for the other things, dry air, and you’re working too hard.”
“An ulcer?” The doubts still festered and leaked into her voice. “You’re sure. That’s it?”
“I’m referring you to a gastroenterologist for further treatment, but the antibodies for the bacterium that causes a peptic ulcer are present in your blood work.”
“An ulcer,” she stated, reinforcing the facts in her mind. “I don’t have cancer again.”
“Your blood levels are normal, and the scans showed no signs of cancer in your body.
“Oh my God.” She squeezed her eyes closed, the truth finally sinking in. “Thank you.” The hours of waiting had been worth it. She didn’t have cancer.
“You’re welcome. This is the kind of news I love to deliver.”
She stared at her darkened phone screen for another minute, the reality settling around her. “I’m cancer free,” she said, looking up to stare at Henrik. “I’m cancer free.” The trembling overtook her then, encompassing her entire body before he enveloped her in a tight hug.
“Thank God.” His voice was rough with the same emotion that scrambled through her. Relief and joy and so much more.
She hugged him back, absorbing his solidity, her own thanks going out to the Universe in a rapid cycle.
His kiss was grounding and warm when he found her lips, a shared joy for another chance. She took it, reveled in it and gave it back until the world and all her fears spun away.
She had no idea how long it’d been before he sat back, thumbs wiping the tears from her cheeks. His own eyes were bright in the dim light, his smile one of relief. Only then did she notice he’d pulled over into a parking lot. That was how zoned out she’d been.
“I’m going to be late,” she said, her heart finally beginning to slow.
“You don’t have cancer. I think they’ll understand if you’re a little late.”
“No,” she insisted, beaming, happiness exploding from her with the release of the extra weight she’d been carrying around for months. “I need to play.”
His smile said he understood exactly what she meant. He gave her one last quick kiss and shifted the car into gear. “Then I’d better hurry.”
She whipped down the visor, checked her makeup in the mirror and wiped away the remnants of her tears. It was time for this nightmare of hers to be over. Long past time that she remembered that cancer was her past, not her future. There was always a chance of it coming back, but she wasn’t going to let her fears control her anymore—let cancer control her.
She turned to Henrik, pride overflowing at the honest, decent man he was. And he loved her. He was her future, and she was determined to live every second of it in the moment instead of holding back, afraid of what might be.
Chapter Thirty-Two
The last piece of the concert came to a close, the notes fading into the rafters as the applause rang out. Jacqui’s grin was still firmly in place, her heart almost too full to handle the absolute rightness that was buzzing inside her.
She stood, took a bow with the rest of the musicians and tried to spot Henrik in the audience. There were more people than expected in attendance with some even standing along the back wall. The school’s auditorium wasn’t huge, but she’d never seen it this full before.
“Ladies and gentlemen.” A deep voice boomed over the sound system, a hush descending as the president of the school stepped onto the stage. Jacqui followed the cue of the other students and exited the stage to let the man have his say.
The darkness in the wings made it hard to see after the bright lights of the stage. Jacqui followed along behind the others, working their way to the dressing area until a hand around her wrist tugged her aside. She glanced up to find Henrik standing there. Even in the poor lighting, she knew it was him.
The other students flowed past¸ a few shooting curious glances as he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I’m doing this for me, but it’s also a gift for you.”
“We have one more very special guest this evening,” the president was saying. “A man a lot of you might know at least by name. Let me say it was a huge surprise when he called me yesterday with his request and a very generous endowment to the school from the Amelia G. Hedberg Foundation.” He paused for the small round of applause. “When Henrik Grenick posed