Carter Brothers: Eli (Rated R novel)

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

For once Ivy could feel things were going her way, the feeling only re-enforced when she gets a phone call from the hospital.
“Is this Miss Ivy Stanford?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, Miss Stanford, I’m calling from Aston General Hospital. We have some good news. It seems your mother-Dawn Stanford, I believe; can come in for her chemotherapy. There’s just been a new slot available and she’s first on the list. The appointment’s scheduled for Monday at 12pm, will that be okay?” asks the receptionist.
“Of course, that’s great. Thank you, so much.”
“No problem, just come on down to the Fairdale Ward at 12 on Monday,” she confirms and after exchanging goodbye’s both parties hang up.
She rushes inside the house to announce the good news to her mother and just like she expects Dawn’s face breaks into a wide grin.
Finally, smiles Ivy, things really are going well.

Monday came by quicker than she expected and at lunchtime, she took her mother to her appointment. After the initial tests, they gave her the chemo and released her after making another appointment.

Appointments later and although Ivy could see her mother becoming dangerously weak, she has hope that the therapies are working. However with the test results coming back, the doctors soon diminished that hope.

“I’m afraid the tumour has grown considerably more than we expected. The cancer’s multiplying much too fast and we can only pray that the stronger radiation will work. What we’re going to do is give her short bursts of this high frequency radiation a couple of times a day, for a few days. That will hopefully stop the tumour growth and then we can try remove it. But if it grows any bigger than it is, I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do...She’ll need to be admitted for a few days, so just pack some clothes and belongings for her and drop them off,” instructs the doctor.

Ivy numbly nods, feeling the high from the last few days crash right the way down. She feels so stupid for even holding onto the silver lining of hope. She should have known better. She should have expected that from life. When has life ever given Ivy a break? No matter what she does, it seems fate just hates her. Maybe Ivy could deal with it, if it was directly at her, but why does it have to be her mother? The last relative she has? Her closest, best friend? Why her?
She feels the tears spark at her eyes but Ivy crushes them down. Crying won’t help her mother. Her tears mean nothing; they are a waste of time and energy. Hardening herself again, Ivy returns back home to do as the doctor instructed.

That night, she sits alone in front of the TV. The box playing some kind of show, going on about something Ivy’s not too sure. She hasn’t bothered to pay attention to it, her mind too numb to think of anything but her poor mother. Suddenly her heart felt too heavy, her eyes tears up and soft sobs escape her lips. She wasn’t alone in the world but she certainly felt like it...until the phone beeped. She sighs reading the text from Eli, it’s the first one she’s opened from him since seeing him on Saturday and she can’t help feel a little guilty. She’s completely neglected him and wallowed in herself and mother. Suddenly just as she’s texting him back, he calls her.

“Ivy, why have you been ignoring me?” he demands in a pissed off tone she’s never heard him use before.
“Eli...Eli, can you come over?...Please?” her voice is soft and slightly crackled from hushing sobs. She craves comfort..she craves him.
“Ivy?...Of course. I’ll be right there, sweetheart. You’re at home, right?” He asks gently. He’s never heard her so frail.
“Yeah...” she whispers cutting the line.

Eli doesn’t know what the matter is but he knows when his mate needs him. A few weeks ago, if someone had told him that he’d be rushing off to comfort his girlfriend; he would have laughed at the absurdity and cried out how he-Eli Carter, could ever have a girlfriend and how he wouldn’t be a slave to any woman. But then again, back then, he had no idea what love is. What it’s like to care for someone, to share that emotional bond. But now...now having found his mate, having got to know her, he knows he’ll cross the skies and seas for her-just...just to make sure she’s happy. Anything for her happiness.
His mind spins in the revelation. When did that happen? When did he fall in love with her? Oh his family will have a ball day with that! Eli Carter in love. But then again, at least it’s with his mate. And at least his mate is Ivy Stanford.