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Chapter 21 - Plans

A few days after Emma saw Dr. Thompson, she had an appointment with an oncologist who confirmed that she had breast cancer. A biopsy was done, showing that it was stage four. Dr. Singh said it was important for Emma to start chemotherapy immediately.

She spoke to her manager at the district attorney's office, and they told her she could use disability in conjunction with her paid time off. Emma was thankful when they said they would also ask some employees to donate some of their paid time off for her to use. Due to her disability, only paying 65% of her pay, having the extra time would help her make ends meet.

Emma asked Leo to come over after she had gotten her schedule for chemotherapy so she could see if he could help her with Cat. She would have rather had someone else, but she didn't have a choice.

"Leo, thanks for coming. I need to talk to you about something." Emma felt the tears welling up in her eyes.

"What's wrong? Did something happen to Cat?"

"No, nothing happened to her. I just found out that I have stage four breast cancer, and I'm going to have to start chemotherapy." Emma started crying, and Leo didn't know what to do. He knew he should feel something, but he felt nothing other than grateful that his revenge was finally going to happen.

"I'm sorry, Emma. What can I do?" She looked at him with gratitude.

"Can you help me with Cat? I have scheduled my chemo appointments while she's in school, but I may be too weak to drive. I don't mind taking public transportation, but Cat can't walk to and from school." Emma dried her tears.

Leo was secretly jumping up and down inside. He had been getting close to kidnapping Cat, but this was even better. He would find a way to get Emma to sign over Cat to him while she's sick. Then he could do whatever he wanted with his little niece.

"Of course, I'll help. I can take you to and from your appointments too. I just returned from San Francisco, so I shouldn't have to travel anytime soon." Emma felt relief flood her body. She had been concerned that he would say he was too busy, but Leo was coming through for her.

"Thank you, Leo. You've been a big help to me and Cat these last couple of years." Emma hugged Leo, and he hugged her back, although it was awkward. He wasn't one to hug or give kind touches, but if he pretended for a while, it would help him reach his ultimate goal of getting Cat.


After Leo had left, Emma prepared herself to talk with Cat. She wanted to explain the chemo's effects on her and how Leo would be around more.

When Cat came out of school, Emma was standing next to the car. Cat was more subdued than she usually was, and Emma picked her up when she got to her.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Emma asked as she held her daughter to her.

"One of the kids in my class said all people with cancer die. Does that mean you're going to die, mommy? I don't want you to die." Emma held Cat closer as she thought about the best way to answer her. She didn't want to lie, but she didn't want to scare her either.

"How about we get some hamburgers and milkshakes while we talk, okay?" Emma kissed her cheek before setting her back down on her feet.

"Okay, mommy." Cat got into the car and into her booster seat.

Emma drove to the nearest fast food restaurant and got Cat a kid's meal with a chocolate milkshake. She ordered herself a cheeseburger and chocolate milkshake as well. Once they sat down in a corner away from everyone else, she looked at Cat and tried to decide what to say.

"Cat, not everyone with cancer dies; it can be treated. I'm going to be taking a medicine called chemotherapy. My doctor hopes that it will make the cancer go away." Emma stopped to see how Cat processed this information.

"What if it doesn't make it go away?" She asked her mother quietly.

"They have other medicines they can try, but chemotherapy is supposed to be the best thing for cancer. I'm going to start taking it next week, and it may make me feel really sick." Cat looked at her mom in confusion.

"Why will it make you sick? I thought it was supposed to make you feel better." Emma smiled at her.

"That's how strong the medicine is. It may even make me lose my hair and make me feel weak. Leo is going to be coming over a lot more. He will take you to school and pick you up. I'm not going to be working right now so I can get better." Cat slowly ate her french fries listening to her mom.

"Why do we need Leo? I can take care of you." She said, wanting to have her mom all to herself.

"I know you can, sweetheart, but we need Leo to drive us around." Emma watched as Cat thought about that.

"Since you're taking off work, I can take off school. I'm sure my teacher will be okay with me staying home with you. That way, Leo doesn't have to take me to school." Emma smiled at Cat; she had such a big heart.

"Cat, you can't miss school. I need you to do good in school so you can be whatever you want to be when you grow up." Emma watched Cat take a sip of her milkshake and could tell she was thinking.

"Okay, I'll go to school so I can be a nurse and take care of you when you're sick. That way, we don't need no one else but you and me." Cat smiled at her mom and finished eating her food. Emma watched her daughter eat and shook her head.

When they got home, Emma suggested they play a game. She wanted to take Cat's mind off their talk. They played Candyland until Cat started getting sleepy. Emma gave her a quick bath, and then they went to bed.

After Cat was asleep, Emma let her tears fall. She was hoping that the treatment worked, but all she could think of was Cat growing up without her. They needed each other, and Emma didn't want to depend on no one else to care for her like she would. Her life with Cat flashed before her eyes as she cried herself to sleep.


When Leo left Emma's apartment, he decided to treat himself to a nice expensive lunch. It was time to celebrate and make his plans. He figured Emma would be so sick from the chemotherapy that she would be really easy to manipulate.

Leo planned to convince her that she needed to sign Cat over to him as her caregiver because she was so sick. That way, she wouldn't end up in foster care and with complete strangers. He also wanted her to make him her medical power of attorney. Leo would explain that when she was too far out of it to make decisions for herself, he could ensure they were still giving her the necessary treatments.

He laughed as he ate his lunch, everything was falling into place, and he hadn't had to do anything yet. Leo thought about his recent trip to San Francisco; he had been with a girl who lied to him. He made her pay, though, and she better not come looking for him later.

Leo finished his lunch and went home; he had to tie up a few loose ends. He was going to be the best brother that Emma could ever have, but he also had to make sure his business continued to thrive. After all, what would all those people do without his supply of children?

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