Uchexxy:
2yrs no tidy and Ben dey vex for him dad? anyway him still small. he is probably feeling insecure though...........keep up d good work queennelly

yea thanks

Bestlily:
Am loving this...

owkay .....

Maryclaire1:
Itz lyk am reading harlequin or sillihoute novel.ur really good nelly.kip it up,thumbs up.

wow thanks.
they are my favorite ......

"Hannah is special," he said.
"I hope you are right. What do you want to do about Ben and how is Ruby taking the news?"
"She couldn't be happier. She told me she'd been wishing for Hannah to be my girlfriend because she thought we were both lonely."
Despite everything, the memory brought a smile to his mouth. At least one of his kids was happy. "I'll talk to Ben," he said.
"Maybe he should come stay with me for a couple of days, let him cool down."
"No. We're a family. He can't opt out when it suits him. We have to work this through."
"Good to hear."
"Glad you approve of something," he said drily.
"Joe....."
"I know. And thanks for the call. I appreciate the heads up. And the lecture."
"Anytime." his mother said, and he knew she was smiling.
They talked a little more before he ended the call. He sat for a while, going over the conversation again in his mind. Then he pushed himself to his feet and made his way to Ben's room.
His son was lying on his bed, his eyes flicked toward Joe then away again.
"Could we talk for a minute?" Joe asked.
Ben ignored him. Joe walked to the bed, "I asked you a question."
"I didn't hear you."
Joe decided to let the lie slide. "I just got off the phone with your grandmother. She told me you wanted to come stay with her."
"That's right".
"Is that really what you want?" You don't want to be here with me and Ruby anymore?"
Ben shrugged, avoiding eye contact. "At least Mama doesn't lie to me."
"I've explained to you why i felt it was best to hold off on telling you and Ruby what was happening between me and Hannah. You're old enough to understand that there are different kinds of lies. If you tell a lie to hurt someone, or to cover up something bad, that's wrong. But what I did was to protect you and your sister."
Ben simply stared at him, unresponsive. Joe sighed. Clearly there would be not getting through to him tonight.
"Look, all i can say is that I love you kids and you're my first priority, always. I'm sorry if what i did hurt your feelings. But that doesn't mean you can milk this forever. You're not going to your grandmother's, okay?"
Ben looked as though he was going to say something for a moment, then he shrugged. "You're the boss."
Not the most satisfactory conversation Joe had ever had, but it would have to do. He couldn't force his son to feel one way or another. He would simply have to wait him out. Ben had liked Hannah before Joe had started dating her, and Joe was confident his son would come aroudn eventually. It would take time, and patience. He crossed his fingers that Hannah was prepared to ride out the storm with him.

Two weeks later, Hannah waited on the front porch of Joe's house for him to return from dropping the kids at school. He was running a little late and she checked her watch. If she got the job she was interviewing for this afternoon, it would be the end of their early morning meetings.
The sound of a car engine brought her head up and she smiled as Joe pulled into the driveway.
"Sorry, I got held up with one of Ruby's teachers," he said as he exited the car.
He kissed her deeply, she leaned against his broad chest. This was the one thing in her world that was absolutely right: being with Joe, holding him, touching him, being touched by him. She'd never had a more considerate or passionate lover.
"You okay?" he asked when he broke the kiss.
"Yeah, of course."
"I've got an appointment at ten o'clock with my lawyer." he said.
She checked her watch. It was nine thirty.
"We're on the clock, pay attention," he said as they moved into the house.
"I love your eyes," she said. mostly to stop herself from saying something else.
He smiled. Then he tensed as he caught sight of the clock on the DVD player.
"Shit. I'm going to be late," he said. He rolled off the couch and onto the floor.
Hannah laughed as she helped him round up his underwear and shoes, buckling his belt for him as he pulled on his shirt. He left her to lock up the house, kissing her one last time before bolting for his car.

**************************************************

Over the next week, Joe swung between two states --- happiness and frustrated sadness. It seemed crazy to him that both states could coexist, but it was the reality of his life. When he and Hannah were alone, he felt invicible. She was sexy, strong, smart, he couldn't stop thinking about her. Then there was Ben. Angry, silent, rude.
It has been three weeks since Hannah returned and they started dating. Ruby was happy, each night she trekked next door to help Hannah with her chores. Ben never did. He'd taken to spending time in his room, except when Joe forced him to join them at the dinner table. The worst thing was that Joe felt so powerless. He'd tried patience. He'd tried communication. He'd tried bribery, to his shame. Nothing got through to his sullen son. Ben had effectively withdrawn from the family.
The tension within him came to a head when Hannah was over for dinner Tuesday night. Ben opened the door to her knock and walked away without acknowledging her at all.
"Ben!" Joe said sharply, but his son just kept walking up the hallway.
"That's it. I've had enough." He moved towards the hallway, but Hannah caught his arm.
"Wait five minutes before you go after him and say something you might regret."
Hannah might not want to acknowledge it, but Ben's attitude was getting worse, not better, He was becoming openly, aggresively rude, something Joe would not tolerate. Ben didn't have to like what is happening between Joe and Hannah, but he had to respect his father's decision, and he needed to respect Hannah.
Ruby was standing in the kitchen doorway, a drink in her hand.
Hannah cleared her throat. "Um, hi, Ruby."
"When are you going to stay the night?" Ruby asked.
Hannah made a choking noise.
"Ruby," Joe said, amused despite himself.
"I'm only asking what everyone else is thinking," Ruby said matter of factly.
"Everyone? Who's everyone? Joe asked.
"Grandma, and Aunty Robyn next door."
"Staying the night isn't something people should rush into," Joe said.
"Why not? I thought you liked each other. It would be cool to have Hannah here for breakfast." Ruby said.
There was a sound from the hallway and Joe swung around to see his son standing in the living room doorway, his angry gaze fixed on Ruby.
"What is wrong with you? Ben snarled. "why are you trying so hard to replace mom?"
Hannah visible flinched and Ruby went pale as she stared at her brother.
"I'm not. I'm not trying to replace Mommy." she saidi. She looked at Joe, stricken.
"Yes, you are. Wanting Hannah to be in that mother-daughter thing with you, always sucking up to her and trying to get Dad to like her more. What do you think MOm would say if she could see you?"
Ben was white with anger, his hands curled into a fist by his side.
"Ben," Joe said, stepping forward.
Ben swung toward him. "You're just as bad. Don't you care that she's not here? Don't you even think about her anymore?
"Of course I do, we all do....."
"No, you don't. You just want to be with Hannah all the time and forget about everything else. You don't even care that she's dead."
"You know better than to talk like that," Joe said.
Hannah stepped forward. "Ben, the last thing I want to do is try to take your mom's place. My dad left when I was about Ruby's age, and I know it's not the same as dying, but I missed him like crazy."
Ben refused to even look at her, keeping his gaze fixed on his father.
"I don't want to try and take away your memories of your mom or replace her or anything like that, I promise," Hannah said, "I just like spending time with you and your dad and Ruby,"
Joe watched carefully, trying to read his son's response, not sure if he should intervene or not.
"You want more than that," Ben said. "I'm not stupid."
"I swear, I just want to hand with you guys. No agenda. Couldn't we at least try to be friends?" She asked and reached out to place a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
Ben looked at her and shrugged his shoulder, roughly brushing Hannah's hand away. "I told you, you're never going to be my mom."
Ruby was across the room in a flash, throwing herself between Ben and Hannah, reaching out to push her brother away.
"Stop it! You're going to ruin everything! You're going to make Hannah hate us and then she'll go away and we'll never see her again."
"You're a traitor," Ben yelled. "A stinking traitor." He shoved Ruby with all his might. She staggered backwards, off balance then fell onto her outstretched left arm.
Her wail of pain made the hairs on the back of JOe's neck stand on end. He was at her side in seconds.
"It hurts. It hurts so much," she sobbed.
"I think it's broken," JOe said.
Ben stood frozen, so pale Joe thought he was going to pass out." I didn't mean it. I didn't mean it. " Ben bolted for the door.
"Ben!" Joe shouted. It was dark outside and the last thing he needed was to have to chase Ben down when they had to get Ruby to the hospital.
But Ben was gone, the door banging loudly behind him.
"I'll go after him," Hannah said. "You need to get Ruby to a doctor."
He nodded briefly, giving Ruby a reassuring squeeze. Hannah headed for the door and he gave his daughter all his attention.
By the time he had Ruby in the car and ready to go, Hannah had returned.
"No sign of him, I'm sorry. I have no idea how he disappeared so quickly," she said helplessly.
"I need to go," he said.
"I'll find him," Hannah promised.
He looked at her, remembering his mother's warning. He figured tonight definetely qualified under the tough category, but she showed no signs of flinching.
"Thank you, he said.
She simply shook her head. "You don't have to thank me."
"Love you," he said, stepping close to press a quick kiss to her lips before turning to slide into the drivers seat.
She looked flustered for a moment, then her mouth lifted at the corner. "Nice timing."
"Figured I'd better get in while the getting was good."
She looked as though she wanted to say more, but she pushed his car door closed. "Call me from the hospital, let me know how Ruby is."
"I will."

CHAPTER ELEVEN

LOVE YOU.......
Joe's word echoed in Hannah's head as she walked the streets searching for Ben. How typical of Joe to blurt it out like that at her casually as goodbye or hello or have a nice day.
Okay, it hadn't been that casual but it caught her by suprise. And she'd been very aware of Ruby in the backseat, her face filled with pain. Hardly the moment to tell him the feeling was mutual and that she adored him, body and soul.
She checked her watch. She'd been searching for nearly forty minutes now. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Joe's name showed on the screen.
"How is she?" she asked as she took the call.
"Broken bone in her wrist. When she felt on her arm like that I was pretty sure that'd be the case.
"But she's okay?"
"She's fine. Getting a cast put on as we speak.
"I've checked at the school or local shops. Ben's nowhere to be found." she reported.
"All right. I'll come join you once I've got Ruby home."
"Mom's there to look after her."
"Good, that'll save me from calling my mom."
"If we don't find him soon, we should probably think about calling the police," she said.
"Yeah, I know." his voice was heavy with worry.
They agreed to communicate more when he got close to the house, then Hannah ended the call. She went towards the direction of the highway. She was passing the local playground when she caught a flash of something out of the corner of lher eye. She stopped in her tracks. Ben had been wearing a white T shirt.She peered into the park.
"Ben? Are you there? she called.
She held her breath waiting. Nothing but silence greeted her. She walked further into the park and saw there was a log bridge and she saw a pale shape huddled in the darkness.
Ben. It had to be.
She ran fastly to the bridge and dropped to her knees.
"Ben. Thank God. Are you okay?"
He flinched away as she has half expected. "Go away."
"I can't do that, I'm sorry. Your dad's worried sick about you."
Silence.
"Ben, why don't you come out and we can go home and talk? No one's angry with you, if that's what you're worried about."
Silence. Then sobbing.
Hannah realized he was crying. Had been crying for a while.
"Ben. Its okay." she said.
She crawled a few feet inside the pipe so that she was sitting next to him. She wanted to put her arm around him very badly but doubted he'd tolerate it.
"Are you worried about Ruby? Is that it? Because I just spoke to your dad and he said she was going to be fine/"
Ben's sobbing increased.
"Come on, let's go home, she said again. "Don't you want to go home?"
He was crying so hard she almost didn't hear what he said.
"Can't."
"Why can't you come home, Ben?"
His voice was broken and small and Hannah had to strain to hear his reply. "Because it's my fault. They'll all hate me once they know."
She frowned. "I haven't known your dad and Ruby as long as you have, but I know that there is no way they could ever hate you, BEn. They love you. Absolutely they love you."
Ben pressed his hands to his face. "That's only because they don't know."
"I'm sure that whatever it is, it's not as bad as you think."
"It is. It's the worst."
"Would it help if you told me? Maybe you'd feel better if you got it off your chest."
He shook his head.
"What if I promised not to tell anyone else unless you give me permission?
Ben sniffed a few times, thinking her offer over. "You can't tell anyone."
"I swear it will be our secret."
There was a long silence. "The day Mom died, I was supposed to get a lift home from karate with George's mom, but George and I had a fight during class and I called MOm and asked her to come get me."
"If i hadn't asked her to pick me up, she wouldn't have been in the accident. It's my fault she died," Ben said brokenly.
Bloody hell.
For a moment Hannah was filled with a huge sadness. Joe's son had been carrying this misplaced guilt around with him for two long years. No wonder he'd been so angry and sad and withdrawn.
"See, you hate me now. And Dad and Ruby will hate me if they find out."
Tears pricked her eyes, for a moment she was overwhelmed. "Ben, I want you to look at me."
His head came up. His face was streaked with tears and his lip trembled with emotion. She held his eye.
"What happened was not your fault. It was an accident. No one could have known that it would happen."
"But she wouldn't have even been there if it hadn't been for me."
"Accidents happen all the time, for no reason," she said. "I know that's kind of scary to think about, but it's true. You can't take responsibility for an accident."
Ben frowned in the darkness. He shifted and sniffed , wiping his nose on the sleeve of his T shirt.
"Has anyone ever told you how gross that is?" she said lightly.
As she'd hoped, it shocked a laugh out of him. "Yeah. Grandma. All the time."
She pulled out her phone. "I'm going to call your dad, let him know I've found you so he can stop worrying. Okay?"
She kept the call short, letting JOe know they were on thier way home. When she ended the call, she simply sat in the silence for a few seconds.
"You ready to go?"
"I guess."
They crawled out. They were both silent as they walked through the park to the street. Ben didn't speak up again until they were about to turn into their street.
"Are you goint to tell him?"
"Your dad? No. I promised you I wouldn't, and I won't. But I think you should."
They both started walking again, Ben's face in concentration as he thought over what she'd said.
"If you want me to, I could tell him with you. Would that make it easier?" she said.
Ben didn't respond. They walked towards the house.
"Okay," Ben said so quietly.
She glanced at him as Joe walked out onto the front porch. Ben stopped in his tracks and they stared at each other across the space of a few feet.
"You okay?" Joe asked, his vioce rough with emotion.
Ben nodded. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt Ruby," Ben said.
"Your sister is fine, although she's probably going to drive you crazy asking you to sign her cast."
"There is something I need to tell you. It's about Mom," BEn said.
"Okay. Why don't we go inside?"
He started to herd Ben toward the house, but Ben hung back and glanced over his shoulder.
"Hannah, too," he said.
It was the smallest of shifts, but it pierced her heart.
"It's okay, I'm coming. she said with a watery smile.
Then she followed Joe and Ben into the house.

infact queennelly am short of words. All i would just say is ride on miss

stuff46:
infact queennelly am short of words. All i would just say is ride on miss

don't be speechless. .....say something

Queennelly:


don't be speechless. .....say something

serious just don't have to say

Hmmm,flawless work so far,I feel so enthusiastic when I read this like this,I don't know what I would have done if I was in Hannah and ben's shoes

Costlybabe:
Hmmm,flawless work so far,I feel so enthusiastic when I read this like this,I don't know what I would have done if I was in Hannah and ben's shoes

I was in Ben 's shoe 10 years ago.
I was really antagonist about it... . thanks to God me and my siblings scaled through the burning furnace .....

it wasn't pleasant

Joe paused in the hallway as he shut the door to his son's room. He should have pushed harder earlier, asked the right questions. He thought. Ben has briefed him about his misery and grief concerning the death of his mother.
He walked slowly to the living room. Hannah was on the couch and she looked up when he entered.
"How's he doing?"
"He's asleep."
"Don't give yourself a hard time," she said quietly. "You're a great dad, JOe. One of the best. But you are not a mind reader.
"You didn't know him before the accident. I should have seen it was something more than Beth dying."
"Tell me, how is a grieving kid supposed to act? Blaming yourself isn't going to get anyone anywhere or do Ben any favours, by the way."
"Really?"
"Really."
"I love you, Hannah," he whispered.
She went very still.
"somehting wrong?" he asked.
"No. You just keep taking me by surprise, that's all."
She wanted to say it.....but still couldn't .
"You mean it's a surprise to you that I'm crazy about you?"
"Yes. NO. You know what I mean. I've been biding my time, trying to find the right opportunity, the right moment, and you just threw it out there....."
She stared at him for a moment. Then she took a deep breath, her eyes very serious as she looked into his, "I love you, JOe. Happy now?"
"Yes."
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
She smiled and lay her head back on his chest. "I'm just going to close my eyes for a few minutes. Do not let me fall asleep. Because I can't stay the night yet. Not until Ben is absolutely okay with all of this."
He smiled to himself. Right now he had Hannah in his arms,even if for a few hours. It was enough to be going on with. "I won't. I know." he said.

********************************************

Six weeks later after Ben's big blowup. Christmas was just around the corner. Hannah convinced her mother to help her go shopping for Ben, Ruby and Joe. She had tasked Ben and Ruby to write down a list for her. And Ruby insisted that she is over dolls but Hannah knew better. She smiled as she remembered Ben's earnestness as he handed over his list to her. He'd been seeing a counselor for about a month and the change in him was nothing short of miraculous. It was though a huge burden has been lifted from his shoulder --- which, of course, it had. Best of all was when he looked at her, or laughed at her jokes, or came over to help her around the house.
"Hannah , over here. Come and look at this one."
Hannah looked up and saw her mother in the women's department, a flashy red bra and pantie set dangling from one hand.
"Mom, we're not shopping for me, or you, for that matter," she said.
"It's so beautiful, Hannah," her mother called again. "At least come and look at it. If I had your figure I'd buy it in a snap."
She collected it and checked the price tag. "Jeez Mom, No way am I paying so much for so little."
"I'll buy it for you. My chritmas present to you." her mother gave Hannah a wink.
Hannah was a little embrassed about how much she was looking forward to Christmas day. They were going to have a big sit-down dinner with her mother, Joe, the kids and his mother. Between them, she and her mom and JOe's mom were going to cook the meal. It was going to be a real family day, her first christmas with JOe.
She fumbled with the bra straps until they were comfortable. She laughed a little when she saw how sexy the bra looked when it was on.
"Oh, Hannah. Isn't it wonderful. Joe will love it. Not another word. I'm buying it," her mother insisted.
Hannah shrugged. She reached behind her to undo the clasp and felt a stab of pain near her left armpit.
"Ow!" she pulled the bra off.
"Give it to me and I'll take it to the register," her mother said.
Hannah frowned as she felt something small and firm beneath her fingers.
"What's wrong?" her mother asked.
Hannah met her mother's eyes in the mirror. "There's a lump."
The smile faded from her mother's eyes. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. It's probably nothing.
"Let me feel. I have more experience with this than you. My breasts are twenty five years older than yours."
Hannah sighed and turned. "Can you feel it.?
"Yes."
Her mother was frowning now, "When did you check your breasts last?"
"I don't know. Five months ago? Six?"
"I want you to get this checked out, Hannah"
"Fine. I"ll go see Dr. Nelson."
Her mother pulled out her cell phone. "I'll see if she can fit you in tomorrow."
Hannah listened as her mother spoke to the receptionist at the medical centre, making an apppointment.
"Happy not?" she asked when her mother ended the call.
"Not yet. But I will be."


********************************************

The next day, Hannah greeted her doctor with a smile. She explained about finding the lump."I feel stupid even mentioning this," she said.
"Why don't you step behind the screen and take your bra and top off and we'll take a look."
Hannah lay down and Dr. Nelson stepped toward the examination table.
"sorry if my hands are cold," she said before laying her hands on Hannah's breast.
"Okay, it's definetely a lump. But do you feel any Pain when I press it.?
"No, not at all. That's good, right?"
Dr. Nelson smiled. In most cases it's not painful in younger women.
Hannah frowned. "So is it good or bad that I have no pain?"
"i suspect it's neither here nor there. I'm just going to check your lymph nodes."
Hannah lay still as Dr. Nelson checked her armpit and neck, then examined her left breast.
"Well, Hannah, I'm going to send you for an ultrasound. There's not doubt that this lump is new and therefore worthy of investigation."
"Okay. When should i book the test?"
"I'll ask my receptionist to arrange one for you with a radiologist we know.
Hannah dressed in a daze, her cold hands fumbling with the catch on her bra. She'd expected to be reassured and sent home, not sent off for tests. She waited in the reception area for the receptionist to get off the phone with the radiologist.
"They can see you tomorrow morning. How is that."
"That should be fine." Hannah said.
She went back to work and spent the evening watching DVDs with Ruby and Ben. She hustled the kids to bed at eight thirty, aware they had school the next day. Ben wanted to read for a little while and she left him to it, figuring he'd probably pass out with his book in his hand and she could go in twenty minutes and turn the light out.
Joe came home late. Tired and smelling of beer and cigarette smoke. It seemed pointless to tell him what happened at the medical centre.So instead she went home to stare at the ceiling and count the hours till morning.



********************************************

The radiologist was a friendly older woman who patiently expalined the ultrasound procedure for Hannah before asking her to UnCloth and lie on a table with her arm behind her head. Cool gel was smoothed over Hannah's skin and the ultrasound wand pressed against her breast.
"There is an unusual mass" the radiologist said slowly.
Hannah had to swallow before she could speak again. "Is it cancer?"
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that just by looking. We need to take a biopsy. But we can do that now."
Hannah nodded dumbly.
The radiologist started to assemble a tray with needles and other medical tools, she used the ultrasound to target the lump in Hannah's breast and then drew some cells out of it using a fine needle and smeare it onto a glass plate.
"These go off to the lab not. You should have the results within forty-eight hours."
More waiting. Hannah tried to smile but failed.She dressed slowly and rode to the garage. For the rest of the day she threw herself into her work, trying to drive fear and uncertainty away through sheer willpower.
She was inspecting a Range Rover the following morning day when her phone vibrated in her pocket. She closed her eyes when she heard the Doctor's voice. There was no reason for her doctor to call her before her scheduled appointment tomorrow afternoon unless there was bad news.
"Hannah, I'd like you to come in today if possible." Dr. Nelson said. Her voice was calm but serious.
A great fear filled up inside Hannah. "Yes. I think so. I need to talk to my boss."
Hannah ended the call. She felt dizzy. Her stomach was light; it was hard to breathe.
She had cancer. That was the only reason Dr. Nelson could possibly want her to come in so urgently.
She took permission and her boss gave her the afternoon off. She rode to the clinic.
"As you've probably guessed, your tests have come back positive Hannah. It's the most common form of breast cancer. Basically, it means the cancer started in one of your milk ducts and has spread into the surrounding breast tissue."
"Am I going to die?"
"You're young, the lump is small. You have every chance of surviving." Dr. Nelson said.
Hannah stared at her. She'd been looking for a one word response --- NO. she hadn't gotten it.
"Hannah, is there someone I can call for you? Maybe someone who can come and give you a lift home?"
Joe's face filled her mind and her eyes flooded with tears. "I'll be fine. I just need to get my head together."
"Are you sure?:"
"Yes."
"I'm referring you to an excellent surgeon. He works at the Faith Care Hospital in the city. He's very highly regarded."
By the time she left the doctor's office she had an appointment to see a surgeon on MOnday of the following week.


QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION.....

WAS IT RIGHT FOR HANNAH TO HIDE HER TEST RESULT (CANCER) FROM JOE?
CAN YOU PREDICT THE END OF THIS STORY?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CHARACTERS?
RUBY
BEN
JOE
ROBYN
WHAT SIGNIFICANT ROLES DID ANY OF THEM PLAY THAT GOT TO YOU?


Lets go .................Thanks for participating........

Hidden her test result from Joe isn't the best thing to do i believe they are dating. He can be a helping hand in the trying time.

aprilwise:
Hidden her test result from Joe isn't the best thing to do i believe they are dating. He can be a helping hand in the trying time.

Remember that Joe had fell the pain of lost... she is concerned about his feeling also.

Queen,why on earth will you allow Hannah to have cancer,it's not fair oo

Hmmmm, queennelly u just scatter this sweet story now. cancer ke? anyways I think she should tell Joe as soon as they see, I know she cares about his feelings too but even if there is a slight chance, it's something they should do together. I'd rather know from my gf than finding out from another source (robyn). my 2 cents though

Costlybabe:
Queen,why on earth will you allow Hannah to have cancer,it's not fair oo

dear that's the twist in the story. ... there are always two sides to a coin. . lets see how a silver linen will show forth in the cloud.

Uchexxy:
Hmmmm, queennelly u just scatter this sweet story now. cancer ke? anyways I think she should tell Joe as soon as they see, I know she cares about his feelings too but even if there is a slight chance, it's something they should do together. I'd rather know from my gf than finding out from another source (robyn). my 2 cents though

nice input. . .. scatter kwa no I didn't. . . thanks. but if she dies (I mean Hannah) do u think Joe will ever believe in love again?

hannah should talk to joe about it. It would help her

all your other question queennelly i would have loved to answer buh would drail the thread.

But i thnk nothinq should happen to ruby (she is favourite xter)

stuff46:
hannah should talk to joe about it. It would help her

all your other question queennelly i would have loved to answer buh would drail the thread.

But i thnk nothinq should happen to ruby (she is favourite xter)

thanks for a wonderful answer .....

Queennelly:


if she dies (I mean Hannah) do u think Joe will ever believe in love again?

hell NO!!! . if he gets married it'd just be for d sake of getting married. if she dies even me I'll hang my boot.

Uchexxy:
hell NO!!! . if he gets married it'd just be for d sake of getting married. if she dies even me I'll hang my boot.

alright. thanks

Wow! I must confess, this is P-E-R-F-E-C-T Queennelly, you just opened my heart with this stowie... Well, Hannah, hiding the test result would just be another reptition of Ben's secret action, and the outcome of the cancer would expose everything, hence she'll have only herself to blame plus Ben aint gonna like that... Ruby? Damn! I wish she were real, I'd have love to have her as a kid, she'd try her best to always lighten up Hannah's face despite the problem. And joe?! Pls don't let's kill that open-hearted simple gentleman, he needs hannah so there got to be a quick solution to that cancer thing. Its your story though, just bring it out as perfect as it has been. *kisses*

susrite:
Wow! I must confess, this is P-E-R-F-E-C-T Queennelly, you just opened my heart with this stowie... Well, Hannah, hiding the test result would just be another reptition of Ben's secret action, and the outcome of the cancer would expose everything, hence she'll have only herself to blame plus Ben aint gonna like that... Ruby? Damn! I wish she were real, I'd have love to have her as a kid, she'd try her best to always lighten up Hannah's face despite the problem. And joe?! Pls don't let's kill that open-hearted simple gentleman, he needs hannah so there got to be a quick solution to that cancer thing. Its your story though, just bring it out as perfect as it has been. *kisses*

wow....superb. thanks dear .....we won't break Joe's heart . he has suffered enough.

update coming up tomorrow morning. thanks once again for participating.

sweetjulie, caught you!

susrite:
sweetjulie, caught you!

sweetjulie

susrite:
sweetjulie, caught you!

sweetjulie?

Just wen I tot am getting a happily eva after soon, u changed it.she shld definitely tell him.itz ruby 4 me anyday,anytym she brings dis smile 2 my face weneva am reading abt her.kiping my finger cross n hoping 4 d best 4 dem.nice update nelly.

Maryclaire1:
Just wen I tot am getting a happily eva after soon, u changed it.she shld definitely tell him.itz ruby 4 me anyday,anytym she brings dis smile 2 my face weneva am reading abt her.kiping my finger cross n hoping 4 d best 4 dem.nice update nelly.

yeah....lol.. Ruby (Red) she is the light all the way .....

thanks for your input.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Hannah got home, but instead of parking her bike and going inside to tell Joe and her mother and the rest of her world that she might be dying, she rode straight past. She wasn't ready to go home yet.
She rode hard and fast down the highway until she hit the beach. She stared out at the ocean. After a while she sat, tears leaked from the corners of her eyes as she watched the ever moving ocean.
It's not fair. I'm too young. I just found Joe. . . she thought as she went from anger to despair to fear. Her life has just started coming together. She had a future planned out, with Joe and Ben and Ruby at her side. This wasn't suppose to happen.
Finally her thoughts settled. She needed to get her self together. She was about to take on the battle of her life. And she was going to do it alone.
She sobbed as she ackowledged her decision for the first time. She wasn't sure when she'd made it. When she decided not to tell Joe about the lump on that first day? When she lay in bed next to Ruby the other night? It didn't really matter. The fact remained that there was no way she could put Joe and his kids through the trauma of surgery and chemo and God knows what else. NO Way.
She waited until the tears dried on her cheeks, going over and over what had to happen next in her mind. Finally she scrubbed her face with her hands and stood.
It was time to go do what she had to be done.

*********************************************

Joe stepped from his car. He frowned when he saw the kids hadn't drawn the curtains to keep the afternoon sun out as he'd asked them before leaving the house. Great, now the living room would be like a sauna all night. (mostly found in China-Korean)
"Hey, Daddy," Ruby said when he entered the living room.
The kids were sprawled on the floor with Hannah playing cards.
"Hannah and Ben and I have been playing card and Hannah says that cheating is wrong but I can't win otherwise," Ruby explained.
"She's right. Cheating is wrong." he said.
Ruby pouted.
"Told you," Ben said triumphantly. "You want to win, you got to play smarter, that's all."
Joe reached for an envelope in his back pocked. "I have something I wanted to discuss with you guys," he said, his gaze taking in all of them.Ben and Ruby stared up at him, their faces expectant. Hannah's face was still down on her cards.
"Is this about christmas?" Ruby asked.
"NO, this is about Easter. How do you guys feel about a trip to MOvie world and Sea world on the Gold Coast?" he asked.
"For real?" Ben asked, his face splitting into a big smile.
"Yeah, for real. Got the four plane tickets right here." he glanced at Hannah to check her reaction. There was a look on her face he couldn't quite define.
Ruby and Ben whooped with delight. He glance at Hannah waiting for her to smile, but the smile didn't come.
She glanced up at him, her expression blank. "The trip sounds great." But there was lack of enthusiasm in her voice.
"You okay?" he asked.
She met his eyes briefly. "We need to talk. Later when the kids are in bed."
"Okay." He stared at her for a long time, then nodded.
He sent the kids off to bed at eight thirty. He tucked Ruby into bed and took Ben's flashlight so he couldn't read under the covers. The he returned to the living room.
He stopped inside the doorway and she looked up at him. They stared at each other for a long moment.
"What's going on?"
"I can't go to Gold Coast with you," she said.
"I know I should have checked with you first before purchasing the tickets."
"It's not about that."
She took a deep breath and he realized she was shaking.
"Hannah." he caught her hands and held it in both of his. Her fingers were cold, her grip tight.
"I have breast cancer. I'm scheduled to see a surgeon on Monday."
He stared at her, barely able to understand what she was saying. "What...." "You're too young," he said.
"Jesus, Hannah," . He didn't know what else to say, he dragged her into his arms. He could feel the fear in her trembling through her body, and he held her even more tighter.
"You'll be okay," he said."You're seeing the surgeon on Monday, is that what you said? I've got a meeting with the bank, but I'll shift it so I can come with you."
Her eyes filled with tears, and she blinked rapidly until they were gone. "That's really sweet of you."
He frowned. "You don't want me to come with you?"
"It's not about what I want. I don't think it would be smart."
"What do you mean? If you're worried I'll hassle the doctor to ask stupid questions, I promise to sit there quietly. Whatever you need from me."
"You're such a good man." "I don't think we should see each other anymore," she said.
"No. Hannah...."
She held up her hand. "Hear me out. I'm going to get sick, JOe. Chemo, radiation therapy...I'm probably going to lose my hair and I'm almost certainly going to lose my breast."
"I don't give a damn about any of that stuff."
"I know. But I do, and I refuse to put you through it."
"Isn't that my decision to make?"
"And what about Ruby and Ben?" she asked. "Is it their decision too? I might die, Joe. You really want to put your kids through that?"
He flinched. "That's not going to happen." He stared at her. He couldn't believe they were even having this conversation. Just this morning he'd bought tickets for the four of them to holiday in Queensland together; now Hannah was telling him she might be dying.
"No." he said again. Shaking his head.
She stood. He stared at her.
"Where are you going?"
"HOme."
"Like hell. We haven't even begun to discuss this," he said standing up as well.
"I'm being smart. This is the best thing for your kids, Joe." she turned away.
He grabbed her arm. "I get a say in this, too."
"For what it's worth, it's been amazing. A gift. Thanks for sharing your family with me."
Before he could say another word, Hannah was gone, the front door clicking closed behind her. He stared at the spot where she'd stood for a long seconds, a thousand thoughts and feelings churning inside him.
Hannah had cancer. And she'd just cut him loose.

i cant say anything i can only sing and in psquare voice too *i like it ooooohh i like it* lovely story so far

unlimitedbosco:
i cant say anything i can only sing and in psquare voice too *i like it ooooohh i like it* lovely story so far

thanks.

Mmmmm. this totally got me emotional. don't even know what to expect next, queennelly pls come and clear this feeling