Her belly was getting bigger every day but she carried it proudly. The baby was very active. “A right little footballer,” the gynaecologist had said at her last visit. All was going well and she was counting down the weeks with impatience.
She went in to visit Lexi every evening after work and brought her little goodies to try and tempt her to eat. By the weekend Lexi’s appetite had returned and she was starting to feel much better. It was imperative that she get her strength back before she started chemotherapy. Mel kept the other girls informed of Lexi’s progress.
* * *
Kenny arrived the following Wednesday to collect Angel to take her to see Lexi and they drove to the airport for the flight to Clearwater. The joy of escaping the hordes at LA airport was not lost on Angel. This was true luxury, being driven in the limo right to the steps of the plane and then being welcomed on board by the pilot. Angel admired the spacious interior of the private jet. The decor was very elegant, in bordeaux and cream. There was an office, a bedroom and luxurious bathroom on board. Way to go, Angel thought, as she smiled at Kenny.
When they had settled in, the very attractive stewardess brought a bottle of champagne on ice. Angel looked at Kenny as the stewardess opened it and poured two glasses for them.
“You know I can’t drink this,” Angel said.
He laughed. “Don’t worry, it’s non-alcoholic.” He showed her the bottle. Ariel Brut, it said on the label, Non-alcoholic sparkling wine.
Angel laughed. “You nearly had me there.”
He smiled at her as they toasted each other.
“I’m so proud of you,” Kenny said. “Your sponsor tells me you’re doing great.”
“I’m actually quite proud of myself but I couldn’t have done it without you,” she replied.
As the jet took off she told him about the therapy and how much it was helping her.
It was the most exciting flight Angel had ever taken. When they were in the air, Kenny asked her if she had given any thought to her future. She admitted that she hadn’t given it much thought.
“I’m just taking it one day at a time.”
“Maybe you should,” he said. “Have you ever considered moving to Tampa?”
“Well, I have thought of leaving LA, but Tampa?” She looked at him quizzically.
“Yes. Lexi and Mel are there and I’m there too. Why not?”
“Mmmm . . . Maybe. I’ll think about it.”
The stewardess served them a delicious meal and opened a bottle of non-alcoholic wine to go with it.
“This wine is delicious. It’s hard to believe it’s non-alcoholic.”
“Isn’t it? I bring it with me to parties and restaurants. I’ll send over a few cases to Lexi’s tonight.”
As they came in to land in Clearwater airport she realised that she’d had a great time and yet she was sober. It made her feel good. Now she had to face her two oldest friends. She needed more than anything to set things right with Lexi and especially Mel, after her despicable behaviour. She intended to make it up to Mel for how she’d wronged her. She didn’t know how she could do this but she’d find a way. She was very excited about seeing both of them again.
Chapter 36
Lexi had come home from hospital to find the house filled with the flowers that Mel had ordered. She’d gone straight to bed to rest. Angel arrived later that evening with Kenny and went straight to Mel’s as they thought it was better if she stayed there. She was delighted to see Mel was looking glowing and healthy.
Mel, after hugging her, stood back to have a look at the new Angel. Gone was the fake tan and the heavy make-up. Her hair was unstyled, held back with a hairband and she was wearing jeans, ballet pumps and a simple white T-shirt. Most importantly her blue eyes were clear and untroubled and she had an aura of calm about her that had never been there before. Mel thought she had never looked younger or more beautiful.
“You look wonderful, sweetie,” she said as she hugged Angel again.
When Marvin rang to say Lexi was awake they walked next door to visit her. Angel was shocked to see how emaciated Lexi was.
Angel’s reunion with them both was emotional, especially considering how they had last parted here.
“Lexi, sweetie, how are you?” Angel cried, tears in her eyes as she hugged her old friend. “You’re so thin,” she observed, feeling Lexi’s slight frame through her dressing-gown.
“You think this is thin?” Lexi laughed. “They’ve been stuffing me with food in the hospital. You should have seen me last week!”
They were delighted that she hadn’t lost her sense of humour and before long the three friends were nattering away like old times. Kenny had brought over a case of the Ariel Brut and a case each of the white and red non-alcoholic wine. As neither Lexi nor Mel were drinking either they were all in the same boat and Angel didn’t feel like the odd-one-out. She was extremely pleased when both girls told her how proud of her they were. She hadn’t heard that in a long time and it was like music to her ears.
“I’ve been very lucky that Kenny came into my life. I owe you thanks for that, Lexi. I also figure that my father must be up there looking out for me, to have such special people in my life.”
* * *
Lexi was lying in Marvin’s arms that night.
“I’m dreading this treatment now that I know what it’s like,” she said. “I was so sick last time.”
“I know, sweetheart,” he said, stroking her hair.
“It’s nice to have Mel and Angel here but I really wish Brenda were here too,” Lexi said wistfully. “I would feel much better about it if she was.”
“You’ll have a fulltime nurse with you, darling, who has experience with . . .” – he didn’t want to use the word chemotherapy as Lexi froze every time she heard it – “your type of patient,” he ended lamely.
“I know, but it’s not the same as having your best friend with you and Brenda is so good in times of crisis.”
After she fell asleep, Marvin lay awake thinking about what she’d said. He would do anything in his power if it would make this awful thing any easier for this brave woman that he loved so much.
* * *
Brenda’s kids were home from college for the Easter holidays. Carly was excited that she’d been offered a job at a kids’ summer camp in St Petersburg, close to Clearwater where Lexi lived.
“Have you contacted Mel about a job in New York?” Brenda asked Ryan.
“No. I’ve been studying so hard . . .”
She looked at him sceptically. “Don’t you think it’s time you started looking?” she chided him. “You’ve left it very late. Mel is working in Florida now but she’s with the same company. Do it soon, Ryan.”
That evening he contacted Mel and asked if she could get him a summer job with the firm in New York.
“Yeah, that won’t be a problem, I can arrange it,” she told him, knowing that Donna would fix it. “But I’m not there any more, I’m in Florida now. Why not come and work for me here in Tampa instead? We have beautiful beaches and it’s much cheaper to live here than New York. Besides, there’s a granny flat over the garages in my house which is lying there vacant. You’d be welcome to stay there, free of charge of course. Trust me sweetheart, rents in New York are not payable.”
As she’d guessed, Ryan did not look a gift horse in the mouth. “Great, Aunt Mel, I’d love to come to Florida.”
She grinned to herself. Ryan was a clever cookie and would go far. She looked forward to getting to know him better.
“Dylan will come with me, of course.”
“Of course,” Mel replied, expecting that. She knew Ryan went nowhere without his twin.
“Do you think Dylan could also stay in the apartment? We don’t mind sharing the floor.”
Now Mel laughed outright. “Of course he can. And it does have two bedrooms.”
“You’re a star, Mel,” he said and she noticed that he’d suddenly dropped the ‘aunt’. He was quite a character.
/> “I’m really looking forward to touching base with you both,” she said, thinking that she sounded very hip.
“Sure thing, me too,” he replied.
Mel was looking forward to getting to know them, now that they were all grown up. It would be nice to have them here.
* * *
Brenda was delighted that the boys were going to Florida instead of New York. She’d been a little apprehensive about that. She knew Mel and Lexi would look out for the twins. She rang Mel to thank her. When Mel recounted the conversation, Brenda roared laughing.
“He’s quite a kid, your Ryan,” Mel remarked, laughing with her.
“Yes, but Dylan is very sweet,” Brenda said, feeling the need to stand up for her gentle son. “He’s just more of a dreamer than Ryan, who is a doer.”
“He sure is. I look forward to getting to know them both.”
* * *
Brenda Skyped Lexi the next day to give her this news and to see how she was doing. She said she was feeling a little better but Brenda was very concerned at how frail she looked.
“It’s lovely to have Mel and Angel here although I get so tired that I’m not much company in the evenings.”
“I feel so bad that I can’t be there with you to help you through this,” Brenda confessed.
“I wish you were here too. I’m not looking forward to this treatment. Marvin can’t really take time off work to care for me so he’s hiring a nurse to stay with me instead. The side effects are pretty debilitating, I believe.”
“When do you start the treatment?”
“Not till May. I have to build myself up first.”
“You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers constantly, you know that.”
* * *
That afternoon, while Lexi was resting, Marvin put the plan he’d been hatching into action. He rang Brenda and asked her if there was any way she could come over and care for Lexi once the treatment started.
“She’s dreading it and very low at the moment. I know it would mean a lot to her to have you by her side.”
“I’d love to come, Marvin, especially if you think I could be of any help.”
“You would, Brenda. It would mean the world to Lexi. I was going to hire a nurse to be with her but I know she would much prefer to have you here.”
“When do you want me to come? I’m working at the moment but I finish up my job in four weeks. Would that be okay?”
“That would be perfect. How long could you stay for?”
“As long as she needs me. I’ll have nothing to keep me here. The kids will all be away working for the summer and I’ll be out of a job.”
“What good luck for us. Can you apply for a visa? We don’t know how long this treatment will take.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“We’ll pay for your flights naturally and I would insist that you take some payment for it. Please say you’ll come.”
“Oh, I couldn’t possibly take payment but I’ll accept the flight tickets,” she replied, relieved that her savings would remain intact.
“That would be wonderful, Brenda. It will make Lexi so happy. I can’t wait for her to wake up to tell her.” He sounded excited.
“It’s the least I can do. She’s been so good to me, all of my life.”
Brenda could hardly believe it. She was off to Florida again. This time there was no Bob to stop her. She would be there every step of the way with her dear friend to give her any support she could. An added bonus was that the twins would be close by too and she’d be there for the birth of Mel’s baby.
* * *
Angel stayed a week in Clearwater and was good company for Lexi, keeping her amused as she’d always done. Kenny collected her every evening and they went to his local AA branch for a meeting. They were all delighted with Angel’s progress and prayed it would last. They’d forgotten what a sweet person she could be without drink in her. Marvin was very busy with an upcoming exhibition and was grateful to her for keeping Lexi occupied.
Angel was very happy to be back on an even keel again with her friends and she was giving great thought to her future.
It was Kenny who finally persuaded her to move to Clearwater.
“I can’t be jetting up to LA every week just to have lunch with you,” he declared, laughing.
She had come to depend on him completely. She felt safe with him around and she also wanted to be a support to Lexi in her illness. So on her last night she told them that she had decided to move down here permanently. They were thrilled and Mel invited her to move in with her. Angel gratefully accepted and left the following day, in Kenny’s private jet, to settle her affairs in LA. She promised Kenny she would not go a single day without attending her AA meeting. She still didn’t feel strong enough to go it alone.
Angel still found it strange that she had a male friend who was just that, a friend. She hadn’t tried to seduce or flirt with him and yet she knew that he liked her for herself, not for her looks or any hope of sexual favours. It was a nice feeling. It made her feel good about herself.
* * *
Angel, with the help of Consuela, packed up what she would need in Florida and put the rest of her stuff into storage. This included the more than two hundred pairs of shoes and all the evening gowns that took up two rooms of her house. She was all ready to go, three days later.
She gave Consuela a very large cheque as a parting gift. She was very sad to be saying goodbye to her loyal housekeeper who had after all saved her life. Consuela was happy to retire and spend time with her grandchildren although she was very fond of her mistress and would miss her. Angel decided to rent her house out for the moment and put it in the hands of an estate agent. She would see how she liked life in Florida before deciding to sell it. However, as she looked around the beautiful large living-room, she knew in her heart that she would never return there to live.
And so she left LA to start a new life in the Sunshine State.
Chapter 37
Brenda was on her way to Florida a month later. Lexi had been overjoyed to hear she was coming and very grateful to Marvin for arranging it. She was in better form and getting stronger every day. Mel and Angel were happy that Brenda would be there to care for Lexi as they were both quite busy, Angel with her AA meetings and therapy sessions and Mel putting the office to rights. She had finally got enough proof that Lundy had been swindling the company and had passed the information on to the fraud squad. They had charged him and Mel had taken great pleasure in firing him.
Lexi was delighted to see Brenda again and happy to have her to herself. There was something calming about her presence which she found restorative. She was less fearful with her there and every day they went for a short walk on the beach together. Lexi confided to Brenda how terribly frightened she’d been and how devastated that they’d had to do a hysterectomy.
“I haven’t shared this with anyone but I had hoped that Marvin and I could try for a baby. Now that dream is gone.”
“The important thing is that you’re alive and have a future together.”
“You’re right,” Lexi said, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I love him so much that I don’t want to have to leave him.”
“The doctors seem confident, don’t they?”
“They say they think they’ve got it all but you never can tell with cancer which is why I have to have this treatment.”
Brenda noticed that Lexi refused to use the word chemotherapy and could tell it frightened her. “Please God they’re right.”
* * *
Troy was overjoyed that Brenda was back. He invited them all for drinks in his new penthouse on the following Saturday. He was very excited about seeing Brenda again and she was nervous of meeting him. However, after five minutes in his company she had relaxed and wondered why she had been nervous at all. His penthouse was out of this world with spectacular views of the gulf and the marina from the floor-to-ceiling glass French doors which led onto a wrap-around terrace.
“This i
s so beautiful,” Brenda said to him as she gazed out over the gulf. The sun was just setting and it was like something from a painting.
“Yes, it is,” he replied, looking directly at her. She found herself blushing at his obvious admiration.
“Well, how have you been, Brenda? How come your husband let you out of his sight again so soon?”
“Actually, he and I have separated.”
Troy was shocked. Was it possible? He had tried to forget about her, without success, and now here she was telling him she was free. “Does that mean . . .?”
She reached out and put her finger on his lip. “No, Troy,” she replied quietly. “It’s too soon.”
He looked crestfallen but would not give up hope. He knew she was attracted to him too. “Will you come out to dinner with me some night?”
“I’m sorry, Troy. I’m here for Lexi and she’s my priority at the moment. Please understand.”
“I do,” he said, disappointed but knowing he would respect her wishes.
* * *
Lexi was feeling tired so after an hour she and Marvin went home. Troy invited the others to dinner in the Sandpearl Restaurant.
“What did your parents say when you told them you were pregnant?” Angel asked Mel.
“Erm . . . I haven’t actually told them yet.”
“What?” Angel and Brenda cried at the same time.
“But you’re over five months now!” said Angel.
“I know . . . I just can’t screw up the courage to tell them.”
“Oh, Mel, you have to,” Brenda said gently. “I know it’s difficult but they need to know.”
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