Page 156 of Tear Me Apart

The transplant worked. She can feel Zack’s energy flowing through her. The cancer was stopped in its tracks. Dr. Oliver and Dr. Berger fixed her. Zack saved her.

She slides out of the bed. The cast came off yesterday, and today she is allowed to begin light training again. She stretches her long arms to the ceiling, feels the pleasant pops and cracks that allow her spine to lengthen.

Jasper has left the breakfast makings on the counter for her. Breakfast of champions, cornflakes with strawberries and coconut milk. As she settles in, there is a knock on the door, then it opens and her aunt Juliet walks through.

“Are you ready?”

“Almost.”

“Nervous?”

Mindy smiles. “Maybe a little. I don’t want them to stare at me, you know?”

“They won’t. No one blames you for any of this. Finish your cereal. The Jeep is warm.”

Mindy puts her bowl in the sink, walking slowly on her hurt leg, using a cane for balance. It will be weeks before she can get back on her skis, but for now, a strengthening program is in place.

She’s managed to stay out of the muck of Lauren’s sentencing and incarceration. The psychologist tells her she doesn’t have to forgive her mother for being a murderer. From before Mindy’s birth, Lauren was a killer. It freaks her out to think about the lengths Lauren went to in order to protect her. Freaks her out that Lauren killed three and tried to kill a fourth. Freaks her out that her mother has gone from a beloved influence to a stranger who will be in jail for the rest of her life.

Stop thinking about her. You have your whole life to come to terms with her.

Today you train.

Mindy knows she has to stay focused. Extreme, myopic focus is the only way she will overcome this setback. She is going to get back into shape, back in her boots, and conquer the shit out of the mountain.

Juliet holds the door for her. She too moves a little slower than before. The two of them are a pair. The sun greets her as she gets in the shiny black Jeep. Her dads gave it to her as ayou beat the cancergift, though she’s not allowed to drive it yet. As they head down the mountain, Mindy watches her aunt from under her lashes. Finally, she screws up her courage.

“Aunt J? How’s your therapy going? Are you getting better?”

Juliet’s grip on the wheel tightens. “It’s going,” she says quietly. When Mindy doesn’t reply, Juliet continues. “Honestly, the physical therapy isn’t a big deal. It’s the damn psychologist that sucks. I don’t like trying to resurrect the past.”

“I don’t, either. I hate having to talk to the woman at the hospital. She’s all over the fact that I didn’t make the Olympics this year.” She adopts a deep voice with a slight Germanic accent. “And how does that make you feel, Mindy?”

Juliet laughs at her imitation. “It’s weird trying to dissect your life for a stranger. You know you can always talk to me, Mindy. Anything you ever want to know, you can ask. I know how hard this has been on you. You’re being a total stud.”

Mindy smiles. “Yeah. I’m a total stud. Speaking of studs...when do you leave for Nashville?”

Juliet glances over at her niece, fluffs her hair. “Tomorrow.”

“Excited?”

A grin blossoms on her aunt’s face. “Maybe.”

“I think you two are really cute together. Are you going to get married?”

Juliet laughs. “It’s a little soon for marriage, kiddo. He’s a nice guy, and I like him an awful lot.”

“He likes you, too. Why else would he be moving to Colorado?”

“Uh, I don’t know, maybe because his kid lives here?”

“I don’t think that’s the only reason,” Mindy says, grinning now. “Seriously, I’m glad you found each other. Glad there’s something positive out of all this mess.”

“You’re better, kiddo. That’s the only positive we all need.” But Juliet is grinning too, a soft blush on her cheeks.

The drive is only ten minutes. Juliet parks. “I’ll be back for you at noon. Don’t get too crazy.”

Mindy nods. She is feeling uncharacteristically nervous.