Chapter 4
Jocelyn's words were like a knife, stabbing straight into my heart that had long since gone cold.
I remembered the day I got my diagnosis three years ago. Walking out of the hospital with the medical diagnosis report in my hand, I suddenly broke down in tears right there on the crowded street.
It wasn't because I had a terminal illness.
It was because I knew this illness would tear my family apart.
That night, I gripped Shane's hand tightly and said, "The medicine is just too expensive. Let's stop the treatment and save the money for the kids."
With his eyes red, Shane shouted at me, "Don't say that. Even if you have to take medicine for the rest of your life, I'll be there for you every single day."
He said, "Elodie, this family only feels like home because you're here."
The living room went quiet for a few seconds.
Then Wayne suddenly spoke up, "Alyssa, why don't you move in tomorrow? The place is just sitting empty anyway. The sooner you come, the sooner you'll feel at home."
Jocelyn nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, you should take the biggest bedroom. I'll have my mom switch rooms tomorrow so it's all yours."
Alyssa hurried over and grabbed Wayne's arm.
"Wayne. Let's not rush into this. We should talk it over and take our time," she said.
She turned to Shane, her gaze gentle. "Don't worry about me, Shane. I've waited all these years. A few more days won't make a difference."
She continued, "And marriage isn't something you do on a whim. I can't move in until Elodie leaves. I don't want people judging me for the rest of my life."
As she spoke, tears slipped down her cheeks right on cue.
"And I don't want anyone gossiping about you either," she added.
Shane watched her tear fall, lingering on it for a long, long time.
I couldn't make out his expression. It was uncertain and heavy.
Then he gently patted Alyssa's hand.
"Alyssa, I understand your concerns. Let's talk about it another time. It's Christmas, so let's raise a glass and celebrate together," he said.
After Alyssa left, Wayne, Jocelyn, and Shane started cleaning up the dishes together.
Shane kept frowning, his mind weighed down with worries.
Wayne tried to comfort him. "Dad, we'll handle arranging for Mom to move into a nursing home, so you don't have to stress about it."
Jocelyn chimed in, "Yeah, I'll visit some nursing homes tomorrow, and I can also help you start the divorce process."
Suddenly, Shane slammed the plate down on the table with a heavy thud.
"Shut up! Who said I was getting a divorce from your mom? And don't even mention sending her to a nursing home ever again," he snapped.
Wayne looked confused. "Why not? Weren't you and Alyssa—"
"Don't bring her up ever again, and don't you dare bring Alyssa into this house," Shane cut him off.
"Your mom will always be your mom. No matter who goes first, we'll be buried together. Do you understand?" he said firmly.
Why did Shane suddenly change?
Weren't Shane and Alyssa acting so close just moments ago?
Wayne and Jocelyn kept their mouths shut, not daring to say another word. Once everything was tidied up, they headed out.
Shane was left alone in the kitchen, cooking another pot of steamed white fish.
He carried the plate of fish and sat down outside my bedroom door.
Then he started carefully picking out the bones, one by one.
Seeing him like this made my heart clench all over again.
I used to love his steamed white fish, but I could never remove all the bones. I even ended up in the hospital once because of it.
After that, Shane would always pick out all the bones for me before serving it.
"Elodie, I know you love my steamed white fish. I'll never forget you," Shane said.
His words made my eyes sting with tears again.
He had remembered all along.
I hovered next to him, watching his face closely.
In the three years since I got sick, his hair went from a touch of gray to pure white. He looked like he had aged a whole decade.
Guess looking after me all this time really wore him out.
He was always stuck with me, dragging me everywhere like I was dead weight he couldn't shake.
Shane let out another long sigh, rubbing his red-rimmed eyes.
"Alyssa stopped by today. You know, ever since you got sick, she's been really pitching in," he said.
My heart felt like it was being squeezed painfully as I watched him.
Was he really still lying to me, even after I was gone?
She was clearly here to talk to him about getting married.
Shane let out a bitter laugh, tears shining at the corners of his eyes. "Honestly, these past three years, when you didn't even know who I was anymore, it really got to me.
"That's why I let myself get close to Alyssa in ways I shouldn't have.
"But today, when Wayne and Jocelyn said they wanted us to get divorced and send you to a nursing home so Alyssa could move in, my heart was in turmoil.
"I was angry at you. Forty-two years together, and you just let it all go, like it meant nothing.
"No matter how much Alyssa tries to act all sympathetic and caring, I know she'll never measure up to you, not in any way.
"Elodie, my heart only has room for you. There's no room left for anyone else."
Tears welled up in my eyes again.
I was crying even harder than Shane.