It was painful to hear her crying over the phone and not be able to hold her. “I’m coming.”
“It’s probably nothing.”
“Yes. But even still, you’re scared and crying and I want to be there with you.” Viktor then had an unsettling thought. “Don’t you want me there with you?”
“Of course I do.”
“Why did you hide it from me?”
Amanda tried to clear her nose and dry her eyes. “I just didn’t want you to worry. Especially if it turned out to be nothing.”
“So you were just going to suffer through this alone? To spare me from feeling a little anxious?”
“I know what you went through with your mother … and you all but accused my job of giving me cancer.” Her voice broke and she couldn’t continue.
“Amanda. If you have cancer, I will be by your side through it all. You will quit your job. Do not fight me on that,” he stated firmly. “I will pay for your insurance, treatments, all your expenses, including your mother. The only thing I want on your mind is getting better.”
“I really hope I don’t have cancer,” she cried.
“That makes two of us.” He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “Amanda, honey. Don’t think the worst.”
“I know. I’m trying not to.”
“Would you feel better if your mom stayed with you? I could keep her company during the day.”
“She might like that, actually.”
“Why don’t you call her? I probably won’t get in before midnight, your time. But I can pick her up tomorrow while you’re at work.”
“Okay,” she agreed. “Are you going to come see me when you get here?”
“If you want me to, yes.”
“I want you to.”
“I’ll call you after I land.”
She sniffled and dried her eyes. “Okay.”
“When is the biopsy scheduled?”
“Friday.”
“Do you want me or your mother to take you? Or both?”
“Both.” She let out a light laugh, feeling silly.
“I’m sure your mom wants to be with you as much as I do.”
“Kim wants to come too, but I think I can hold her off,” Amanda added with a smile.
“A lot of people love you.”
“Thank you, Viktor. I’m glad you called.”
“I love you, sweetheart. I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay. Love you too.”
Amanda fell asleep on the couch waiting for Viktor to arrive and missed his calls that he had landed. She woke to the sound of someone knocking on her door and stumbled over to open it. Viktor stepped in with a luggage bag. He set it down and swept her up in his arms. He held her tightly and didn’t let go for the longest time.
When he finally released his grip, Amanda touched his face and looked in his eyes. “Are you okay?”
“Better now.”
“You’re worried?”
“Wouldn’t you be?” he answered softly.
She offered a sympathetic smile. “I suppose.” She looked down at his bag. “You staying here tonight?”
“I wasn’t sure how you were feeling. If you would need me to stay.”
“I’m actually doing okay. I was doing badly earlier when they called to schedule the biopsy, just before you called me. But now I feel mostly numb.”
He squeezed her shoulders, wishing he could make it all go away. “What would you like me to do? I can crash on the couch, or I have a room nearby.”
“It’s late. Why don’t you stay here? But I don’t want you on the couch.”
“Floor?” he asked with a smirk.
She laughed. “If you behave, we can share the bed.”
“I will behave. I’m exhausted. Right now I could sleep on the kitchen floor.”
“Okay. Let’s go. I’m beat also.”
In the first few seconds when Amanda woke, she forgot that Viktor was there and was startled to see his arm draped across her waist.
“What’s wrong?” he groggily asked.
“Nothing. I just forgot you were here.” She sat up and rubbed her face.
“Oh no. Now you’re getting dementia,” he teased.
She whacked him with her pillow and then got up to make coffee. He chuckled and then closed his eyes and rolled over. Amanda came back a few minutes later and grabbed a change of clothes before heading into the bathroom to shower. When she came back out, Viktor was in the kitchen making omelettes with what she had in her fridge.
“You saw my fridge?” she groaned, feeling embarrassed by the state of it.
“Yes,” he grinned. “We’ll talk about that later.” He poured a coffee and handed it to her.
“I’m surprised you found anything still edible,” she said as she took a sip.
“Me too,” he laughed.
Amanda groaned again feeling ashamed of her life. The omelettes were done so he shut the power off and transferred them to two plates, handing one to Amanda. They sat at the table and quietly ate breakfast together.
“I could get used to this,” she remarked. “Thank you.”
“Oh, I got you something,” he suddenly remembered. He went to his bag and retrieved a small box.
“What did you do?” Amanda asked, suspecting it was jewelry.
He sat back down at the table and placed it next to her. “Just a little something to cheer you up.”
Amanda sighed but couldn’t help smile. “Do I even want to know what this cost you?” she asked as she began to open it.
“Probably not,” he replied with a broad smile.
“Are these diamonds?” she asked, as she gaped at the breathtaking platinum necklace and earring set.
He confirmed they were. The center gem was amethyst with two curved rows of diamonds giving the illusion of a heart.
She was speechless. “Viktor …” She shook her head and just stared down into the box.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“It’s beautiful.” She finally broke her gaze from the gift and looked at him. “You didn’t have to do this.”
He smiled. “I wanted to.” Reaching forward, he squeezed her hand. “Wear it today.”
“To work?” she asked as if that were an absurd suggestion.
“Why not? You have purple clothes. I’ve
