‘It’s over?’ she said, and he was right – a year of stress, worry and fear was behind her, the decision was made and the deed now done. It was over. The ovariectomy was still looming but she’d worry about that another day. It’s over.

She fell asleep after that.

Chapter Forty-Four: Jack

Chapter Forty-Four

Jack

JACK DROVE AROUND FOR an hour before parking outside the home of his old friend Sean Murphy. He was still steaming and also ashamed at his use of the word ‘arse’, especially as his grandchild had only just returned home after a year in America. Ever polite, he phoned Sean from his car. He answered on the third ring.

‘I was only thinking of you,’ Sean said.

‘Were ya?’ Jack said.

‘I was, I was only saying to Flo that it must be Rabbit’s anniversary any day now.’

‘Nine days ago.’

‘Nine days ago? Jaysus, time flies, Jack.’

‘It does and it doesn’t.’

‘How are you?’

‘Not great, to be honest.’

‘Ah . . . I wish I could say I was able for a pint but you know the situation. Why don’t you call round sometime?’

‘How does now suit ya?’

‘Today?’

‘No, now – I’m outside.’

‘Flo, put on the kettle, will you?’ he said to his wife. ‘See you in two.’

Jack hung up the phone and walked up the driveway to be greeted by his pal’s wife, Flo. She hugged him. ‘Good to see you, he’s inside.’ She pointed to the sitting room door. ‘Milk, sugar?’

‘Milk, one sugar – thanks, Flo.’

He knocked as he entered. Sean was sitting on his armchair with his oxygen canister next to him and tubes coming from his nose.

‘The grandkids call me The Walrus,’ he said, and he nodded. Jack moved in to shake his hand, then sat on the sofa.

‘How are you feeling?’ Jack asked.

‘Been better.’

Sean had been diagnosed with emphysema four years previously. He’d been a smoker all his life, and chose to continue smoking until the disease ravaged his lungs to the point that he was now housebound and had difficulty breathing. He couldn’t smoke anymore; he couldn’t do much of anything anymore. It was a high price to pay.

‘And you, Jack, how are you?’

‘Grace is having an operation today,’ Jack said.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing, she’s as fit as a flea.’

‘I’m not with ya, Jack.’

‘She’s having her breasts removed.’

‘God Almighty,’ Sean said, and he blessed himself. ‘Why would she do that?’

‘She has the gene – the same one that made Rabbit sick. It doesn’t mean she’ll get cancer, it just means it’s more likely. So she’s decided to cut everything out, first her breasts, next her ovaries.’

‘God Almighty,’ Sean repeated, and he took a shot of oxygen. ‘I’m sorry to hear that.’