Free Jesse's Soul (2) by Amy Gregory Page A

risked this information on, but her look wasn’t one of shock, as much as it was...understanding. Emery sat, spending a long minute trying to read her friend’s face, before continuing on.
    The sound of engines and men’s voices were muted by the trailer doors. They momentarily drew her attention. She should be out there helping them. Yet, she knew if she stood up, she’d be down for the count. Every time she closed her eyes for even a long second, the room spun.
    “It’s okay. Don’t worry, I’m better now. I just still have some lingering issues.”
    “I don’t mean to pry, can I ask what kind?”
    “Yeah, it’s fine. Ovarian.”
    “Aren’t you kind of young for that?”
    She could handle these questions. The weight was starting to fall off her shoulders, bit by bit. “It was a little over two years ago. I was almost twenty-three. I had an aunt on my mother’s side die from it, so I have a family history of it.”
    “Oh, Emery, I’m so sorry. What about your mom? Has she had it too?”
    “Who knows? She left us when I was three.” Emery focused on the bottle on the table.
    That was a sore point for her father. He had felt so guilty over the years already, but she could tell he was very resentful of the fact her mother hadn’t been there to help her through the last couple of years. Emery didn’t care. She was glad she wasn’t around. She had her dad and brother, and as far as she was concerned, that was all she needed. Her paternal grandparents and Riley’s wife and kids were just icing on the cake. She didn’t need anything or anyone else. Ever.
    Molly scooted Emery’s bottle aside and reached for her hand again. “Oh, God, Emery, I’m sorry.”
    “It’s okay, really, Molly.”
    “Are you okay now? I noticed your dad is pretty protective of you.”
    She shrugged, trying to keep the news less dramatic.
    “Yeah, they ended up doing a full hysterectomy , and I did a short round of chemo. I’ve passed the one-year mark, and the two-year mark is coming up, so I’ll have to fly home pretty soon for tests. But it’s really all good. Now the problem is my hormones are all screwed up, and I have become pretty anemic going through it all. You mix that with already low blood pressure and it makes things interesting some days. When I don’t sleep or eat well, it doesn’t help. I’m sorry I made you worry. I know my dad can be kind of obnoxious about it. We had a deal about my coming here, and he’s not keeping up his end.”
    “What deal is that?”
    “If I take care of myself, he isn’t supposed to tell anybody about all of this. Giving me crap in front of people is the same thing as him telling people.”
    “And…you stayed up all night last night.”
    Her friend’s worry lines deepened, but she liked that Molly didn’t back down. Her actions, the way they were speaking to each other wasn’t any different than it had been moments ago. Even a subtle change in her body language would have been blaringly obvious to Emery. Except there was nothing to suggest she was going to pity her. Emery took a breath; there was no way Molly would understand the importance of the gift she’d given her. As backward as it sounded, having her friend get on to her, was the perfect response in Emery’s mind.
    “I know.”
    She looked down. She couldn’t explain why she’d done it. The bike didn’t need that much work. Once she’d gotten started, it had gone pretty fast. But she kept working anyway, piddling, organizing, re-doing things she’d already done. She just needed to be with the bike. Needed to feel like her old self again.
    “Please don’t worry about me. I’m fine now.”
    “Well, too late, friend.” Molly moved to Emery’s side on the vinyl bench, scooted in next to her, and hugged her. “Can I ask you something else…you don’t have to answer.”
    “Sure.”
    “With the hysterectomy, then…”
    Emery answered, knowing the question that Molly left hanging unasked.
    “Nope. That