Page 57 of The Calendar of New Beginnings
“Your mind is spinning all sorts of horror-story scenarios, isn’t it?” he finally asked when she opened the door.
She had to press her chest to her tight diaphragm to breathe. “Hard not to. I’m trying not to freak out.”
He pulled her into his arms. “It’s okay to freak out. My mind is spinning with all sorts of things too. How about we have something to drink?”
She had one bottle of champagne she’d bought just because. Lucy thought everyone should have a bottle of champagne in the refrigerator.
“I’m going to pop some champagne. Because fuck it. Why not? I’m still here, and I’m going to find a way to be happy—regardless of what happens with my eye. I won’t let this destroy my life.”
Even if it felt like it would. She didn’t know who she was or what she’d do if she couldn’t take photos and travel. Lucy O’Brien was a globetrotter with the world as her address. She wasn’t some college professor living back in her hometown of Dare Valley.
He rubbed her back. “So we’ll have champagne. You should call your doctor’s service first. It’s late, and the office will be closed, but there will be a way to get him an urgent message.”
He let her go and walked in the direction of the kitchen, turning on the lights as he went.
“Yeah, Dr. Davidson gave me a special number to call.” She’d hoped she would never have to use the handwritten number on the business card he’d given her. But she bucked up and called it, leaving a voicemail in a shaky voice she hated.
Andy pulled the champagne from the refrigerator. “Let’s sit on the couch while we wait for him to call you back.”
Her throat closed. “You really don’t have to wait with me.”
“You’re crazy if you think I’m leaving you alone. Do you have champagne glasses?”
She shrugged, unable to speak, so he started rummaging through the cabinets. Sure enough, Mrs. Weidman had some old-school crystal champagne glasses that could havegraced Joan Crawford’s hand in an old movie. He poured the champagne and led the way to the couch.
“To good friends,” he said as they sat. They clinked glasses for the toast.
“The best,” she said and took a drink.
The bubbles exploded in her mouth, and she made herself imagine they were like a hundred fireworks exploding inside her, shining color into the blackness she feared might become her reality.
Andy removed her cell phone from her clenched hand and placed it on the coffee table in front of them.
“I’d like to hold your hand while we wait for the doctor to call,” he said in a calm tone, but his gaze told her a different story.
He reached for her hand, and she curled her fingers around his, and they waited in the quiet room, staring at the phone, sipping champagne.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Even though Andy wasn’t waiting in an oncologist’s office for Lucy, he found himself tapping his foot on the floor, unable to read the health magazine in his hands. While staring at the ceiling in his dark bedroom last night, he’d reminded himself that her vision wasn’t an issue of life and death. Not like Kim’s illness. But that fact did nothing to ease the knots in his belly.
He’d picked Lucy up at eight o’clock, over three hours ago, after dropping Danny off at school. One look at her pale face had told him she’d slept no better than he had. She mumbled that she was lucky not to have class in the afternoon, then stayed silent for most of the drive to Denver. So did he. About an hour into it, she finally broke the silence to say her mom had texted to ask why her car was still on the street in front of their house. The lie she’d responded with was at least encased in truth. She’d told Ellen that Andy had taken her home after a few drinks at his house.
Andy assured her that he and Matt would drive her car back to Merry Cottage after the appointment. The bigger question was what she’d do if she couldn’t drive, but neitherof them put voice to that. Instead, he reached out and held her hand, and didn’t let it go until they arrived.
Now he was gritting his teeth in the waiting room. Andy hadn’t asked to accompany her inside Dr. Davidson’s office, and when she hadn’t offered, he’d steeled himself to wait.
After what seemed like an eternity, Lucy returned from the back of the building. She looked in his direction, and he watched as her chest rose and fell on a deep exhale. Then she squared her shoulders and walked over to him. There were other people in the waiting room, but he didn’t care. He pulled her into his arms. She folded against him like sails dropped when the wind went out of them.
The news wasn’t good.
When they finally released each other, he led her out of the doctor’s office to the parking garage. He remained silent until he steered the car above-ground.
“It’s almost lunchtime,” he said, turning away from the office building.
“I’m not hungry,” she said, leaning her head against the back of the seat like all her energy had been zapped.
“I know you don’t want to eat, but you need to keep up your strength,” he said as gently as he could. “Did you eat breakfast?”
