“Nothing!” My mother yelled from the table. “More tests, and medicine for her throat. I knew one of us should have gone with her.” Evan’s eyes narrowed as he glared.
“Come on!Still?” Evan’s brow furrowed as he turned back to me. “What’s wrong with your throat?”
“I have sores down my throat, and that’s why it’s hard to eat. She said she didn’t want to speculate on the rest until she confirmed it with a few more blood tests. She’s a specialist, though, and Natalie and Dr. Ramirez both said she’s good. Can we just have a nice dinner, please?” How many times would I have to repeat that tonight? Evan frowned at me and shook his head.
“Sores down your throat? Daisy, I don’t like this. When will she know?”
“Next week. I have another appointment.” I took Evan’s face in my hands. “I feel okay today. Let’s just put a pin in this for now and eat.” I felt okay after a two hour nap and three Advil, but he didn’t need to know that.
Evan grabbed my wrists and ran his thumbs over my knuckles. The weary look on his face as he let out a long sigh broke my heart. I hated lying to him.
“Alright, Daisy. We’ll put a ‘pin in it.’ For now.” He kissed my forehead and left to join my mother at the table.
Keeping this to myself was killing me. I needed someone to talk to that wouldn’t freak out. I picked up my phone and shot a quick text to Natalie.
Me: What do you know about lupus?
Natalie responded right away.
Natalie: Shit that’s what you have? I had a feeling when Ramirez sent you to Stephens.
Me: Well that’s comforting. Mom and Evan are giving me the third degree over here and I haven’t told them yet. Are you working tomorrow? Can I meet you for lunch or can you come here?
Natalie: Yeah I’m off. I’ll come over. You’re not telling them?
Me: I know, I know. I’ll tell them after she confirms.
Natalie: You’re a shitty liar. And your mom is a maniac.
Me: I hate that I can’t tell them.
Natalie: You’re gonna have to. Soon. We’ll talk tomorrow. Lupus is treatable. Stop Googling.
Me: You’re like Evan with the eyes in back of your head.
Natalie: No, I just know you. Love you. Everything will be fine.
Me: Love you, too. See you tomorrow.
“Paige! Put the damn phone down and come and eat.” My mother’s shrill voice filled my ears. Rather than yell back at her, I set my phone down and rushed to the table.
I sat between Evan and my mother and both looked me over with worried eyes. I hated lying to the two most important people in my life. And hated even more that I felt like I had no choice.
Twenty-Seven
Paige
My head spunas Dr. Stephens spewed through the last of my test results. It wasn’t a surprise, but knowing something for sure is much different than merely suspecting it. Again, I sat on the examining table with my fidgety legs crackling the paper beneath me.
And again, I was all alone.
“As I suspected, you have systemic lupus. The inflammation levels are very high, as are the levels of protein in your urine.” Dr. Stephens held my file in her hand as she gazed at me from the desk.
“I’m sorry, what does that mean?”
“It means lupus may be affecting your kidneys. I’ll watch it for the moment, but if it’s still high when you come back in a couple of weeks, we’ll need to do more tests, maybe even a biopsy.”
“Mykidneys?” My voice was shrill as panic set in. Everything had gone downhill with my health over the past six months, but since Jack died it seemed to be picking up speed.
