LANCE TRIED HIS BEST TO STAY ENGAGED IN CONVERSATION. The Bible study had ended, and everyone was still there—those from last week plus a friend of Timmy’s and another friend of Molly’s. He loved that they wanted to hang out, and really loved that they had tons of questions, which had veered off onto wild tangents. Any other time he’d be all over the current debate about the best rappers of all time. But he couldn’t get his mind off Kendra.
She’d gotten nauseated a little while ago, as she reclined with them in the living room. And Lance had gotten up to help her to the bathroom. But she looked to Trey instead, which was cool . . . except it had happened a lot lately. And not just Trey, but Molly or Cyd or anyone on the planet, it seemed, but Lance.
Ever since their bathroom encounter almost a week ago, Kendra had been acting different. Lance didn’t know what had come over him, telling her she was beautiful, holding her the way he had. It was out of line. Kendra had been especially vulnerable after he’d cut her hair, and she was probably upset with him for taking advantage. He hated that he’d lost the little trust he’d gained with her.
Lance looked up as she and Trey returned.
“I’m about to help Kendra up to her room,” Trey said, eyes on Molly.
“Oh yes . . . wait!” Molly hopped up and scurried across the entryway to the dining room, emerging seconds later with a gift box.
Cyd and the other women had gotten up and joined her. They presented it to Kendra together. “Surprise!”
“For me?” Kendra said. “What for?”
“For Chemo Day tomorrow,” Molly said. “Come on. I’ll help you open it.”
She set the box on the coffee table, and together they tore off the glittery paper. Kendra fished through tissue paper and pulled out a package of Saran-wrapped fudge cookies. She held it up, smiling. “Who made these?”
Cyd raised her hand. “Guilty.”
“Oh my goodness, thank you.”
Lance could tell Kendra was laboring, trying to show excitement, but she could barely get through this. He wanted to interject, get her upstairs, let her open gifts while lying down. But he checked himself. Who was he to be so protective of her?
“Aww,” Kendra said, “I love these plush pink socks.”
“Yeah, you said it got cold in there last time,” Molly said.
Kendra swished more tissue paper. “Wow, and fun magazines and more snacks—”
“I had to throw some healthy stuff in there to offset the cookies,” Cyd said.
“Ooh, and a movie.”
“Yep,” Molly said. “When you said animated movies were a good escape afterward, I had to get you one of my faves, The Incredibles. I can’t wait to watch it with you.”
“Oh good, that’ll be fun,” Kendra said.
Lance glanced downward. Movie nights had been their thing.
“Hey,” Trey said, “we should Netflix some stuff on the laptop while we’re there. That’d be a good way to pass the time.”
“Dope idea,” Molly said. “I didn’t know you were going.”
“I asked Kendra about it today,” Trey said.
Kendra glanced briefly at Lance. Two days ago, he’d checked with her to confirm that he was still going with her to chemo, something they’d talked about shortly after her first treatment. She’d said it would be good to go alone, maybe work on her photo blog, something new she’d taken up.
“I think I’d better head upstairs,” she said.
A flurry of good-byes and hugs followed, as everyone else got up to go. But when the door closed, Molly lagged behind.
“Can I ask y’all something?” she said.
Kendra hadn’t yet gone up, so she, Lance, and Trey waited.
“I know this is really an imposition, which is funny coming from me since I’ve been an imposition around here for weeks—sorry.” Her eyes turned sheepish. “Buuut, I was wondering if I could crash here for a little while to join that ‘regular rhythm of life’ quest thing.”
Trey had coined the term, saying he’d be home more to reclaim that rhythm.
“I feel like I can’t do that at my apartment right now,” she continued. “It’s more normal over here.”
“You must mean, now that Lance and Kendra are here,” Trey said.
“That goes without saying.”
“Molly, of course you can stay,” Kendra said. “Take the guest bedroom upstairs, right next to mine.”
“Awesome,” Molly said. “I’ll pack some things and be back tomorrow after chemo.” She rubbed her hands together. “I’m excited.”
Kendra smiled. “Me too. I get to watch you mix new hair colors.”
Molly hesitated, glancing at Kendra’s head. “I’m sorry. I can tone down—”
“Don’t you dare,” Kendra said. “I’m living vicariously through you.”
Molly opened the door. “I’m glad I’ll be around to help you, at least for a little while.”
Molly left. Trey helped Kendra to her room. And Lance went to clean the kitchen, talking back to himself.
It’s a blessing that Kendra has so much help now . . . a real blessing.