Black Leather Jackets: College Bound

Rename

Cheryl's POV
5 months later
Toni's getting worse
She has good days
But the bad days are starting to out weigh the good ones
I'm typing out the book I'm writing
I'm really proud of it.
My publishing company says I should start thinking about a sequel.
"Good morning C-c-Cher," Toni says
"Good morning baby, how are you feeling?"
"Not good,"
I kiss her and close my laptop.
"You'll get better,"
"Cher they call it terminal for a reason- I'm dying,"
"I know babes,"
"How's the research for it going,"
"No progress,"
"Just end it Cheryl,"
Mia starts crying and we get up.
"Hi baby," I say picking her up
"Mama!" She laughs
Toni gasps and I kiss Mia's cheek
"Good girl Mia," Toni says kissing her forehead
"Mama," Mia says reaching for Toni
"Hi baby," she says "are you hungry? You wanna go have breakfast,"
Toni won't carry her since another symptom is muscle spasms and weakness and she doesn't want to drop her
"Tones Carey her downstairs?"
"No," she says "you can do it babe,"
I sigh and we head downstairs. She sits down and I hand her Mia so I can warm up a bottle.
"Cher can we actually talked about it for a minute?"
"About?"
"My infection,"
I grab Mia's bottle and sit down.
"Of course we can T," I say "what's up?"
"I'm scared," she admits "I was never religious, I never had any beliefs about the afterlife. I don't know what's going to happen to me Cher,"
"Oh baby, you shouldn't think like that,"
"Cher, i- i always just assumed that when I died I wouldn't have anything to look forward too, that I wouldn't need to know,"
"Well I always thought we create our own afterlife, and i always believed in heaven, you get to see everyone you love that has passed and you'll get to keep an eye on me and the kids. I choose to believe we will see each other again,"
"I hope so, I'm just scared,"
"I know baby, and that's normal,"
She's nods and I hug her
"You'll be okay Tones, I promise,"
She nods and Mia starts fussing.
"See Mia thinks so too," I giggle picking her up off the high chair "hi baby, tell mama she's okay,"
"Mama! Ba ka ta!" Mia says reaching for Toni
"Good job baby," Toni says taking her
"Mama! Mommy guess what?" Tony junior asks
"What buddy?" I ask marching his enthusiasm
"I scored on the big basketball net,"
"Way to go monster,"Toni says kissing his head
"Baby boy I have to go to work for a minute, be good for mama okay?"
"Mama were you always a football coach? Or did you do another job,"
"I had another job sweetheart,"
"She was a soldier," I say "mama was in the army,"
"No way Mama! That's so cool,"
"Ya?" She laughs
"I wanna be in the aumy too, it's so cool,"
"It was very cool," Toni smiles kissing his head
I get ready for work, get Lexi dressed and then make sure Tones is good
"I'll only be a few hours,"
"Okay, see you later,"
"Mhm I love you,"
"Love you too babes,"
I leave and go to my boring meeting.
This sucks. I just wanna go home to my kids and my wife.
"Mrs Blossom, is there anything you wish to put forward before we adjourn?"
"Yes, all 1000 labs I delegated into research of InfectionU-1243 have made no progress into the cure. I would like 12UR-45ET to continue on their course of action, all other Labs however, will return to our cancer research and streamlined- overtime will Be pod for any employee in both sectors that will work more than 8 hours a day- double the usual rate,"
"Mrs. Blossom, we've given little time for a cure of such a rare infection," an executive says
"And I realized I made that decision with my heart and not my brain. I've run this company long enough to realize my mistakes and I will be changing this one,"
"You never filled in "reason for start""
"My wife is affected by this infection, she has about 4 months or less," I sigh "which brings me to my next point, I will be taking a 6 month break from the company and against my better judgment have appointed Veronica Lodge of Lodge Industry to my position, she will he given everything but access to my financials, any decisions she makes have to go through me,"
"We're so sorry Mrs. Blossom,"
"I have one more thing," I say
"Yes ma'am,"
"I move to rename my company, my name isn't Blossom anymore and the name Blossom brings so much pain to many. Topaz Inc. and every year we will award 2 full scholarships to students who maintained a 85 average or over through something out of their control,"
"What scholarship are you taking away?"
"None, this is an additional scholarship,"
"And you're authorizing this?"
"Yes, I am,"
"I'll second it," Veronica says from down the table
"All in favour put your hands up," the treasurer says
Everyone puts their hands up.
"I need marketing to start on the rebrand and new logo,"
"Done,"
"And an unveiling will be held the day after the public release of Toni's death, until then this will remain a ghost and only know to people in this room. My only communication through the next six months will be with Veronica Lodge, I will be the only one at the unveiling press conference,"
Everyone agrees and we adjourn.
I walk out and Veronica stops me
"Thank you for trusting me,"
"I really can't tell you why I do,"
"Because Toni does,"
"That could be true,"
"Well do you wanna know why I'm back in Riverdale?"
"If it's because Toni is trying to find me someone to date when she dies- please spare me from screaming at my terminally ill wife,"
"Nothing like that Blossom," she laughs "she thinks you need protection from people and knows I'd do it,"
"Don't flatter yourself Lodge, all she talks about is making sure I orgasm after she dies,"
"Well I cant help with that, it's against my contract- but I can tell you Toni really cares about what's happening after she goes,"
"I know she does, it hurts knowing she's so stressed out,"
"If there's anything I can do, let me know,"
"Don't hit on reggie anymore,"
"Ya I won't, I promised,"
"You wanna come over for dinner?" I ask
"Only if your kids call me Aunt Veronica,"
"You'll be lucky if Lexi doesn't swear at you,"
"Where did she learn swear words?" Veronica jokes
"Toni obviously," I laugh "and Reggie,"
She laughs and we drive to my house
"Tones!" I yell into the quiet house
"In the kitchen Cher," Toni yells
I put my purse down and walk in to the kitchen with Veronica
"Hey Tones," I say seeing Toni on her phone
"Hey baby, dinners almost ready,"
"Okay Ronnie went to pick up some wine, i invited her,"
"Sounds good, Reggie and Liz might be coming,"
I kiss her and she smiles
"Are you feeling better baby?"
"A lot,"
"Good im glad," I say "where are my babies?"
"All are napping,"
"Good, what about Robbie?"
"Reggie went to buy him cleats," she sighs "they're on their way home,"
"Okay,"
I sit and put my head on her shoulder as she plays a game.
"How was your meeting?"
"Boring as always, but everything I said got approved," I sigh "I got my 6 months leave and left my seat temporarily to Ronnie,"
"You didn't have to,"
"Babes I want to make sure you're okay and then I have to make sure the kids get what they need over the next few months,"
She kisses the top of my head and hums.
"You'll be fine C,"
Veronica knocks at the door and Toni says she'll get it.
"I'll wake the kids up,"
I run upstairs and wake Lexi up first.
"Mommy you're home?"
"I am buggy, and we're having guests for dinner Okay?"
"Okay,"
"I need to wake your brother and sister up babygirl,"
She nods and goes to get dressed and I go into Tony's room.
Of course he isn't sleeping
"Baby boy I thought mama said it was nap time," I say sitting on the other beanbag
"Because I had a nightmare I don't sleep," he says
"You had a nightmare?" I ask
He nods and keeps playing with his toy
"Can you tell mommy what it was about?"
"It was weal," he says
"What's real Tony?"
"Mama dying," he says throwing his toy "she died and then you and Lexi and Mia and Robbie left and no one came back fo me,"
He starts crying and I hug him.
"Tony, you know that's not going to happen right?"
"I dunno m-m-Mommy," he sobs "what if when Mama leaves you get really sad and just foget about me?"
"Look at me baby," I say releasing from the hug
He looks at me and keeps sniffling. I move his hair off his forehead.
"Baby I will never ever forget about you. You're my little boy, you're the best thing that's every happened to me. I know you and Mama are very very close but sweetheart I love you so so much and just because mamas going away doesn't mean that's going to change. Tony you are the spitting image of your mother, you look and act exactly like her. You know what that means?"
"No," he replies
"It means you are super special baby, that you are going to be amazing at whatever you want to do. I love you Tony, so much,"
"But what if my name makes you miss Mama a lot mo and you get sad?"
"You'll help me remember Mama, every time I look at you I see her and knowing you look up to her and loved her so much makes me happy baby. I am going to miss Mama more than you know, more than I know even, but your name is never ever going to change how much I love you, okay?"
He nods and I kiss his forehead
"I'm sorry mommy it just confuses me,"
"I know it does buddy, it's scary right?"
He nods and I pick him up
"Let's go get your sister and then we can go give Mama a big hug Okay?"
"Yay!"
I go into Mia's room and surprisingly she's not sleeping either
"Hi monkey," I laugh seeing her climbing on the sides of her crib "Okay, lets go have some dinner, ya?"
"Ba!" Mia says clapping
I pick her up and readjust Tony so I can walk down the stairs
"Hey babe I thought you got lost," Toni jokes
"Oh I had to have a chat with Tony Junior,"
"Here give me my girl," Liz says taking Mia
She walks back over to Reggie and Ronnie and I set Tony Junior down.
"Why what's wrong?" She asks
"Mama May I have a hug?"
"Of course you can monster,"
She hugs him and picks him up
"Nightmare?" She whispers
"He's thinking about you," I sigh
She purses her lips and nods
"Tony, dinner isn't ready yet but Uncle Reggie brought some candies if you wanna go ask nicely,"
He nods and runs over to Reggie
"He thinks when you die I'll forget about him or since he's named after you- dislike him,"
"But you talked to him?"
I nod and kiss her
"Is he going to be screwed up?" She asks
"He'll probably take it the hardest, but I got him babes,"
"I know you do,"