Maddy’s Christmas Wedding (Little Duck Pond Cafe #37)

CHAPTER SEVEN

‘What’s that about a murder?’ Rose looked worried.

Ellie laughed. ‘No, no, it’s fine.’

‘We were just looking forward to seeing upstairs,’ I said.

‘I’ll lead the way, then, shall I?’ said Rose cheerfully, and we followed her up the admittedly rather attractive solid oak staircase to the bedrooms.

We were checking out the main bedroom, which had lovely views over the surrounding countryside at the back of the house, when my phone pinged. It was Mum with a message.

At the hospital getting results of Dad’s tests. About to go in. Keep everything crossed. I’ll phone you later xxx

My heart was beating uncomfortably fast as I stared out of the window. I wasn’t seeing the view anymore. I was seeing that waiting room in my mind’s eye and Mum and Dad waiting anxiously to be being called in. If I drove over to their house after this, I could be there when they got back from the hospital. And then I’d know the worst. We all would. Then it would be a question of processing what we’d been told and moving on in the best way we could . . .

‘You’ve gone as white as a sheet, Maddy.’ Ellie was next to me, frowning. ‘Is everything okay?’ She glanced outside. ‘I know the garden’s like a jungle but we’d easily be able to hack everything down and –’

‘No. It’s not the garden. Although that is a bit of a nightmare.’

No one else could know. It had to be Dad’s decision when he wanted to tell everyone.

‘So what is it?’

I forced a smile. ‘Nothing, really. It’s . . . Mum just texted and I realised I forgot my auntie’s birthday.’

‘Oh. Right. Well, I’m sure if you buy her some nice expensive chocolates, you’ll be forgiven.’ She looked at me doubtfully.

‘Good idea! Yes, I’ll do that after I leave here.’ I glanced at my watch. ‘Are you wanting to look at the back garden before we go?’

‘Not really. We’ve seen it from the window and it’s basically a continuation of the jungle at the front.’ She glanced at me. ‘Let’s get going, shall we? I think I’ve seen enough.’

‘Okay.’ I was desperate to be on my way now – but at the same time, absolutely dreading what Mum and Dad would have to tell me.

‘If there was something wrong, you’d tell me, wouldn’t you?’ Ellie asked, after we’d thanked Rose and driven away.

‘Yes, of course. No, everything’s fine. Really.’ I glanced across but I could tell she wasn’t convinced. I sighed heavily. ‘Actually, it’s not okay. You know Dad had that fall at Sylvia’s birthday party and we went to A&E?’

She nodded.

‘Well, he’s been having tests because they think there might be something wrong.’

‘Really? Oh, God, Maddy. I’m so sorry.’

‘They’re in the hospital getting the results of the tests just now, so I’m going to drive over to their house. I’m sure it’ll turn out to be nothing, though.’ I attempted a smile, although my hands were trembling in my lap.

What if it wasn’t nothing? What if it was something that would snatch him away from us and leave us all devastated? If it was bad news, the wedding would have to be cancelled. There’s no way I could enjoy what was supposed to be the happiest day of my life if my darling dad was ill . . .

We drove in silence for a while, then Ellie said, ‘Zak’s sister had a scare recently. She had a lump but when she went for a biopsy, it was benign.’

I nodded, only vaguely hearing what she was saying. ‘That’s good.’

‘It was. So you never know, do you? You can get really scared thinking the worst, but then in the end it turns out to be nothing to worry about.’

‘Exactly.’

We beamed encouragingly at each other.

‘I really hope it’s good news, Maddy,’ she said when I got into my own car back at the café. She leaned through the window and gave me a hug, and I blinked away a rogue tear. ‘Let me know?’

‘Of course I will. But could you keep this to yourself for now, please?’

‘I won’t say a word to anyone. I guess you might not be there tonight, to see the Christmas tree lights being switched on?’

I shrugged. ‘I’ll have to play it by ear.’

‘Of course.’

As I drove out of the car park and passed her, I called, ‘The house is great!’

She smiled sadly in acknowledgement. ‘Good luck, love. Give your mum and dad my best.’

*****

A feeling of nausea had joined the anxiety inside as I drove over to my parents’ place.

Hartwell House was too big for them really, now that my sisters and I had all left home. But they loved it and I knew they wouldn’t dream of selling up.

I wanted to get there fast and hear what they had to say. But on the other hand, I wanted to turn around and head away in the opposite direction . . . drive home to Jack and pretend that none of this was happening.

But I couldn’t do that. I had to face up to it. Dad might have Huntington’s disease which could shorten his life, and the thought of that made me want to pull in to the side of the road and cry my eyes out. I couldn’t imagine how poor Mum must have been feeling, waiting for those results.

If the news was bad, we’d all have to be brave for his sake and support him through it.

I was supposed to be meeting Jack at the village green later for the switch-on ceremony. He was going there straight from work. But if Mum and Dad needed me, I’d have to phone him and tell him what was going on.

*****

My parents were just getting out of the car when I drove through the gates, a quivering mess.

Mum saw me and I waved and pulled in behind their silver Audi, parking in my usual place on the driveway. I switched off the engine, drew in a deep breath and breathed it out slowly.

Stay calm and smile for their sake.

It’s all going to be fine, whatever happens.

Getting out and walking over to them, I examined their faces for clues. They looked exhausted and my stomach seemed to tumble into my shoes.

It had to be bad news. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be looking so serious.

‘So come on, then. Tell me?’

Dad shrugged. ‘Well, it turns out it’s a condition that can be managed.’

‘He’ll need to do what the doctor tells him to do, though,’ said Mum, giving him a sharp look. ‘No forgetting to take the tablets.’

‘What tablets?’ I looked from one to the other as we walked over to the house and Mum let us in.

‘Vitamin E, would you believe?’ said Dad, who looked grey with exhaustion.

‘It’s something called ataxia,’ explained Mum, digging in her bag for her house key. ‘Your dad has the type where you’re deficient in vitamin E because your body can’t process it.’

He nodded. ‘The deficiency gives you nasty symptoms like having trouble with co-ordination, which is what I’ve been finding. It can affect speech as well, unfortunately. But being treated with high doses of the vitamin can control the condition and often improve the symptoms.’

My poor brain was having a hard time taking all this in. But one fact was pressing in and elbowing all the other information out of the way.

‘Hang on, Dad. You’re telling me it’s not Huntington’s and that you have a disease that can actually be controlled? I mean, there’s things you can do?’

He nodded. ‘It’s a degenerative neurological condition so of course it could get worse over time. But yes, apparently with my kind of ataxia, they can treat it with mega-doses of vitamin E.’

Tears of relief brimmed over and started splashing down my cheeks.

‘Oh, Maddy. Come here.’ Dad drew me into the biggest hug and I sobbed freely on his shoulder. Mum slid the key in the door and rushed over to hug us both and she was sobbing as well.

‘It’s such a relief,’ I gasped. ‘I’ve been so worried, thinking the absolute worst.’

‘So was I,’ confessed Mum. ‘I’d actually prepared myself for the worst. Stupid, I know, but I suppose it was a sort of self-protective thing. So hearing that it wasn’t Huntington’s was just . . . well, I couldn’t believe it.’

We remained like that, hugging each other tightly, right there on the driveway.

And then Dad complained that Mum was obstructing his breathing with her scarf and that he could do with a strong drink after the afternoon he’d just had!

Laughing, we all trooped inside . . .

Laurel