Page 64 of One More Time

Resting down on his bedside, Hope placed a gentle hand on his arm. ‘Hey, Dad. How are you feeling?’

‘Not the best, love, but I’ll get there.’

‘You will, I just know it.’ Biting her lip just like her mother did when she got emotional, Hope nodded. ‘I love you so much, Dad.’

‘I love you too, sweetheart.’

And the days rolled on like this, with Grace, Ava, Hope, Hudson and Bryn all taking their turn to care for him. By the fifth day, his mouth had developed thick phlegm and ulcers.

News of his cancer had spread fast and wide. Locals from the township and outlying areas called in, and rang, to express their support. By the middle of the second week, his mouth was filled with so many ulcers, he couldn’t bear to chew food, so his diet became liquid and mushedup anything. Brushing his teeth became a dreaded task. Sleep became a luxury. Rebellion against anything nutritious sat as a constant in the pit of his stomach. Catharsis came from his time spent on the verandah, staring out across the water to the rolling landscape of his childhood home. He felt renewed determination to be back there, living his life with an even bigger commitment to appreciating just how precious each day was.

And just when he felt like he’d turned a corner and was returning to some kind of normal, the weakness, fatigue and nausea returned full force with his next batch of chemo. The cycle continued until he lost track of the days, hours and minutes.

By the third round, his thick, dark hair was falling out in clumps, and he couldn’t bear to look at himself in the mirror. How Grace still looked at him with such tender love in her striking eyes was beyond him.

While pondering that life felt as if it were passing in a blur, Charlie turned to the sound of his bedroom door opening.

‘Hey, old man.’ Bryn strode in, a pair of clippers in hand. ‘I’ve come to shave your hair.’

‘Have you, now?’ Even though he felt like he was knocking on death’s door with broken bleeding knuckles, Charlie offered his wonderful son the biggest smile he could muster. ‘At least I’ll save money on shampoo, and won’t be wasting my time brushing it.’

‘That’s the spirit.’ Bryn plonked down on the end of the bed. ‘But first, before we shave yours, you can’t be the only one having all the fun, so I’m going to shave mine.’

Charlie’s heart squeezed tight – the love his family gave him, in all their unique ways, was overwhelming. ‘Oh, son, you don’t have to go and do that.’

‘I’m not going to let you be the only one to look like a thug in this house, Dad.’ Footsteps fell and Hudson appeared in the doorway. ‘And this clown is going to do it too, aren’t you, bro?’

‘I sure as heck am.’

Charlie blinked back budding tears. ‘You boys. My god, how did I get so lucky, having amazing sons like you?’

‘Don’t you mean, what did you do to deserve not one, but two of us?’ Hudson flashed him a toothy grin filled with mischief.

‘Oi, boofhead! Speak for yourself,’ Bryn said, playfully jabbing Hudson in the ribs.

‘Now, now, you two behave.’ Grace’s warm smile lit up the room as she wandered in, coming to the bedside.

‘They don’t know the meaning of the word,’ Charlie said, chuckling.

‘Hey, Dad.’ A Chupa Chup in her mouth, Ava joined them, plonking down beside her brother at the foot of Charlie’s bed.

‘Hi, poppet.’ Tremendous gratitude swelled in Charlie’s heart. ‘It seems I’m going to have a captive audience for my new hairdo. Or should I say, hair-not.’

‘Of course I want to share this with you.’ Ava brushed a kiss on his cheek. ‘And there’s no way I’m missing out on seeing these two jokers shaving their heads.’ She flung her spirited gaze to her brothers. ‘At least they won’t be hogging the bathroom for as long now while they groom their ’dos.’

‘Pfft, yeah, whatever.’ Hudson rolled his eyes lightheartedly.

‘Let’s get this show on the road.’ Bryn looked to Hudson. ‘You’re up first.’

‘Damn straight I am. Let’s do this.’ Hudson pulled the seat from the dressing table to the middle of the room and sat like he was in a saddle.

Charlie shared a meaningful glance in Grace’s direction, treasuring how she was looking at their children with such motherly adoration, and the way her hand rested affectionately on his leg. Ava, Bryn and Hudson were now all huddled around each other, laughing as Hudson’s locks fell to the floor.

Man, oh man, how he loved his family with all his heart. If it weren’t for them, he would have given up and let the cancer win. But he wasn’t about to let his death impact their lives. This was the fight of his life and he was going to give it all he had.

He was going to live, for them.

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