HEY EVERYONE! SORRY IT'S BEEN FOREVER SINCE I UPDATED THIS, BUT LIFE GOT IN THE WAY, BUT I'M GLAD THAT I FOUND THIS STORY AND AM UPDATING IT. HOWEVER, THERE IS ONE MORE CHAPTER TO GO BEFORE THIS STORY IS FINISHED, BUT DON'T WORRY - I HAVE SOME OTHER CHAP. STORIES THAT I'M GOING TO UPDATE. ALSO, I HAVE SOME NEW STORY IDEAS THAT I'M GOING TO WRITE, TOO.

HAPPY READING!

FROM,

~ Lucky


CHAPTER NINE

Mark and Hélène were playing with the girls when the phone rang.

"I'll get it." Mark announced, getting off the floor and went to answer the phone. He came back five minutes later, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Mark? What's wrong?" Hélène asked, picking up Bridget.

"That was Roger on the phone – Andrew's in the hospital." Mark told her. Hélène felt her stomach drop as she put the twins in their cribs while Mark called a sitter.

Ten minutes later, Hélène and Mark were on their way to the hospital, tears in both of their eyes. No one knew what was wrong with Andrew, not even the doctors.

Entering the waiting room, Mark saw Roger, Angel-Glory, Savannah, Maureen, Joanne, Benny and Alison. There was a girl sitting between Maureen and Joanne, but Mark didn't know who it was.

"Any word?" Mark asked, taking a seat across from Angel-Glory.

"Not yet – Melina is in with him now." Roger answered.

What seemed like an eternity later, Melina came to join them in the waiting room. Roger looked up as his wife sat next to him, tears in her eyes.

"Momma, what's wrong?" Savannah spoke up.

"Andrew is HIV positive." Melina told the group. Roger hugged Melina close to him and motioned for the girls to come and join in the hug.

"We have to be strong for your brother." Roger told his girls, kissing the tops of their heads.

"Dad, what made Andrew throw up?" Angel-Glory asked, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I don't know, sweetie." Roger answered, staring into space.

"Mr. and Mrs. Davis?" Andrew's doctor called, coming into the waiting room. Melina and Roger stood up and followed the doctor into a private room. When they did return to the waiting room, Roger's face was white and Melina was crying even harder.

"What's going on?" Angel-Glory inquired, her grip tightening on her stuffed horse.

"Andrew has to stay in the hospital for a while. The doctor needs to run some tests on him." Melina explained through her tears.

"Daddy? Are you all right?" Savannah asked, looking at Roger.

"I'm just upset, that's all." Roger explained.

Just then, a hospital volunteer came over and offered to take the kids to the playroom while the adults talked. The kids were reluctant at first, but after about two minutes of protesting, they all went with the hospital volunteer.

"Roger? Melina, what's really going on?" Mark asked once the kids were out of earshot.

"Not only does Andrew have HIV, he has stomach cancer." Roger answered, feeling tears in his eyes. Everyone rushed over to hug Roger and Melina, whispering comforting words in their ears.

"We may have to sell some of the horses to pay for the hospital bills and chemotherapy." Melina spoke up. Benny shook his head and told them that he would take care of it.

"Benny, you've been paying for things for us ever since we can remember. Let us handle this one thing." Roger told his friend, rubbing Melina's back.

The kids returned a half hour later. Everyone said goodbye to one another before heading home.

"Girls, I'm staying with Andrew tonight." Roger told his wife and daughters. Melina opened her mouth to protest, but shut it. Roger and Andrew had a very close bond, which Melina respected.

"Okay. Give Andrew our love." Melina said, kissing her husband on the cheek as the girls said goodnight to him. Roger watched the girls leave the hospital then headed up to Andrew's hospital room.

Once the girls were in bed, Melina stayed awake, thinking about her son and husband. Only then did she let out heart-wrenching sobs. She was scared about what was going to happen to Andrew – not only did he have HIV, but stomach cancer as well. She silently prayed to God for a miracle.

The next couple of weeks flew by and now Angel-Glory was riding Phantom of the Opera for the first time. He was now two-years-old and was as handsome as ever.

"I'm worried about Andrew, Opera." Angel-Glory told Phantom of the Opera as they walked around the arena. "Momma and daddy have told Savannah and I what's happening with Andrew, but sometimes I wish it was me. Daddy has told me never to say that, but I can't help it." She felt tears in her eyes.

"Hey Angel." Angel-Glory's best friend Laurie greeted her. Laurie came into the arena leading an Applassoa mare named Jupiter. Angel-Glory wiped the tears out of her eyes as Laurie mounted Jupiter from the ground and trotted over.

"Hi Laurie." Angel-Glory greeted the other girl, clucking to Phantom to walk. Both girls were riding side-by-side.

"You okay?" Laurie asked, turning slightly in the saddle. Angel-Glory nodded, not noticing the tears in her eyes. Laurie looked over and pulled Jupiter to a stop.

"Andrew's not doing any better." Angel-Glory told her best friend between sobs. Laurie and Angel-Glory dismounted their horses and handed the reins to a nearby groom. They walked to the farmhouse in silence and straight to Angel-Glory's room. Laurie just held her friend while Angel-Glory cried her eyes out. Laurie knew what her best friend was going through – two years ago, her sister Kassie, died suddenly. She was only eight-years-old.

"Andrew will get better, you'll see." Laurie soothed, running a hand through Angel-Glory's hair, something she did whenever Angel-Glory was upset. Just then, Laurie started singing a song her mother had sung to her when she was younger, Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying.

After two verses of Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying, Angel-Glory felt a little better. The girls exited Angel-Glory's room and walked to the kitchen. Melina was on the phone, but hung up when the girls entered, tears in her eyes.

"Momma, he's not gone, is he?" Angel-Glory inquired. Melina shook her head and looked at her daughter.

"Your brother – I don't know how to explain it. He was in surgery to get the cancer out and the doctors got all of it. He's cancer-free." Melina answered.

Angel-Glory blinked, not believing her ears. Her brother was cancer free.

"What do you mean he's cancer-free?" Laurie asked.

"It means that all the cancer is gone." Angel-Glory explained. Laurie rolled her eyes.

"I know what it means – I just can't believe it."

"As they say, miracles work in mysterious ways." Melina told the girls, pouring them a glass of milk and divided some chocolate chip cookies on two plates. She then put the plates in front of the girls. They took two cookies each and went back to Angel-Glory's room.

Laurie ended up staying for dinner, which was her favorite – cheeseburgers, salad and fresh strawberries picked from Melina's garden. To drink, Laurie and Angel-Glory had milk while everyone else had water.

Angel-Glory had to say goodbye to Laurie after dinner – Laurie had homework and chores to do. Angel-Glory had chores and homework that didn't get finished and she needed to get done.

As she got ready for bed that night, Angel-Glory prayed that her brother would be all right.