Things were going so well that I felt lucky to be alive every day. I was in good health, and although I was still tested for it regularly, I was cancer free. I was more than happy to stay with my friends and family and watch my kids grow up. I’d always been told that it would happen too fast for my liking, and that was true for Alice and me. Charlie took his first steps in what felt like mere days to me, although I knew it had been months. Still, it marked some kind of passing in our lives. I think Al and I both knew that we weren’t going to have more children, and as fun as things were after, Charlie’s first steps marked an ending, too.

He’d been standing quite a bit before he got the courage to actually try to take a step. I’d been encouraging him for quite some time, and Alice was always telling me to stop and that he’d do it when he was ready. I still wanted him to, though, and I think I pushed him into it a little bit. It was worth it. Kit and Shane and Jenny and Helena were over for dinner that night, and he’d pulled himself against Shane’s leg and stood there grinning at her and Jenny in turn until he turned and walked three steps to Kit, who picked him up and cooed over him.

**********

I could feel someone pushing on my arm, but I was tired and didn’t want to wake up just yet. Still, it didn’t stop, and I batted at the hand, sure that it was Alice until I hard Shane telling me to wake up. I did and stared at her blearily for a few seconds until I remembered where I was, and apologized to Jenny for smacking her hand.

“It’s all right,” she shrugged. “The doctor was just in. They’re moving Alice upstairs to a private room, but it’s going to take a little time. They want to bathe her. We thought we could go to the Planet for lunch; they should have things ready by the time we get back.” I nodded, realizing that I was getting hungry. I had no idea how long I’d been asleep, but I assumed it had been an hour or more.

I got up and stretched, and without another word we headed for the car. For the first time in days the knot of intense worry about Alice was lessening, and I decided to enjoy it if only for a meal.