A Family of Their Own - By Gail Gaymer Martin Page 0,49
wasn’t given the master bedroom here when she was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.”
His arm swung out in a large arc. “Kelsey, your house is on one floor. Lucy didn’t have to climb stairs.” He shook his head. “Anyway, Lucy’s illness has nothing to do with her heart.”
“Her brain is affected. It’s what controls almost everything in her body.”
“Yes, but…” He looked startled.
“You have two bedrooms on the first floor, and Lucy knows that.” She monitored her volume. “You manage just fine using the guestroom. Why can’t Peyton?” The question rang with her irritation, and she hurried to soften her comment. “That’s what Lucy wants to know.” But so did she. The whole situation overwhelmed her. This issue had little to do with a bedroom. It reminded her of the difficulty they faced—two who might never see eye to eye.
“She’d lost a mother and then found out she had the same disease. I wanted to…” He looked exasperated.
Ross didn’t understand. “Lucy grew up without much of a father, too.” She brushed the words away. “Forget it. I’ve talked to Lucy, and I’ll talk with her again. She’ll get over it.” But Kelsey sensed that this might be only the beginning.
“I’m sorry you feel that way.”
She shook her head. “Peyton’s your daughter, Ross. You have the right to coddle her any way you choose. She’s very ill. I understand that.”
“Mom.” Lucy darted into the room. “I’m starving. When are we gonna eat?”
Grateful for the interruption, she monitored her voice. “Right now. Tell Peyton, okay?”
Lucy spun around and called out to Peyton as she hurried back into the living room.
Kelsey pulled the dinner rolls from the oven, and once they settled around the table, Ross said the blessing. The food circled the table, and they filled their plates. Conversation lulled as they slivered their ham and dug into the cheesy potatoes, and she was grateful. She’d set off a fire that could turn into a blaze. Why hadn’t she kept her mouth shut and let it go? Her comment served no purpose but to vent her own upset.
Ross had become an important part of her life. Their relationship had grown deeper. His kiss had excited her and made her feel like a woman again. His kindness and concern made even her parents’ support look weak. Yet she’d uttered words ringing with sarcasm.
She lifted her gaze from her plate and studied his face. He looked deep in thought. Had she let her frustration ruin her chance for happiness? Ross had been the first man to arouse her sense of femininity and stir her emotions. She lowered her gaze. What have I done?
“I don’t understand.” Kelsey’s hand knotted in her lap. “Why does Lucy need another test?”
“Two tests, Mrs. Rhodes.” He looked at her. “I’ve studied her last MRI and I see something I’d like to view more carefully.” His gaze drifted to Lucy. “You want to be well, I know, Lucy, so you’re willing to have a couple more tests.”
She glanced at her mother, then eyed Dr. Bryant. “What kind of test?”
His grin looked guarded. “Nothing that will hurt or keep you in the hospital.”
Relief flooded her face. “Okay.”
“You’ve had the PET scan before. You’ll get a low-dose injection of radioactive sugar followed by the scan.”
Lucy nodded. “I remember.”
Kelsey’s stomach knotted. He’d spotted something, or he wouldn’t do this. She wanted to know, but did she want Lucy to hear what was wrong? The muscles in her neck tightened.
“The other test is one Lucy’s never had.” He looked at Kelsey, then gazed at the paperwork on his desk. “This is another form of brain MRI. A fairly new process called fMRI, which means functional magnetic resonance imaging. The procedure is very similar to your regular MRI.”
Kelsey’s heart constricted. “What is this for, doctor?”
He paused a moment, his eyes focused on the paperwork. “We realized that Lucy’s lesion has increased since her last brain MRI. I’d like to check it out and see what’s happening there.”
Kelsey closed her eyes, not wanting to know the answer to her question. “Why would this happen?”
“That’s what we want to learn from the tests. It’s likely scar tissue and that’s always a problem. You know we have to keep that to a minimum.”
“And if it’s not that?”
He released a sigh. “It could be a small tumor.”
“No.” Lucy’s voice burst from her. “I don’t want to go through all that again.”
“I know, Lucy. I know. But this is to keep you healthy. We can take care of an early