Aimee is at Cherie and Ernesto’s for dinner.
Cherie: You know what always astounds me?
Aimee: I have a feeling you’re going to tell me.
Cherie: My daughter was once again responsible for averting a government shutdown.
Aimee: I don’t think I’d say that.
Kimmy: Yeah, there were over sixty Democrats who were kind enough to water the bill down in order to get bipartisan support. You can thank them.
Cherie: Aimee fought to get other Republicans on board. She’s a hero.
Aimee: That’s a bit extreme.
Victoria: You are the best Republican in congress!
Aimee: That sure is a rave coming from you.
Victoria: I do get it seems like I’m damning you with faint praise. Not the intent. I’m quite proud of you. You really put in the work for this state.
Aimee: It’s not always easy work. I get a lot of flak. But it’s certainly worth it.
Dave: Can you believe it all started out as an accident?
Kimmy: I’ve never seen a luckier politician in my life.
Aimee: I think the way I got into office has helped me operate independently and entirely according to my own desires. I know this is likely the only term I’m going to get, and I’m going to vote my heart on every bill, party be damned. Representing my state is important, I know a bunch of Democrats crossed over to me and had reservations in doing so. The voters are the only people I consider when I’m on that Senate floor. And I known they’d want me to help avert a shutdown. If that requires overriding the veto of my own party’s president, so be it.
Kimmy: You say that as if overriding the veto of your nemesis is a difficult choice or you.
Olivia: Believe it or not, I actually do agree with him on a few key issues. I’m a centrist, but I’m not an outright left-winger. I’d be willing to put my personal distaste for him aside and work with him if it weren’t for the fact that a Senate with sixty Democrats in it is never going to pass the partisan aspects of his agenda that I agree with.
Dave: They say that the Democrats having a supermajority in the Senate is part of why Delphy won. The voters realized that Democrats would keep him in line enough, but wouldn’t be a check on Baum, so they backed him.
Aimee: Voters are a magnificent creature. Swing voters most of all. They have no consistent beliefs, and it’s anyone’s guess how best to pander to them. In this case, apparently the voters just want nothing to ever get done. Excellent.
Cherie: You did get something done, though! You funded the government!
Kimmy: You’re making it sound like Aimee’s paying out of her own pocket.
Cherie: I bet she would if it came down to it.
Aimee: I don’t quite have the money for that. Remember, I did sleep in my office for almost my entire career in the House, and it wasn’t because it was cozy.
Cherie: You have a generous spirit, though.
Aimee: I try my hardest.
Dave: I hesitate to ask this, but where is Manuela?
Victoria: Did my sister finally snap?
Ernesto: She’s at the hospital.
Aimee: Grandma’s in the hospital and you didn’t tell me?
Ernesto: She’s having a sleeping test done, it’s no concern.
Cherie: Yes, at ninety, they’re concerned she may have sleep apnea.
Aimee: You can just get that at ninety?
Cherie: Yeah, I guess.
Ernesto: Most people don’t concern themselves that much with it by that point. You’ve liv ed enough life, why bother? Mom is greedy.
Kimmy: I’m happy she’s trying to handle it. Her room’s right next to mine, I have to hear her snoring all night.
Cherie: If you just went to bed at the same time as her, you wouldn’t have this issue.
Kimmy: She goes to bed at seven!
Cherie: A perfectly reasonable time for bed.
Victoria: Did you really have to get them started on this, David?
Dave: I profoundly regret it.
Later that night…
Ernesto: Wasn’t it nice to see Aimee in person again? It’s been a few weeks, thanks to those nuts in DC keeping her busy.
Cherie: Yeah, sure.
Ernesto: Cherie? I hear worry in your voice.
Cherie: Worry?
Ernesto: Is something the matter?
Cherie: Could you come here?
Ernesto: Oh, something is the matter.
Cherie: Just come here.
Ernesto walks into the bathroom.
Cherie: Feel my neck.
Ernesto: Is this a bizarre form of foreplay?
Cherie: Get your head out of the gutter! There’s a lump on my neck!
Ernesto: A lump?
Cherie: Yes, a lump.
Ernesto: Like cancer?
Cherie: I don’t know, but that’s where my mind’s gonna go now.
Ernesto: I’m sorry! It’s just the first place my mind goes when I hear “cancer.”
Cherie: You said it again!
Ernesto: I meant “lump!”
Cherie: Can you just feel it?
Ernesto: I don’t want to feel it!
Cherie: You are no help.
Ernesto: I’m concerned.
Cherie: You have no reason to be concerned.
Ernesto: Yes I do! My wife’s got a lump in her neck! What if you have… you know?
Cherie: It’s better to know now than when it’s too late, no?
Ernesto: I’d rather if you didn’t have a lump in your neck, if I’m being honest.
Cherie: We all would, but I need you to be serious here. Something could be wrong, I need support.
Ernesto: I’m here or you. I’m just scared. But if you need me to be strong -
Cherie: Please. We all know I’ve always been the strong one, regardless of who’s suffering. I was the one comforting you while I was giving birth, for Christ’s sake. I just need you to not actively panic.
Ernesto: I’ll try my hardest.
Cherie: All I can ask.
Meanwhile, in the hallway, Kimmy overhears the conversation and calls Aimee.
Aimee: Kimmy? What’s going on? I just saw you an hour ago.
Kimmy: Aimee, I’m scared.
Aimee: Are you not too old to be calling your sister because you’re scared of the monster under your bed?
Kimmy: This is a serious thing, Aimee. I was in the hallway and I heard mom and dad -
Aimee: Say no more, very scary.
Kimmy: No, not that. That doesn’t happen anymore. At least, I hope not. What an awful thought.
Aimee: Okay, what scary thing did you hear?
Kimmy: Mom has a lump in her neck.
Aimee: A lump?
Kimmy: They were speculating it could be cancer.
Aimee: Cancer? That’s pretty presumptuous, no?
Kimmy: I don’t know, I didn’t see the damn thing.
Aimee: I don’t think it just appeared. We all saw her tonight.
Kimmy: Were either of us staring at mom’s neck?
Aimee: My point is, I don’t think it’s that big. It could be totally benign. Don’t panic.
Dave: What’s going on, honey?
Aimee: My sister is worried about my mom. She has a lump on her neck.
Dave: Oh gosh, do you think it’s serious?
Aimee: I’m not a doctor, Dave.
Dave: You could’ve been if you wanted to!
Aimee: Dave, I appreciate the blind hype. Not really the time.
Dave: Got it, dear.
Kimmy: So you think mom and dad are freaking out about nothing?
Aimee: You didn’t say they were freaking out.
Kimmy: They seem panicked.
Aimee: That’s natural. You don’t need to panic, though.
Kimmy: My entire life revolves around mom! I live with her, I am entertained by her antics, I rely on her for food. Everything I have is because of her. And dad, but mom is the one I’m truly closest to. Don’t tell dad.
Aimee: Me and dad don’t keep secrets.
Kimmy: Aimee!
Aimee: I’m pulling your leg. Mostly.
Kimmy: I don’t know what I’d do without mom.
Aimee: Well, don’t get ahead of yourself. There’s zero indication you have to worry whatsoever about this. By all indications, mom’s going to be fine.
Kimmy: What if she’s not?
Aimee: There’s no sense in panicking about the worst case scenario.
Kimmy: She’s our mother!
Aimee: And we don’t know anything yet. Don’t let it ruin your night.
Kimmy: Aimee! I’m really scared! And I don’t want to ask her about it!
Aimee: The senate is in recess. Do you want me to come over tomorrow and ask mom what’s going on? If anything’s really wrong, at least we’re all together.
Kimmy: I’d like that.
Aimee: I’m not sure mom would, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.
The next day…
Cherie: Aimee, what brings you here?
Aimee: Where’s dad?
Cherie: He’s picking your grandmother up. It’s good you showed up, actually. Your sister has been acting so strange today. She hasn’t left her room. Surely she’s not still in bed.
Aimee: At ten on a Sunday morning? I think it’s possible she’s still in bed.
Cherie: It’s not like she goes anywhere partying.
Aimee: She’s still in her twenties, and it’s her day off. I know I loved to sleep in on my day of when I was young.
Cherie: You never did tell me what brings you here so early. Is something the matter?
Kimmy: Aimee, is that you?
Cherie: We were just talking about you!
Kimmy: Little old me?
Cherie: Don’t call yourself old. Imagine how it makes those of us who are actually old feel.
Kimmy: Mom, I’m here because Kimmy overheard something last night and she was very upset about it. I needed to be here for support.
Cherie: What exactly did you hear?
Aimee: Something about a lump.
Kimmy: You know, I’m starting to see it now.
Aimee: Kimmy!
Kimmy: What? I see it. Can I not point it out?
Cherie: Yes, I have a lump on my neck. It’s nothing for you kids to worry about. I’m fine.
Kimmy: You’re sure?
Cherie: Yes! I’m going to schedule a doctor appointment tomorrow when they open, and I’m sure they’ll tell me it’s just a benign cyst. Not to worry!
Aimee: Are you feeling all right?
Cherie: Oh no, now you’re thinking something’s wrong. I already had to spend two hours last night calming your father down, I can’t talk much longer about this.
Aimee: No, I just want to make sure you’re all right. You mean so much to this family.
Cherie: Now you’re talking about me like you’re about to take me of life support!
Aimee: I don’t mean to. I guess all this talk about cancer and -
Cherie: Stop saying that word!
Kimmy: Mom, are you in denial?
Cherie: I’m an optimist! I don’t want to dwell on possible negatives when I know what the most likely outcome here is, and it’s that I’ll be just fine!
The door opens and Ernesto and Manuela walk in.
Ernesto: I see we have a visitor! What brings you here?
Manuela: Probably the act that Cherie’s dying.
Ernesto: Oh my god! Mom, I told you that in confidence! You promised not to discuss it so we didn’t upset Cherie!
Manuela: I lied. My enemy might beat me to the grave, I could dance the salsa.
Cherie: Please do, I’d love to see you break a hip.
Ernesto: So is that why you’re really here?
Cherie: Yes. Apparently, Kimberly overheard us talking last night and it really upset her.
Ernesto: Kiddo, you mother’s going to be fine. She definitely does not have cancer. It’s benign!
Kimmy: You don’t sound convinced.
Ernesto: I’m terrified!
Cherie: Why do I have to be the person to calm everyone else down when I might have cancer?
Kimmy: Oh my god, she admitted it!
Aimee: Mom, you don’t have cancer!
Cherie: No, I really might. That’s why I’m so upset whenever anyone mentions it. It’s the first place my mind went, and I’m terrified. I feel like I’ve got so much life left to live. I’m not ready for whatever this is.
Aimee: Mom, we’re by your side through it all.
Cherie: I don’t want there to be something to be by my side through. I just want to live. I’m not ready to die.
Aimee: You’re not going to. Whatever it is, you caught it early. I can barely see the lump!
Cherie: You can see it?
Kimmy: Nope, not at all!
Five days later…
Ernesto: She’ll be home any minute.
Victoria: Did she ever say what the doctor thought it was?
Ernesto: He seemingly gave her no real indication. I think he’s being safe.
Manuela: Can a cancer get cancer?
Ernesto: Not appropriate.
Manuela: I gave birth to you. You don’t get to tell me what is and is not appropriate.
The door opens.
Ernesto: So…?
Cherie sits down and begins to cry.
Kimmy: Oh no.
Cherie: Stage two throat cancer. I don’t know what to say other than that I feel I’ve let you all down. You really did have me believing it wasn’t cancer.
Aimee: You didn’t let anyone down. We’ll get through this together. If I have to take time of work -
Cherie: No! The proudest moment of my life is my daughter becoming a senator and showing the world how special she is. I don’t want to be the reason you push that dream to the side. Besides, the prognosis is good. The survival rate is high, it’s treatable. It’s just going to be a tough road.
Ernesto: We’ll be there every step of that road.
Cherie: I don’t doubt that for a second.
What did you think of this episode of Evergreen Aimee? Let us know in the comments and make sure to read a new episode next week!
