The Reunion

in front of him. "You okay?" She asked, she poured him a cup of coffee. "I was thinking of moving back here," Brandon said. "OH! Really?!" She beamed. He sipped his coffee and bega

ing what he had to help young black kids in tough neighborhoods. "That's amazing honey," she said with a smile. "I wanna play basketball!" Bailey exclaimed "that's a good idea" Bethany said "I..." Bethany stopped for a second and realized she would never see her daughter grow up into who she would be. "I have some news," Bethany said quickly. Her husband looked at her with the question "what is it mommy?" Bailey asked "I...I...well... I am sick" Bethany said slowly. "Sick?" Brendon asked "are you okay mommy?" Bailey looked with concern. Bethany swallowed and soon she felt the tears "I haven't been completely honest" Bethany said. "Mommy has been sick before but not this sick... you see I have cancer" Bethany said slowly. The room was so quiet. "Cancer?" her daughter asked "yes. It is a disease, see it's when your cells in your body multiply uncontrollably" she said "that should be good though right?" Bailey asked "no honey. With too many cells the body can't provide enough food and energy" Bethany explained. She noticed her husband didn't say anything and she was wondering if he would ever address it. "But you can get better right?" Bailey asked, Bethany gently reached over and took her hand "no honey" she said. "What do you mean no?" Bailey asked "well they do have medicines and chemo but my cancer is beyond that point now" Bethany explained Bailey hugged her tightly "there has to be something they are not looking for mama" Bailey cried. Brendon couldn't believe what he was hearing; anger, sadness, and grief all at once washed over him. He stood and left the table unable to hear anymore of her trying to explain to their daughter that she didn't have a long time on Earth. He didn't want to hear that part either. Bailey cried into her shoulder, Bethany held her as they both cried. She didn't want to leave them, it wasn't fair! Why? Why! Bailey basically cried herself to sleep, Brendon left out of the kitchen without a word so she went to find him. She heard noises from the basement and knew her husband was down there. She climbed down the stairs and opened the door. He was building something and drinking. "Brendon" she said trying to get his attention but he busied himself with his work. She walked over to him "you didn't say anything at dinner..." she continued. "What did you want me to say?" Brendon snapped coldly. She never heard her husband talk like that. "Brendon... you act like I am already gone" Bethany said. She was already hurting that she was soon to die but her husband didn't have to remind her of it. "What do you want me to do? Happily lie down and accept my wife..." he stopped as if he couldn't even say the words. She took his arm, his dark strong arm and held on to it. "I'm not dead yet" she muttered, putting her head against his arm. "I don't want to leave you or Bailey. I wanted to see her grow into the woman she would become. I wanted to grow old with you" Brendon pulled her to him tightly. "How much longer do you have?" he asked. "Six to eight months," she said. Brendon never thought he would have to think about living without Bethany because in his mind she was going to always be with him. The cruel reality that in a few months he would lose the love of his life. "We don't have to go to the class reunion... if you want we can go away with Bailey..." She shook her head against his arm "I want to see my old friends and say my goodbyes" she said. "Whatever you want honey," he said. Ummie's phone rang and she reached over to answer it. It was a pretty slow day, "Hello, Anderson Homes where we will find the perfect home for you" she said cheerfully. "Hey" he said, Ummie was in disbelief, did he really call her job "Are you there?" he asked. She snapped out of her thoughts "What do you want?" Ummie asked, "I wanted to buy a house down here and was wondering if you could help me," he said. I bet you was, Ummie thought "look my day is booked..." "nice try but I know that is not true" she looked up to see him in the doorway. "What the hell? You are a stalker in your free time" Ummie snapped while hanging up the phone. He put his phone back in his pocket. "I'm serious, I am looking for a house here," he said. "I can send you to one of my agents," she said, standing to her feet. "I don't want them