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I wonder how telling a fifteen-year-old she has cancer could ever be normal but I understand what Heather means.
‘Then she can pack her stuff and I’ll drive all three of us back up,’ Gavin says.
‘Back up?’ I ask.
Gavin nods. ‘To here.’
‘But you said Kayla needed tests tomorrow?’ I say, so confused.
‘The tests are in the National Children’s Hospital here in Dublin,’ Heather says, putting down her cup and when her eyes meet mine my heart aches. ‘Cork just doesn’t have the same facilities. And since Kayla is only fifteen…’
‘She’s still a child,’ I say quietly.
Heather nods and lifts her cup back to her lips with shaking hands.
‘So, we’ll be back tonight,’ Gavin says. ‘But I’m not sure when. Kayla is going to need some time to adjust to the idea of staying in Dublin for a while. She’ll be away from school and her friends in Cork. It’ll be hard.’
I nod. I can imagine. ‘Take your time,’ I say.
‘Obviously Kayla can stay in her own room here, but would you mind making up the bed in the spare room for Heather?’ Gavin asks.
My eyes widen. The idea of Gavin’s ex sleeping in our guest room is so weird. It makes me uncomfortable or maybe even jealous. And I hate myself, considering the circumstances.
I pull myself together and nod. ‘Yeah. Sure.’
‘Thank you,’ Heather says. ‘I know this is all very sudden, but I’m really grateful to have somewhere to stay that’s so near the hospital.’
‘It’s no problem, really,’ I say.
Heather’s phone rings and startles me, and I jump again.God, I’m all over the place today.
‘Sorry, excuse me,’ she says, fishing in her bag and pulling out her phone. She places it to her ear as she walks out into the hall. ‘Hello. Heather Prendergast speaking…’
Gavin stands up and clears the cups from the table. ‘Don’t wait up tonight, eh?’ he says, kissing the top of my head.
I’m about to ask him about the blood tests and Molly but I can hear the cups rattle against each other as he walks over to place them in the sink and I know he’s trembling. I bite my tongue.
‘Jesus, you’re white as a ghost,’ I say when Heather reappears in the kitchen. I hop up and pull out the chair she was sitting on and hold out my arm to steady her.
‘That was the hospital on the phone,’ Heather says. ‘They’ll have a bed ready for Kayla first thing in the morning.’
‘Already?’ Gavin asks, turning away from the sink, and I notice his face is suddenly as white as Heather’s.
Heather nods. ‘Yeah, they want her ready as soon as a slot becomes available in theatre. They’re hoping for something in a day or two.’
‘Surgery?’ I say.
Heather nods.
Gavin clasps his hands and presses them down on the top of his head as he takes a deep breath and puffs it back out. ‘Jesus. Is this really happening? How can this really be happening?’
‘Hey. Hey,’ I say, hurrying over to him and wrapping my arms around him.
He grabs me tight and nuzzles his head into the crook of my neck. His breath is laboured and warm and I feel I can’t hold him close enough or tight enough.
‘Can we leave now? Can we go now?’ Heather asks. ‘I just want to get home to her. Please?’
Gavin pulls away from me and straightens up.
