True Love (43 page)

Finally. The new drug is turning the tide and we’ve achieved remission, so it looks as if she’ll be able to come home before her birthday. This is a banner day. Elana and I can’t wait to get our little girl out of this place, and Melinda can’t wait to leave.

We’ve got a schedule set up for continued chemo over the next six months, but maybe the worst is over and future tests will show that Melinda’s cancer-free. I believe she’s weathered the storm and permanent remission will be achieved. She’s suffered enough and now it’s time to pick up our lives, which have been on hold ever since this nightmare began.

Thanks again for your prayers. Keep it up!

Lenny & Elana

M
ELINDA’S
D
IARY

August 25

I can’t believe I’m sitting in my own bedroom writing this. Everything looks just the way I left it before I took off to Washington, but it’s kind of unreal too. I’m so used to the hospital, the nurses’ comings and goings, the other kids, the smells of the halls, the rattle of the food carts, the doctors dropping by twice a day. The gang on my floor threw me a little party before we left—very sweet. There were balloons and cupcakes and there was a clown to entertain the little kids. I was the only teen up there and the younger kids looked up to me. Keisha, who’s six, even cried, but I promised to visit when I return for my treatments. (Maybe she’ll be out by then, I hope, I hope.)

Zorita was sitting on my bed when I got here. Bailey had tied a bow with a bell around her collar and she looked really cute. I think she’s forgiven me for leaving her for so long, because she curled up on my pillow like she used to do
.

When I think over the last two months, they seem like a bad dream. But they weren’t. I know they really happened, because there’s a shunt in my chest for the upcoming chemo treatments. It’s ugly, but I can hide it under my clothes. I’m tired now and I’m going to bed with my cat
.

Elana’s Journal

August 25

This will be quick. Part of me is elated to have my baby back in her room down the hall. The other part is scared witless. At the hospital, nurses were close at hand, so if Melinda had any problems I could run and get them. Here, it’s only me and Lenny. Maybe only me because Lenny travels so much
.

Lenny programmed all the important phone numbers into our telephones and I have lists of emergency measures to take if something I can’t handle happens, but still it’s frightening to be the sole one in charge. I think Melinda senses my fear and ineptitude
.

I pray that everything goes well. Melinda’s been through so much … TOO much for a girl who’ll be fourteen in a few days. She’s changed since June, and seems older, more stoic. I miss my little girl
.

TO:
Ann

Subject:
Melinda’s Birthday

When I asked Melinda what she wanted for her birthday, she said, “I’d like to be cancer-free, go to Paris with a dance troupe, have boobs bigger than apricots, and see Jesse Rose.” At this time, the first three things on her list are out of reach. But seeing Jesse isn’t. If you’re willing to let him come, we’d love to fly him to Atlanta for a visit. As Lenny says, “A lot of things in Melinda’s life are out of my control, but a nonstop flight across the country for one of her friends isn’t one of them!”

I know school might have started (it has here and Melinda cried because she couldn’t go), but if you’ll let Jesse come for even a few days, Lenny and I will be ever so grateful. Please think about it and call us. If the answer’s yes, we’ll arrange everything.

Elana (with fingers crossed)

TO:
Elana and Lenny

Subject:
Melinda’s Birthday

How could I say no to such a heartfelt request? Besides, if I did, my son would never speak to me again! Plus, he might stow away on a plane and go anyway!

Yes, school has started, but so what? Jesse’s had a terrible summer. He talked about Melinda constantly and so wanted to see her. He had little to do after returning from New York and I felt really sorry for him moping around while I worked. Don’t tell Melinda, but he sold his skateboard and some of his baseball card collection to kids here at the apartment complex in order to send her flowers and the few presents that he’s bought for her birthday.

I wish I could make arrangements for the flight myself but I could not financially afford for him to do this. He can stay up to a week, but don’t let him wear out his welcome. And thank you. This visit will mean all the world to him.

Ann

M
ELINDA’S
D
IARY

August 30, 11
P.M
.

Seeing Jesse again after all this time has been strange and wonderful at once. I’ve been a nervous wreck ever since Mom and Dad announced that he was coming. I was glad, but not thrilled, and I only wished they had asked me first instead of surprising me with the news. Not that I didn’t want to see him—I did. But let’s face it: I’m not at my best. Chemo has left its ugly mark. After weeks of being sick and burpy, I’m now swinging the other way: F-A-T. Dr. Neely told me this might happen (I still take a handful of pills every day plus the sucky chemo treatments), but I really didn’t think I’d look so freaky
.

My face looks like a Moon Pie—round and flat, really gross. Bailey says I’m overreacting, but she’s not the one swollen up like a toad. Then I learned that Jesse was coming. I wanted to put a bag over my head. What was Mom thinking?

I was so nervous going to the airport tonight to meet Jesse’s plane that I was sick to my stomach. Dad parked the car and we walked into the terminal. The monitors flashed that Jesse’s flight from LA had landed, so we waited near the security entrance. My mouth was so dry I couldn’t even swallow. I saw him coming, because he was holding a really big teddy bear. He looks like his pictures, but taller, and his eyes are still so very, very blue. When Jesse saw me, his face turned beet red. (He was probably wishing he could get right back on the plane and head home!) We just sort of stood there staring at each other like a couple of stupid cows, then Mom started gabbing blah-blah-blah—all the way through the baggage claim, the walk to the parking lot and the whole ride back to the house! There we sat in the back of her SUV, me hugging one car door, and Jesse the other while Dad drove and Mom talked. I thought I was going to scream, “Please be quiet!” but I bit my tongue. She was ruining everything! Just talking and talking, and me and Jesse embarrassed because we really didn’t know what to say to each other—not that we had much of a chance with Mom’s mouth running. Jesse and I had “talked” through cards and e-mails, but suddenly, in person, we were strangers
.

Just as I was considering opening the door and hurling myself into traffic, I felt Jesse reach across
the seat in the dark and his fingers touch mine. I felt frozen in place, but his fingers warmed mine and soon I started to relax. We sat that way for the rest of the ride to the house, Jesse’s hand holding mine and Mom blabbering about everything and nothing. But by then, I didn’t care. Jesse was here. And I was with him
.

Elana’s Journal

August 30

11:30 p.m
.

I got under Melinda’s skin tonight with my incessant talking from the second Jesse arrived. She kept giving me furtive looks and I knew I was overdoing it, but I couldn’t seem to control my mouth. Even Lenny mentioned it to me when we were alone, saying he felt “sorry for the boy” because of my verbal bombardment. Maybe it’s the
strain of the past weeks, but I vow I won’t do it again
.