“That’s why I wanted to come here,” his dad continued. “I’ve got that kind of grit inside me, too, and it’s time I showed it. So here I am, to tell you that I miss my son, and I hate the way things have been these last few years. I wish you wanted to stay around and take over the farm so my old ass could retire, but it’s not for you. I see that now. I respect and support your decision.

“I also don’t want to set a bad example for my only son about what it means to be a man. I hear you and Lauren are getting serious, but that you’re worrying too much about burdening her with your illness.”

Damn you, Jeni. Andrew made a mental note to stop telling her things.

“I want you to listen to me, Andrew. If a woman loves you and wants to take care of you, hold on tight and don’t let her go. You’re an incredibly strong man to be going through this treatment. You’ve dealt with cancer and chemotherapy while staying in school and keeping a job, and you have to know how impressive that is. You can do this by yourself. You’ve got it in you. But don’t do it on your own simply because you think that’s what makes you strong, or that it’s what makes you a man. A real man recognizes what he has in a partner, and what a blessing it is to have someone to share your burdens with. You’d do the same for her, wouldn’t you?”

“Always.”

“I don’t know what I’d do without your mother, and I hope she’d say the same about me. We’re a team, and we take turns bearing the different things that weigh us down in this life. If you’ve found someone like that, you’re not a strong man if you let her slip through your fingers. You’re a dammed stupid one.”

Andrew laughed at that. His dad was absolutely right, and he’d had no idea how badly he needed to hear it.

“I’m glad you came, Dad.”

“Me too. Now, where’s the best barbecue joint in this town?”

…

Two days later, Andrew was once again cautiously optimistic. He’d just completed the final chemo treatment of his sixth cycle. Lauren had taken the day off and had come with him, sitting on one side while Jeni maintained her usual spot on the other. He’d noticed that dickhead Gavin was nowhere to be found, and he asked Lauren about it during his infusion.

“He got fired,” Lauren had said, a hint of glee in her tone. “Apparently, he had a few sexual harassment complaints, and human resources finally put their foot down.”