Gift, Andersons voice said, not sounding sleepy at all. I know its early, but I need you and Rivers to get to Baltimore as early as you can. Weve got a double homicide that needs wrapping and the local PD is at a loss. I told them Id get someone up there to assist as soon as I could. You and Rivers need to swing by the office first for a quick briefing.

The defeatist part of her that was refusing to look beyond the tumor told her there was no point. Was she really going to go on assignment and pretend things hadnt changed?

Yes, she thought, looking back over to Peter. Yes, thats exactly what Im going to do.

Yes, sir. Does Rivers know yet?

Im about to call him now. And case reports will be emailed to you within half an hour. Thanks, Gift.

She ended the call and got out of bed. With the promise of a new case within reach, she didnt feel as tired as she knew she should. As she walked over to the closet, she heard Peter shift in bed.

Punching the clock early? he said groggily.

Yes. I need to get to Baltimore as soon as I can. Are you okay to call the sitter for this afternoon?

Yeah, I can do that.

Sorry its so early, she said.

Its okay.

She took her clothes out of the dresser and walked over to his side of the bed. She kissed him softly on the corner of the mouth and he smiled. He then rolled back over on his side, seeking out another hour of sleep before he had to get up. Rachel walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. She dressed quickly, feeling oddly at peace with the decision shed madea decision that she had rally not wrestled with all that much.

Her background in psychology told her that she was being selfish. She knew that if someone in her situation came to her for advice, she tell them to do the exact opposite of what she was doing. What she needed to figure out for herself in order to handle keeping such a secret was if she was telling no one was out of a form of denial or just a way to totally avoid the issue.

Whatever the reason may be, so long as she was able to function at a normal capacity, the tumor was going to be her little secret. It was a secret shed keep from her family as well as the people she worked with. Yet as she dressed, she thought of her mother on the boat, both fading away in the dream.

You have a year, her mother had said.

Looking in the mirror as she slipped into a button down shirt, Rachel looked into the mirror with a thin frown and said, Use it wisely.

***