Part 57

"Ovarian." for the second time in as many hours tears reached out for the edge of her eyes.

"Advanced"

"Are you sure?"

Debbie nodded her head. I had my records sent to Dr. Houseman and he, he..."

Charlotte finished her mom's sentence, "confirmed the diagnosis."

Debbie nodded her head again.

"And why won't you do anything?"


Debbie sat back down next to her daughter and placed one of her hands between her own. "Sweetheart, Nana had ovarian cancer. She fought the good fight, only to be sick for the last remaining months of her life."

Now through a streams of tears Charlotte asked, "How long?"

"A few months, a year -- it depends on how aggressively it progresses."

"Will you stay here with us?"

Sobbing now herself, Debbie replied, "I was hoping we could stay here with you, Sam and the girls, but your life is so complicated. Really, we'll be fine. We'll head down to Florida and stay in our old community."

"No Mom," Charlotte leaned over and hugged her mom. "I want you to stay here, with us, with family."

"Okay, we'll stay."

Charlotte smiled. "Let's go tell everyone we have guests for dinner and then some."

(20254)