however, Ephram turned over. "Dad?"

"Hey I didn't mean to wake you." Andy said walking over to the bed.

"You didn't I've been awake. What's wrong with me?"

"I don't know how to tell you this, except maybe just to tell you because you need to know, you have to know."

"Now I know where I get that rambling thing from. What's wrong?"

"You have stomach cancer."

A Family's Bond:

"What am I going to do? I have five kids, I can't afford to get any sicker.""Nina and I can help with the kids. You need to fight this okay?"

"I don't know if I can." Ephram said starting to cry.

"Don't cry, I'll be here for you every step of the way." Andy said grabbing Ephram's hand with one hand and stroking his cheek with the other. He knew that Ephram had a long and hard road ahead of him and vowed to be there for him.

After about an hour of sleep Ephram woke up to a burning feeling in his stomach. "Dad!" Ephram cried as the pain intensified.

A Family's Bond:

"Ephram what's wrong?" Ephram's appearance showed all to well that he was in pain. His face was pale and covered in sweat. His eyes were closed and his breath was labored. "Ephram!" Andy called trying to get Ephram to respond. "What hurts? Does it hurt here?" he asked touching Ephram's stomach causing him to scream and a nurse to came in.