Victoria's Lesson

To start with, there were three things Victoria knew would be essential on her trip. Water, sunscreen and a hairbrush. What else can a girl need on a yacht? She looked up at the calendar, jotting the last plans for her summer vacation down in her fuzzy notebook. Three days until the end of Junior year. Three days left of the endless droning of the teachers, the awkward lunch line, and only three more days of watching her best friend, well, former best friend, making lovey dovey eyes at her boyfriend. Former boyfriend. The double heartache was the hardest lesson she had learned this year, and it had nothing to do with school.

She glanced back up at the calendar hanging on the wall. Three more days and her aunt Cindy was picking her up to take her on the best summer vacation ever. Three weeks sailing from port to port, seeing sights she had only dreamed of. This was going to be way better than the usual summers she spent sneaking out and sleeping in. The best summer ever, without a doubt. Victoria smiled and hopped up from her bed as the front door gave its familiar squeak. Mom was finally home.

Cathy Turner was aware that her daughter would hear her come in the front door, but she tried to sneak as quickly as she could into the kitchen before she was bombarded with questions. She had been shopping for the special dinner she had promised her daughter before Victoria left on a whirlwind vacation with her twin sister, Victoria's aunt. Before she could even start to unpack the grocery bags, Victoria was in the kitchen, grabbing snacks and checking out the ingredients, guessing before she even made it to the second bag. "Mom are you making your famous Shrimp scampi?" Victoria asked with delight. Her favorite meal, it was usually reserved for birthday dinner. Cathy wanted to make sure her daughter was aware of just how much she was loved, even though she felt like her world had fallen apart this year. Young love was always so complicated and messy.

The next morning, the car was loaded and the goodbyes were said, and the excited duo set off toward the marina, excited to have so much in fun ahead. Victoria looked back to see her mother waving from the porch and suddenly had the strangest feeling. She couldn't explain it, but it was as if all the fun had gone out of the day and she just wanted to run back and hug her mom and tell her she didn't want to go. After a moment, she shook off the brooding feeling and turned to watch the road unroll ahead of them. It was probably nothing. She sat back and paged through a book about the Caribbean to pass the time on the drive.

Three weeks later, the boat pulled into port and Victoria hopped to the ground, glad to be back home. She had enjoyed the trip very much, and now had a deep tan and some new pieces of jewelry that she couldn't wait to show her mom. When she looked toward the pier, she saw something she never expected. Her dad was coming toward her down the ramp, and he usually chose a week in August for her to come visit his family. The brooding feeling she had had the day she left returned, and she grew wary. At that moment, she realized her aunt was behind her, and didn't seem to be surprised at all that her dad was standing here waiting for them. What was going on?

Jared was glad he had been given the opportunity to be here to help prepare his daughter for the return to her home. Things were going to be different for her, and he knew she would need all of the support of her family. He put his arm around his puzzled daughter and asked her to come with him to walk in the deepening sunset. In an instant the light, airy feel of vacation went out of the air and Victoria knew there had been more to this vacation than a trip to help her forget her boyfriend and her best friends deception. Jared looked at his daughter and with all the strength he had, he delivered the news he had been dreading.

"When your mother found out she had to have surgery and possibly chemotherapy, she knew it was going to be a huge blow to you, especially after what you had just gone through. She wanted you to have a fun, carefree vacation before coming back." Victoria stared at her dad in stunned silence. She glanced up at her aunt. "And you knew?" she asked "Yes, I helped with the planning. We all wanted you to relax and have some fun before you had to find out that your mom was very sick. She just wanted you to have a little carefree fun. She thought about telling you, but she didn't want to put a damper on your fun when you had just started to bounce back to your old self after the breakup." Victoria had tears in her eyes as she thought about the sacrifice her mom had made for her. What a selfless thing to do, taking on this fight alone so her daughter could have a little more time to enjoy summer before coming home to bad news. Suddenly, the silly breakup didn't seem so important after all. She just wanted to see her mom. "Take me home" Victoria whispered.

The screen door was open to the cooling evening air when they finally made it home. Victoria had been told to be prepared for some changes to the house. A ramp was built next to the steps to the porch, and it made it all the more real to her to see that addition to her home. She had been told that her mom was only going to need it temporarily. The cancer in the bone of her lower leg had caused her to have to have an amputation below the knee. Victoria was still shocked to walk into her house and see that a bedroom area had been set up in what used to be the dining room. Her mom sat on the couch, reading a novel with a blanket over her knees, and when she saw Victoria her face lit up with a smile.

"I missed you so much, my girl, come give me a hug" her mother said reaching up from the couch. Victoria was hesitant but slowly went to her mother and sat down to hug her. "Are you in pain?" Victoria asked her "Sometimes, but not right now" Her mom answered. "I was glad to have the chance to send you off on an amazing adventure while I dealt with the worst parts. Thats over now, and everything is going to be ok!" Victoria let a few tears slide from her eyes as she hugged her mom tighter. She was still the same person she had always been. Kind, loving, and selfless always putting Victoria first. Suddenly Victoria realized that her breakup didn't matter as much, as long as the people she loved were healthy and happy.