Man of My Dreams(35)

“Oh yes we can! I can’t sit here and study while my mother could very well be...dying of cancer.” The harshness of the terrifying words brings more tears. I collapse onto Whitney’s bed, drooping my head into my trembling hands.

In a matter of seconds, Declan is at my side, rubbing my back, kissing me on the head. “I’ll talk to our professors. See what they can do. Tell me which ones and I’m on it. We’ll leave tonight, baby.”





Declan managed to get us both extensions on our papers. Most of the professors even exchanged email addresses with him so that they could send us any missed lessons and assignments so we wouldn’t fall behind. I know without a doubt that this was all due to Declan’s charm. Had I been the one to try and negotiate this sweet deal, the outcome would not have been as pleasant. Everyone loves Declan. And it’s not hard to figure out why.

“We’re almost home,” he says, gripping the steering wheel. “You hungry? We can go through a drive thru.”

“No, no stopping. Let’s just get there.” My mind is on one track right now, and as I said those words, I realized I never even though to think that my poor boyfriend might be hungry after this long, draining day. “You know what? There’s a place a few traffic lights up. We’ll stop there.”

On second thought, stopping is a good idea. I couldn’t wait to get here, but now, being so close, I still need more time before I face her. I haven’t even thought of what I’ll say yet. I’m sorry? I love you? Please don’t die? If I’m this scared, I can only imagine what’s going through her head. She’s the one with the lump in her breast. She’s the one that might have the wicked disease growing inside of her. Cancer. I cannot believe this is happening to my family.

“Mia, relax. Please, baby. I can see your wheels turning in that pretty little head of yours. This could be nothing. Let’s just take it one day at a time, okay?”

I look over at him, unconvinced, but those glacier blue eyes soothe my frantic mind. I don’t know how I got so lucky to call this boy mine. I intend to hold on to him forever.

“You’re right, Dec. I’m just scared. I’ve never known anyone with cancer. You just hear all the scary stories about chemo, radiation. My mom’s so young. This shouldn’t be happening to her. To us. We have so much more ahead of us before she...goes.”

Declan’s eyes are on the road, but his attention is on me. He reaches over for my hand and places it on his lap. “She’s not going anywhere. Stop being so pessimistic. Glass half full, baby. She’s gonna get through this and so are we. She will see her little girl walk down the aisle. I’ll be sure of it because I can’t have you sad on our wedding day.”

My heart melts and for a second all the scariness of cancer is washed away by an image of Declan in a tux at the end of a long aisle, waiting to become my husband. The vision jerks my mind out of its worried state and catapults it into a surreal daydream.

“So, you’re that sure I’ll say yes, huh?” I joke, lightening the mood, for both of our sakes.

“You better say yes, Mia Page. I’m banking on it. You are the love of my life and I can’t imagine living it without you. You will be my wife one day...in the not too far off future.”

I wink at my someday husband as we pull into the drive thru, forgetting all my fears. I’m certain that if I have Declan by my side, everything will always be okay.





“Dad? Mom? We’re home.” It’s a little after nine p.m. and the house seems deserted. It’s creepy. I don’t like this foreboding aura surrounding me.

“What the hell, Dec? Where are they?”

He shrugs his shoulders, hurling an overstuffed duffel bag. I stare at him for an answer and then I see recognition in his eyes.

I whip around to see my dad tiptoeing down the stairs with his fingers to his lips, shushing us. When he gets to the bottom I bum rush him with an all encompassing bear hug. “Hi, Daddy. How is she?”

“Hi, sweetie,” he says, squeezing me back in his tight, protective arms. I have never once felt anything less than safe in the grip of this man.

We let each other go and Declan drops the duffel bag to shake my dad’s hand. “Hi, Mr. P.” But when their hands meet, my dad pulls him in against him, patting him on the back, a more manly hug than the one we just shared.

“Thank you, Declan. This means the world to us.” My dad whispers in his ear, but it’s loud enough for me to hear and it makes me tear up.

“Of course, Sir.” Declan says. The tiny sentence represents so much about his character.