The news hit her like a fist to the solar plexus; the breath stuck in her throat and her vision narrowed to a pinpoint of light. Voices buzzed around her head but they came to her ears as though through a long, long tunnel. She slumped back in her seat and closed her eyes, shaking her head in an attempt to clear the disorientation.

"Where can we get that kind of money, Doctor?" Her mother’s voice broke through the fog choking her mind like a spear of sunlight piercing dark clouds.

"Ms. Tillman, your insurance should-"

"It won’t. They’ll cover some but not enough." Weary resignation weighed her mother’s voice and she slipped from the chair to the older woman’s side, draping her arm around the woman’s thin shoulders.

"It’s possible that-" the doctor began.

"It’s not. It’s not possible."

*~*

"Liz, are you okay?"

She shook her head, clearing the cobwebs. She couldn’t remember the last time she had had a full night’s sleep and been able to get through the day without that fuzzy feeling of exhaustion muddying her mind. She was lucky when she could get into bed by one in the morning and the lack of sleep was beginning to show.

"Yeah, I’m doin’ fine, Bets. Jus’ had a late night." She forced a wry smile to curve her lips, insinuating darker activities than her personality allowed for.

Bets chuckled deeply, almost purring. "Yeah, I know you, Liz. The late night partier, drinkin’ and making’ trouble ‘til the dawn." Slowly a worried expression replaced her smile. "Come on, Liz. We’ve known each other since before we could walk and we’ve never kept secrets from each other. What’s goin’ on with you?"

People bustled around them, carrying lunch trays or bags, whichever suited their fancy. The volume of the high school cafeteria was somewhere between that of a family reunion and an airport. Liz and Bets sat alone on the far side of the large room but Liz still cast a fearful glance around her, searching for eavesdroppers.

"Bets, remember about three months ago when I had to take my mom to that appointment? I ended up missing fifth and sixth?" Bets nodded and Liz continued. "Well, the doctor told us that the lump in my mother’s breast was in fact cancerous and due to how wide spread it was, the whole breast would have to be removed. We talked with the insurance people and when all was said and done we just didn’t have the money. But it wasn’t like it was something she could wait on so she had the surgery and now she has to go through the reconstruction.

"I can’t even begin to tell you how much we owe right now and we can’t pay many of our bills. The only thing keepin’ us from losing our phone is the conditions under which we are suffering and heaven only knows why we still have our credit card." Liz sighed dejectedly.

A stricken look settled on Bets’s dark face. "Liz, why didn’t you tell me? Maybe I could’ve helped somehow!" Her voice was edged with bruised pride. "Last I checked we were still best friends. And if I remember correctly, when my father was in the hospital for all that time a couple years ago, you were over every day helping out so my mom could be at the hospital with ‘im."

Liz’s lips quirked up and a shamed flush stained her cheeks. "Sorry, Bets. I just didn’t want anyone to worry. And-" Her cheeks darkened to a deeper red and she lowered her eyes, worrying at her lips.

Bets’s silence drew out the rest of Liz’s words.

"Well, I didn’t want anyone to know that we couldn’t pay our bills, Bets. Pride is a horrible thing." A frantic light grew in Liz’s eyes and her hands molded around her friends’. "Bets, you can’t tell anyone what’s happened. Please say you won’t say anything! I wouldn’t be able to stand the whispers and looks." Disgust writhed across Liz’s face at the thought of being the brunt of other’s pity.

Swallowing hard, Bets tried to find a way around her friend’s promise. Sputtering, she gestured helplessly. Then, miraculously, the bell sounded signaling the end of lunch and Bets shot to her feet, nearly upsetting her chair.

"See ya’ after sixth, Lizzy," she said quickly, already half way to the door. She made her ears deaf to her friend’s voice as she escaped from the cafeteria and the binding promise.

*~*

"Hey, Liz! Table six just filled up!"

Glancing around the kitchen door, Liz replied, "Thanks! I’ll get ‘em."

Snatching three menus from the basket, she stepped quickly to the now occupied corner table.

"Hello, gentlemen. Today’s soup is vegetable chicken and our fish is cajun catfish. May I start you off with drinks?" As she spoke she distributed the menus, not bothering to lift her gaze to the faces beyond noticing they were all men.

"Liz? Liz Tillman?"

Slowly the girl brought her eyes to the speaker’s face. Her mother’s doctor and his two sons sat around the table. The youngest son went to school with her; she recognized his face. He cast her a quick smile, his eyes lingering on her face. Dragging her eyes back to the eldest man, a morose expression clouded her eyes.

"Yes, sir. How have you been?"

"I’ve fared well. How has your mother been, though? Did everything go smoothly?" Genuine concern colored his voice and Liz could not help but respond.

"She’s doing just fine, sir. All that’s left now is the reconstruction. It’s quite a relief and makes sleep much easier."

"And the money? Is it still somewhat tight?"

Liz held her breath and bit her lip, casting a wounded glance at the youngest son. Her eyes became moist but with much blinking, she fought back the tears.

"Well, sir, we are making do. Like for many people, the finances are tight but we’ll survive."

"Ahhh, I see. That explains your working here. Is there any-"

Abruptly, Liz cut him off. "I’m sorry, sir but two more tables have just filled up and Lillian isn’t here to cover so may I bring you drinks while you look over the menu?"

The doctor moistened his lips, a contemplative wrinkle drawing his brows together. Wisely, he refrained from saying more and ordered a glass of red wine. Both sons ordered cokes and after glancing one last time at the youngest – Alex, she remembered, his name is Alex – she hurried off to wait on the new customers.

Alex’s eyes followed the girl until she disappeared into the kitchen, his gaze hooded and wondering.

*~*

"Are you Bets?"

The ebony-skinned girl glanced over her shoulder, flipping her hair out of her eyes. "Yeah."

Alex leaned forward. "You’re real good friends with Liz Tillman, right?" At her nod, Alex smiled. "Good. I’ve been looking for you. I want to help her."

Suspiciously narrowing her eyes, Bets turned fully around, facing Alex. "What are you talking about?"

"You know. My father was her mother’s doctor. I want to help. I saw her working at a restaurant last night and that’s no place for one such as she." He paused meaningfully. "I want to help her," he repeated slowly.

Bets’s dark eyes thawed and she smiled. "What do you want to do?"

*~*

"See ya’ tomorrow, Liz!"

"’Bye, Benny!" Liz looped her apron over her peg and began walking home.

In the seven months since she had been forced into employment at the restaurant, she had come to love the late night air. It’s crispness was not a deterrent but a stimulant and her thoughts seemed to be clearer than at any other time. The darkness allowed for truth to bare itself shamelessly and she did her best thinking while on the walk home from work.

Her feet carried her home while her mind wandered. Since she had served Alex and his family that night, the doctor’s son and she had become close friends, talking everyday and seeing each other on weekends. Laughing, she shook her head. She still didn’t know how that had happened. Bets just watched them bemusedly, like a proud mother whose prophecy has seen fruition. And then on top of that she had gotten a dollar and a half raise! Now, thanks to the extra money and tips, she could pay some of the bills that had been left for Fate to deal with.

These happy thoughts flowed like molasses in her mind, lifting the constant exhaustion to a slightly bearable level. Turning a corner, she paused, her gaze falling upon the creme-colored two-story house with the porch light on. A smile created a myriad of lines at the corners of her eyes. Her mother always left the light on for her and nearly always stayed up to say good night.

The house was dark when she walked in but this was far from unusual. Carefully she set her book bag on the stairs and went to check the messages. A three flashed on the little machine and with trepidation she pushed the ‘Play back’ button.

Clenching her jaw, Liz pushed "Next", hoping for a cheerier caller.

Liz swallowed down tears and retrieved the next message, closing her eyes in weary despair.

"Hey, Lizzy. It’s me, Alex. Give me a call on my cell whenever you get in. And don’t wait ‘til tomorrow. I know what time to get off work so call me right when you get home." A ghost of a smile appeared on her wan face as she picked up the phone and punched in Alex’s number.

"Hey, Liz."

Startled, Liz asked, "How did you know it was me?"

Alex laughed. "Who else would be calling at eleven at night on a school night?"

"I’m sorry, but you said to call whenever-"

"It’s okay, Liz. I’m glad you called. Would you do me a favor and look down at the floor by your feet?"

Liz hesitated at the odd request but at Alex’s urging looked down at the floor. Much to her surprise, a large arrow pointed towards her living room. She had been so preoccupied when she walked in she hadn’t noticed the paper.

Clicking off the phone, she followed the arrows as they directed her from the living room to the door of the den. Taking a deep breath, she twisted the doorknob and stepped into the well-lit room.

Blinking dumbly, she noticed that waiting for her was not only her mother but Bets and Alex. Liz stood inside the doorway, her eyes cloudy with confusion, her mind uncomprehending.

"I don’t understand." Turning to Bets and Alex she said, "What are you two doing here? It’s elven thirty at night and we have school tomorrow."

"We had something we wanted to show you, Lizzy," said Bets excitedly. She waved her hands, drawing Liz’s eyes to the little stacks dotting the tabletop. It took a moment for Liz to realize what she was looking at.

Those little stacks were in fact stacks of money: ones, fives, tens, and even twenties.

"Five thousand dollars." Her mother answered Liz’s unspoken question. "These two angels raised five thousand dollars."

For the first time, Liz looked at her mother. Tears were glistening in the older woman’s eyes but a joyous smile creased her face.

"It’s not possible," Liz murmured. "That’s just not possible."

Her mother stood up and wrapped her daughter in loving arms. "Oh my darling girl, thanks to you and your friends I’ve come to believe that with love, anything is possible."

copyright 1999 Janelle K. Vargas

*~* This story was inspired by my aunt, one of many women who have battled breast cancer, and, due to her strength of spirit and courage, has pulled ahead. This short story won first prize for the literary portion of the Reflections contest but without my beautiful aunt, the story would never have been born. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Aunt Judi! You're an inspiration and a role model to us all!*~*

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