“The money Marcus sends—”
“That money keeps this family running.”
“He sends enough.”
My mother gave a short laugh.
“You have no idea what things cost.”
Serena looked toward the driveway.
“Apparently enough for Travis to buy a truck.”
“That’s none of your business.”
“And enough to renovate the kitchen.”
“Watch your tone.”
“And enough for a hot tub.”
Mother stepped closer.
“So?”
Serena’s voice cracked.
“Then why couldn’t I get my prescription filled last month?”
No one answered.
She swallowed.
“The doctor said stopping treatment like this could make everything worse.”
Treatment.
Prescription.
Infusion.
I didn’t want to understand.
I was already understanding.
Serena whispered, “I have cancer, Evelyn. I’m not asking for a vacation.”
My knees nearly gave out.
Cancer.
I had spoken to my wife three nights earlier.
She had told me she was tired because she was working extra hours helping a neighbor with bookkeeping.
Three months earlier, she stopped using video during our calls.
She blamed the camera on her phone.
Before that, she always wore scarves.
She said they were fashionable.
God.
How had I missed it?
My mother turned away.
“You always make everything dramatic.”
“I’m sick.”
“Plenty of people are sick.”
“My oncologist said—”
“Doctors say whatever keeps you paying them.”
Serena stared at her.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
“Marcus sent forty thousand dollars after I was diagnosed.”
My mother’s jaw tightened.
“That money came to my account.”
“He sent it because you told him the house needed foundation repairs.”
“It did.”
“There were no foundation repairs.”
Silence.
Serena pointed weakly toward Travis’s truck.
“You bought that two weeks later.”
My mother leaned closer.
“You should be grateful you have a roof over your head.”
Serena looked toward the garage.
“I sleep in the old utility room.”
My mother shrugged.
“You kept everyone awake when you were vomiting.”
That was when I pushed open the gate.
The hinges squealed.
Travis turned first.
The beer slipped from his hand and shattered on the concrete.
My mother’s mouth fell open.
Serena didn’t move at all.
For several seconds, she simply stared.
Then her lips parted.
“Marcus?”
I dropped my bag.
