Wish Upon a Star (27 page)

She ended the call and turned toward me. She must not have
liked the half smile on my face. "What?"

I shook my head. "I simply can't believe you just said that. I
mean, I've heard stories of women saying that, but I never figured I'd
actually hear it in real life."

"What did I say?"

I got out of my chair and acted like I was going through a
closet full of clothes. "You spent like a half hour going through your
closet, then got on the phone and actually told Miranda you have
nothing to wear."

She stared at me and began to mouth something before
evidently regaining her composure. "Well, of course I have things I
can wear, but this is a special occasion and... You know what Mister
I-Can-Live-on-Two-Pairs-of-Shorts-and-Three-Shirts-My-Entire-Life?
This is a girl thing. You totally wouldn't understand." For good
measure she scrunched up her nose and stuck her tongue out at
me.

I raised my iced tea to her in mock salute. "You're right. I
don't understand. I do know that I love you, though. And hope you all
have fun shopping."

"Thank you. Do I dare ask what you're doing for your
bachelor party?"

"Dave and I wanted to spend the day mountain biking in
Brown County. We figured that wouldn't be so great for Paul and
Ryan, so instead we're heading for Bloomington for an IU football
game."

Annie spent the rest of the day on the patio. It was a warm
autumn day and she wanted to rest up for her shopping trip. I took
the calm in the proverbial storm to get a casual fifty mile ride in.
When I returned, I found her on the couch, reading a book.

"There's something I'd like to say to you. You'll sit with me
for a moment, yes?"

Still sweaty from my ride, I sat on the edge of the couch, my
water bottle in one hand.

"I was sitting outside, just enjoying the sun, not really
thinking about anything when it hit me. I know what you were up to
earlier. And I appreciate it."

I was busted, but with the way she was smiling, I wasn't
overly concerned.

"We both know these past few weeks have been a real
challenge. And I was so dreading going back to the Cancer Center on
Monday. But you gave me something better to look forward to—next
weekend. I feel so much better focusing on that, so thank you. You're
a very special man, E.J. McCarty, and I can't wait to say I do in two
weeks."

I drained the rest of my sports drink. When I made eye
contact with Annie, she gave me her heart-melting smile. I shrugged.
"I just want you to be happy. And I love you so..." My voice
caught.

Again, I didn't have the vocabulary to do my North Star
justice.

I woke up with the dawn the day of Annie's final radiation
treatment. The sun warmed my chilled bones while I sipped hot Irish
breakfast tea on the patio. Sitting there, I reflected on Annie's
journey through cancer treatment and my role in it. I'd tried to be
strong, to be the rock for Annie to lean on. There was no denying I'd
screwed up at times. I'd overreacted with the car thing and totally
missed the signs on the wedding date fiasco.

Those were just the high points of my long list of
failures.

But I'd also hung with her the best I could. I'd tried to do
everything she'd asked. I wiped away her tears when she cried. I
cleaned up after her when she'd vomited. I held her when she'd
shook with fear. And I had done my best to keep my fears and
anxieties hidden from her.

Had I succeeded? I took a long sip of the tangy bitter tea. I
didn't know. I resigned myself to the fact I might never know.

What mattered was that we'd made it this far together. The
finish line was in sight. My job as
domestique
in bringing
Annie across that line was almost complete. She'd been bruised,
battered, cut, and worse. But she'd fought with an iron will and
undeniable determination that dwarfed any of cycling's greatest
Tour de France champions.

She'd earned this victory. Sure, she'd had help along the
way—fantastic doctors, caring nurses, amazingly supportive
friends.

And her fans.

As I tossed back the last of my tea, I thought back to one
night during chemo and to another night shortly after her
mastectomy where I'd read supportive letters and emails fans had
sent. On both of those nights she'd been rendered practically
immobile by the pain and had been feeling lower than a deflated
inner tube. I'd read those words of support and love written to her
by people from all over the world until she'd fallen asleep.

And now, it was time for Annie to complete this thing. It was
time for her to cross the finish line, like the true champion my North
Star had always been and would always be.

The weeks' worth of radiation treatments had left her
feeling like she was running on empty. I wanted today to be more
than just getting up, going to her last treatment and coming home
and getting back in bed, though.

I wanted it to be special for her so I made her favorite
breakfast: a Western Omelet with an English muffin and a tall mug of
French Vanilla coffee. I chuckled and wished I'd had a little United
Nations flag to finish the international theme.

She was still sleeping when I pushed open the bedroom
door. She must have smelled the breakfast because I wasn't three
steps into the room when her head popped out from under the
covers.

She closed her eyes and breathed in the sweet aroma of the
coffee when I handed it to her. "Mmm." She took a sip. "Thank you.
To what do I owe such treatment—beyond your usual thoughtfulness,
that is?"

"A celebration to the end of your treatment." I placed the
tray on her lap and flipped on the TV. "I know how wiped out you
are, so I thought this way we could celebrate a little, in case you're
too tired after treatment."

"You're too good to me, you know that?" She took a bite of
the omelet and fanned her mouth. "Hot, hot, hot...but exquisite. You
make the best breakfasts. You'll sit with me while I eat, yes?"

While she made her way through breakfast, we watched a
light-hearted talk show hosted by a celebrity I didn't know, but who
seemed friendly enough. At the show's conclusion, Annie took a deep
breath and looked at me.

"Time to wrap this up. You're coming with me, yes?"

"No place I'd rather be."

We got cleaned up and headed out the door, each of us
sporting broad smiles. On the way to the Cancer Center, Annie let me
know that Beth and Ashley would be stopping by to visit after they
got settled at their hotel.

"They said they had a surprise for me." She shook her head.
"You are such a bad influence. They never surprised me before you
came into the picture."

I knew what the surprise was. I was convinced she'd be
thrilled with it. I just had to play it cool.

"Maybe it's a dorky hat they want you to wear tomorrow
night since you're the bride-to-be."

She pulled into a parking spot and shot me a look that could
have frozen the Equator. "No, absolutely not."

I got out of the car. "That's good, because that's not what
your surprise is anyway." Before she could respond, I barreled on.
"These are your friends and it's something very special and I really
do think you'll like it. Trust me."

She came around the car and wrapped her arm around
mine. "Well, I guess since you haven't steered me wrong all that
much so far, I'll trust you on this one...a little."

I kissed her. Her lips tasted like cinnamon. "Mm, I could get
used to that."

"Thank you. Glad you like it. Now, let's get this over
with."

While Annie was undergoing her final cancer treatment, I
wandered around the memorial garden. It was a stunning tribute to
those who had fought and lost their battles to cancer. It hurt me to
the marrow of my bones to read the heartfelt passages placed along
the walking path. As difficult as our journey had been, Annie and I
were among the lucky ones. Way, way too many others hadn't been
so fortunate.

My phone buzzed. Annie's treatment was over. On the way
to the lobby, I had to stop for a few minutes to wipe away the tears
that kept escaping.
Must have been some dust
.

Yeah, right.

I followed Annie through the Cancer Center as she thanked
staff and offered encouraging words to fellow survivors. When she'd
finished hugging the oncology receptionist, she turned to me and
raised her eyebrows. They were still somewhat faint, but it was a
thrill to see them.

She held her hands in front of her, palms up. With an
exaggerated circular motion, she placed her left hand, palm down, on
top of her right.

Fighting back the tears that wanted to burst forth, I offered
Annie my arm. Yes, the book was now closed on this dark period of
our lives. It was time to move on to the next one, which, I was pretty
certain, would hold a whole lot more smiles and laughter, and only a
fraction of the pain and tears.

Annie was taking a victory bath when I got Beth's text that
her flight had landed. She and Ashley were going to check in at their
hotel, grab a bite to eat and then head over to visit. I asked them to
come straight here after checking in because Annie wanted them to
have a home-cooked meal, courtesy of Chef E.J.

I was on the patio grilling some kebobs when the doorbell
rang. Muffled greetings were shortly followed by the patio door
sliding open. Annie's band mates hugged me while she popped back
indoors to get a jacket and some drinks. Beth kept close to the grill
while Ashley, her hair color now pumpkin orange, eased herself into
a chair.

"Not cold are you, Beth?" Ashley said with a wink in my
direction.

Annie's band leader and keyboardist shook her head. "Nah,
just making sure McCarty here doesn't burn the chicken." She gave
me a shoulder bump and glanced inside. "Does the boss know about
our little surprise?"

I bumped her back. "I told her this morning I knew about it,
but didn't tell her what."

Ashley leaned forward. "How'd she take it? Not very well, I'd
imagine."

Before I was able to confirm Ashley's guess, Annie opened
the door and tossed a sweatshirt to Beth. Once she had it on, she took
the glass of wine Annie offered to her.

"Now that's more like it. Since it's just the four of us, I'd like
to say something." Beth shuffled her feet and cleared her throat.
"Y'all know I like to keep things on an even keel. But Boss, tonight I
just want to say how hard it's been watching you struggle and fight
these past few months. And while I'm truly sorry I couldn't be here
for you more, I'm glad you had a pretty decent sidekick looking out
for you."

She lifted her glass. Annie, Ashley and I joined her.
"Congratulations Boss. I'm so, so happy you've beaten this thing." We
clinked glasses and took a drink. Annie opened her arms and joined
Beth in a long embrace.

"I love you girl," Annie said in a rough voice. She reached out
and pulled Ashley in. "You too, Ash."

I turned my attention to the kabobs. Annie and Beth had
been together since Cassandra Lawrence had been a nobody. Despite
Beth's nickname for Annie, the two were more like partners than a
boss and an employee.

And while Ashley was fairly new to Annie's band, the drive
she'd shown to recover from her injury right before last year's tour
spoke volumes about how desperately she wanted to play for Annie.
The doctors had told her it would be a minimum of three months
before she'd be able to join the tour. She'd worked her butt off and
had made back in five weeks.

Neither Annie nor Beth had made a big fuss about her quick
return, but the way they involved her in decision-making while on
the road told me all I needed to know. After all Ashley had done to
get back so quickly, she was no longer the junior member of the
band, the kid sister. She'd become a partner, on the same level as
Amy and Tish and Beth.

Somebody sniffed, and Annie started laughing. When Beth
took the wine glasses back, I let out a little huff.

"Don't I get a hug?" I said in a pitiful, woe-is-me voice. Annie
placed her hand on my shoulder.

"Of course you do, dear. As soon as you go through two
months of poisoning, have your boobs cut off and then spend a
month getting sunburned every day."

I glanced at Annie, then at Ashley, and finally at Beth. "In
that case, how about dinner instead?"

Beth snorted and Ashley almost spit out her wine. Annie
giggled and elbowed me in the ribs. "Lord, you're hopeless."

Dinner was another lesson on the music business for me. I
sat back and soaked it in. Beth talked about the album she was
producing for an up-and-coming blues artist from Northern Georgia.
Annie reported on sales figures for the live album and DVD. Ashley
filled us in on some session work she'd been doing with a jazz
ensemble.

We laughed a lot, but I knew it was closing in on time to
wrap the evening up when Annie started massaging her neck.

"So Beth," I said while I scooped some ice cream for dessert,
"how about you and Ashley tell Annie about your little
proposal."

Beth nodded at Ashley. "Go ahead. It was your idea."

Ashley worked her spoon around her ice cream for a
moment. "It's like this. Those of us in the band have been talking
back and forth about what we wanted to get you guys. You know, for
a wedding present. And we just couldn't agree on anything. I mean,
for real Cassandra, it's not like you need anything."

"I could use a new bike," I said.

Annie slapped me on the shoulder. "As if. Don't interrupt..
You should know how rude that is. Please continue, Ash."

"Well, just in passing, I mentioned to Tish that maybe we
should do what we do best, and play a song for you guys." She
twirled her spoon in the ice cream, evidently putting her thoughts in
order. "That turned out to be the easy part. Everyone liked the idea,
but we couldn't decide on what to play, or when even. I mean, should
we offer to play at the rehearsal dinner or at the reception, and if so,
how long should we play?"