Page 44 of Beyond Expectations

I froze.

He what…?

“Alice.”

My father reached over and took my mother’s hands, then leaned in and kissed her temple.

The taste of bile came up my throat.

“Dad, is this true? What the fuck is going on?” Julian pleaded.

My sisters started crying and shouting. My ears felt as though I were underwater. Everything sounded faded. Disconnected.

Looking into my father’s eyes as he went to the drinks cabinet and poured himself another drink, I was waiting for him to refute the bomb my mother had just dropped. I watched as he walked back to his seat at the head of the table and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“I’ll explain, but first, let’s see that Kai has something to do.” He called in the housekeeper and asked her to take Kai into the kitchen.

I watched as he looked around at us all, and all I could see was the shell of a man. When had he gotten so thin? Had he always looked so pale?

“A few months ago, I went to see my doctor as I had been having terrible headaches. He ran some tests on me there and then at the hospital. Then, a few days later after my round of golf, he called me and asked me to come in for my results. As soon as I sat down in the chair in his office, I knew the prognosis wasn’t good. I’ve got Glioblastoma multiforme.”

“What does that mean?” Heather spoke in almost a whisper as tears fell down her cheek.

“It means, sweetheart, that I have a malignant brain tumor.”

“Surely, there is some sort of treatment for this?” Kara demanded. “We know some of the best doctors and surgeons in the world. You need to get a second opinion. There must be something that can be done.”

Unlike Heather, Kara was angry.

“Kara, I’ve since seen five of the top specialists in the country, and all have given me the same results.”

The room went silent. The only noise coming from my mother and Heather’s crying. Austin was trying to comfort Kara, but she wasn’t interested. She walked over to the bar and poured herself a large scotch.

Julian’s voice broke the silence.

“How long have you got left?”

That question made me focus back on my father. I could see the tears in his eyes.

“Eight months at the most.”

My stomach flipped. I felt as though I was going to be sick. I took deep breaths and kept swallowing hard.

Kara let out a primal scream from where she was standing. Her glass fell out of her hand and smashed on the floor.

Everything seemed to go in slow motion.

Austin ran over to her. Heather and my mother hugged, crying, and consoling one another. Verity walked over and joined them. Looking over at Julian, all I could see was his head hung in his hands as Ruby rubbed his back, and from the look on her face, it was clear that she didn’t know what to say. Just then, she looked up at me. No longer were her eyes full of anger and annoyance. Instead, they were reflecting sorrow and pity.

I couldn’t stand this anymore.

I stood and walked towards the door.

My mother looked up at me, her eyes awash with tears. “Rhett, why must you always walk away? How can you leave? Now? With everything that your father has just told you. We are meant to be a family. Does that mean nothing to you anymore?”

I knew her words came from her hurt and sorrow, but I was not going to sit around and allow myself to be her metaphorical punching bag.

“Alice.” My father spoke softly and embraced my mother. “This is a shock to everyone. Let him go. We must all deal with this in our ways.”

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