Chapter 111

Cilla closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Would this day ever end? She was supposed to be working on the design for Sid and Mark’s cake, but she couldn’t concentrate. She kept looking at the clock, begging the hands to move faster. Today was the day. Today she would find out if the chemo worked, if she had beaten the monster that had tried to take over her body.

She glanced at the clock again. Thirty seconds had gone by. Damn it. She looked down at the sketch pad. There were doodles all over it, none of them looking even remotely close to resembling a cake. Ripping out the page she tried again to concentrate.

She looked up at the clock again. “Shit,” she muttered and tossed down her pencil. This was never going to work. She slid off the stool and pushed through the swinging door to the front. Sid was waiting on a customer and, at the other end of her newly expanded shop, Jennie was wiping down the coffee machine. Her customer base had doubled when she started offering coffee and a place to sit down to enjoy it. So she had a long talk with Jennie one afternoon, convincing her that she needed her help, just while Abby was in school. Jennie had gratefully accepted the offer. Cilla headed toward the woman. “Is there any coffee left?”

Jennie nodded, “sure, let me get you a mug.” She poured Cilla her coffee and handed her the steaming mug. “Are you okay?”

Cilla nodded as she sipped. “Just can’t seem to concentrate on anything other than the clock today.”

“I know that feeling. What time’s your appointment?” She and Sid both knew that today was a big day for Cilla. “Is Jon going with you?”

Cilla looked to the clock. Not soon enough. “Four thirty. And no, he’s not. He is in New Jersey celebrating his birthday with his kids. He’ll be back later tonight.”

Jennie frowned, that wasn’t good. What if she got bad news? “Do you want one of us to go with you?”

Cilla shook her head, she had started this by herself, she would finish it that way. “No, but thanks for the offer. I can handle this.” At Jennie’s doubtful expression she smiled. “Really, it’s okay. I’ll be fine. If the time would move along that is.”

It was only one o’clock now. She pushed back through the door to the kitchen. It was going to be a long afternoon.

~

“You’re sure?” Cilla looked warily at the doctor.

Dr. Aghajanian smiled reassuringly. “You’ll need to be checked every three months for the first year, but for now, yes. I’m quite sure.”

Cilla sat in the chair a moment longer, not quite able to process what she had just heard. Ever since she had come in the week before for her MRI and blood work, she was sure the results weren’t going to be what she wanted. Her luck had never been that good.

She couldn’t have been more wrong.

The doctor had just confirmed that the cancer was gone. There was always a chance it could come back, she had said. But for now, it looked like the chemo had done its job.

With a smile she stood, gathering up the paperwork the doctor had presented her with. “Thank you Dr. Aghajanian, thank you for everything.”

It was a much different feeling walking out of the doctor’s office today than it had been seven months ago when she first started this journey. Instead of stumbling blindly along the sidewalk looking for a way to escape, she hailed a cab with a gleeful shout. There would be no sad, scared tears today; only happy ones if any at all as she shared her news with the man that had been her rock and salvation for the last several months. Maybe now, after tonight, they could think about having some kind of future together now that there was a chance they could actually have one.

She watched the storefronts go by in a blur until one caught her eye. “Stop here,” she told the driver. She wasn’t going back to her own shop today, it would be closed up by now anyway and she didn’t want to chance running into Sid or Jennie. Jon needed to hear the news first. She decided to treat herself to something totally useless and fun. She perused the window before pulling open the door. She might even find something for Jon in here. It was his birthday after all. She had to buy the man a card or something.

Making a few more stops on her way, it was later than she anticipated when she got home. Jon hadn’t given her a specific time that he’d be back, but she hoped he wasn’t there yet. Funny she thought as she opened the door, his apartment had become home to her more than her own apartment. Setting two of her crackling sacks in the kitchen and leaving the lights burning low, she hurried up the stairs to Jon’s bedroom.

She was just adjusting her wig when she heard the beep of the alarm being reset. Glancing around the room she slipped the envelope on his pillow before hurrying to the stairs. Excitement coursed through her; he was finally home.

Her bare feet were silent on the carpet and then on the wood floor. Leaning against the door frame she watched as he set something down on the counter and then turned to the refrigerator. She smiled softly as she watched him grab a magnet and hang an obviously hand-drawn masterpiece in its place of honor.

“Romeo or Jake?”

He started and then turned. He hadn’t expected her to still be awake. He roamed her from head to foot. He was glad she was. Her camisole was black tonight and it stopped just above the waist of her low slung jeans. With her hands in her pockets, the waist dragged a little lower, teasing him with a peek at more black lace. He scanned back up to her face, her eyes were clear and bright and there was just a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. He smiled and moved toward her. “Romeo. It’s supposed to be me I think.”

She moved her head to look around him. “Hard to say from here.”

Stepping in front of her he slid his hands up her sides. She had gotten so thin in the last few months. Hopefully now that the chemo was done she’d put some weight back on. But she was still just as beautiful as the day he had first seen her. “Jakey made me that.” He angled his body to point at the ceramic object on the counter. “I’m pretty sure it’s supposed to be an ashtray, but there’s no spot to hold a cigarette.”

The pride and amusement were evident in his voice. He loved his kids so very much. “So use it on the table in the foyer to catch your keys or something.”

He cupped her face in his hands, raising it slightly so he could catch her pretty mouth in a kiss. “That’s a great idea.”

She shrugged and smiled. “I have one occasionally.” Reaching up she combed her fingers through the hair at his temple. “You had a good time.”

“Yeah, but I’m ready for a little private adult party now.” He leered playfully at her as he stepped forward, moving her away from the kitchen and back toward the stairs.

“Well you just happen to be in luck.” She tugged on his hands as they mounted the stairs. “C’mon.”

He stopped her outside the bedroom door. Turning her to face him he slid her hair over her shoulder and stroked the soft, creamy skin. “Are you my present?”

Raising up on her toes she pressed her lips to his. “Partly.”

“Partly?” What did that mean?

She nodded as she opened the door. “The rest of your gift is in here.”

The room was bathed in a soft glow from the few candles she had lit and from the lamp on the bedside table. There was a plate of cheese and fruit in the sitting area along with a bottle of champagne chilling in anticipation.

Cilla led him to the settee. “I wasn’t sure if you’d even be hungry, but I thought we should at least have a toast.” She worked the cork, releasing it with a pop from the bottle. Moving to sit next to him she handed him a glass and clinked it with hers. “Happy Birthday Jonny.”

He watched her, there was something going on with her. Her eyes were a kaleidoscope of gray and blue and that smile teased her lips. “Thank you.” He sipped the golden bubbles, his eyes never leaving her face. “What is it Sweets? What’s going on with you tonight?”

She took his glass and set it on the table with hers. “I want to give you your present now. Okay?” At his nod she stood, dragging him up with her. “I’m pretty sure you’re going to like it.”

He dipped his head, finding her lips with his. He didn’t care what she had bought for him. She really didn’t have to get him anything. He had all he wanted right here. She was happy tonight and in an amorous mood. What more could he have asked for?

He slipped his hands around her waist, his fingers dipping into the waistband of her almost too loose jeans, caressing lightly before sliding down to cup her cheeks and drag her into him. With a slight push, the jeans slid down her thighs, pooling at her knees. Without taking his mouth from hers he backed her toward the bed, finally pulling his lips from her to sit her on the edge. Kneeling before her he pulled the denim from her legs and, with a gentle shove, had her lying back across the wide bed.

She got to her knees and walked to the edge of the bed. This couldn’t happen yet. He needed to see what was in that envelope first. “Jonny, wait.”

He had pulled his shirt off and his fingers stilled on his belt. “Wait for what Sweets, what’s wrong?”

She shook her head, “nothing, but you need to open your present, first.” She held out the envelope to him.

He looked quizzically at her. What was so important that it couldn’t wait another half hour or so? He looked at the envelope, only then noticing the address in the upper left corner. It was from her doctor’s office. His eyes flew to her face. The results, it had to be what was in the envelope. “When did you get this?” How long had she known something and not told him?

“I had my appointment this afternoon.”

His shoulders drooped. She had gone without him. Did that mean it was bad news? “Why didn’t you tell me it was today. I would have gone with you.”

She reached out to rest her hand on his arm. “You couldn’t have Jonny; you were with your kids today. But its okay, I managed by myself.”

There was that strong, independent woman he loved so much. He just wished that sometimes she would lean a little more on him. He looked down at the envelope again and then headed for his dresser. It didn’t matter one way or another to him what it said in there, but he wanted an answer from her about their future, no matter how long or short it may be.

“What are you doing?” He had walked away from her and was fishing around in his sock drawer for something. “Jonny, what are you looking for?”

His hand closed around the small black velvet box. “Got it.”

He came back the bed and with one hand he undid his belt and pushed his jeans to the floor, leaving him clad in the superman boxers she had given him for Valentine’s Day. Climbing on the bed, he knelt facing her. “Before I look in this envelope, I need to ask you something.” He held out the small box to her.

Looking down her eyes widened. “Wh-what is that?” He wasn’t supposed to be doing this now. He needed to know her prognosis first. She looked down at the box. Didn’t he?

He pried the box open and the pink diamond sparkled brightly even in the low light of the room. “I don’t care if we have one day, one year or a hundred years Sweets. I want you to be mine for however long our forever might be.” His gaze didn’t waiver from hers. “Marry me Sweets.”

Tears gathered in her eyes. He really didn’t care. He wanted her whether she was healthy or not. Smiling through her tears she reached out to stroke the pretty ring. “You may just get that hundred years.”

It was his turn to widen his eyes in surprise. She was okay? The chemo worked? “What did you say?” He wanted to make sure he heard her right.

Her fingers left the ring and moved to stroke his cheek. “I’m okay Jonny. The chemo did it’s job.”

Tears sprung unbidden to his eyes. He dropped the ring to the bed and wrapped her in his arms. Their forever looked a whole lot brighter now.

******