The Unexpected Journey Part Two

Chapter 24

But nothing would ever be able to prepare her for the bewilderment she felt as she watched that clump of her hair fall at her feet.

"Oh my God..." Her voice was a hoarse whisper, stuck in her throat as she reached to turn off the water. "You're fine. You are fine. You're fine." She tried to remain calm, tried to remain collected but her heart was hammering in her chest and her emotions were running full speed.

"No," she shook her head. "No, no, no. No. You are not going to freak out over this. You are not going to cry over this." Biting at her bottom lip. "You're not. You're not. You're....you're not."

But even as she ordered herself to calm down, she could feel the tears coming. She could feel her heart cracking and she wished, she wished, that she could get control of it all.

It was only hair. It was only hair.

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Harry found Maddie sitting on the edge of their bed still wearing her robe with a towel in her lap and her hair mostly damp. He had finished his planning meetings for Invictus and had come home early. Since Invictus was the only thing on his calendar lately, when the meetings ended earlier than expected, so did his day.

He had dropped his bags in his office and hurried up the stairs, ready to shed the suit for something more comfortable, hoping to spend a little time with his wife before the children came home, before the evening gave in to the craziness that was their lives. But when he walked into the room, his coat and tie in his hand, he was drawn to a stop when he saw her.

"Maddie?" He stepped cautiously, knowing something was up--though he wasn't quite sure yet what it was. Maddie looked up to him, her eyes wide and wet and Harry instantly moved closer. Tossing his coat and tie onto the bed next to her, he kneeled down in front of her. With his hands on each side of her, he looked up to her. "What is it? What's going on?"

"It's stupid," she shook her head, her fingers lifting to wipe at her eyes.

"I'm sure it's not," he reached for her hand. "Tell me."

"It's...it's my hair," her voice cracked as she said it. "It's falling out."

"Ah," Harry nodded, a rush of uncertainty pushing through his veins.

"And I know it's silly and it's just hair and I swear I'll get some perspective in a minute. I just...." She sniffed and shrugged her shoulders. "I'm going to be...bald."

"Yeah, okay," Harry took a deep breath and nodded his head. "Okay. So you're going to be bald..." His shoulders shrugged as her eyes narrowed.

"I'm going to be bald Harry."

"Well..." Harry took a breath and took a gamble. "I'm sure Will will be pleased that he won't be the only one."

It took a second, just a half a beat, but it worked. As Maddie's eyes filled with tears, the room filled with laughter. And Harry could feel relief settle over them.

"What can I do? How can I help?" Harry kept hold of her hand as he looked up at her.

"I don't know," she shook her head. "I...I noticed in the shower and I got out and just..." She blew out a breath. "I called Ella in a bit of panic."

"Why didn't you call me?"

"Come on," her head tipped to the side. "You're a week out from Invictus. The last thing you need is to be managing my hair."

"Maybe not the last thing..." Harry's words trailed off as Maddie's fingers ran softly over his lips.

"I didn't want to bother you, so I called Ella. She said she'd be right over," Maddie took a breath and glanced at the clock. "I actually thought you might be her when I heard the car pull up."