Chapter 35
Ten days later, and the news they’d been waiting for had come in at last. In an appointment with the consultant, Will had this morning received the confirmation that the operation and all subsequent tests had gone well, more checks would continue regularly, but for now he was officially ‘in remission’.
The relief was incredible, so much so that he’d broken down in tears.
Cath had welled up too; her heart, which had been broken over his illness, now felt welded back with hope.
They shared a tender and relieved smile, and she placed a hand gently over his, as she sat beside him in the consultant’s room.
She appeared calm, but on the inside, she was giving a woohoo and a massive air punch.
Will had been in such a dark place for so very long, trying to keep his remaining family together and supported, in the midst of devastating grief.
It was no wonder that this cancer diagnosis of his, with the necessary surgery and side-effects, had hit so damned hard.
‘Woah, that’s so good to hear,’ Will had said, once he’d had a chance to gather himself.
Then he’d stood up to reach over the desk and shake the consultant’s hand.
‘Thank you so much. To the whole team here, too.’ These surgeons and the team of nurses and health workers who commit their care, their skills, and gave people hope and their lives back, time and time again, deserve so much credit.
*
The two of them were now sitting on a rug on the sands.
With that fantastic news still ringing joyously in their ears, they’d escaped to the sea.
The new strand of fairy lights on the deck of the beach bungalow were twinkling gently from the hut in the dunes behind them.
Supper was prepared and waiting to be warmed, and a cosy bed was ready for them later.
The flat-packed double bed had made it across the dune track last week!
It was all assembled and set up with fresh laundry.
The late-August sky was now deepening, with trails of mauves and peach, gold and orange, settling in molten layers against a backdrop of dusky-ultramarine blue.
Smells of salt and a hint of seaweed drifted on the fresh coastal air.
Cath and Will had strolled down to the beach to take in the view just as the sun was about to set, armed with creamy hot chocolates – laced with a tipple of Baileys for good measure; they were celebrating after all.
Back on the sands, nestled together on their blanket, they chinked mugs.
‘Cheers!’ said Will.
‘Cheers. To good health,’ replied Cath.
‘And happiness,’ he added.
‘Absolutely.’ And she could feel that happiness running through her veins like warm Northumberland honey.
‘And, Cath …’ He turned, his dark-hazel eyes now set on hers. ‘Thanks for everything … for being there with me every step of the way. It’s been a rough road these past months.’
‘Oh, Will, I was so very glad to help, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.’
‘Perhaps we could have cut out the grumpy bastard bit,’ he added wryly.
‘Yeah, definitely.’ Cath raised a smile. Being able to joke about it together, made them feel like the team they were.
He took her free hand. ‘Will you stay … be with me … a bit longer? I don’t want to go back down that lonely road again. Oh dammit, I’m not saying this very well. What I mean is that I love you, Cath … and I want us to have a future together.’
‘I think you said that perfectly, actually.’ She grinned. ‘And, I love you too. I’d love to start a new road, and a new journey with you. Side by side.’