Serena sat on the motel bed with the phone between her ear and shoulder, watching Courtney sort through the pictures she'd taken. Austin relayed the message that Jake would meet her at Grams' for lunch on Sunday. Her stomach rolled over in nervousness. It had been so long since she'd seen him and their reunion would be steeped in bad news. How exactly was she supposed to tell her first love that she was dying?

She closed her eyes. "Thanks, Austin."

"Just make sure you ...