Page 178 of Ransom

"Just for being you."

He tugs me the last few steps to Maggie’s front gate, then up the stairs. I reach past him and open the door, stepping into Maggie's living room cautiously. I wouldn't put it past her to call us over just to throw rotten tomatoes or some other shit at us. Thankfully, she doesn't look pissed anymore. She's sitting in her favorite armchair, a thick manila folder on the coffee table in front of her. My throat tightens—she looks so small, drowning in that oversized sweater.

"I'm sorry." Maggie's voice cracks. "I shouldn't have kicked you out."

"It's okay." I perch on the edge of the couch, Ransom settling beside me.

"No, it's not." She taps the folder. "I've been looking through everything. These treatment options... there's more than I thought."

"And?" I lean forward.

"And I'm scared." Her hands twist in her lap. "What if I go through all this just to…”. She doesn’t finish the thought, but I know what she’s thinking.Just to end up dead anyway.

"I'm not selling you a guarantee," Ransom cuts in. "Just a chance."

“But Max is in school. I can’t just leave him.”

"We'll take care of him." The words burst out before I can stop them. She’s actually considering it. Yeah, she’s thinking up excuses still, but this is progress. I can tell.

Maggie shakes her head. "That's not fair to you either. The scales are all out of whack here."

"Since when has anything about our friendship been about keeping score?" I move to kneel beside her chair. "We're there for each other. And right now, it's my chance to be there for you."

"Blair's right." Ransom's voice is gentle. "And it's not just us. My whole family's ready to help."

"I can't ask that of strangers."

"They're not strangers anymore. Max spent a bunch of time with them last weekend."The way he says that 'last weekend' is jarring. Has it only been a week since everything changed? It feels like much, much longer. On the surface, it's crazy that we're jumping into this. Are people going to think we're out of our minds?

Maybe. But I can't bring myself to care. Not even a little bit.

Maggie's fingers brush the folder again. "The success rates though.”

“I don’t know what’s in that folder. But I do know that the chances have to be better than zero,” I say, staring at her. "Which is what you're choosing right now."

She rubs at her brow, face grave. "I'm tired of fighting."

"Then let us fight for you." I grab her hand. "Please, Mags."

"Max is already comfortable at my place in Chicago," Ransom says. "And I'll be here most of the time anyway. Between Blair and me, we've got this covered."

That familiar stubborn look crosses her face. "You can't put your life on hold.”

"I'm not. I can run the company from anywhere. I'm already doing that. And if I have to go in, it's a quick day trip." Ransom leans forward. "And we'll bring Max to visit you wherever you need to go for treatment. As often as possible."

"I just..." Maggie's voice breaks. Tears spill down her cheeks. "I don't want to die. I know I acted like I was ready, but I'm not. I want to see Max graduate. I want to be there when he falls in love. I want–” she covers her face with trembling hands.

I pull her into my arms. "Then fight. We're right here with you."

"I'm so tired," she whispers against my shoulder.

"I know." I stroke her hair, my own tears falling. "Thank you for not giving up. Thank you for trying."

"What if it doesn't work?"

"Then we deal with that when it comes," Ransom says. "But right now? We focus on getting you better."

I catch Ransom's eye over Maggie's head. His expression mirrors what I'm feeling, hope mixed with fear. We both know there's no guarantee, but at least now we have a chance.