02

Harlow had a doctor’s appointment to see the results of how the hormone therapy was going for her. Harlow, Antonio and the girls sat in the room with the doctor, as he sadly explained to them that her body was rejecting the hormone therapy, that the cancer had spread to her brain and her spinal cord tissue, and that it was life threatening.

« We can prescribe medication to ease the pain, or we can admit her, and schedule for an emergency surgery procedure to remove as many tumors as we possibly can. Afterwards, she will have to do radiation treatment. » The doctor explained, while scrolling his eyes back and forth to Harlow and Antonio.

Harlow cried as she held her hand with Antonio’s, with Isabella sitting on her lap. Harlow looked over at Antonio, as she sniffled. « Let’s just do the surgery and then we can go from there. » she said heartbroken.

« I’ll make a phone call to the hospital, and explain that you are on your way. You will be immediately admitted, and once you’re into your room, you will meet with a team of doctors who will perform the surgery. I’ll be honest, it might be a couple days until the actual surgery. »

Antonio brought Harlow over to the hospital after leaving the doctor’s office. Once she was admitted and into her room, Antonio and the girls sat in the room with her, reminiscing on the past ; from when they first met, until they received the horrible news.

The girls were starting to get hungry, and when Harlow’s nurse came in to examine her, Antonio figured it was the best time to take the girls to get a bite to eat, and to take them home. Antonio stood up and walked over to Harlow, kissing her on the lips. « We will be back tomorrow, get some good rest. » he tells her. He lifted the girls onto the bed, so they could say their goodbyes.

While leaving the hospital, Antonio could feel his heart breaking for Harlow, feeling as if his heart was being torn to shreds. He could feel himself wanting to break down, but knew he had to be strong for their girls. He strapped the girls into their car seats, and drove over to a burger restaurant that recently opened in town. He heard good reviews about the food, their service, and that they were very kid friendly, and wanted to check it out.

When they walked in, he was surprised to see how busy they were, and amazed at how many people were waiting to be seated. He put his name in with the hostess, and walked the girls over to where they had a variety of games for kids to play while they waited. « Daddy, can we have a balloon ? » Gabriella excitedly asked, when she saw kids grabbing balloons as they were leaving.

« After we eat, then you girls can have a balloon. »

After waiting a half hour, they finally were called to be seated.

« Kids eat free today. » the hostess said to Antonio with a smile, as she sat them at a table, and handed out their menu’s. « Wow, thank you. » he said, while picking up the menu.

« Hi ! My name is Sadie, and I’ll be your server today. » Antonio looked up from his menu, and noticed a very happy, smiley waitress.

« What can I get you all to drink ? » she asked, sounding bubbly.

« I’ll have a Pepsi, and two chocolate milks for the girls. »

« Our mommy is in the hospital. » Gabriella said to her.

« She is ? I hope that she will be OK. » she says to her. She kneeled while grabbing a crayon, and drew a heart on her paper.

« I want a heart too. » Isabella says, handing her a crayon.

Sadie looked over at Antonio while drawing a heart on Isabella’s paper, and could see that he was in a different world. « Are you ready to order, or do you need a few more minutes ? » she asked, looking at him with concern.

« Sorry, I think we will need a few more minutes, my mind isn’t all here right now. We just left the hospital, and found out earlier that my wife has terminal cancer. » he said, placing his chin onto his hand as his elbow rested on the table, and stared down at the menu.

« Sure thing. » she said, while looking at his twin girls with sadness in her eyes.

After they ordered their food and ate, Sadie walked over to Antonio’s table and talked with them for a bit, wanting to see if she could try and cheer them up. Antonio sat there quietly, watching how the girls were interacting with Sadie, and liking how she was with his girls. He could see that his girls liked her as well, especially when they kept asking for her to come over to play with them. He decided to give her an offer that she couldn’t refuse.

« I have a question for you… ??he asked, while grabbing his wallet out of his back pocket.

« What question is that ? » She asked curiously, nodding her head.

« How would you like to be my girls???live-in nanny, and someone who could possibly help us out with cooking, and cleaning ? »

Sadie was surprised by his offer, and wasn’t sure what to say. « Oh, I don’t know ? » she said, looking over at the girls.

« I’ll pay you $20,000 a month, plus free room and board. »

« Twenty???thousand???dollars ? » Sadie hesitantly said, slowly in shock. « Seriously ? »

« Would you want more than that ? » he asked, raising an eyebrow.

« Well no???$20,000 is already a lot. But the question is, why me ? » she asked confused. She covered her mouth tightly, thinking about what he just asked her. « I’ve been looking for a nanny for months, and the girls have not liked any of the women that we have interviewed. It looks like they have taking a liking to you in the short time that we’ve been here tonight, and after watching you with them, I can see why. » he says, trying to smile.

She looked over at the girls, and smiled when they both looked at her with big smiles, she looked back at Antonio. « Hmmm… ??she hummed, thinking.

« You’re really pretty. » Isabella said to Sadie, wiggling her body around in the booth.

« Awe, thank you so much. You know, both of you girls are really pretty yourselves. » Sadie said, looking at both girls, and softly sliding her finger on Isabella’s cheek.

Antonio pulled a business card out of his wallet, and handed it over to Sadie. She took the card and looked at it. « Think about it, my cell phone number is written on the back of the card as well. » Antonio says to her, sounding desperate.

« OK, I’ll think about it. » She smiled while handing him the bill, and walked away.

He opened his bill, and noticed that the bill was comped, owing nothing. He didn’t feel right about that, leaving her a hundred-dollar bill, and writing a note on the ticket. Thank you for the free meal, you didn’t have to do that. It was very thoughtful of you, please think about my offer. ~Antonio~

He closed the bill book, and held onto it. « Come on girls, let’s go home. » he says to them, while standing up. Sadie was walking by, and Antonio stopped her, handing her the bill book. « Thank you. » he said, with a smile.

« You’re welcome. »

They began to leave and headed to the doors, stopping to grab a balloon for each of the girls, as he promised. He took the girls home, and played dolls with them for a while. The entire time he couldn’t stop thinking about Harlow, and how scared she must be, alone in her room, and wishing he was there with her. He then realized that it was after eight at night, and way past the girls bedtime. He gathered the girls and quickly gave them their bath, read them a bedtime story, and put them to bed.

« Mommy will be home in a few days. » he says, kissing both the girls on their foreheads. He walked to the door and turned to look at his girls, feeling bad for them. « Goodnight. » he says, shutting the light off, and closing the door partially.