"Options... Are There Anymore Options...?" (Book 4)

Chapter 151 - "Trauma..."

Chapter 151 - "Trauma..."

Clara's PoV

'Wha— What are you talking about?' I said through a huge intake of breath because i wasn't exactly sure how this conversation was going to go.

'I went to the a hospital about three months back' he said. 'One of the business trips you thought I was on, well I wasn't. I was in a hospital in Surrey having a camera shoved down my throat'

'Bu—- But why?'

'Because I had a load of symptoms and I'm not normally one for following my gut and stuff but for some reason this one didn't feel right and so I went and I regretted it almost immediately'

I took another intake of breath except this time I sat on the bed feeling very dizzy and wanted to have a lie down.

'Look the Chemotherapy started about three weeks ago and I'm having it twice a week' he shrugged like it was normal. 'They want me to do 6 months of Chemo. Then hopefully they will be able to operate and then have another year of Chemo' he said.

'Hang on... What?' I said totally lost.

'I was diagnosed about 4 weeks ago with Semi Advanced Stomach Cancer. They wanted me to start chemo straight away so they can shrink the tumor, that way they can operate and then have chemo afterwards to stop it from growing again' he explained. 'I'm going to be fine' he assured.

The frightening this was that he was talking with his mouth but his eyes were telling a whole different story.

He was frightened.

And so he bloody should be.

I couldn't believe he had been dealing with all of this since March on his own.

'But— but you're just said you didn't know what the future holds'

'Assuming all goes well January will be around the time I have my surgery, maybe a bit later' he grumbled.

'Oh my god' I sighed as he laid on the bed with me.

'I just didn't want you to commit to a job when we have 7 kids between us and I'm not going to be a whole lot of use in a few weeks' he grumbled again.

'How are you feeling?' I asked.

'Honestly?' He asked looking up at me and I nodded back at him. 'Completely and utterly shit' he complained and rested his head on my shoulder. 'They tell you that the side effects will take a few days to kick in. I felt absolutely fine on the first day and then it all went down hill from there' he said with a sigh.

'How long were you intending to keep this a secret from me?' I asked stroking his head.

It had really knocked me for six this.

'I have been thinking of ways to tell you since the day I found out but the longer I left it the harder it was to say and we were doing all those days out with the kids and you know life still has to go on'

'But you've been working for goodness sake? It's your business get someone to step up'

'Richard is going to take over for a little while and I'll help out where I can. I'll still see profits and proceeds and still get money so we will be okay financially but it's going to be a challenge' he grumbled.

'How have you still been working?' I asked, once again.

'Long naps on my office sofa, throwing up in the bin and pretending the food was off in the cafeteria. Blaming the weather for being so pale. But I have to say I don't think they were believing it. I couldn't sit through yesterday's meeting I felt so exhausted I had to walk out. If I'm honest I don't know how I am going to survive without Richard in the country' he said.

Then something happened that I hadn't seen for a while.

A tear fell down his cheek.

'Shush. Don't cry. Well sort something. I promise we will sort this. We have gotten through this crap before I've no doubt that we can do it again' I sad.

'It's different for me. I've seen everything I need to see. Poppy was just a toddler'

'No. Do not think like that. I've got two kids popping out of me any day now and I am going to need you to be a Dad to them because I can't do both.

I had to comfort him in that moment and I had to use the only way I know how.

So I kissed him.

It was hardly going to solve any of the problems that we now had facing our future but it was a start.

- - -

'Do we tell the kids?' I asked as he had closed his eyes.

'I guess we'll have too. I'm only going to get worse' he said opening his eyes for just long enough to look at me and closed them again.

I had found out about 20 minutes ago that his Chemo sessions were on Wednesdays and Sunday's.

We know full well from our time with Poppy that you have it on one day, spend two days feeling like shit. Just about feel a bit better on the third day and then have to go through the whole thing again.

'They are going to have questions. And I'm no t sure how some of them are going to take It' I hummed.

'I can't imagine Evie it Avia will take it well but we can only talk to them like adults so I think we should tell them first. It's only fair' he said.

'I'll leave you to sleep for a little while. You look exhausted'

'Well I have just done the most exercise that I think I've done for a month' he smirked.

'Just take a nap. I'll work on dinner. Tomorrow is the last day of school anyway so I've got teachers presents to finish wrapping and organising' I said sliding the bedroom door closed.