Read Online Phoenix Feather by Angela Wallace - Free Book Online Page A

felt as if the floor dropped out from under her. How could Chris have cancer? He was young and healthy.
    “What?” Phoebe exclaimed. “Are they sure?”
    Chris took her hand in both of his. “They did a biopsy; it’s stomach cancer. I go in tomorrow for some more tests to see if it’s spread.”
    Phoebe pulled her hand away. “You had a biopsy done and you didn’t tell me?”
    “It was a minor procedure. I was in and out in a few hours.” He grabbed her hand again. “I didn’t want you distracted from your midterms, not until I knew for sure.”
    Tears began to spill from Phoebe’s eyes. Aidan was stunned beyond words. She knew that Chris and Phoebe’s mom had died of breast cancer the summer after their high school graduation, that it had been hard, but expected. There was no father in the picture. They were all each other had.
    “Aidan, are you okay?” Chris patted her knee.
    Aidan looked at him and saw his concern for her and Phoebe, more than for himself. He had faced this alone because he was worried for them, because he wanted to protect them.
    She managed to nod. “So the tests determine how serious it is, and then the doctors will discuss treatment?”
    He nodded, and reached with his free hand to take hers. “I love you both. With you two, I can face this.”
    Phoebe sniffed. “Yeah, but can I?”
    Aidan took Phoebe’s other hand, linking the three of them. “Of course. Because I’m here too, and I’m not leaving.” She looked down at the cups of tea. “That’s why you’re suddenly into green tea?”
    Chris grimaced. “Yeah, the doctor recommended it, said he’s seen it help some people. I don’t know if I can get used to it though.”
    “Yes you will!” Phoebe’s hands shook with her vehemence. “You will drink twenty cups of green tea every day if I have to drown you in it.”
    He laughed, and it rocked Aidan’s core. A sound that was so familiar and comforting now frightened her because it could soon be gone. She squeezed his hand, feeling her stomach begin to knot.
    Chris smiled and squeezed back. “I know this will be hard on you guys, but I don’t want it getting in the way of school and the rest of your lives. Phoebe, that means we’re still going to go to soccer games, and I’m still going to cheer. And, Aidan,” he said, and looked at her. “I like Trent, so go dancing with him again.”
    She took a deep breath. “Okay, but you two have to come sometime. It’s a lot of fun.”
    “Good.” He let go of them and stood up. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m feeling the need for pizza and a movie. So, we can go out and catch something that’s playing, or order in and pick a classic. What’ll it be?”
    Phoebe wiped the tears from her cheeks. “My makeup’s smeared; let’s stay in.”
    Chris leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “Okay, I’ll phone, you pick the movie. No romance!”
    “You just want to get your way because you’re sick,” Phoebe choked.
    Chris flashed her a cocky grin. “Will it work?”
    She sniffed again. “Yes.”
    Aidan stayed seated while Chris called Piecora’s Pizza for a delivery and Phoebe went over their DVD collection. The world seemed to stop spinning and shrink to the lives in this small room. Aidan had fought battles before, with sword and rifle, but disease…she couldn’t fight that. She flashbacked to Sicily, 1347. Bodies piled in doorways and street corners as frightened families huddled indoors. The churches were forced to dig trenches as mass graves, and what kind-hearted doctors came forward to care for the sick fell prey to the disease as The Black Death swept its way across Europe. Aidan had tried to help, at first, but eventually there were too many, knee-deep in corpses and rotting flesh, and all she could do was watch an invisible agent strike down everyone around her. The massive scale at the time took some of the personal out of it as faces had blurred together.
    This time though, the prospect of watching