Page 57 of Counted
He was scared.
He had to tell his father that he had only two more months to live.
“I know it’s hard,” Eve said in almost a whisper. “I’m sorry you have to do it.”
They stared at each other for a minute until Jude could find the momentum to stand up.
“Okay. I’m ready. Let’s do it.”
9
Jude wasin with his father for almost an hour.
When they returned home from the coffee shop, Eve had asked if he wanted her to join him as he talked to his dad, but he’d said no. He should do it alone.
Eve agreed that was probably the best option, but it left her with nothing to do. So now she was lurking around the house, waiting for them to finish, anxious about how Jude was handling the conversation and worried about how Mr. Gregory would react to the news.
She tried to busy herself by checking on plans for their trip to Egypt later in the week, but the fancy travel agent the Gregorys used already had all the details worked out. Then she tried to read a book but couldn’t focus on even two sentences in a row.
So she wandered the long hallways on the first and second floors of the mansion, looking in rooms and peering out windows and fidgeting with random objects that caught her attention.
They’d had such a good weekend. Jude hadn’t worked at all, and they’d spent nearly all their time together. They’d hiked andnapped and watched TV and went to church and had sex. Like a regular married couple.
She’d loved it.
Maybe she shouldn’t have suggested he tell his father today. She’d probably ruined the entire weekend.
And Jude didn’t have many weekends left.
All in all, Eve was in quite a state when she finally heard voices from the hallway outside Mr. Gregory’s home office. She’d been pacing in the sitting room nearby, so she hurried out.
Jude’s father was pulling his arm back like he’d been giving his son a half hug. Relieved, she waited a distance away until Mr. Gregory went back into his office and Jude turned to face her.
His face was slightly flushed, and his eyes looked slightly reddened. But he smiled when he saw her. “It went fine,” he said. “At least as fine as it could go.”
“Okay, good.” She gave him a sheepish look. “I was a little worried.”
He chuckled and combed his fingers through her loose hair, stroking her head gently as he pulled his hand through. “A little?”
“Yes,” she replied with a small giggle. “Just a little.”
They walked together back to the library, which was in the opposite wing of the house.
“Is your dad okay?” Eve asked when they sat down on the couch by mutual agreement.
“I guess so. He needed some time alone, but he took it as well as anyone could. He was shocked, of course. Then he asked a lot of questions about the prognosis and was upset that I refused any treatment, but I think he accepted it’s my decision. We’ll talk more when he’s had the chance to process, but at least he knows now.” He leaned his head against the back of the couch, closing his eyes briefly. “I feel like shit, doing this to him.”
“You’re not doing anything to him.” Eve straightened up indignantly. “This isn’t your fault. Yes, it’s incredibly hard for him, but it’s even harder for you. Life did this to both of you. You didn’t do ittohim.”
He opened his lids slightly and eyed her through the slits. “And now you’re mad at me, on top of everything else.”
She sucked in a sharp breath before she realized he was teasing. Then she scowled and gave him a playful swat. “I’m not mad. I’m really glad you got the conversation over with.”
“Me too.” He sighed and slid one of his arms around her, using it to pull her closer to him and then holding her there. “Thanks for making me.”
“I didn’t make you.”
“You were kind of bossy for someone who wasn’t making me.”