Five Years From Now by Paige Toon

Author:Paige Toon [Toon, Paige]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Thirty

‘Are you looking forward to doing some gardening with Grandad?’ I smile at Luke in the rear-view mirror as we pull up on the drive.

‘Yes.’ He nods, seriously, as he unclicks his seatbelt.

Too cute…

‘Dad?’ I call, entering the cottage via the hall. Luke diligently plonks himself down on the tiled floor and proceeds to yank off his navy-blue Crocs. ‘Dad?’ I call again. He’s not in the kitchen or living room and he wasn’t in the annexe when we walked past, either – I peeked through the window.

‘Maybe he’s already in the garden,’ I murmur, more to myself than my son. I know he’s here somewhere because his car is on the drive, but it’s odd that he didn’t appear when he heard us pull up.

I have a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach as I slip my feet back into my flip-flops. ‘Go play with your Lego, darling. Mummy will be back in a minute.’

I hurry out onto the patio, but as I head around the corner of the cottage towards the flowerbeds I see him, down on the bench, overlooking the water. His body is mostly obscured by the hydrangea bush that’s bursting with purple flowers.

‘There you are!’ I call.

He doesn’t respond.

Is he asleep?

My heart begins to pound as I hurry down the steep hill, my feet slipping and sliding beneath me in my haste to get to him. He’s crumpled over, his face grey and his eyes closed.

‘No, no, no… Dad!’ I cry, my hands on his arms.

He murmurs, stirring.

‘Oh, thank God! Dad!’ I exclaim. ‘Are you all right? Were you asleep?’

His eyes flutter open and he mumbles something.

‘Dad?’

‘Better call ambulance,’ he repeats.

Fear takes hold of my heart and crushes it to a pulp.

Because right then I know: the cancer is back.

Nick arrives soon after the ambulance leaves. He gathers me into a hug and I burst into tears, having somehow managed to hold it together until now. Luke is watching cartoons on the television in the living room.

‘Aw, Nell,’ Nick whispers, cradling my head in his hands and pressing a kiss to my forehead. ‘I’m so sorry,’ he says in a gruff voice. ‘I’ll go and grab Luke. You heading straight to the hospital?’ He pulls away to stare at me.

I nod, brushing away a constant stream of tears.

He clasps my face once more and kisses my forehead again, squeezing my hand before letting me go.

My chest feels constricted as I watch Nick reappear with Luke in his arms. He’s almost five and certainly doesn’t need a carry from his daddy, but at times like these, a parent wants to keep their children close.

‘Shoes on, buddy.’ Nick plonks our son on his feet.

‘But I was going to do some gardening with Grandad,’ Luke says, his little brow furrowing with confusion.

Nick ruffles Luke’s light-blond curls. ‘You’re coming to the beach with me instead.’

‘YAY!’

‘Are you sure?’ I ask Nick. ‘I thought you had to work?’

‘I can go in later. Mum said she’ll have him this afternoon.’

‘Thank you,’ I mumble.

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