Only You (17 page)

“Javier will be acting manager in my absence, and he will be in regular communication with me. So, while I may not be physically present, I will still be involved long-distance in the operations of the bar. That being said, you should treat Javier as the ultimate authority.” His eyes met Melia’s. “Disrespect to Javi will not be tolerated.” Melia swallowed slowly and nodded, not even realizing that Javi had taken her hand and squeezed it in reassurance.

“For the foreseeable future, I will be with Camden, helping her through this pregnancy. There are complications, as Camden has been diagnosed with cancer.”

Jaws dropped and murmurs were heard throughout the room. Shane felt Camden tuck even more closely into his side.

“We have a long road ahead of us, but I am confident that we will come out the other side with a beautiful baby and a healthy Camden. I want to thank you guys in advance for your support.”

Shane opened the floor for questions, but most comments were staff members offering help and being completely supportive of him and Camden. Camden was overwhelmed by the love Shane’s staff obviously had for him. She had been completely shocked when he said he was taking a leave of absence from the bar, but she’d be lying to herself if she said she wasn’t happy knowing he would be with her through this entire pregnancy.

As the meeting broke apart, and staff members began leaving, Brody saw Javi whisper something in Melia’s ear before standing and walking to him. Javier’s expression wasn’t fixed in its usually joking manner, and Brody stiffened.

“What’s going on, man?” he asked.

“That call I got…” Javi began. “Before the meeting. I think it’s bad news.”

Brody’s brow scrunched in confusion. “Want to expound on that?”

“It was Daphne. She’s getting out. She gets discharged next month, and she was calling to talk to Shane.”

“Why would she do that?” Brody seemed puzzled. “They broke up over a year ago. She didn’t seem t
oo broken-up about it.” He remembered the night he’d spent with Daphne a couple of weeks after the break-up.

“That’s the thing, Brody.” Javier met his eyes. The fierceness in his gaze wasn’t lost on Brody, and Brody’s heart sank.

“She flat out told me that she wants him back.”

***

Chapter 20

Shane did his best to hide his nervousness as he and Camden walked into the hospital. He didn’t want her to see the fear in his eyes. He’d been able to live in denial the last couple of days. Camden seemed so healthy, and most of their time during the weekend had been spent in bed. Shane grinned at the memory. As Camden led him around the corner and he saw the first sign for the oncology ward, the grin was erased from his face. His stomach flipped with anxiety. He squeezed Camden’s hand as they reached the nurses’ station.

“We’re here to see Dr. Stevens,” Camden told the young nurse at the desk. The nurse’s eyes widened as she looked repeatedly between Shane and Camden. A slightly snarly expression graced her face as the nurse locked eyes with Camden.

“Of course,” she responded, a syrupy sweet fakeness to her voice. “I’ll let him know you are here.” She paused and looked at Shane with suspicion before looking back to Camden. “Will your…fiancé be joining you today?”

She emphasized the word fiancé, and Shane grew suspicious. While he and Camden had discussed his dating history, the only thing she’d really divulged about hers was that she hadn’t slept with anyone else since her graduation party. Could she have been in a serious relationship and not told him? Shane didn’t think that she’d lie to him, so he was sure there must be an explanation for the mix-up.

“I’m right here,” he replied, causing the nurse to look at him in surprise. Camden blushed at his declaration, but the nurse grew visibly annoyed.

“Aren’t you a little minx?” she glared at Camden. “What happened to fiancé number one?”

Camden seriously had too much going on to deal with some spurned woman. She felt the nurse should have been much more professional, especially given they were in the freaking cancer ward, so she didn’t feel like holding back with her reply.

“First off, Adrienne, the guy with me last week was not my fiancé. He just said that since you were treating me like crap….kind of like you are doing today. He didn’t feel that I should suffer because of your jealousy.” The nurse huffed at Camden, clearly growing pissed. “Secondly,” Camden continued. “He wasn’t interested in you, and he figured rather than explain that, he’d take the easy way out. Men,” she teased, bitchiness hiding behind her friendly tone. “They can be so lazy. Now, would you be a sweetie and go tell Dr. Stevens we are here to discuss MY CANCER?!?”

Adrienne blanched and hurried down the hallway, but not before throwing one last glare at Camden.  Shane was frozen, staring at Camden with a tent in his pants. That had been the hottest thing he’d seen in his life, and he wanted to drag her into a closet or spare room to ravish her. Catty Camden was sexy as hell.

Camden turned sheepishly to Shane, embarrassed at her outburst. Her cheeks reddened when she saw his dark, lust-filled eyes. “Sorry, she just got to me. She’s been a bitch the last two times I’ve been here.”

Shane chuckled, and wrapped his arm around Camden’s neck, pulling her into his chest. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “I thought it was hot.”

“If you could come this way?”

They looked at a scowling Adrienne, but began to follow her down the hallway. Shane was a little confused when they were led to an office instead of an exam room. Camden looked at him, equally puzzled, but turned and walked through the open door.

On the other side of the desk sat two men Shane hadn’t met before. One stood and greeted Camden with familiarity, so he assumed that must be Dr. Stevens. His suspicions were confirmed when the doctor turned and held out his hand. Shane shook the man’s hand, as the doctor began to make introductions.

“Hello, I’m Dr. Stevens.” The doctor’s grin was a little creepy, and he seemed to be checking Shane out. Shane tried to hide his discomfort, and he released the doctor’s hand, immediately putting his arm around Camden’s waist.

“Hi. Shane Hunt,” he returned. “Camden’s boyfriend.”

Dr. Stevens nodded his head and turned to Camden. “Will Eric be joining you today?” Shane thought it an odd question, but Camden responded as if it wasn’t the least bit unusual.

“No, sir. He wanted to let me and Shane have a little time alone to adjust to everything. He’s spending the day with his family.”

Dr. Stevens gestured for the two to sit in the chairs across from his desk. “This is my colleague, Dr. Hyler.” He indicated the man quietly seated on the other side of the desk. “Dr. Hyler is also an oncologist, but he has history working with pregnant women with cancer. Since this is my first case with these special circumstances, I wanted to bring him in to advise. I hope that is okay with you, Miss Shepherd.”

Camden nodded, curious what knowledge Dr. Hyler could bring to the table. Although he remained seated throughout the exchange, Camden could tell Dr. Hyler was a tall man. His light brown hair was just beginning to thin, and his chocolate brown eyes were warm and inviting. Something about him encouraged implicit trust. With Camden’s nod of agreement, Dr. Stevens sat in his chair and motioned for Dr. Hyler to start.

“Camden, Shane,” he began. “When dealing with a pregnant cancer patient, I prefer to wait until the first trimester is over to start chemotherapy. Studies are limited about the long term effects to the child, but we have seen that chemotherapy during the second and third trimesters does not seem to have a negative impact on the child’s birth, health, or learning development. Because of the stage of Camden’s cancer, I’d like to start when she is ten weeks pregnant, rather than twelve, however. When calculating the time of gestation, we include the first two weeks of the menstrual cycle prior to conception. According to that timeline, Camden is seven weeks pregnant, which puts us starting chemotherapy in three weeks.”

Dr. Hyler paused to make sure the couple was absorbing the information he was providing. “I always avoid radiation, as that can definitely harm the unborn child, and while surgery is preferred for many types of cancer, Camden’s is too wide spread, since it is throughout her lymph system. According to your medical records, Camden, you were successfully treated for Stage 2A Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and were declared to be in remission just two years ago?”

Camden nodded. “Yeah,” she murmured, her face full of sorrow. “I got the call telling me the cancer had returned two days after my cancer-free anniversary. It kind of felt like a bad joke.”

Shane’s hand tightened around Camden’s, and he tried to keep a blank face, even though inside he wanted to scream. Dr. Hyler nodded at Camden and continued.

“With relapses of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, I usually recommend high dose chemotherapy, just like Dr. Stevens.” He gestured to Camden’s doctor. “With your pregnancy, however, we’d like to maintain a normal level of chemotherapy until the baby is born. As long as the baby is developing well, I’d like to plan to deliver when you reach thirty-six weeks. After the baby is born, we’ll begin the high-dose chemotherapy to finish out your regimen. With any luck, you’ll be permanently cancer free before your baby is crawling.”

Camden’s eyes began to water, but she tried to shove down her emotions and remain clinical for this meeting. She’d let herself break down later, most likely when she was with Eric. He would understand her anger and fear, but he wouldn’t be carrying the extra burden that Shane would. If she didn’t make it, Shane would be a single father. Camden forced herself to focus on the doctor in front of her. She knew if she continued to let her thoughts wander, she would crumble.

“How frequently will she come in for chemo?” Shane’s voice waivered as he asked the question.

“We’ll start with six cycles of ABVD chemotherapy. Camden will come once every three weeks. If the results are not as successful as we would like, we may bring those treatments to a bi-weekly schedule, but we don’t want to overdo it, considering the baby.”

“And we’ll start in three weeks?”

“I’d like to, yes. As long as Camden agrees to the treatment?” The doctor raised his brow in question, and Camden realized she hadn’t spoken in some time.

“Yes, no question. I want to live to meet my baby.”

Dr. Hyler smiled softly and turned to Dr. Stevens. Dr. Stevens stood and walked around the desk.

“I know you were planning to start chemo today, Miss Shepherd. I’m glad I was able to confer with Dr. Hyler, and I feel really confident in the treatment plan he has proposed. I know you wanted to start kicking this thing right away.
" He smiled at Camden, as if sharing an inside joke, and Shane wondered if Dr. Stevens was the same doctor who had treated her during her last fight with cancer.

“I also know this is hard to hear, since you have every right to be angry and feel cheated. You thought you’d already beat this.”

A tear escaped Camden’s eye and trickled down her cheek. Dr. Stevens softly gripped her shoulder. “We’d like to do something a little abnormal today. We thought something happy might be nice in the midst of all the sad, yeah?”

Camden looked at Dr. Stevens with a puzzled expression.

“You up for a little field trip?” he asked.

Camden looked at Shane and shrugged her shoulders. “Okay,” she replied.

Dr. Stevens clapped his hands together, and grinned. He looked back to Dr. Hyler. “Are you waiting here?”

“Yeah, I don’t want to intrude.” Dr. Hyler held out his hand to Camden and then Shane. “It was nice meeting you two. Wish it was better circumstances, but I am honored you are letting me join you on this journey.”

“Thank you,” Shane replied, when he realized Camden wasn’t able to speak at the moment. He stood and pulled Camden to his side.

“Shall we?” Dr. Stevens gestured to the door. Once in the hall, he began to lead them through a labyrinth of hallways, and neither Camden nor Shane knew where they were going. After several twists and turns, Dr. Stevens paused outside an unmarked door. His eyes were dancing when he opened the door and led the couple into a darkened room.

All Shane notice was large machinery and a bed (chair?) in the center of the room. Dr. Stevens was this excited over a test?

“Miss Shepherd, if you would just step over here and sit on this exam table?”

Camden warily made her way to the table in the center of the room. She glanced frantically at Shane.

“Mr. Hunt, you can stand beside her head on that side.” The doctor indicated the far side of the table. He turned to walk toward the door. “One moment,” he called to them. “Someone will be right with you.” He smirked as he shut the door.

When he slipped out the door, Shane leaned forward to see Camden’s face.

“Is he always this weird?”

“Only when he’s around Eric,” she replied, puzzling Shane.

“Then why is he so happy?” he demanded.

“Beats me. Maybe he…” Camden’s voice trailed when she noticed the monitor on the machine next to the table. Could the machine be what she thought? Just then, the door opened, and a young blonde woman entered the room. She grinned at Shane and Camden.

“You must be mum and dad, yeah?” she asked in a British accent. “Congratulations. You ready to see your little bundle of joy?”