Jess took a deep breath and turned. Luke picked her up gently and swung her around. ‘Good to have you back, sis. I never realized how patient you are with Mr Zillion Questions here.’
‘And I never realized how good you are with Mr – Mr Big Hairy Muscles,’ Bobby said.
They all laughed, which broke the tension and made everything more normal.
Granddad came over and hugged her. ‘So glad to have you home, my little pet. You’re the sunshine in this house.’ He turned away to wipe his eyes.
Piper kissed her and Jess felt more tears on her cheeks. She noticed the black circles under Piper’s eyes.
Then Nathalie came over to her. She was wearing a mask over her mouth. ‘I am wearing it in case of the germs. I have the leetle cold.’
‘You don’t have a cold, Nathalie. Nor do you have allergies or sinus or headaches or back problems. You’re just a hypochondriac,’ Granddad muttered.
‘Another problem with the Irish men is they are afraid of the doctor. In France when a man is sick, he goes to the doctor and takes medication. In Ireland the men pretend they are “grand” and then, poof!, they are dead on the road of the attack of the ’eart.’
‘Seriously?’ Luke glared at her.
Nathalie shrugged. ‘It’s true. I ’ope you will not be so stupid and stubborn as the older Irish men, Luke.’
‘For the love of Jesus, Nathalie,’ Granddad snapped, ‘will you stop barking on about death and illness?’
‘I am not afraid to talk about death. It is a fact of life. We are born and we die. Voilà.’
‘Dude, zip it!’ Luke demanded.
Nathalie looked at Jess. ‘Do you want everyone never to say the word “sick” or “dead” in front of you? Does that not make it like pretending? Sticking the ’ead in the sand? Of course we all pray you will be better, but you ’ave cancer, non? It is a fact.’
It annoyed Jess that everyone avoided words like ‘ill’, ‘sick’, ‘death’ and even ‘cancer’. Her family never used it. They said ‘condition’ or ‘leukaemia’ but the word ‘cancer’ was never uttered. Jess knew they were trying to protect her and themselves, but it bugged her.
Mum took charge. ‘Nathalie, I think that’s enough chat about death for now. This is a celebration.’
‘Do you have celebrations in France or do you just sit around reading depressing poetry and staring at your navels?’ Granddad grumbled.
‘We are very good at the celebrations. We know ’ow to ’ave a good time.’
‘Really?’ Luke looked doubtful.
‘When?’ Granddad asked.
Nathalie was affronted. ‘All the time. We don’t need to wear a green ’at and drink ten pints and fall down to ’ave fun. We drink good wine and eat good food and talk and laugh.’
‘Laugh about what?’ Granddad asked.
‘Jeux de lettres.’
‘What?’ they asked.
‘You ’ave the sentence or the word and then you twist them around and make funny phrases. It is very amusing and good for the mental gymnastics.’
Granddad slapped his forehead. ‘Mother of God, save me now. Nathalie, you need to lighten up. Maybe you should try the green hat and the few drinks. You might actually enjoy yourself.’
‘Green does not flatter my skin,’ Nathalie huffed.
Bobby kicked the table. ‘Can we stop talking about boring stuff and eat?’
‘Yes!’ Kate smiled at him.
Nathalie left the room to look after the café.
‘Take your mask off! You’ll scare away the customers,’ Granddad called after her.
Jess and the others sat down. Piper put her coat on.
‘Babe, where are you going?’ Luke asked.
‘It’s your family time, Luke. I’ll call you later. Welcome home, Jess.’ She blew her a kiss and left.
Jess ate little bites of everything, but she really wasn’t hungry. She did manage a small bowl of strawberry shortcake ice cream and saw her mum smiling as she finished the last spoonful.
They chatted about the café, Luke’s upcoming match and Bobby’s Christmas play, which Jess was surprised that Mum didn’t seem to know about.
‘Oh, Bobby, that’s awful, you should be Joseph. Maybe I could talk to Mrs Lorgan.’
Bobby rolled his eyes. ‘It’s way too late, Mummy. Anyway, Maggie already did and she won’t change her mind.’
‘Oh. Well, I’m sorry about that.’
Bobby ate a piece of scone. ‘You never listen to me anyway. It’s only ever about Jess.’
‘Bobby!’ Luke snapped. ‘Mum’s doing her best.’
‘Be nice to your mother,’ Granddad said. ‘She’s got a lot on her plate.’
Jess suddenly felt tired. ‘I think I’ll lie down for a bit. Thanks for the lovely welcome.’ To Bobby, she said, ‘Will you come up with me and tell me some new facts while I’m putting on my pyjamas?’
Bobby’s face lit up. ‘Yes!’ He ran to get the book Maggie had given him.
‘Are you sure about that, Jess?’ Kate asked. ‘You look very tired. Maybe he could read the facts later.’
‘No, it’s fine, Mum. Let him tell me a few. I reckon I’ll be asleep in two minutes anyway.’
Luke brought Jess’s bag upstairs and put it into Kate’s room.
‘What are you doing?’ Jess asked.
‘Mum said you’re to sleep here while you’re at home. She’ll sleep with Bobby.’
‘She doesn’t have to do that.’
Luke put the case on the double bed. ‘She wants to. We all want to help, Jess.’
Jess busied herself unpacking. With her back to Luke, she said, ‘I never thanked you properly for saying you’ll give me your bone marrow.’
‘It’s cool. No big deal.’
Jess put her pyjamas on the bed. ‘It is a big deal and I’m sorry you have to do it, but thank you.’
Luke said quietly, ‘I’d do anything to help you, Jess, you know I would. All we want is for you to get better.’
Jess didn’t trust herself to speak. She was so grateful to Luke. The infection had terrified her, but it was gone now. She had to look forward. She really believed that, with Luke’s strong, healthy bone marrow, she would get better, just like her mum said.
As she lay in bed listening to Bobby spouting facts, Jess tried to visualize Luke’s vital bone marrow knocking down and destroying her cancer cells. It was a nice image: it made her feel strong and hopeful …
‘As well as having unique fingerprints, humans also have unique tongue prints. Isn’t that amazing, Jess? Our tongues are all different. Look at mine and then let me look at yours. Jess … Jess?’
As usual, Bobby found he was talking to himself. Jess had drifted off into the oblivion of sleep.
22
Piper sat beside Luke and held his hand. He was pretending to be nonchalant about the bone-marrow aspiration, but his right leg was bouncing up and down. Kate sat on Luke’s other side, chewing her lip, which made Piper feel a bit panicky.
Dr Kennedy explained it all to them in a calm and reassuring voice. Luke had to have a general anaesthetic, and while he was asleep, they’d take out the bone marrow. A needle would be put through his skin into the hip bone. Then they would suck the bone marrow out through the needle and into the syringe. That part didn’t sound too bad, but when Dr Kennedy said they usually had to put the needle into several different parts of the pelvis and, occasionally, the chest bone in order to get the one full litre of bone marrow they needed, Piper saw the blood drain from Luke’s face.
Dr Kennedy must have noticed, too, because he patted Luke’s arm and told him not to worry, that his body would replace all of the bone marrow within a few weeks.
‘How long will the procedure take?’ Kate asked.
‘No more than two hours. After the bone marrow is harvested, Luke will be taken to the recovery room while the anaesthesia wears off. All going well, he’ll be free to leave the hospital within a few hours or by the next morning.’
‘I’ve
got an important rugby game four days later. Can I play?’ Luke found his voice.
‘I’d advise against it. You may have soreness, bruising and aching at the back of the hips and lower back for a few days.’
‘Fuck,’ Luke muttered.
‘Luke!’ Kate said.
Fuck your stupid rugby match, Piper wanted to scream. What if you bloody die? What if something goes wrong and the operation is a disaster and you die on the operating table without knowing we’re going to have a baby?
Piper let go of Luke’s hand and gripped her own hands together tightly to try to control her panic.
‘I’m sorry about that,’ Kate said to Dr Kennedy. ‘We’re all under a lot of pressure.’
‘That’s quite all right. It’s a very difficult time for you all.’
‘Will Jess be in isolation after the transplant?’ Kate asked.
Dr Kennedy nodded. ‘Yes. Until her bone marrow starts making enough blood cells, she’s at risk of picking up infections. She’ll have to stay in a single room with minimal visitors until her blood count improves.’
‘Poor Jess.’ Kate’s voice shook.
Kate looked so worn out and sad. That’s a mother’s love, thought Piper. When you have a child, you love it more than anything in the world. She touched her stomach. Would she feel that for her baby? Would Luke? Or would he resent her and hate the baby for ruining his life? Would Luke be a good dad? Would he be like his mum, devoted to her kids, or like his dad and leave Piper for a younger woman?
Piper desperately wanted to tell someone. She felt so lonely. Walking around with this huge secret all the time was wearing her down. She needed Jess to get better soon. If Jess got better, everyone would be happy, and maybe Luke wouldn’t go mad when she told him. She prayed Luke’s bone marrow would make Jess better. It had to, surely.
Dr Kennedy stood up and saw them out of the room. Patting Luke on the back, he said, ‘We’ll see you in two days’ time. Don’t worry, it’ll all be over in no time and we’ll have you back on the rugby pitch soon.’
As they walked towards the car, Piper saw Luke’s dad coming running towards them. Luke froze.
‘Sorry I’m late,’ Nick panted, sweat running down the sides of his face. ‘I had to show a house and they were late and … Anyway, it was worth it because I closed the deal and it’s a big one, so it’ll really help with the bills.’ He bent over, putting his hands on his knees and catching his breath. ‘Did I miss it?’
‘Yeah, you did,’ Luke said, staring over his father’s shoulder into the distance.
‘What did he say?’
Luke’s hand tightened around Piper’s. It hurt. ‘He said they’re going to stick needles all over me, suck out ten per cent of my bone marrow and I can’t play in my match this week.’
Nick frowned. ‘To hell with your match, this is about Jess.’
Luke’s fingers were now crushing Piper’s. ‘Don’t you dare tell me what it’s about. What the hell would you know? You’re hardly ever around, and when you are, you’re either late or on the phone to your stupid fucking girlfriend, who can’t seem to cross the road without you.’
Nick straightened and glared at him. ‘Don’t speak to me like that. I’m doing my best here. I’m trying to hold down a job so I can look after everyone. I’m the one who has to come up with the funds and I’m working my balls off. Why don’t you give me a break and stop behaving like a child?’
Luke snorted. ‘Yeah, you’re a real contender for Dad of the Year.’
‘Stop it, both of you,’ Kate begged. ‘None of this is helping Jess.’
Nick suddenly noticed Piper. ‘Who’s this?’
‘My girlfriend,’ Luke said.
‘Oh, yes, Piper. Jess has told me lots about you.’
Piper didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t be rude, but she knew how much Luke hated his dad and what a rubbish father he had been. Still, she had to be polite. So she put out her hand and shook Nick’s. ‘Nice to meet you,’ she said.
‘You too. Thanks for being so good to Jess. She raves about you.’
Piper blushed. ‘It’s easy to be nice to Jess.’
Nick smiled. ‘Yes, it is. She’s a very special girl.’
‘So special you barely saw her all year until she got sick,’ Luke said.
Piper watched Nick’s face darken. He was different from how she had imagined him. She’d thought he’d be tall, dark and handsome, a ladies’ man. He was fit for his age, but average-looking: brown hair, greying at the sides, and blue eyes that seemed a bit too small for his face. He had deep black rings under them, which betrayed how tired he was.
Nick inhaled deeply. ‘Luke, that’s enough. I don’t want to argue with you. I know it can’t be easy having this procedure and I’m proud of you for stepping up for your sister.’
Piper felt Luke relax slightly beside her.
‘Right. Let’s go. I’ve to pick up Bobby,’ Kate said, hustling Luke and Piper towards the car.
Later that day, on her way home from school, Piper was still thinking about Kate, what a good mother she was to Jess and how she wanted to be a good mother to her baby, when she heard Posy shout, ‘Piper!’
‘What?’
‘I just asked you three times if I could borrow your leather jacket.’
‘Oh, yeah, sure.’
‘Are you okay?’ Posy asked.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, you seem so distracted all the time.’
Piper pulled her schoolbag higher on her shoulder. ‘I guess I am.’
‘Is it because of Luke’s sister?’
‘Yes, and other stuff.’
‘Like what?’
Piper shrugged. ‘Just stuff.’
‘Stuff to do with Luke?’ Posy persisted.
‘Yeah.’
‘Are you and he breaking up?’
‘No.’
‘Do you think he fancies someone else?’
‘No.’
‘Do you think he’s been with another girl?’
‘No, Posy, it’s nothing like that. Just forget it.’ Piper cursed her stupidity. Posy would never let it go now that she was convinced something was wrong with Piper’s relationship.
‘OMG, did you find out he’s gay?’
‘Jesus, Posy, no!’
‘Well, then, what’s going on?’
‘Nothing.’
‘But you said – Ouch!’ Posy squealed.
The twins had come up behind her and pulled her ponytail.
‘Do you have any money?’ Penny asked Piper.
‘No, and you still owe me the tenner I lent you last week,’ Piper reminded her.
‘I’m starving.’ Penny groaned.
‘Stop moaning, we’ll be home in ten minutes.’ Piper had no patience for her sisters today. She wanted to lie down and sleep for a while in peace and quiet.
‘Come on, Piper, you’re our older sister. You’re supposed to buy us stuff,’ Poppy said.
‘Sod off,’ Piper snapped. ‘I’m not in the mood.’
‘God, you’re so narky, these days,’ Penny moaned. ‘You used to be fun, but now we can’t say anything without you biting our heads off.’
‘Yeah, seriously, chill, Piper,’ Poppy added. ‘You’ve got so boring. I’m never going out with someone if it turns me into a granny like you.’
Penny laughed and started hobbling like an old woman. ‘I’m Piper. I used to be fun but now I’m a boring girlfriend, who’s always in a grump.’
Piper’s blood boiled. ‘I’m sick of the lot of you. All you ever think about is yourselves. Luke is donating his bone marrow to Jess and it’s a big operation and I’m worried about it and him and Jess and everything. I hope I never get cancer because I know you’d never give me your bone marrow because you’re so bloody selfish.’ She burst into tears.
Her three sisters stopped walking and stared at her.
‘I’ll give you my bones if you get cancer, Piper, I promise.’ Posy was upset.
&nbs
p; ‘It’s not your bones, you idiot, it’s bone marrow,’ Penny said. ‘You can’t give someone your bones. How could you walk if you gave Piper your leg bone?’
‘I’d give Piper my leg bone if she wanted it,’ Posy said. ‘Piper, you can have any part of my body that you need.’
Piper tried to smile but grimaced instead.
‘Jeez, Piper, I’m sorry if we upset you. We were just joking around,’ Poppy said.
‘I’d give my bone marrow if you needed it,’ Penny said. ‘As long as they gave me loads of painkillers so I was totally out of it.’
‘We could give you half each,’ Poppy noted. ‘Then it wouldn’t be so bad for either of us. Penny’d give you a bit and I’d give you a bit. A two-for-the-price-of-one deal.’
‘Perfect.’ Penny pulled her scarf over her face as a cold gust of winter wind blew across the park.
‘So, you see, we’re not selfish,’ Posy said. ‘We’d all help you.’
‘Thanks,’ Piper said, putting her arm around Posy. ‘Sorry, I’m just tired, I guess.’
‘Luke will be fine,’ Penny assured her.
‘Totally. He’s as strong as Conor McGregor and he’ll bounce back super-fast,’ Poppy added.
‘Yeah, he’s like Superman,’ Posy said.
Piper shivered. ‘Come on, let’s go home. It’s freezing.’
The twins began to argue about which organ they’d be willing to donate to each other if they needed it.
Piper let their conversation wash over her as she prayed all would be well with Luke, the bone marrow and the baby growing inside her.
Bobby’s Diary
Jess has Luke’s fighter cells transplanted inside her now and they’re going to kick all Jess’s bad cells down and punch them and kill them, and Mummy said that hopefully now Jess will go from parshell remishen to complete remishen. And now Jess will get to come home and that is very good news for me. Someone to lissen to me at last!
Everyone is happy cos we ALL know that Luke’s cells will make Jess better. When Mummy came home from the hospital with Luke after they took the fighter cells out of him, Granddad hugged Luke and he haded tears in his eyes. He kept saying, ‘I’m proud of you, Luke, so proud.’
When Nathalie sawed Granddad with tears she got tears in her eyes. Nathalie never cries! She’s super-tuff.
The Good Mother Page 16