her up a mountain. Well, they were certainly climbing their own mountain now. Although he didn’t respond to what she said, she continued with the charade of conversation. “And when they get the CT done. The nurse in A and E said it might be later this afternoon.”
“I doubt that,” Alice said as she arrived in the bay, drawing back the curtains. “You know what the waiting lists are like.”
“People don’t wait if it’s urgent. Not even in the NHS.” There was a certain relief to see Alice nodding, as if she had decided to agree. “Where’s Brian gone?”
“He’ll be back in a while.” That was all she said about that, and Elizabeth didn’t ask again.
* * *
The doctor’s name turned out to be Dr. Nathan Peterson, and he was South African. Did he have people he missed, Elizabeth wondered, all that distance from home? Tom slept throughout the consultation, but Elizabeth felt a lot better for the doctor’s input, and even Alice seemed more settled by the time he had finished.
“So, we’ve added a steroid tablet, which will help with his coordination, and I’ll be in a little bit later as well to see how you’re all doing,” Dr. Peterson said. Alice stood up, shook his hand. “Until then, if there’s anything you need, the nurses will have it covered for you.”
“Thank you, Nathan. Thank you so much,” Alice said. Elizabeth was a little worried that Alice had called him by his first name. It felt a bit familiar to her, but he didn’t seem concerned. Time had changed more than just their appearances. Alice sat back down, smiling to herself. “I can’t believe that the CT scan has been pushed ahead of the list.”
“Yes,” she said, smiling the best smile she could muster.
“At least now we’ll know the full picture,” Alice said, seemingly pleased.
For days now, all Elizabeth could think about was knowing: first of all, knowing that it was really cancer, and then how far it had spread, or whether the type of cancer he had was amenable to chemotherapy. That was the predicament they were in. They were hoping for the right kind of cancer. But there was one thing worse than the disease itself, and that was how fast it might take him from her. How long did they have left? It had become a thought she couldn’t shake.
Dreams remained unfulfilled: a walk out to the shops, or through Hyde Park. More of his wishes that were yet to be realized. Time was the only thing that might bring Kate and Tom together, and how was it possible for it to run out before the two people she loved most in the world had met? And yet all those hopes seemed like such empty wishes now. It didn’t matter what the doctors told her about the prognosis. Not really. Her dreams were fading, whether she liked it or not, slipping through her grip like water through fingers. Tom was right after all; dreams were for rich people, and she had never felt poorer in her life.
Then
Her tread was light as she entered the house, the soft sounds of chatter and the rattle of breakfast plates coming from the kitchen. Why wasn’t her father waiting on watch, ready for a confrontation the moment she opened the door? Voices intensified as she headed toward the kitchen, leaving the book on the stairs, the conversation light and easy. Her father was serving tea, his hair wet and clothes casual. James was sitting in her mother’s usual seat.
“Where have you been?” her father asked, casually, before spotting the cut on her head, the missing shoe. “Oh, darling, whatever happened to you?”
Her first thought was one of relief as he rushed to greet her; it was impossible from his reaction that he knew she had been out all night. James stood up, took her hand. She stiffened at his touch.
“Lizzy, darling, tell us what happened.”
“I went to do some sketches and I slipped, knocked myself,” she said, thinking on her feet. “My shoe got swept away.”
“Oh my goodness, Elizabeth,” said her father, taking her in his arms.
“We should clean this,” James added, going to work right then and there, cleaning it with a strong-smelling solution that he found under the sink.
“I have told her time and time again to be careful,” said her father, glancing to James with a certain look of resignation. Something was exchanged between the two of them, and she recognized it as a handing over of