Chapter 13 Italian wish list

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The wheelchair made squeaky noises as it was ridden on Weslin street. Rachael pushed Mrs. Britney while Chloe tagged along with a notepad in her hand. It had lists of things she wanted to do with Mrs Britney before she kicked the bucket. They included. Watching a movie at Garmin cinema, staying outdoors without sunscreen, having temaki sushi at an Italian restaurant even though Italians don't make sushi, and staying outdoors for too long without sunscreen_ that was just dangerous. Mrs. Britney already had lung cancer, skin cancer was not an option. Last on the list was to have a margarita while sitting on a beach in LA. Now that was impossible.

Today, they were sticking to the basics. That was having a view of the quiet street of Westine alongside the sunset. Mrs. Britney hadn't been much of a nature person. Now she was on the verge of death, she wanted to feel connected to it and also appreciate it for radiating its beauty on the earth. There was a smile on her face as she breathed in multiple times, taking in the sweet smell of the cold evening.

"Chloe, can you keep the notes aside and help me with this chair? I think my hands are getting a numb"

"Hold on, Rachael. This is gold" she raised the note with a grin on her face which caused Rachael to roll her eyes. "The list just keeps going"

"You mean your little Italian wish list?"

"No it's not and sushis are really served at Italian restaurants. I know it"

"For the 100th time. Chloe, they are not"

"Well I guess one way to find out" she shrugged at Rachael. "Oh oh oh! what if we add. Taking pictures with LeBron James"

"Chloe?"

"Yeah. He is a celebrity all right, but can't say no to a cancer patient. We could tell him it's her last wish"

"Mum doesn't even know who he is"

"Mum, you don't? " Chloe turned to Mrs. Britney in anticipation.


"It's enough you two. Let me enjoy this" Mrs. Britney said, breathing in and out as she closed her eyes with a smile on her face.

"Sorry. I just want to make it the best moments of your life" Chloe said with a slouched shoulder.

"We don't need to take a picture with LeBron James for me to be happy. Seeing the both of you already brings joy to my heart" she blurted and Rachael felt the tears welling up again. The urge to cry was too strong, but she didn't give in. She rather cried every night when no one watched than show weakness.

"You bring joy to our hearts too," Chloe said bending to her level as she smiled. "That's why I am doing this for you" she waved the notes again, cheerfully.

"There we go again" Rachael rolled her eyes. She held the handle of the wheelchair, pushing Mrs. Britney away.

"Common!" Chloe yelled from behind.

She ran over to where they were, walking backward. "Even though we are going to forget every other thing on this list. At least let's still have sushi at an Italian restaurant"

"Italians don't.... "

"That could be a good idea Rachael" Mrs. Britney backed Chloe's point.

"Yeah don't be so uptight"

Rachael sighed, looking away from Chloe's peering green eyes. "Fine. We can have sushi at an "Italian restaurant" If we even find one"

"You see, it wasn't so bad after all" Chloe turned around and walked the normal way.

"Here stop me" miss Britney called out. "The view is great from here" Rachael agreed as she gazed around in utmost satisfaction. Nature indeed was beautiful. Rachael had never felt this relaxed in a while. Her life had always been in a rush that she paid no attention to details. This time, it felt like everything paused and she finally had the time to breathe. With each wave of wind that hit her delicate skin, it seemed like it took away her problem with it. All she wanted to do was envelope herself in the newfound peace mother nature had rendered unto her.

Mrs. Britney let out a loud cough, distracting her from her divine solitude. Rachael pat her slightly on the back, but that didn't stop it. The cough was so bad that it only stopped when she spat out blood. Rachael's heart skipped a beat, and Chloe panicked, but Britney gave them a brief reassuring smile that didn't reach her eyes._ it was faked_

"Should we go back" Rachael suggested. Probably the cold was too much.

"Hell no," Britney chuckled. "I've stayed indoors for too long. I really need this"

"Are you sure"

"I've never been this sure in my life"

"Ok then" Rachael patted lightly on the handle of the wheelchair. Left for her, Britney would be home, covered properly by the fireside. It wasn't winter, but most times, Britney developed a bad cold and only felt better when placed close to the fireplace.

Mrs. Britney coughed again. This was torture. Racheal felt her heart skip at every sound of discomfort that came forth from her mother's lips. When she was done, she raised her thumb to Rachael signifying she was okay.

"We can go to the hospital tomorrow to get a prescription for your cough" Chloe suggested. Britney immediately frowned at the thought.

"I don't want to go to any hospital. I want to stay here with the two of you"

"But you..."

"It's fine" she interrupted Chloe whilst Rachael stayed quiet. Her heart wandered through many scenarios. Something crossed her mind and that was the words of Xavier when he gave her a day off.

"Mum how was Xavier like when he took you in?"

"Rachael!" Chloe snapped at her in disbelief.

"What?" Rachael shot back. She asked the question because she was confused and probably misjudged him. She had imagined her mother to have gone through hell in his hands, but how he spoke about her yesterday said otherwise.

"You mean the handsome young man with green eyes?" Britney asked in a strained voice. That was a result of her continuous coughing. " He was the sweetest. He didn't like to show much, but sure made sure I was taken care of. Oh, dear. He was sure hard on the outside, but a softie on the inside. Oh, and he kept to his words. I told him to get you a job and he did" Britney said with a smile visible on her face.

Rachael and Chloe looked at themselves in disbelief. Did she just call mean Xavier the sweetest? God and she was the one who told him to get her a job. This was messed off.

"Wait you told Xavier to get Rachael a job?" Chloe was just as stunned as Rachael.

"But mum you didn't have to. I am a blogger. A full-time blogger"

"I wanted you to have a job, a real job"

"Well now you can finally ditch that douchebag" Chloe suggested with disgust in her voice. Rachael thought she was going to jump on the idea of leaving Jexs, but that wasn't the case. She couldn't leave because she already felt tied to it.

And she was most definitely not quitting her job because she enjoys being with Xavier and was addicted to his Cologne. At least that is what she told herself inwardly.

"No I'm not leaving Jexs" she blurted out, causing Chloe to roll her eyes. She knew no matter how Rachael could be stubborn when her mind was made up.

"Is there a problem?" Britney asked when she couldn't catch on. They had lost her a along the way.

"Nothing important mum" Rachael replied. "Don't you wanna go home now?"

"Ok. The sunset is over already" Britney said with her eyes on the sky whilst Rachel turned the wheelchair around.

"You better quit your job, let's get the fuck out of this damn state" Chloe whispered behind her. Low enough for Britney not to hear a thing.

"Why exactly?"

"You said it yourself. If Magnus finds out you took down the article, he will come straight to the apartment he gave to you and get us out of there. If we are lucky, he could let us go unscratched"

"Nothing is going to happen. He has his quarrel with Xavier, not me. I doubt he will come by"

"Well he better not" Chloe tut, bringing out the book she placed under her arm. A grin appeared on her face as she scribbled something on it. Rachael snickered then turned around. She moved slowly, pushing the chair delicately while Chloe trailed behind even slower. While Still struggling with the chair, she heard her phone buzz from the little purse strapped around her waist. Her hands dug into the it and emerged with a phone. The moment she realized who it was, her heart dropped.

It was Magnus. Did he find out about the article she wrote about him?