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.Hesquinted, carefully considering his options. Can I have a cone with two scoops of beautiful? Nathan grinned. Yes, you can, I said, and I leaned over thecounter to give him two quick kisses.Fortunately there was no one else in line,because he hesitated for a moment, scratching hisneck.Taking a deep breath, he reached into hispocket and removed a small white envelope.He set iton the counter, and we both just stared at it. Is that what I think it is? I asked, my voicewarbling. I took the test, but I m still not sure I want to knowif I have it, he confessed solemnly.And in a familylike his, there was only one it you could have,Huntington s disease.This little piece of paper wouldhave just as much impact on the course of his life asthat day at the factory.Because his life had nevermade it this far, I d never known whether or not he hadit.I felt my chest collapse with the worry of what thiswould mean for his happiness. Are you gonna open it? I stammered. Should I? Nathan wondered aloud.Breathing deeply, Nathan took the envelope intohis hand.It had some letters printed on it of hisaddress and that of the doctor s office.Slipping hisfinger under the seal, he hesitated before he tore itopen and gave me a look. I can t do it, he said, shaken.He d come to pick me up for the end of my shift,and so I came around the counter and gave him a bighug. It s ok, I said, trying to comfort him. You don thave to open it. While he pushed the envelope back in hispocket, I stood next to him wishing I knew of a betterway to comfort him.What if it turned out he did haveHuntington s disease? An incurable disease, certaindeath after a long, agonizing decline, what could Ipossibly do to help him with these things?Having the envelope but not opening it seemedto wreak havoc with his nerves.We left the shop andclimbed into his truck, and he set the envelope on theseat next to him.Nathan and I didn t often have quietdrives, but I just couldn t think of anything else to say.I ran my hand through the back of his hair.Iwanted to get closer to him, but that envelope on theseat between us prevented me.When we returned home, Nathan set it on thekitchen table.Cammie and Gladys both couldn trestrain themselves from taking a long, lingering lookat it.In addition to Miriam, Huntington s disease hadtaken Gladys s husband, Cammie s grandfather too.Huge chunks of the Wheeler family were missing because of this disease. I haven t opened it yet, Nathan confirmed, fillingan uncomfortable silence. And I m not sure I m goingto. No matter what, we re here for you, Gladyssaid, and Cammie and I readily agreed. I know just the thing that ll take our minds off ofthis, Cammie offered, leaving the kitchen andheading for the cabinet in the living room.Diggingthrough the boxes, she pulled out Monopoly andstarted to set it up on the coffee table. You just can t get enough of this game, canyou? Nathan chuckled.I was thrilled he wasn t toosubdued to smile because of the pressure of gettinghis test results. Don t say it s because I always win, because Idon t! Cammie clarified.Gladys scooted over a chair and sat down.Shecasually reached for the container of bills. I guess I ll be the banker, if nobody wants to, she offered, but Cammie caught the container beforeshe could take it. I don t think so, Grandma.We all know how youlike to get confused about what money is yours, Cammie accused, making quotation gestures. I have no idea what you re talking about, Gladys moaned, deeply offended yet wisely releasing thebills. Exactly, I added, and everyone laughed.We settled down to play, knowing the gamewould probably take years to get through.It wasalready so late, but we didn t care. Alright, roll to see who goes first, Nathan said,and we took turns tossing the dice across the board.As it happened, I rolled the highest, and so I took thedice in my hand and prepared to take my first turn.Nathan was right next to me, his arm over myshoulder, but I could tell every time he glanced back atthe kitchen table and the envelope on it.We began to play, buying properties and handingover money when necessary, but Nathan wascontinuously distracted.He always had to bereminded it was his turn because he was staring offinto space.He tapped his foot and wrung his hands.For a second, I thought he was even sweating. It s your turn, and don t be afraid to roll a three, Cammie advised, bringing him back to the present. Ok, he said, but instead of taking the dice hegot up and went for the kitchen table.We allimmediately followed him, watching carefully as hesnatched the envelope and slipped his finger underthe seal. You really don t have to, Gladys reminded him. I have to know, Nathan said.My heart was beating out of my chest, and I feltlike I d remember the sound of him tearing open thatenvelope forever.Nathan removed the sheet of paper,unfolded it, and scanned it just inches away from hisface. Well? I asked, my blood gone cold. I have Huntington s disease
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