Slinging her handbag over her shoulder, she headed for home.
She was almost there when she happened to look up. Across the street, the small park near the Public Market was a hive of activity. College-age kids playing hackey sack, tourists feeding the dive-bombing seagulls, shoppers taking a rest. She wasn’t sure what had caught her eye and made her look.
Then she saw him, standing at the railing. His back was to her, but she recognized his faded jeans and denim shirt. He was probably the only man in downtown Seattle to wear a cowboy hat on a sunny day.
She crossed the street and walked up to him. “Hey, Bobby. ”
He didn’t look at her. “Meg. ”
“What are you doing out here?”
“She’s sleeping. ” Finally, he turned. His eyes were watery, red. “She threw up for almost an hour. Even when there was nothing left to vomit. Don’t worry, I cleaned it up. ”
“I wasn’t worried,” Meg said.
“She looks bad today. ”
“Some days are worse than others. I bet Nashville looks pretty good about now,” she said, trying to lighten his mood.
“Is that supposed to be funny? My wife is puking and her hair is falling out. You think I’m worried about my career?”
“I’m sorry. ” She touched him. “I’ve always been as sensitive as a serial killer. ”
He sighed. “No, I’m sorry. I needed someone to yell at. ”
“I’ll always give you a reason, don’t worry. ”
He smiled, but it was tired and worn. “I’m just . . . scared shitless, that’s all. And I don’t want her to know. ”
“I know. ” Meghann smiled up at him. Her sister was lucky to be loved by such a man. For no apparent reason, that made her think of Joe, of the day she’d found him weeping over his divorce. Joe was the kind of man who knew how to love, too. “You’re a good man, Bobby Jack Tom Dick. I was wrong about you. ”
He laughed. “And you’re not half the bitch I thought you were. ”
Meghann slipped an arm around him. “I’m going to pretend that was a compliment. ”
“It was. ”
“Good. Now let’s go make Claire smile. ”
The days passed slowly; each new morning found Claire a little more tired than the night before. She strove to keep a positive attitude but her health was deteriorating rapidly. She visualized rays of sunlight instead of radiation. She meditated for an hour a day, imagined herself in a beautiful forest or seated beside her beloved river. She ate the macrobiotic diet that Meghann swore would help heal her body.
The Bluesers came down often, separately and together, doing their best to keep Claire’s spirits up. Meg’s friend Elizabeth had even come for a few days, and the visit helped her sister immensely. The hardest times were weekends, when they went to Hayden; Claire tried to pretend that everything was okay for Ali.
In the evenings, though, it was just the three of them—Claire, Meg, and Bobby—in that too-quiet apartment. Mostly, they watched movies together. At first, when Bobby arrived, they’d tried to spend the evening talking or playing cards, but that had proved difficult. Too many dangerous subjects. None of them could mention the future without flinching, without thinking, Will there be a Christmas together? A Thanksgiving? A next summer?? So, by tacit agreement, they’d let the television become their nighttime soundtrack. Claire was grateful; it gave her several hours where she could sit quietly, without having to pretend.
Finally, the radiation ended.
The following morning Claire got up early. She dressed and showered and drank her coffee out on the deck overlooking the Sound. It amazed her that so many people were already up, going about their ordinary lives on this day that would define her future.
“Today’s the day,” Meg said, stepping out onto the deck.
Claire forced a smile. “Yep. ”
“Are you okay?”
God, how she’d come to despise that question. “Perfect. ”
“Did you sleep last night?” Meg asked, coming up beside her.