Chapter Fifty-Seven
‘Nice of you to meet me here on a Sunday, Günter,’ Walter said, his shirt open, while his physician listened to his heart through a stethoscope against his saggy chest.
There was a silence while measurements were taken and assumptions made.
‘Not at all Walter, anything for my patients.’
‘It’s just it’s … rather difficult to see you discreetly at the moment, and I wanted to see how things are looking.’
The head offices of the Steinherr group, on the fourth floor of the Alpenrose, were rarely used at the weekend.
If Walter had business to attend to, he’d do it at his larger desk in his study at home, and Dimitri rarely worked weekends, unless there was an issue.
Lexy Harrington used the tiny broom cupboard-sized office, but never at weekends.
‘How’s the bone pain been?’ Dr Blitzer asked. ‘I can see some bruising here on your back, I’m not sure if you were aware of it … ?’
Lumi had pointed it out.
‘Not great, but isn’t that because of my age?’
‘Hmmm …’ Dr Blitzer said, analysing Walter’s latest blood scores.
‘You have stage three blood cancer Walter, but it does seem to be what we call “smouldering” at the moment. It’s when you flare up that we need to be on high alert.
If infections become more frequent, as they were last winter when it was one after the other, we’ll have to alter your treatment plan.
By which I mean, consider a more robust and targeted approach. ’
Walter nodded unhappily. He had shot down the suggestion of chemotherapy every time Dr Blitzer raised it.
‘It might be wise to avoid crowds while we’re monitoring …’
‘Well it’s too late for that,’ Walter said, with a wry laugh.
‘Kivvi Christingle?’ Dr Blitzer asked.
‘It was yesterday. I didn’t see you there …’
‘Madeline had a concert in Salzburg.’
‘In which case, I am even more grateful for your time this afternoon. Thank you, my friend.’
Dr Blitzer put his stethoscope around his neck and packed up his medical bag. He knew fighting with Walter Steinherr was pointless. Walter knew the steroids he was on could tank his immune system – and still he’d partied. Pointing out the foolishness of living life while you were dying was moot.
‘Until we have the latest biopsy back on the bone marrow, I would just relax Walter, sit and wait.’
He looked flummoxed. And old. Perched on his desk.
‘I’ve never sat and waited for anything my whole life.’
‘I know, but what I mean is, there is no point fearing this cancer. It will flare up at any point and worrying about it won’t make that fact any easier. In fact, worrying might speed it up.’
Dr Blitzer had a way of delivering grave news both bluntly and kindly.
‘Do I look worried?’ Walter asked with a stubborn defiance.
Dr Blitzer gave a rueful smile.
‘I still recommend you avoid crowds indoors while we go through the winter bugs, but I know you won’t forget to enjoy yourself, my friend.’
Walter thought of Kiki, waltzing out of his life as Dr Blitzer prescribed another bottle of iron tablets.
He thought of how her secret identity blindsided him.
He had never been played for a fool until now; was age catching him off guard?
Or was it the cancer? He thought of Lumi, who he ached to be with in his final months.
‘Oh don’t worry,’ he declared. ‘I intend to.’