Page 49 of Finding Love in Micklewick Bay

‘That’s good to hear.’ Alice sat back and drew in a shaky breath, glancing at Stella.

‘You okay, Mum?’

‘Well, as we’re having a day of getting everything out in the open, I have something to tell you.’ Alice swallowed nervously, her fingers knotting in her lap.

Stella’s heart started pounding.

TWENTY-EIGHT

‘Is everything okay, Mum?’ She couldn’t begin to imagine what her mother was about to tell her.

Alice nodded. ‘It is now.’

‘It is now?’ What did that mean? Stella’s stomach started churning. ‘Is it Rhys?’

‘No, no, it’s nothing to do with Rhys, everything’s fine with him. It’s…’ Alice heaved another sigh. ‘I wasn’t actually going to say anything; especially with everything you’ve had on your plate, what with moving house, your workload and nowthatmanturning up out of the blue, but Rhys thought I should be open and honest about it, said you’d want to know. So…’

Stella grabbed her mum’s hand, nausea swirling in her stomach. ‘Mum, you’re scaring me, please tell me what it is. I want to help. You’re not ill, are you?’

‘I’m fine, but the reason I couldn’t come to the meeting this morning was because I had an appointment at Middleton-le-Moors Hospital.’

Stella’s heart stilled, her hand flying to her mouth. ‘Hospital? Oh my God, Mum! Why did you have an appointment there?’ Tears misted her eyes once more.

Alice patted her daughter’s hand. ‘This is exactly why I didn’t want to say anything, lovey. I didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily.’

Stella latched onto the word “unnecessarily”, a tiny glimmer of relief sneaking in.

‘I’m absolutely fine. I just went to get the results of a recent biopsy.’

A recent biopsy?Fear surged through Stella, snuffing out the small glimmer of relief. She blinked, listening as her mum went on.

‘I found a lump in my breast about a month ago. I wasn’t going to do anything about it. It was really quite small; didn’t think it was worth troubling the doctor about it. Anyway, I mentioned it to Rhys who told me I should get it checked out, just to be on the safe side, and to put his mind at rest if nothing else, especially after what he’d been through with Theresa. After a week’s-worth of nagging from him, I made an appointment with our GP who then referred me to the hospital. It all seemed to happen very quickly from there. As I said, I got my results this morning, and I’m thrilled to say they’re clear, it’s just a cyst.’ She smiled broadly at her daughter, relief evident in her eyes.

‘Oh, Mum! You should’ve told me!’

‘What? And worry you unnecessarily? I really couldn’t see the point in that.’

‘But what if it had been…’ Stella couldn’t bring herself to say the word. ‘What if the results hadn’t come back clear? Would you have told me then?’

Her mum looked at her sheepishly. ‘Probably not. I’d have waited to see what the prognosis was. Having said that, I had a strong feeling it was going to be okay.’

‘That’s beside the point, Mum. I’d want to know,’ Stella said softly. ‘You’ve got to promise you’ll tell me if you’re ever in that situation again. You’d say the same if I was in your position.’

‘True.’ Alice nodded. ‘I’m sorry I kept it from you, I promise I’ll share things like this with you in the future.’

‘Good.’ If it hadn’t been for Rhys, Stella dreaded to think how long her mum would have ignored the lump before doing anything about it. ‘Thank goodness for Rhys nagging you. It might not have been okay, and that doesn’t bear thinking about.’

‘Oh, he certainly nagged me all right.’ Alice said with a chuckle.

‘Yes, well, it can’t have been very nice for him, after what he went through with his wife.’ The thought of her mum going to hospital alone, potentially to receive some devastating news crossed Stella’s mind, sending a shiver up her spine.

Her mum’s smile fell. ‘No, it wasn’t. Poor man was walking around looking so worried. Which is why I made the appointment. Rhys insisted on coming with me.’

‘Good. That was kind of him.’ Once again, she found herself glad that her mum had Rhys to support her.

‘He’s a very kind man, very thoughtful.’ Alice’s expression softened as she spoke of him. ‘And I’m so glad he’s in my life, lovey, it’s taken me quite by surprise.’

Stella turned to her mum, scrutinising her face. She noted how her eyes were shining and the glow that emanated from her when Stella had joined them for the barbecue had returned. ‘I’m really happy for you, Mum. I’ve never seen you like this before, but being in a relationship with Rhys certainly seems to suit you. You’re positively sparkling!’

---