by Natalie Ann
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Prologue
Positive
Universe
To Visit
Socialize
Handle Myself
Fate
Warden
Trust Me
Best for You
Cookies
Small World
His Terms
Social Skills
The Place
Patience
Rational Conversation
Favor
Harder Than He Thought
On Purpose
I Win
Dare you
Trying to Help
A Story
Nothing Wrong
A Choice
Content
No One Expected
Not Strong Like You
Helping Me
High on Emotions
Fishing
All You Need
Pretend
Good Mood
Never Easy
Full of Wisdom
Next Year
Down This Road
For the Best
All Good
Make It Right
Epilogue
Copyright 2017 Natalie Ann
All Rights Reserved
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without a written consent.
Dedication- To the many doctors I’ve had in the last few years. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to stay so upbeat.
Author’s Note
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
The Road Series
Lucas and Brooke’s Story- Road to Recovery
Jack and Cori’s Story – Road to Redemption
Mac and Beth’s Story – Road to Reality
Ryan and Kaitlin’s Story - Road to Reason
The All Series
Ben and Presley’s Story – All Or Nothing
Phil and Sophia’s Story – All Of Me
Alec and Brynn’s Story – All The Way
Sean and Carly’s Story — All I Want
Drew and Jordyn’s Story— All My Love
Finn and Olivia’s Story— All About You
The Lake Placid Series
Nick and Mallory’s Story- Second Chance
Max and Quinn’s Story – Give Me A Chance
Caleb and Celeste’s Story – Our Chance
Cole and Rene’s Story – Take A Chance
Table of Contents
Prologue
Positive
Universe
To Visit
Socialize
Handle Myself
Fate
Warden
Trust Me
Best for You
Cookies
Small World
His Terms
Social Skills
The Place
Patience
Rational Conversation
Favor
Harder Than He Thought
On Purpose
I Win
Dare you
Trying to Help
A Story
Nothing Wrong
A Choice
Content
No One Expected
Not Strong Like You
Helping Me
High on Emotions
Fishing
All You Need
Pretend
Good Mood
Never Easy
Full of Wisdom
Next Year
Down This Road
For the Best
All Good
Make It Right
Epilogue
Prologue
Celeste looked up as her father strode into the room, oblivious to the noises around him. Noises that were second nature at this point. The tiredness on his face didn’t diminish the strength he always exhibited.
“How’s my girl doing?” he asked her, coming to sit on the corner of her bed. He reached his hand out and placed it lightly over hers, mindful of her IV and the heart-rate monitor on her finger.
“Hanging in there,” she said as upbeat as she could.
“It’s going to be okay,” he said, leaning down and kissing her forehead, but she wasn’t so sure she believed him. He’d never been wrong before and she didn’t want him to be now, except deep down she was afraid he was lying.
After all, she didn’t think she’d be here again. Not in this room, not in this hospital, and not wondering if she’d live.
No fifteen-year-old wanted to think that—ever. She was supposed to be infallible…weren’t all teens? She should be sitting on a different bed at a friend’s house talking about her latest crush, not in this dull sterile room wondering when she’d die.
Did death hurt? Would it be quick? Best not to go there.
“I’m scared,” she finally said.
It was the first time she’d ever voiced it out loud. Sure, it’d bounced around in her brain more times than she’d ever confess to, but not once during the six months of chemo did she ever tell her mother or father she was scared.
Nope, she saw how much her cancer upset them, so she did her best to project the face of a carefree teen. It wasn’t hard at times since she was always happy and cheerful. Though there were times she didn’t want to do anything other than curl in a ball and sleep through her illness, she always managed to stay positive. If not for those around her, then for her own mental sanity.
But it wasn’t fair. She’d fought her way through those treatments. She’d suffered in silence. She laughed when she saw her bald head the first time and even cracked jokes when her parents kept buying her different wigs to change up her style. And when she’d finished her last treatment, she celebrated with her friends by gorging on cake and ice cream…once her stomach was strong enough for the food to stay down.
Then, when her scan came back after her treatments ended and the results said she was in remission, well, that was cause for another party and another celebration. She’d made it. She’d beat the odds.
Life had finally seemed to be going so well. Her dark hair had grown back enough that she could style it and feel pretty again. She was strong enough to enjoy school and go out with her friends. She was back to being a teen.
Until a few weeks ago, when the latest scan said the cancer was back. Why? Why was it happening to her?
“I have all the faith in the world this bone marrow transplant will work,” her father said.
“It better,” she said, forcing another smile and fighting through the tears. “Cole will be livid if he has a scar and nothing good comes out of it.”
“Don’t talk like that. Do you hear me? Your mom will be here in a few minutes, and I’ll go sit with Cole.” Her father stopped talking, ran his hand over her short hair, and said, “Life’s not always fair, Celeste. We know that, you know that, but sometimes miracles happen. You and Cole were our miracle once before, so I know it’s possible to have another. I refuse to believe otherwise.”
She hoped her father was right, but she was so tired. So tired of being the strong one, the happy one, the one that had to fight this nasty battle.
When her mother walked in the room a minute later, Celeste did what she’d been doing all along. She painted a smile on her face and said, “Let’s get this show on the road.”
Her mother laughed through her teary eyes, leaned down, and kissed her quickly. “Cole just said the same thing. They’re going to p
ut you two in the same recovery room so you can wake up together and start to torment each other like always.”
Celeste looked at her mother, then her father, giggled a little, fought the meds that were rushing through her veins making her slur her words, and said, “You wouldn’t want it any other way.”
It was the last thing she remembered. Seeing both of her parents looking down at her, both trying to smile like her, trying to look positive—only she saw the worry in their eyes. The same worry she’d been feeling for weeks in the pit of her stomach.
Positive
Fifteen Years Later
Celeste opened her eyes as the first rays of dawn shone through her window. Nothing like waking to the sunshine. It always perked her up and reminded her she had everything in the world to be thankful for.
“I’m not eating dirt today,” she said out loud and let out a little giggle.
Every morning she expressed some positive little tidbit. She’d done that since she was a teen.
Sure, sometimes she repeated the same one, but it didn’t matter. It was the sentiment that there was always something to be happy about. Something to look forward to. It was a great way to start the day in her mind.
She stretched her arms over her head, twisted to the right and then the left, heard her body pop and crack more than it should for a thirty-year-old, and walked into her bathroom to get ready for the day.
Twenty minutes later, she was strolling along the brick pathway into the kitchen of her bed and breakfast with her long brown hair in a braid that fell down her back. First things first, she filled the large industrial coffee machine and set it to brew. She always wanted coffee ready for her guests.
Her guests paid a hefty rate to stay at her B&B and she made it worth every penny for them, not only with the atmosphere and view, but also in making them feel like they were being pampered in their own home.
Breakfast wouldn’t be until eight, so she had plenty of time to bake some muffins for those that wanted something light.
While the coffee brewed, she pulled out the ingredients and started mixing up the batter for her blueberry muffins. Once the first batch was in the oven, she walked over to the chalkboard in the kitchen, and in her beautiful script updated the menu for tomorrow.
She always had the menu listed for the current and next day. That way her guests knew what she was cooking for breakfast and dinner, both which were served family style in her large dining room. Lunch was always brown bag.
When six of her eight guests were out the door with their packed lunches in hand for their hiking adventure, Celeste turned to her two remaining guests. Sisters, each renting the last of her five rooms. “What do you two ladies have planned for the day?”
“If you don’t mind, we thought we’d spend it out by the water. Maybe take out the paddle boat and get some exercise,” Sue, the older of the two sisters, said.
“I think that’s a wonderful idea. The weather is beautiful, the sun is shining and warm, and the water is peaceful right now. Don’t forget your sunscreen,” Celeste said as she wiped down the counters.
“We’ll be fine. The sun isn’t that hot this time of year,” Nancy, the other sister, said back. “We never wear it. In our day, we went outside and bathed ourselves in baby oil.”
Celeste just held her smile, even though she wanted to cringe. “Well, as someone who was diagnosed with melanoma a year ago, I feel the need to lecture, but I’ll hold my tongue.” She walked over to a cabinet, opened it up, and pulled out a can of spray sunscreen. “Humor me, please, and take the sunscreen with you. Just don’t tell me if you decide not to use it,” she said, adding a little wink.
Celeste chose to believe the grins they were both sporting meant they’d use it, but chances were they wouldn’t. You can’t save the world, she told herself, but at least she felt better doing her part.
“Thanks, dear, you’re so thoughtful.”
Yep, thoughtful. That was her. Always thinking of others and putting them first.
“Not a problem. I’ll make sure the shed is unlocked so that you can get the life vests and any other gear you might want. There are fishing poles in there, too. Maybe if you catch enough I’ll cook fish for dinner.”
Both women scrunched their faces up. She expected no less. They were pretty pampered and high maintenance, and the thought of them fishing almost set her over the edge of laughter.
“How about we stop in town and buy some fish? Our treat,” Nancy said. “You’ve been taking such good care of us this week, I don’t want to go back home to my husband. Just the thought of what my house looks like makes me want to reserve another week here.”
“I have to run to town in a few minutes on errands. If you ladies are in the mood for fish, I’ll gladly pick some up. If all the other guests are in agreement, I’ll change dinner over. Otherwise, I’ll just cook the menu and your fish. No worries.”
“Really, don’t go out of your way,” Sue said.
“I’m here to please. How does salmon sound?”
“Delicious,” Nancy said.
“Then consider it done. Enjoy your day. There is plenty of food in the kitchen, so help yourself.”
Twenty minutes later, she was walking into the hardware store and making her way to the paint samples. “Hello, Billy,” she said to an old classmate.
He was a little on the short side, kind of geeky with his bow tie, and his left eye wandered off in space, but he was harmless. He’d never really fit in with his sweater vests and khakis in school, but she found him sweet and endearing and made sure she went out of her way to say hi.
“Celeste, it’s good to see you,” he said, blushing slightly like he always did. “Did I hear you were buying the house next to your bed and breakfast and turning it into another business?”
“Your hearing is excellent as always, Billy,” she said, tilting her head with a smile, which only caused his blush to intensify.
“You’re going into business with that fancy plastic surgeon, right?”
Small towns—nothing got by them. “Dr. Hamilton and I are forming a partnership of sorts, yes. It’s going to be a small B&B for his patients only, but I’ll oversee it while his staff is on call.”
“Imagine that, a special B&B for a plastic surgeon. Who would have thought of that?”
“The world is full of possibilities, Billy, don’t you forget it. I think you’ve got a customer waiting for you.” She nodded her head toward the tall man standing at the paint counter. He looked a little unkempt and a whole lot of impatient. “Sorry about that,” Celeste said to the newcomer, adding a little smile to her apology.
She didn’t recognize him, but he didn’t look like a tourist. Probably new to the area. More and more people were buying vacation homes here, though he didn’t look the part of a some-time vacationer either.
It looked like he hadn’t shaved in days. His hair was disheveled and in desperate need of a cut. An old T-shirt and cargo shorts with beat-up sneakers completed his look.
He nodded his head quickly, but didn’t say another word. She continued to smile politely and went on her merry way.
***
Caleb had been listening to the woman and worker talk for a few minutes while he grabbed the paint color he was looking for.
Celeste, huh? And it was her bed and breakfast. He drove by it every time he came to town and saw her outside often. He thought she might have been an employee since she was normally mowing the lawn, raking, weeding, and sometimes even painting or touching up the outside.
This was the first he’d seen her up close and was shocked to realize how young she seemed.
She obviously didn’t recognize him, not that he expected her to, but she’d waved to him a time or two as he’d driven by. Now he was starting to think she waved to everyone that passed her house. Good thing she didn’t live on that busy of a street or she’d never get anything done.
“Can I help you?” Billy asked him.
“I need to get two cans of
this paint,” Caleb said, then turned his head and watched Celeste as she browsed tile samples a little ways down the aisle.
“Isn’t she just beautiful?” Billy asked him, a wistful tone in his voice.
Caleb grunted, but didn’t say anything else. Obviously Billy had a major crush on Celeste. It wasn’t hard to miss how he blushed and looked at her longingly.
To Celeste’s credit though, she didn’t humor Billy at all. No, she talked to him like he was a person, maybe like they were good friends, though they probably were no more than acquaintances. Just like she turned kind eyes on him and apologized for keeping him waiting.
He didn’t mind waiting, not really. It’s not like he had any pressing matters to get home to. Just painting and fixing up the cabin he’d bought. Then working out the kinks of another app he was writing.
“I went to school with her, and everyone just adored her,” Billy commented, then started to set the colors to blend in the mixer. Guess Billy didn’t get the hint that Caleb wasn’t much for conversation.
“That’s nice,” Caleb said and looked in the other direction, trying to find something else to focus his attention on.
“She’s nothing but a walking miracle. After all that’s happened to her, she’s never let it bring her down. Always had that bright sunshine smile on her face.”
Caleb refrained from snorting over Billy’s description. It was most likely an exaggeration from someone that was infatuated with her.
Besides, it wasn’t of any concern to him. He just wanted his paint so he could get home.
But Billy didn’t get the hint. “Was named prom queen two years running, too. No competition. But it never went to her head, either.”
Wow, Caleb thought. This was why he couldn’t get out of the small town he grew up in fast enough and was wondering what the heck he was thinking, relocating here. He’d thought it would give him the solace he needed to survive and move on, but instead it was just giving him a headache.
“I’m sure she was thrilled,” Caleb said, not knowing what else he should say. Proms were something he didn’t pay much attention to, even for the short period of time he was in high school.
