Page 3 of Mic Drop (Passionate Beats #3)

Tucking the T-shirt into a drawer, I gather up the assorted bottles of toiletries, which thankfully didn’t break during transit, and enter the bathroom.

A half hour later, I emerge a new woman.

Now with clean teeth and wearing clean clothes over my showered body, I put on some lip gloss and spritz perfume.

There. Ready to fight the demons attacking Ma.

In the kitchen, an enormous breakfast awaits. “Who were you cooking for? The entire army?” I swipe a slice of bacon and crunch on it as I pour some hot water for tea and check out the selections. “Mango Passionfruit?”

“Try it. You’ll like it. ”

I do as I’m told and dunk the bag into my mug. “Since when did you start drinking herbal teas?” No sooner are the words out of my mouth than I know the answer. The doctor had to have told her to switch from coffee to tea.

She sighs. “The doctor suggested it. I actually enjoy this one.”

“We need to talk about this.”

She dunks her teabag. “Kara?”

“Yeah. But you should’ve told me, not her. When did you find out?”

She passes me a bowl containing scrambled eggs. A plate of pancakes. Maple syrup. I take each dish from her and add a vast assortment to my plate, considering I didn’t eat yesterday.

When she doesn’t respond, I try again. “Come on, Ma. How long have you known about the cancer?” I nearly choke, but manage to keep it together.

She points her fork toward me, which had been hovering above her eggs. “I had a suspicion that things were off for a while. I finally went to my regular doctor and he referred me.”

I swallow a bite of pancake. No one makes them better. “Which was when?”

“The week before you left with UC.”

“Ma. Why didn’t you tell me then? I could have stayed home with you. It really wasn't necessary for me to go.”

“You were so excited for the tour, there was no way I was going to spoil it for you. I had misgivings about Bennett, as you know. Is he treating you right?”

I shovel the scrambled eggs into my mouth. After washing them down with tea—which is delicious, by the way—I decide to tell her the truth. Maybe my honesty will spur hers?

“Bennett is a nice guy, Ma. He was wonderful, looking after me. He’s going through a lot now, though. Have you seen any of the tabloids or entertainment shows?”

She blows on her own tea. “Can’t say I have.”

I launch into an abbreviated version of Lissa’s story about the supposed baby. “Then there’s the media calling me ‘Black Widow,’ saying I’m determined to break up the band.”

She shrugs. “Well, all that sounds like total rubbish.”

Her unwavering belief in me warms me from the inside. “It is. However, plenty of fans believe the media hype, so the PR team for UC has been in overdrive addressing both prongs.”

“I can only imagine.” She breaks a piece of bacon and deposits one half on my plate while chewing on the other.

I swallow my eggs. “There’s more. Apparently, the clinics have gained a graffiti artist, who spray-paints spiders on the walls and sidewalks. Court’s been taking care of them, and we even put out a press release, but they keep returning. We think it’s Michelle.”

She rolls her eyes. “That girl needs to get a life. What are you going to do about her?”

“I’m not sure yet.” I replace my mug on the table. “But that’s not the reason I flew home, Ma. Kara told me. What doctors are you seeing? What medicines are you on? When is your surgery?”

“Jenna, I’m in good hands. Kara’s taken me to her friends out here who all interned in the City, so it’s like I’m going all the way out there for treatment. They’ve fast-tracked me.”

“The cutting-edge doctors are in the City. We both know that.”

“The ones I’m seeing here are just fine.”

I keep my voice steady and repeat, “So when’s your surgery?”

“I’m not having any.”

My eyebrows furrow. From my research, surgery is often suggested. “Didn’t the doctors recommend it?”

“No, they didn’t.”

I sit back in my chair. Her words don’t compute. “I don’t understand. Doctors need to cut the cancer out of your body. You’ll need chemo, which doesn’t have to be such an awful ordeal anymore. I read an article about?—”

Ma places her fork on the table. “No. You don’t understand. The cancer’s too far gone, Sweet Pea. It’s in my lymph nodes and my lungs. They simply can’t take all of the affected areas out, so surgery’s not an option.”

I can’t comprehend what she’s telling me. “Don’t say that. There have been so many advancements in medicine over the past few years. The doctors surely can get it out of you.”

“Jenna.” I stare at my breakfast plate, the large amount of food sitting like a lump in my stomach. “Look at me.”

My gaze meets hers. I’m afraid my eyes are a lot more watery than hers.

“I am following doctor’s orders.”

I leap to my feet. “Ma! There has to be something you can do.” I search the kitchen for what, I don’t know. “There’s plenty of treatment options I’m sure you haven’t considered. I can take you to this specialist in midtown who has had success with patients like you.”

“I’ve been to him.”

“Or what about the one I read about on the Upper West Side, who has been experimenting with a combination of Eastern and Western medicines.”

“Kara took me there.”

“How about a woman on the Upper East Side, who?—”

“Jenna, honey, I’ve seen all I need to see. Kara’s taken me to her friends. Everyone says the same thing—that they don’t have any alternatives left to try. I’m tired of it all. I want to stay in my house, surrounded by my things and the people I love.” Her hand covers mine.

How have I never noticed how frail it seems?

With care, I place mine over hers.

“I can’t give up,” I admit. “You must not have tried every single possibility out there.”

“I have, Sweet Pea.”

I don’t care what she tells me. I won’t stop until I find someone able to make her healthy again. She’s not going to end up like my grandmother.

And Darren.

She can’t.