Dena looked out the kitchen window to find Tim heading up the walk. She immediately ran to the front door, opening it just as he reached out to turn the handle. "Tim, what are..." is all she said before he broke down grabbing his mother, sobbing into her shoulder. "Momma" he cried as she guided him, closing the door behind him. "Tim, what's wrong, where's Caroline?" she asked as Emily came running down the stairs. Emily just looked at her brother, she had never seen him like this before, so distraught.

Dena and Tim walked to the sofa, sitting next to each other she offered him a tissue "Calm down Timmy, tell me what's wrong" she coaxed trying to keep her own reaction under control. Tim wiped his eyes, trying to gain his composure. "Emily, get your brother a glass of water" Dena instructed. Emily did as her mother asked, handing the glass to Tim, seeing the hurt in his eyes made her tear up as well. After a few sips of water, Tim calmed a bit but was shaking as he placed the glass on the coffee table.

Dena rubbed her hand along Tim's back waiting for him to explain why he was there and what had him so upset. It undoubtedly had something to do with Caroline. If it had anything to do with her father, she silently declared to herself that there would be hell to pay. 

Tim leaned forward, his head in his hands, resting on his knees. "Momma....it's Caroline...she's..." was all he could say. 

Dena immediately felt her heart in her throat "she's what Tim...take your time and tell me". Emily sat on the floor near her brother, she too feeling fear of what he was about to tell them.

"She's very sick, Momma..."he began as he told everything that had happened over the past year, the diagnosis and her decision to not get treatment. He began to cry again. Emily covered her mouth as the tears flowed from her eyes. Dena grabbed a tissue for herself, catching the tears that began to slide down her cheeks. "I'm scared, Momma...I don't know what to do" he said through his tears "she didn't even talk it over with me...she asks me to understand...I don't understand...I don't understand why this has happened to her...I feel guilty it's her, it should be me...she gave up everything for me...settled for a mere life with me...but then can't include me in deciding what to do..." he continued to ramble on, spewing out the anger and fear that had been building up for weeks.

After a few minutes Dena took Tim's hand in hers "Tim, first off, she hasn't settled for you. She loves you more than life itself..and I suspect that's why she made this decision on her own...to spare you any further heartache..deciding so you don't have to..deciding so that, God forbid, should she succumb to this, that you will not be rattled with guilt over the decision." 

"No so I can feel guilty about not forcing her to take treatment now" he said sarcastically.

"Timothy Regan Foust" she said sternly "I did not raise you to feel sorry for yourself. This is not about you, this is about Caroline. And before you start, I know how devoted you are to her and how much you love her. Show her, son..show her like you never have before. Did you even talk this over with her" she asked.

"No, I just left. I was taken aback by what she told me and I just left...I left her there, alone" he said as he hung his head.

"Go home Tim...go talk with her, find out her reasons...she needs you Tim .. and you need her" Dena advised.

****

Caroline sat on the sofa, watching the door, hoping that any minute Tim would walk back in. It had been over four hours since he left. She decided to head to bed, not knowing when or if he would even come home tonight. She took her medications, changed into her pj's and turned on the outdoor light in case he did. She crawled into bed, hugging his pillow, taking in his scent as she cried herself to sleep.

****

Tim pulled into his driveway around midnight. The house was dark with the exception of the outside light on. He entered the house, quickly locking the door. He took his boots off by the door then made his way to their bedroom. Standing in the doorway he could see that Caroline was asleep. He quietly changed into his pj's and slid in bed behind her, not wanting to wake her. Propping himself on his elbow, he watched as she slept, noticing the tear stained pillow beneath her. His heart sank, "I'm so sorry Caroline" he whispered. Her eyes fluttered open a bit, "No sorries" she whispered before falling back to sleep.