Page 150 of Love, Lies, and Whiskey

Dr. Santowski smiled. “That’s okay. I’m sure you’re all anxious to hear the results. Lucas, I’m happy to tell you that there was no evidence of active cancer on your scans, and you are officially in remission.”

“Yes!” Lucas jumped to his feet, doing a fist pump.

With tears of joy, Juliette and Seeley hugged him, and each other, nervous laughter bubbling out, along with thanking God and the doctor, and embracing their son again and again. Dr. Santowski patiently waited, allowing them to revel in their relief and excitement.

When they finally took their seats, grinning like they’d won the lottery, which they definitely had, Lucas said, “Can I get the port taken out now?”

“Absolutely,” Dr. Santowski said. “Your parents can make an appointment. It’s an outpatient procedure.”

“Does this mean I’m cured?” Lucas asked. “Can I start bull riding again?”

“We don’t use the term cured until you’ve been cancer free for five years, but this is the first step to getting there, and as far as bull riding goes, once your incision has healed from the port, you can return to your normal activities.”

“No more scans?” Lucas asked.

Dr. Santowski explained that Lucas would need to have follow-up visits every three months for the next year, and then they would move to every four months the following year, and every six months for the third through fifth years. “We’ll do exams and blood work, but unless we see something concerning in your blood work, or you experience symptoms of the cancer returning, like swollen lymph nodes, night sweats, itching, and the other symptoms we’ve gone over, there’s no need for scans…”

Most of what he said after that was a blur, but when they left the doctor’s office, hugging and so very grateful for their good fortune, Juliette was pretty sure anyone within a ten-mile radius could feel their joy. Seeley sent a group text to his family and Lucas texted Layla and his friends. In the parking lot, Lucas yelled, “I’m cancer free!” at the top of his lungs, and there were more elated hugs and I love yous.

As they climbed into Seeley’s truck, Seeley asked, “Are we dropping you at Layla’s, or are we picking her up to celebrate?”

“Neither,” Lucas said with blatant disappointment. “She had to go someplace with her mom, and she won’t be back until late.”

“Oh, honey. I’m sorry,” Juliette said.

“Maybe you can celebrate with her tomorrow,” Seeley suggested. “It’s Saturday. You’ll have all day.”

“Whatever,” he said sadly.

“Lucky for us, that means you’re all ours tonight,” Seeley said as he drove away from the hospital. “What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know. Maybe get pizza and not think about cancer.”

“Sounds like a plan,” he said.

The dogs greeted them in the driveway, lifting Lucas’s spirits. As he loved them up, he said, “Guess what, guys. I don’t have cancer anymore!” The dogs fed off his excitement, jumping up and barking. “I think they’re happy for me.”

“We all are, buddy.” Seeley draped an arm around Juliette. “Our boy is in remission.”

Her heart was bubbling over with joy. “I don’t think I’m ever going to stop smiling.”

“Just the way I like it.” Seeley kissed her.

Lucas barreled past them with the dogs, sprinting up the porch steps. “Can you unlock the door?”

“I forgot to lock it. It’s open,” she said.

Lucas threw the door open, and as they followed the dogs inside, “Surprise!” rang out from their living room, where Layla, Robert, and a handful of Lucas’s other friends from school and bull riding were cheering and clapping, along with Seeley’s family and their friends, Buck Waller, and Layla’s and Robert’s parents. Colorful balloons floated around the room, and a Congratulations, Rodeo! banner hung across the patio doors with sparkly streamers dangling all the way to the floor.

Lucas looked at Juliette and Seeley. “Are you kidding me? I can’t believe you did this! Thank you so much!”

“Thank your girlfriend,” Seeley said. “This was her idea.”

Lucas’s jaw dropped, and his gaze found Layla, who looked like she was going to climb out of her skin if she didn’t hug him soon. “I thought you were out with your mom.”

“I am out with my mom. She’s over there.” Layla pointed across the room to Brianna, and then she threw her arms around him and said, “I’d never miss such an important day.”

“Thank you.” Lucas sounded choked up, and he leaned back but didn’t let her go and said, “What if I’d gotten bad news?”