Finding Hope (Love's Compass Book 2) by Melanie D. Snitker Read Free Book Online Page B

peace flow into her heart and make its way through the rest of her body. Tension in her shoulders dissipated and she let herself sink back into the pillow.
    “Okay. What about chemo?”
    “Yes, I recommend several sessions of chemotherapy to make sure we’ve destroyed any possible cancer cells that might be left behind. We’ll go over that at your post-surgical appointment.”
    Lexi’s mind raced, but she couldn’t speak. It was a lot to take in when her brain was still fuzzy from the anesthesia and refused to focus.
    “Do you have any questions for me?”
    She shook her head. “Not yet. I know I will.”
    “Take your time. I want to keep you here overnight. You should be able to go home tomorrow afternoon. I’ll be by in the morning to check on you.” Doctor Ravenhill offered her an encouraging smile. “I know this is overwhelming. It may have been ovarian cancer, but the surgery went as well as I could have hoped for. When I return in the morning, you may have more questions. I’ll be happy to take all the time you need to answer them.”
    Lexi nodded. “I appreciate that. Thank you, Doctor. For everything.”
    “Of course. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    The doctor left as the reality of her words hit home.
    Lexi had ovarian cancer and she was going to have to go through chemotherapy. Part of her wanted to cry. A much larger part felt a great deal of relief knowing the tumor had been excised and no longer had its claws in her body. Thank God it had been caught early.
     
    ~
    ~
     
    The doctor had come out and spoken to the family after initially seeing Lexi. The news she had cancer hit them all hard.
    Lance rested his head back against his chair and let out a slow breath. A hand absently rubbed his goatee as he watched Serenity and Grams hold each other as they cried. Grams was rubbing her granddaughter’s back and murmuring words he couldn’t quite hear. Tuck and Laurie exchanged worried looks. They chose to focus their energies on Gideon and keeping him entertained.
    Lance had no idea what to say or do to ease their sorrow. Or even how to address his own.
    On one hand, he wanted to kick the chair over and scream about the unfairness of it all. Lexi, who spent her life helping others both inside and outside of work, shouldn’t have to battle this.
    On the other hand, he wanted to shout praises to God for the successful surgery. The doctor felt that, between the complete hysterectomy and chemotherapy, Lexi should be cancer-free. They’d caught it early. The doctor said it was the kind of outcome she wished for all of her patients.
    The end result was good news. But imagining what all Lexi must be going through right now as she faced this new reality made his heart ache for her.
    He was glad Patty was in with her. He didn’t think he could have handled knowing Lexi was having to deal with everything on her own. The doctor told the rest of them that Lexi needed a few hours and then they could visit her.
    The members of the Chandler family were brushing tears away and pulling themselves together. Discussion was turning to where they should all go for a late lunch.
    “Is pizza good with you, Lance?”
    His head snapped up at Tuck’s words.
    “Yeah, that sounds fine.”
    He followed them. He hadn’t realized how cold it was in the hospital until they stepped outside and were greeted by the relentless summer heat.
    As they ate pizza and breadsticks around a large table, Grams addressed them all.
    “When we see Lexi this evening, keep it upbeat. She doesn’t need us all going in sniffing and acting like this is the end of the world.” She sprinkled enough crushed red pepper on her pizza to rid an elephant of sinus trouble. “We may not have gotten what we’d hoped for today, but the end result is still the same.” Despite her best attempt, the older woman’s eyes grew damp. “My oldest granddaughter will live a long life, praise God.” She dabbed at her eyes with a napkin. “That’s a miracle no