Foul Ball
Chapter 38: Macey

"Hey, kiddo," my Uncle Erik said, nudging me gently in the arm. "You look positively forlorn. Anything I can do to help?"

"I'm fine," I said softly. "I just have a lot on my mind."

"Have you talked to your mom about it?" Erik asked, and I shook my head.

"You know I can't talk to her about anything. She'll lose her friggin' mind."

"Is it serious?"

"To her it would be."

"And you can't tell me?"

I smiled finally, resting my head on my uncle's shoulder. "Not yet. I need to tell her first."

"Ah." Hansen nodded, looking thoughtful, but he didn't press the issue, which was one of the many reasons I adored him. It was Thursday, and I was working my afternoon shift on the ambulance. My bone marrow test was tomorrow morning, and more than once I'd almost cancelled, just because I was afraid to go. But I couldn't. Apparently, my life depended on it.

I wanted to tell Hansen about the leukemia. Every time a comfortable silence settled between us, I wanted to open my mouth and spill my guts, to tell him everything I knew, everything the doctor had said. I wanted to be afraid, and I wanted him to reassure me. All my life Hansen had been a saint to me, my strong, afraid-of-nothing uncle who talked me up when I was down and promised to have my back.

But I couldn't tell him, and I didn't know why. It wasn't because of my mother. In fact, I was dreading telling my mother. I guess it was just because...I was still hoping that it wasn't actually true.

"Hey, guys," Paisley said, stepping up behind the open doors of the ambo. "Everything alright in here? Erik, you're wanted in the training room."

"All is great," I assured her, and Hansen kissed me on head before standing to hop out of the back of the ambulance where we'd been sharing the last few Oreo cookies. He poked his head back in as Paisley walked away. "I'm here for you, kid," he said. "Keep that in mind."

"I know," I said, nearly stopping him again. "Thank you."