Chapter 9

Mike arrived at the nurses’ station to ask where Carrie’s room was. After looking up the room number to Carrie’s room, the aide on duty offered to show Mike to Carrie’s room.

Along the way, Mike was a little nervous, not really knowing what to expect when he saw Carrie. But as soon as he saw her, she lit up like a ray of light.

“Mike, you came?” Carrie said happily.

“Your friend, Terrie’s husband, told me you were here. What happened?”

“I don’t really know. I felt fine.” Carrie explained. “I thought it was just a cold from being snowed in at the cabin. But then I passed out at work.”

“Has your doctor told you anything?”

“No, they haven’t yet been in to give me information on the tests they ran. I guess they haven’t come back yet?”

“Do you want me to wait here with you?” Mike asked.

“That would be great.” Carrie said.

Mike and Carrie talked over what happened between them and both came to the conclusion that they missed each other and wanted to embark on a relationship.

About a half hour later, Carrie’s doctor came into her room to give her details of her tests. The doctor’s grim face told Carrie the news wasn’t good.

Chapter 10

“So, what’s the news?” Carrie said, biting her lip waiting for the doctor to tell her what was wrong.

“I’m afraid to tell you that it’s not good.” the doctor began.

“I gathered that from the expression on your face, doctor.”

“You have breast cancer, but it’s in the early stages, so with proper treatment, you could come out of this, although not unscathed.” the doctor told Carrie and Mike.

“Tell me what my best chance is, doctor.” Carrie said trying to be brave, as Mike held her hand.

“Well, we’ll need to do a biopsy to see if we can remove the tumor.” The doctor explained. “If what I anticipate is correct, I should be able to remove the tumor.”

“And if you can’t?” Carrie gulped at the worst case scenario, with Mike by her side, listening.

“If that doesn’t work, we’ll try chemotherapy.”

“Well, thank you, doctor, for being honest.” Carrie told him.

Carrie sat back in her bed and reflected on what the doctor told her. Mike was overcome with grief over not being there for Carrie, he sobbed.

It was Carrie who reassured him that it was okay. They hugged each other out of comfort. Mike vowed to be there to support Carrie during this hard time.

Chapter 11

With Mike’s support, Carrie underwent the biopsy. Mike was there through everything that Carrie went through. During this time, Mike and Carrie’s bond deepened as they worked through the trials of Carrie’s diagnosis. Mike took time off from work to attend every doctor visit Carrie had.

When the doctor came back and told Carrie that they couldn’t get all the tumor, Carrie had to undergo several weeks of chemotherapy. Mike was there for every one of her treatments, no matter how sick Carrie got. Although Carrie didn’t think so, Mike thought that Carrie was more beautiful during this time.

After weeks of chemotherapy treatments, Carrie perseverance prevailed when the doctor came in after a particularly grueling chemo treatment to give Carrie and Mike the good news.

“How was it doc?” Carrie asked, sick from her last chemo.

“Well, I have good news.” the doctor announced to Carrie and Mike.

“What is it?” Carrie said hopeful.

“I checked your last blood count and the cancer is in remission.”

“Remission?” Carrie said happily as she squeezed Mike’s hand.

“Yes. I don’t know how long it will last, but at least I can give you this news.”

“Thank you, doctor.” Carrie told him.

“Don’t thank me. You did most of the work.” the doctor said. “I’ll want to see you back in a week to see how you’re doing.”

“You mean, I can go home?” Carrie said happily.

“As soon as I draw up your release papers, you can go home.” the doctor told Carrie and Mike.

Carrie and Mike relished in the doctor’s news that her cancer was in remission.

“Carrie, will you do me the honor and have dinner with me?” Mike asked Carrie out.

“Yes, I will go to dinner with you.” Carrie happily agreed.

Mike took Carrie home after she was released from the hospital. As soon as she got home, she hit Terrie’s button on her cell and told her the good news about her cancer and her date with Mike. Terrie congratulated her friend on beating cancer and her date with Mike.

After she hung up her call with Terrie, Carrie went to take a long, hot bath before Mike came to take her to dinner. Carrie was ready when Mike showed up at her apartment to pick her up for their dinner date. She looked lovelier Mike could barely take his eyes off her as he escorted her to the limo he rented for their night.

Their date was a success that Carrie deserved after her cancer ordeal. Mike wanted to give Carrie the best night of her life to celebrate her recovery.

But after their date, Mike still had one secret he was keeping until just the right moment when he could get things together.