She hadn’t really said much to me in the time leading up to the trip about her cancer other than she looked a lot different than the last time I saw her. I didn’t press. I figured she would tell me everything or as much as she wanted to when she was ready. The hour-plus drive was mainly highway and not much to see. Theo and I talked the entire time like two people who hadn’t spoken in years instead of twice a week or more, but something I found with him was there was never any shortage of conversation. It was always so easy, never forced small talk.
“So, well done to you for standing up to your company. Not many people would have the balls to do that, you know? That’s quite admirable,” Theo remarked as he glanced in his rearview mirror and switched lanes.
“Yeah, either that or quite crazy.” Now that I had a few days to think about what I had done, I was beginning to have doubts. Norm had emailed me several times, asking me to get in touch when I got back so we could talk, so I knew I could go back if I wanted. But the question remained, did I really want to? Especially like a puppy dog with its tail between its legs. I’m sure they’d all get a good laugh at it over one of their many golf outings. Jillian had a bad case of PMS and stormed out. I cringed just thinking about it.
“I don’t know, sometimes you’ve got to do what you think is right in your heart, even if it does take you off your intended path. The problem is most people aren’t able to do that.”
I was never one to veer off track. I was so regimented about how life should be that the moment something did go off-kilter, I’d panic, so this was a huge step for me to be taking. The music lowered as Theo’s ringer on his phone began to play through his car speakers with the name Phoebe on his radio display.
“Oh damn!” he exclaimed when he glanced at the radio. I wondered if he’d answer it for a split second, and he didn’t keep me guessing for too long as he rolled his eyes and hit a button on his steering wheel. “Yeah, Phoebe,” he greeted.
“Hello to you too. What kind of greeting is that?” A woman’s voice came through his speakers.
“I’m driving.”
“Oh...well, I was just wondering if you wanted to meet up for drinks tonight with me, Jo, and David.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t tonight.”
I pulled out my phone and checked my email, in an attempt to look busy, feeling like an intruder into a personal conversation.
“Well, why not?” The annoyance in her voice was obvious.
“Because I’m spending time with my sister and a friend of ours.”
“Right. Then why don’t I just pop over there for a bit?”
I glanced his way out of the corner of my eye to find him shaking his head in frustration. “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Kate isn’t really up for too many visitors with the way she’s been feeling.”
“Theo, really? So when…” Her words started to crackle into bits and pieces.
“You’re breaking up…I’ll ring you later.” Theo hit a button on his steering wheel and Phoebe’s voice was replaced with Ed Sheeran’s. “Thank God for bad mobile service,” he muttered.
“Theo, really, Kate and I will be just fine if you want—”
“No.” He adamantly shook his head. “Trust me, I don’t want to.”
“Is she one of the three?” I asked, trying to stifle a laugh.
“Oh, no, I didn’t tell you?” I shook my head, and he continued. “And then there was one. One who just isn’t getting the hint that I don’t want anything serious.”
“Well, did you tell her that? I mean, I’m by no means an expert, it’s been well over ten years since I’ve been into the dating scene. I’m sure things have changed. But sometimes women don’t get the same signals a guy is trying to give them.”
“I don’t know. I just do know I’ve got too much going on in my life right now to worry about that.”
I nodded. It was completely understandable. Between his job, caring for his sister, and potentially being thrusted into the role of full-time guardian to his nephew, he had more than enough on his plate. We pulled off the highway and down a narrow street that I was assuming was one-way, until a car came in the opposite direction, leaving just a narrow space between us. Theo laughed when I gasped and closed my eyes.
“It’s safe to open them now,” he teased.
“That was intense.”
“That was nothing.”
We made a series of turns, and I laughed to myself when we passed a McDonald’s. They really were everywhere. We turned onto a street with a series of attached brick homes when Theo put on his blinker and turned into one of the driveways of one of the end units.
“We’re here,” he announced.
My stomach fluttered. I was a little anxious over seeing Kate in the condition she was in. I wasn’t sure what to say or how to react. I was hoping my heart would lead me in what to do, and more than anything, I was praying that my first reaction to her didn’t portray pity. I waited anxiously as Theo got my bags from the trunk.
“I’m nervous,” I admitted to him as we made our way up the walkway.
“Don’t be. It’s still Kate. Just without hair.”
I nodded, flashing him a sympathetic smile, imaging that’s what he had been telling himself over these past few months to help him deal with his sister’s sickness.
“Hello!” Theo called when we
