This story is about breast cancer. I know for some it might be difficult if not impossible to read. I understand. I’m not one who likes to give or get spoilers but there are times when they are appropriate. Should you need to know any details before you make the decision to read this please contact me.

Chapter Two

Jim Frayne paced the hallway in front of the infirmary of Ten Acres Academy. Ten years ago Jim had fulfilled his lifelong dream and opened the school for orphaned boys. Since then the school had gone co-ed and its enrollment had gone from ten students to 120. The school taught grades Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade.

Originally he had planned on building two dormitories to house all of the students. Instead he had built small bungalows that housed between six and eight kids as well as house parents. The idea was to provide as realistic a family setting as possible. It also had allowed him to build the housing as the need arose. That had allowed for the construction of other buildings earlier than originally planned.

Jim glanced at his watch. It was almost 4:30. He’d spoken with Brian about an hour and a half ago and Brian said he’d head out right away. He was one of the most thorough doctors Jim had dealt with. Brian was also very punctual.

Something was wrong. It had been wrong for about four weeks but he couldn’t put his finger on it. It had started right before Christmas. Trixie had started acting funny. Most people wouldn’t have noticed but most people didn’t know Trixie like Jim did.

It wasn’t anything obvious. Her smile hadn’t quite reached her blue eyes Christmas Day when Lizzie opened Samantha, an American Girl Doll she had been begging for since September. Most days if no one was looking Trixie walked around with a dazed look in her eyes. But the thing that really surprised him was how easily she lost her temper with Jenny.

Years of taking care of her younger brother Bobby, or Bob as he preferred to be called now, had taught Trixie a lot about patience. Where once, even reading Bobby one story from Peter Rabbit made Trixie squirm, now she happily would re-read each story to her children. When Jenny brought the book to Trixie one night and Trixie snapped at her, that was when Jim knew something was definitely wrong.

Living with Trixie for over ten years had taught Jim that Trixie would share her problems when she was ready. Eventually she would tell him. It usually occurred after she found a solution to her problem.

Brian pulled into the Ten Acres Academy parking lot. The ride to the school seemed to take forever and then all too soon they were there. “Why don’t we go into Jim’s office?” he suggested. “Then I’ll go and find Jim. I’m sure he’s in the infirmary wondering where I’ve been.”

Trixie stared blankly at Brian and nodded her head. She made no effort to get out of the car.

“Would you like me to come back with Jim or would you like to talk to him alone?” Brian prodded as he walked around to the passenger side of the car and opened the door.

As Brian opened the door Trixie caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She didn’t recognize the face staring back at her. Even to herself she looked like she’d aged ten years in the past two hours. She gasped. “I can’t go in there looking like this. I’ll give anyone I see a heart attack.”

“Don’t worry,” Brian said comfortingly. “Brenda should be gone by now. Tonight is bingo at St. Anne’s church. She’ll have left as soon as school was dismissed. The kids should be back in their bungalows either helping to get dinner ready or finishing up their homework. No one will see you.”

Trixie finally gathered the strength to get out of the car. Brian placed his arm around her shoulders and guided her to Jim’s office. Despite the despair she was feeling at the moment she couldn’t help but feel the pride she always felt for her husband when she entered his office.

Scattered throughout the office were pictures of their kids. There was one of Matt proudly displaying the fish he had caught last summer in the Wheeler Lake. One of Jenny covered with chocolate frosting taken on her first birthday. Then there was the picture of Lizzie taken right before she had her mid-face advancement.

It was a picture they both treasured because of the dramatic changes the advancement had made in Lizzie’s looks. The sunken mid-face and slightly bulging eyes were the Lizzie they had loved since birth. When they had to do the mid-face surgery to improve Lizzie’s breathing they knew that look would be gone forever. While they had celebrated the success of the surgery they both had mourned the loss of that look.

There was also a recent picture of the Bob-Whites, Jim and Trixie’s oldest and dearest friends. When they had been in their teens, the Bob-Whites had been formed by Trixie, Jim, Honey, and Brian along with Trixie and Brian’s brother Mart. Diana, now married to Mart, and Dan Mangan were the final members of the group. While they all now lived in and around Sleepyside, it was often difficult to get all of them together in one spot.

They had all been together New Year’s Eve for the first time in two years. Brian and Honey lived just down Glen Road in a house they had built on property that had once been part of the Manor House estate. Mart and Diana lived on a hobby farm on the other side of Sleepyside. They were both employed at Ten Acres Academy. Dan had just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq with the National Guard Unit he was a member of. Married to Trixie’s cousin Hallie for almost ten years, he had just started with the Sleepyside Police Department as a detective. The picture of them showed them trying to fit into the red Bob-White jackets that Honey had made for them over twenty years ago. Surprisingly, they all could get into their jackets although a few of the guys could not get them buttoned because they had filled out.

Trixie collapsed on the couch located in front of the picture window that overlooked the rain garden in the front of the Academy. Even in her current state of mind she was thinking of others. She turned to Brian and said, “Why don’t you check up on those sick kids while I try to talk to Jim? I’m sure Honey is anxious for you to get home.”

Brian didn’t bother to argue with her. He knew he wasn’t going anywhere until he had spoken to Jim. It was going to be a long night. With a glance back to make sure Trixie was okay, Brian headed down to the infirmary. As he turned the corner, he saw Jim pacing back and forth impatiently waiting for him.

“Jim,” he called out. “Are things worse than when I spoke to you earlier?”

Lost in his thoughts Jim looked startled to see Brian. He stopped pacing and, as always when he greeted Brian, he extended his hand to shake Brian’s and then pulled him into an embrace. Before he released the embrace, Brian gave an extra hug trying to give Jim the added strength he knew he would need over the next few hours.

“Sorry I’m late,” Brian apologized. He found that he couldn’t look Jim in the eye. “I ran into an emergency as I was trying to leave.” Brian rushed on without taking a breath. “I saw Trixie heading for your office. Why don’t you go down and see what she wants while I check out the kids? I’ll find Roger or Charles to assist with the exams.”

It was policy at the Academy that at least two adults were present for any exams that were conducted. For routine exams like today it could be a counselor or house parent, but for more serious exams Brian would bring along a nurse. “I’ll stop by and let you know how things go before I leave.”

Now Jim was really concerned. Brian couldn’t even look him in the eye. Normally if Trixie knew that one of the students was ill, she’d be the first one to check up on them. To her, the students of Ten Acres Academy were just an extension of her family. Without looking back, he took off for the office. He ignored his rule regarding running in the halls.

He rushed into the office. “Trixie, is everything okay with the kids? Lizzie didn’t accidentally get knocked in the head, did she?” One look at Trixie and he stopped dead in his tracks. He’d never seen her look like that.

Trixie was sitting on the floor leaning against the sofa. She had her knees drawn up to her chest with her arms wrapped around them and her head leaning against them. It was a position she often took when things bothered her. Her eyes were puffy from crying and the dark circles that had shown up around them last week were even darker. Her blond shoulder-length curls were in tumbling disarray.

“Trixie, honey, what’s wrong?” He gently bent down and pulled her to her feet. Then he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her blond curls.

Trixie had thought she had shed all of her tears. She was wrong. For ten minutes she sobbed trying to tell Jim what was happening but it only sounded like babble. When her tears finally subsided to hiccups Jim knew no more than he did when he walked into the office. All he knew was that something was terribly wrong.

Jim gently guided her over to the couch and they both sat down. “What’s so horrible that it has gotten you into this state? Is something wrong with Moms or Dad?

Trixie shook her head and tried to explain, “Jim, I… Oh God, how can I say this?”

Jim looked directly into her eyes, reached up, affectionately tugged his favorite curl, and said, “Just like you always do, the direct way, Shamus.”

Trixie turned and leaned her back against Jim. Maybe it would be easier if she didn’t look at him. She laid her head against his shoulder and wrapped his arms around her. Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes she whispered, “I have breast cancer.”

Jim couldn’t breathe. He was grateful that Trixie was not facing him so he could erase the look of shock from his face. His arms tightened and he placed a kiss on her head. “Tell me about it,” he said, his voice cracking with emotion.

It was like a dam had been broken. Haltingly Trixie began her story. She told about finding the lump and denying what it was. She told about going for her mammogram and the resulting biopsy. She told of arranging for a patient transport to take her to and from the biopsy so no one would know what was going on. She told about how she didn’t want to ruin anyone’s holiday with the unknown. When she was finished, she collapsed against Jim in exhaustion.

Even in her exhaustion Trixie knew Jim had more questions than she had the strength to answer right now. “Talk to Brian, honey,” she said. “I didn’t want to tell anyone about this until I told you. Brian spotted me as I was coming out of the clinic and immediately knew something was wrong. I couldn’t remember a thing Dr. Weber had told me after he uttered the words ‘breast cancer’ so I had Brian talk to him. We have an appointment tomorrow morning to discuss my care plan.”

Honey Wheeler Belden knew that something was wrong. Her best friend, business partner, and sister-in-law had not been herself for a couple of weeks. Trixie thought she was fooling everybody but Honey wasn’t buying it. Then she missed an appointment this afternoon. She never missed a business appointment, not even when she was pregnant with Jenny and had morning sickness for almost six months. She took her business seriously. When the call came from Brian this afternoon asking her to pick up Trixie’s kids and take them to Crabapple Farm, Honey knew that something terrible was happening. She just had no idea what it was. If Trixie didn’t want you to know something, you weren’t going to get it out of her.

Honey drove into the parking lot at Ten Acres Academy. She noticed that Trixie’s Expedition was in the parking lot but didn’t see Brian’s Honda Accord anywhere. As she approached the entrance to the school she debated whether to head to the infirmary or Jim’s office. The decision was taken away when she saw Brian slowly walking down the hallway towards the office.

Honey was shocked by his appearance. She had been by Brian’s side through his undergraduate studies, the MCAT’s, medical school and 48 hour double shifts as a resident. She’d never seen him look this bad or exhausted. Without hesitation, Honey walked into Brian’s embrace and said nothing. Gradually, she felt Brian’s tears on her cheeks.

“Brian, what’s wrong?” she asked, her deep concern showing plainly on her pretty face.

“Oh, Honey. I wish I could tell you but it’s not my story to tell. All I can say right now is that both Jim and Trixie are going to need you.” The look of despair was still on his face along with the relief of knowing Honey was there to support him.

By now, Honey and Brian were outside Jim’s office. They hesitated, not knowing if they should go in or not. Finally, they decided to wait until someone came out. They headed over to the couch in the reception area and sat down to wait.

Trixie just sat there leaning against Jim trying to draw strength from him. While her mind was totally exhausted, Jim’s mind was going a mile a minute. He had so many questions and he knew Trixie was not capable of answering them at this time. She’d already admitted that. He glanced at his watch and realized how late it was.

“Trixie, where are the kids?” Jim asked.

Trixie shook her head to clear the fog that had once again taken over her mind. “What did you say?”

“Where are the kids?” he repeated.

Trixie panicked. She had no recollection of the conversation she’d had earlier with Brian about taking care of the children.

“Oh, my God! I don’t remember!”

Jim started to panic as well. Then he realized Brian must have taken care of everything. The day care would have called a long time ago if Jenny hadn’t been picked up and Lizzie knew that if on the off chance no one was home when she got home from school she should go in the house and call up to the Academy. “Did Brian take care of the kids?” he asked calmly.

Gradually Trixie recalled the arrangements Brian made, “Yeah, I think Honey picked up Matt and Jenny. Brian called Moms and had her meet Lizzie at the bus stop. I think Honey was coming over to pick Brian up.”

After a brief pause Trixie panicked again. “How am I going to tell Moms and Honey? There’s no way they don’t know something is wrong after all of the chaos of this afternoon. I just don’t have the strength to deal with it. How do you tell your mother you’re dying?” Trixie broke out in tears again.

“Shh, it’s okay.” Jim began. “Why don’t I go out and find Brian. You said he knows what’s going on. I’ll have him tell Honey and Moms and Dad. Everyone else can wait until tomorrow when we know more. The kids can stay at Crabapple Farm tonight and we’ll deal with school tomorrow.”

Gently Jim laid Trixie down on the sofa. He covered her up with a blanket he kept in the closet for emergencies. Then he left the room to find Brian.

Jim closed the door to his office and leaned against it. His shoulders drooped and he let out a deep sigh.

Before he knew it Honey was embracing him and offering comfort. Jim did something he hadn’t done in years. He cried. Gradually the tears subsided and just as he had led Trixie to the sofa in his office, Honey led him to the sofa in the reception area. “I can’t lose her, Honey. She’s my lifeline.”

Brian had remained on the sofa. “What did she tell you, Jim?”

“Not a lot. She could barely get the words ‘breast cancer’ out and she broke down.”

Honey gasped. She sat leaned back on the sofa and gazed at the ceiling. Never in a million years would she have guessed that. Although she wouldn’t call her a health nut, Trixie did take care of herself. She had yearly physicals, exercised regularly and watched what she ate. Honey had figured something happened to Lizzie and Trixie was internalizing her feelings like she always did.

“What do you know, Brian?” Jim asked.

Brian sat down across from Jim and Honey and proceeded to tell them how he had seen Trixie in the Sleepyside Clinic parking lot and figured Matt was still suffering from the cold he had caught during Christmas break. He explained all that had happened that afternoon but did not go into the details that Dr. Weber had given him. “There are more details but right now I’m worried about how Trixie is doing. It’s important that she eats and maintains her strength.”

“I’d like to get Trixie home and in a comfortable environment. Moms and Dad also need to be told. Trixie isn’t up to that but realizes Moms knows something’s up.” Jim paused and then looked at Brian directly. “I hate to burden you more with this Brian, but could you let them know what’s happening? Ask Moms if she can handle the kids for the night. I’ll run over with clean clothes in the morning and we’ll go from there.”

“Why don’t we do this?” Brian suggested. “Honey and I will go down to Crabapple Farm and talk to my parents. Then we’ll see if Miss Trask can watch Mickey and Stella at Manor House. We’ll meet you back at Ten Acres. Would you like us to pick up something for dinner?”

Jim let out a sigh of relief. He was in almost as much shock as Trixie. He didn’t feel like he could make any decisions, including what to eat. “That sounds wonderful.”

“What about contacting Mart and Di, and Bob and Tanya?” Honey asked. Tanya was Bob’s wife.

Jim thought for a minute. He knew Mart and Bob would be upset if someone didn’t contact them soon. “I know we probably should but let’s wait until tomorrow when we know more. I want Trixie to be in charge of as many decisions as she can handle. It’s her life that’s spinning out of control.”

Brian got up and reached for his medical bag. He was one of a few doctors that still carried one regularly. Early on when the Academy opened, he discovered that it was often easier for him to make a house call there than for someone to bring a sick student to the Clinic. Since the Academy was just down the road from his and Honey’s house, it often allowed him to get out of the office at a reasonable hour.

“You know I generally don’t treat any of my relatives. Even Mickey and Stella have different pediatricians; however, I would like to check on Trixie. I doubt she’ll get the restful sleep she needs on her own tonight and she might benefit from a light sedative.”

It suddenly dawned on Jim the reason Brian had originally planned to come out to the Academy. “I completely forgot. How are Stevie and Joe?”

“They’re doing well. I’m a little concerned about their fevers. If they haven’t broken in three days, I’d like to see them again. I left a prescription and instructions with Roger.” Brian explained.

Quietly Jim, Brian and Honey entered Jim’s office. Trixie had fallen asleep but it was a restless sleep. Gently Jim shook her awake.

“Shamus, Brian and Honey are here.” He whispered.

As soon as Trixie sat up, she took one look at Honey and she embraced her. Words were not needed for the two who had remained best friends for over 22 years.

It was a few minutes before Honey could find her voice. She handed a tissue to Trixie and took one for herself. As she wiped her eyes Honey said, “Brian wants to check you over and then Jim’s going to take you back to Ten Acres.”

Showing some of the spunk they all knew and loved, Trixie replied, “Well, I’d better get used to it. I’m sure there will be lots of poking and prodding to do before this ordeal is over.”

“I’ll leave you with Brian. After he’s done we’re going to head over to your parents and then bring back something for a late dinner. Don’t worry about the kids.” Honey said.

After quickly taking Trixie’s vitals, Brian made a call to Dr. Weber to consult with him. They would have to run into town to the all night pharmacy to pick up the sedative.

When all of that was done Jim bent down to pick up Trixie. Already Trixie was getting her spirit back. “Oh for Pete’s sake! I’m not an invalid yet. I can walk out to the car.”

Slowly she stood up. She was a little shaky on her feet and leaned into Jim for support. When they got to the cars, she turned to Honey and said, “Please give my precious babies a good night kiss for me and tell them Mommy loves them.” She reached over and hugged Honey and Brian. Honey in turn hugged Jim.

Jim made sure Trixie was buckled in, and went around to the driver’s side of the car. As he did most days, he had walked up to the Academy this morning. Honey got into the driver’s seat of her car while Brian got in the other side and pushed the seat back far enough so his long legs could fit in. Both cars backed out of their parking spaces, and headed down to Glen Road.

 

 

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