Page 39 of Prognosis Bad Timing

CHAPTER FIVE

THE week ground bywith snail-like slowness. Carrie was there, a constant presence Charlie’s staffroom, hanging around, pestering him for figures while hers drove him crazy in those pinstripe suits. Joe popped in and out with annoying frequency, making banal observations and counting down the days.

Angela ruled the place with an iron fist. The jukebox thumped. Kids came and went. Stressed-out parents came and went.

Police came and went.

When Friday finally came around Charlie welcomed the day with mixed feelings. It was hard to believe that it had been six months to the day that a Hep B positive drug addict had deliberately stabbed him with an infected needle. And that today was the day of his blood test.

His final blood test.

It didn’t seem to matter that all his previous ones had been clear and it was against all the odds for this one to come back positive.

The possibility was still there.

What if it was positive? What if he had to shift from maybe having the disease to actually having the disease? OK, the odds were on his side and even if it didn’t turn out as he hoped, there was no reason why he couldn’t live a long and full life if he did all the right things and managed his condition well.

But still, it was a mental barrier that he hadn’t been able to get past. He’d been putting his life on hold for this moment. He’d shelved his expansion plans for the centre, denied himself a sex life and buried himself within these four walls from early morning to late at night.

He’d lurched from his separation to his divorce to his health crisis and consequently work had been his solace for over three years. What the hell was he going to do if he couldn’t hide behind that anymore?

‘Today’s the day,’ Joe said, interrupting Charlie’s thoughts and dumping the regulation cup of coffee in front of him on his desk. ‘What time’s your appointment?’

‘I’m ducking out at lunch.’

‘And then it’s how long...?’

‘A few days. Should get them back early next week. Depends, the weekend might delay the result for a day or so.’

‘Then we’re hitting the town? Right?’

Charlie nodded unenthusiastically. ‘Right.’

Joe’s brow furrowed. ‘Stop it, your enthusiasm is blowing me away.’

‘Sorry.’ He grimaced. ‘Lot on my mind.’

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