Another glance between Archie and me. Sybil is Malcolm’s right-hand robot, but she doesn’t usually travel with him. She manages things at home in Brisbane while he jets around from business to business. Girlfriend to girlfriend.
“Is he in hospital?” Archie asks. “What stage is he?”
His face has gone so ashen, his freckles stick out like pencil dots on paper.
“Stage four, but most of his treatment is done here, at the house. He has a port and goes to the clinic for a chemo infusion every two weeks, but I’ve set him up with a concierge health service, so most of his time is here, comfortably at home.” Sybil says.
I should be grateful my father can receive such good care, but it only makes me angrier with him. After all the ways he’s hurt people, even facing possible death, his wealth keeps himcomfortable. Doesn’t seem fair that someone with the same diagnosis, but not the same fortune, won’t have access to the same kind of care. Or even any care at all if they can’t afford insurance.
“He’d like to see you both. Piper, too.” Sybil continues while Archie and I stare at each other in shock that he’s asked for Piper, too. “That’s why we’ve been trying to reach you—to set an appointment.”
I roll my eyes and mouth,an appointment.
That’s so Malcolm.
“We can’t just come see him?” Archie asks.
“In addition to his business dealings, his treatments take a lot of time…energy,rather,” Sybil says. “He’d prefer you visited on one of his…” She takes a breath. “Good days.”
“Good on him for keeping up with his business dealings,” I say.
Sybil doesn’t miss my sarcasm. “Mr. Forsythe is an important man with very few trusted associates. Thousands of employees count on his companies staying profitable so they can feed themselves and their families.”
I hadn’t thought of his workaholic tendencies in those terms before, which makes me a bit more sympathetic. Just not sympathetic enough to agree to an “appointment” with him. That’s how he’s always made time for Archie and me—by appointment. I was a teenager before I realized that wasn’t normal, and I’ve pushed back booking time with Malcolm since then.
Which means, I haven’t spent much time with him over the past decade. Haven’t seen or talked to him at all in three years. And I have to ask myself now, if his cancer is terminal, am I okay not seeing him again? Am I okay not saying goodbye?
“What are his odds of beating this?” I ask Sybil.
Archie shoots me a look like he hadn’t considered the possibility Malcolm could die.
“His doctors are very, very good. Some of the best in the world.,” she answers without answering.
“Yeah, but what are the exact odds? Percentage wise? Have the doctors told you that?” I try not to look at Archie. If the odds are low, the news will hit him harder than it will me.
When Sybil doesn’t answer, I give her a nudge. “Below fifty percent?”
“It was fairly advanced when they found it,” she says.
For a woman who’s always had a harder time with people than numbers, she’s doing her best to avoid them.
“Twenty-five percent?” I push.
“Somewhere between ten and fifteen percent,” she sighs.
Archie sucks in his breath, then picks up his mobile and holds it close to his mouth. “But you said his doctors are some of the best in the world. That’s why he came to LA, right? For the best doctors.”
In the pause that follows, Archie looks at me for answers I can’t give him.
“He hasn’t said as much,” Sybil says quietly. “But I think he wants to be near the both of you…in case the worst happens.”
Archie tips his head to the ceiling and lets out a quiet breath, then looks at me with a question that he doesn’t have to say aloud. I dip my chin in a yes.
“When would he like to see us, Sybil?” Archie asks.
I hold my breath. If she saysright now,Archie will go and all the work he’s done to gain his independence from Malcolm will disappear the minute he sees Malcolm again. And I’ll be there to see it all, because there’s no way I’d let him go alone.
“He has an opening today. In fact, his afternoon is quite clear.” The tenderness in her voice from a minute before is gone.
