Adrian smiled as Trudy came out into the living room. He walked over to her and put an arm around her shoulder.
"Your mom and dad are coming to visit," he said.
"Great," Trudy replied.
Her eyes lit up. It was Thursday and ever since the fact that Trudy was alive came to light, she'd been spoiled by her parents as well as her husband.
"I hope they don't feel like we're taking advantage of them," she added with a sigh.
"How would that be taking advantage of them," Adrian asked gently.
"They've come to see us every day," Trudy pointed out.
A thought occurred to her.
"Maybe tomorrow we should go see them," she suggested.
Adrian smiled and nodded. Trudy was sensitive. She always had been, and it was one of the things Adrian loved most about her.
"I think they would love that," he said.
She kissed him and he rubbed her back gently. She closed her eyes and let herself relax. Adrian always knew how to calm her down.
"We should probably check with them first," Adrian said, "Just to make sure they don't have any plans for tomorrow."
The doorbell rang. It was Dwight and Marsha.
"Hey mom. Hey dad," Trudy exclaimed as she hugged them both.
"Come on in," Adrian said, "Let's all sit down."
Dwight and Marsha sat together, and Adrian sat next to Trudy.
"Thanks for coming again to see us," Trudy said, "How about tomorrow we come to see you guys."
"Wonderful," Dwight said, "What time works best for you?"
"I get off of work at 5 o'clock," Adrian said, "So we can probably be there by 6."
"That's perfect," Dwight said.
"I'll make Chicken Cacciatore," Marsha added.
Trudy's eyes lit up. That was her favorite dinner.
"If you ever feel like we're taking advantage of you just let us know," she told them after a minute or so.
"Sweetheart," Dwight said, "You could never take advantage of us. When we lost you, it was the worst thing any parent could go through. Three days ago, our life changed. When we found out you were alive, I could hardly breathe. I was so excited. I hadn't been called "dad" in ten years and every time you say that word… it makes me cry but it makes me cry tears of joy, not tears of sorrow."
Marsha nodded and added, "You'll understand when you become a mother."
Trudy nodded and completely relaxed.
"Was I sensitive as a kid," she asked.
"Oh yes," Marsha said softly.
"When someone was hurting," Dwight continued, "It would make you cry."
"What about when I was going through a tough time," Trudy asked.
"You were always cheerful," Marsha said, "Even when you were going through a serious illness."
"What was wrong with me," Trudy asked.
"You had Leukemia," Dwight replied, "We had to take you to therapy. You were asleep when they would give you the therapy, so you didn't feel it but when you woke up-"
"How did I manage to fall asleep during that," Trudy asked.
"The doctor gave you something to make you sleep," Dwight explained, "It was kind of like Nitrous Oxide but a bit stronger. The doctors would do your therapies and then wake you up."
"How long until I got better," Trudy asked.
"It was 2 ½ years," Marsha replied.
She shuddered as she remembered Trudy's illness. It was the second worst time in their life.
"I used to think GOD was toying with us," Marsha added, "I was so angry at Him for making you sick."
"But He also made me better," Trudy pointed out gently.
"I realize that now," Marsha said, "but in the midst of the shock… it's hard to accept those things."
"That's a great way of putting it," Adrian said.
Dwight nodded.
"You don't know what a shock is until you find out that your three-year-old has leukemia," he said softly.
"Finding out your twenty-four-year-old has been killed in a car bomb is an even bigger shock," Marsha reported.
"Yes, but the biggest shock was finding out she was still alive," Adrian finished, "That was a shock I had been longing for, for ten years."
Trudy smiled as she sat back in Adrian's embrace. She closed her eyes. Suddenly a memory came flooding back to her.
Trudy was only three, but she could see by the look on her parents face that something was wrong.
"Mommy– daddy? Are you guys okay," she asked.
Marsha sat down and put Trudy on her lap.
"Honey," she said, "Remember how you haven't been feeling good lately?"
Trudy nodded.
"What's wrong with me," she asked.
Dwight took her hand.
"You have something called Leukemia honey," he said gently.
It took everything in him not to cry.
"What's Akemia," Trudy asked.
Dwight and Marsha looked at each other.
"Leukemia is a type of cancer," Marsha said gently, "It's a cancer of your blood."
"Am I gonna die," she asked.
"Absolutely not," Dwight insisted, "The doctors caught it on time. But you do need to have treatment."
"Otay," Trudy said.
After a few seconds Trudy asked, "Do they have to give me a shot?"
"They're going to put you to sleep," Dwight began, and Trudy started to cry.
"You mean like they put Peaches' mommy to sleep," she asked.
"No honey," Marsha said, quickly drying her daughter's tears, "It means they're going to give you something to make you fall asleep. You'll be asleep for your whole treatment, so you won't feel the owiees or the treatment."
"But they're gonna wake me up?"
"Of course, they're going to wake you up," Dwight said, stroking her hair.
"Am I gonna feel the owiees when I wake up," Trudy asked.
Dwight and Marsha looked at each other.
"A little bit," Marsha admitted reluctantly, "But the doctor gave us something for you to take so it doesn't hurt you."
"Are you gonna be with me when I have my treatments," Trudy asked, "I don't wanna be alone."
Marsha kissed her forehead.
"We'll be with you every step of the way," she said.
"Okay," Trudy said smiling.