The screen of her daughters phone glowed in her hands, the words burning into her vision. Sarahs heart pounded as she read the messagesmessages she wasnt meant to see.
*»Dad, you have to tell Mum. She deserves to know.»*
Sarahs fingers trembled. What did her husband need to say? What right did she have?
She scrolled up, her breath shallow.
*»Emily, I cant. Not after everything with her mother.»*
*»But this is different! The doctors said the chances are good.»*
*»It doesnt matter. Chemotherapy, surgeryshell lose her mind with worry.»*
Sarah sank onto Emilys bed, the air stolen from her lungs. Chemotherapy? Surgery? Her husband, Jamesher Jameswas sick. And hed hidden it from her.
She shouldnt have looked. But the messages stretched back months.
*»Dad, I need your help. Dont tell Mum.»*
*»Whats wrong?»*
*»Remember the pains I mentioned? The tests came back. Theyre sending me to an oncologist.»*
Sarah pressed a hand to her mouth. The door creaked open. Emily stood frozen in the doorway, eyes wide.
«Mum?»
Sarah didnt speak. She couldnt.
Emilys face crumpled. «You read them?»
«Emily,» Sarah whispered. «Whats wrong with your father?»
Her daughter hesitated, then sat beside her. «Hell kill me for this.»
«Tell me.»
And she did. The pains in Jamess stomach. The tests hed kept secret. The suspicion of pancreatic cancer.
«He didnt want to worry you,» Emily murmured. «Not after Grans stroke. He said hed wait for the biopsy results. Theyre tomorrow.»
Sarahs hands clenched. «And he was going alone?»
«No. I promised to go with him.»
Sarah stood, staring out the window at the ordinary London street below. The world kept moving. Hers had just shattered.
That evening, James came home to a set table, the smell of roast filling the air. He paused, wary.
«Whats the occasion?»
Sarah poured him wine, her voice steady. «No occasion. Just wanted to spoil my husband.»
His gaze flicked between her and Emily. «Whats happened?»
Sarah met his eyes. «Im coming with you tomorrow. To the hospital.»
The glass slipped in his grip, wine spilling onto the tablecloth. His face paled.
«Emily?»
«I didnt tell her,» Emily said quickly. «She saw the messages.»
James exhaled, shoulders sagging. «I just wanted to protect you.»
«Protect me?» Sarahs voice broke. «Ive been terrified, James. Watching you pull away, avoiding meI thought the worst.»
He reached for her hand. «Im sorry.»
«Whatever happens,» she said, squeezing his fingers, «we face it together.»
The next morning, they went to the hospital together. The biopsy took hours. Then came the agonising wait.
Finally, the doctor smiled. «Benign. Well remove it, but no chemotherapy needed.»
Sarah choked back a sob as James buried his face in his hands, shoulders shaking.
«Thank God,» Emily whispered.
Sarah pulled them both close. James looked at her, his eyes wet but clearfinally, the man she knew.
«Im sorry,» he murmured.
She kissed his cheek. «Were together now. Thats all that matters.»
Sometimes, she thought, you had to cross a line to save what you loved. Even if it wasnt right.
