Page 62 of One More Time

Every step toward felt as if the ground was crumbling beneath his feet. On autopilot, Charlie wandered straight past his car. Realising a hundred metres down the road, he turned around and retraced his steps, the brochures slipping from his hand without him even noticing. His mind was spinning but one thing he knew for sure was that he wasn’t about to tell his kids or Grace he was knocking on death’s door. Not yet. He needed to get his own head around it all first.

He returned home, unsure of how he’d even got there. Reality hit him as soon he pulled into the garage, and he found he was angry with god, himself, the world, and even his oncologist for giving him such awful news. He’d already lost eight years of life in prison, did he really have to lose the life he’d made for himself now? Climbing from the car, he retreated into his sanctuary, making sure to lock the door behind him. He didn’t want any visitors tonight, or tomorrow, or the next day.

Losing track of time, he spent the rest of the night on the couch with his head heavy and crowded. The following morning, he woke to the shrill ringing of the house phone. He ignored it. It rang out three more times, which he also ignored. He wasn’t ready to face the world, and wasn’t sure when he would be.

Less than twenty minutes later, a firm rap at the front door had him stumbling toward it, bleary-eyed. ‘Hold your horses, would you? I’m coming.’

Making sure his robe was tied tightly, he tugged the door open to a very concerned-looking Grace. ‘Do you have breast cancer, Charlie?’

Shock had him internally reeling, but he kept his cool on the outside. ‘Good morning to you too,’ he said, trying to divert the conversation.

‘Nice try, but I’m not doing this with you today.’ She let herself through the flyscreen door and placed a hand on his arm. ‘Yes or no?’

He swallowed hard then dropped his eyes to the floor. ‘Yes.’

‘Oh my god, Charlie.’ Her voice broke. ‘When … how…?’ The questions were babbled as she blinked faster.

‘I only found out yesterday, and I haven’t told a soul, so …’ He tipped his head, regarding her closely. ‘How in heaven’s name did you find out?’

‘Mary popped around first thing this morning.’

‘Mary?’ He huffed. ‘And how did she find out?’

Grace dug in her handbag, then held up the flyers he’d dropped. ‘She salvaged these from where you dropped them. Said she called out to you, but you kept on walking, like you were in some kind of trance.’ Grace’s voice broke and her forehead puckered. ‘When were you going to tell me?’

Damn Mary and her big mouth.

So much for keeping things private until he was ready to admit the C-word out loud. ‘Not today,’ he replied a little brusquely. ‘That was for certain.’

‘Then when, Charlie?’ Grace’s voice was soothingly soft.

‘Once I got my own head around it, I suppose.’

She nodded. ‘I understand.’ Biting her lip, she entangled an arm into his. ‘How about I make us a cuppa and you can fill me in on all the details?’

Charlie gave her hand a pat. ‘How about I make you a cuppa, and me one while I’m at it, and then I will tell you everything.’

‘Yes, okay.’ She followed him into the kitchen, where the conversation continued as he retrieved two mugs from the dishwasher, and she got the milk from the fridge.

Grace stood closely at his side, as if fearful to leave it. ‘So, when are they starting chemotherapy?’

Charlie passed a mug of steaming coffee to her. ‘My operation is next Thursday, and the chemotherapy starts two weeks after that.’ He took steps toward the doorway. ‘Let’s go and sit in our spot.’

‘That sounds perfect, Charlie.’ Side by side, she strolled with him to their chair on the verandah.

As they settled beside each other, Charlie took a few breaths laced with salty sea air before telling her all he knew so far. ‘I apparently have a seventy-five per cent chance of survival,’ he added at the end of the lengthy explanation.

‘I’m so sorry you’re going through this.’ Grace tilted her head to rest upon his shoulder. ‘But you’re not going to go through it alone.’ She looked up at him from beneath the long dark lashes with eyes that had always stirred his soul. ‘I’ll collect you from the hospital after your surgery, and while you’re having your chemo, you’re going to come and stay with me.’

‘I am, am I?’ He almost chuckled, but given the weighty subject, stopped himself.

‘Yes, you most certainly are, and I’m not taking no for an answer.’ Her tone was authoritative.

Looking into the windows of her soul, raw emotion crashed over Charlie like a tidal wave, and he found it nearly impossible to hold back rising sobs. ‘Thank you, Grace.’ He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you.’ Touched by her kind heart, he pulled her a little closer.

‘We’re family, Charlie. Always have been and always will be.’ She nestled into his side. ‘I don’t know what the kids and I would do without you.’

‘We’re quite a pair, aren’t we?’