Until The Sun Goes Down (Boundless Love Book 3) (3 page)

‘I’ll have to call you back,’ he said the moment he slid into the car and saw Sahara. ‘What a nice surprise!’ He reached over to kiss her, but noticed the tears in her eyes.

‘Honey, what’s the matter?’ he panicked.

She burst into tears before she could even say a word. He embraced her until she was ready to talk.

‘Do you mind giving us a moment?’ he asked the driver. ‘Feel free to sit in the plane, just for a while.’

He nodded and stepped out.

‘Honey, talk to me.’

‘I went to the doctor a few days ago. I didn’t want to worry you until I knew something.’

‘What’s wrong?’ He really didn’t want to know the answer to that. ‘Whatever it is, you know I’m here for you.’

‘I’ve been told to go to the hospital.’ She sniffed. ‘I know its bad news. I’m going to see, Doctor Cross.’

‘Oh honey, I’m so sorry.’

‘I didn’t want to go alone, so I made the appointment for tomorrow.’

‘I’ll be with you no matter what. You’ll get through this.’

‘I’m so scared. I don’t think I can face it again, there’s no more fight in me.’

‘Yes you can, honey. You’ve got us now, Joy, and I are here with you.’

She nodded. She was going to have to find the strength somewhere within her to fight. She had to be one of those people who didn’t give up, not just for herself, but for her family too.

‘Yes, I’ll fight. I have to, but you have to promise to be by my side.’

‘Always! I will clear my schedule for you, I promise. I will take care of you just like I promised I would the day I met you.’

‘I love you.’ She leaned into him feeling a little better.

With him by her side she was certain she could tackle anything.

‘I love you too, sweetheart. Shall we go home now?’

‘Yes, there’s a little girl waiting for you.’

He laughed.

‘Did you remember to get her something French?’ she laughed lightly.

‘Absolutely.’

They spoke as they were driven home. She leaned into him and enjoyed his presence. They talked about Joy, who took them off the subject of the illness for the moment. By the time they got home, it was almost forgotten, at least for the moment.

‘Daddy!’ She was in his arms before they could even shut the door.

‘Honey bunch.’ He squeezed her tight. ‘I missed you.’ He gave her a big kiss.

‘I missed you too, daddy. I drew you a beautiful picture,’ she said a matter of fact.

‘You drew me a picture?’ He tried to copy the way she’d said it.

‘Yes I did.’ she giggled. ‘Come with me, come and see.’ She slid down him, took his hand and dragged him to her bedroom.

‘How was she today?’ Sahara asked.

‘Giddy. She couldn’t wait for Eugene,’ said Elodie.

‘I don’t blame her. I couldn’t wait for him too.’ She laughed. ‘I just want to say thank you for all the extra hours you’ve put in lately.’

‘It’s my job, and I love spending time with Joy. There is never a dull moment.’

‘I can agree with that.’

‘Well, I hope you don’t mind me saying that I might need you a lot more than I expected.’

‘Oh?’

‘Yes, there might be some changes. I will inform you as soon as I’m sure about everything.’ She took a deep breath.

‘Yes, yes of course.’

‘You’ll be paid for it, don’t think you won’t.’

‘I never doubted it. You have already been so generous and kind.’

Sahara smiled. She was happy that every person that worked for her seemed happy, it was the way it was supposed to be. Harmony was what Sahara loved.

Eugene’s suitcases were taken upstairs by a staff member. Sahara told him to leave the luggage unpacked, she would do it herself. He nodded and departed. She took a moment to walk into the living-room and towards the French doors and just look out onto the beautiful scenery. The green grass, the colourful patch of flowers calmed her somewhat. If only her life was that simple. All she’d have to do was grow, and the earth would take care of the rest.

‘Mummy, mummy, look what daddy brought me!’

Sahara almost jumped out of her skin, Joy had a way of sneaking up on her.

‘What is it honey?’

‘It’s the Eiffel tower!’ She shook the box.

Sahara read the box.

‘It’s a three D puzzle. She’s so clever I didn’t know what else to get her.’ He laughed.

‘He also got me loads of new clothes.’

‘Is that so?’

‘Yes, I’m going to look French.’ She lifted her head. ‘I’m going to try some on now.’

Sahara laughed. ‘You, buying clothes?’

‘I had help, you know.’

‘I’m sure you did.’ she giggled.

‘Personal shoppers are handy.’

‘Ha!’

‘But I was able to see what she would and wouldn’t like. I do know my daughters style. Very sophisticated.’

‘Just like her father. She’s her father’s daughter.’

He laughed as he wrapped his hands around her waist. ‘Are you okay?’

‘No, not really, but I have you and it makes things a little easier.’

‘I’m sorry you feel nervous. I wish I could take it away and carry it for you.’

‘Just being here with me is more than enough. Having you close to me is all I need.’

‘How about I run you a bath, scrub your back and help you relax. I’ll be your personal slave today.’ He chuckled.

‘That sounds like a plan. I like the sound of that.’

‘Great. I’ll just ask Elodie to entertain Joy, while I give you my full attention.’ He stepped back. ‘You wait here and I’ll come for you.’

‘Okay.’ She giggled. ‘I can’t wait.’

He left her a while to go and get things ready. It didn’t take him too long and soon he whisked her upstairs and into their private bathroom.

‘That looks stunning.’

There were candles all around the bathtub, and bubbles floated on the surface of the water. He stood behind her and undressed her slowly, taking time to give her kisses on her warm skin.

‘You’re beautiful and you’re making me horny.’ He laughed.

‘Well let’s hope I can keep making you horny in a few months time.’ She worried about what the future held.

‘You’re beautiful regardless. Don’t worry about the future that hasn’t happened. Remember?’

She smiled. She’d taught him well. She stood naked before him, he held out his hand, and helped her into the bath. She stepped into the warm water, and immediately her body relaxed.

‘I’ve added Epsom salts.’

‘Hmmm, this is perfect’

He leaned her forward so he could lather her body. The soft touch made her body relax further. The salts penetrated her body and soon the world was right again.

‘How does that feel?’

‘Amazing. Oh my goodness. It feels so amazing!’

He continued to give her a massage. It melted away all the anxiety, and the worry that had built up in her body. He gave her gentle kisses and made sure she felt like the most loved woman in the world.

‘This was a great idea.’

‘I love it too. I love feeling all the parts of you. You are important, Sahara.’

She leaned into the bath and took it all in. Sometimes she felt like crying, but it was tears of joy and not sadness. She felt so blessed to have a man like him in her life, she also felt equally blessed for having Joy in her life too.

‘I want us to gather everyone and tell them the news,’ she said suddenly.

‘Honey, we don’t even understand what’s going on yet.’

‘I already know. I’ve been through this enough times to know. I just have to face it now.’

He sucked in a deep breath. He didn’t want to know what lay ahead, but he knew that she needed his support no matter what.

‘Okay, we’ll tell them together. We could arrange a nice get together and tell them then.’

‘Yep, that sounds good, I don’t know if they’ll be able to handle it again, especially mum.’ Sahara felt like crying. ‘How are we going to explain cancer to a five year old?’

He dropped his head onto the side of the bathtub and just took that in. The future could present anything; he wasn’t even sure how to answer that.

‘I don’t know honey. I honestly don’t know.’

‘I guess we’ll ask the professionals,’ she said. ‘Because I don’t know if I could do it.’

He lifted and lathered her body again. He didn’t want to talk about it. He didn’t want to talk about nurses and medication, not yet.

‘I’m sorry honey,’ she said as if reading his mind.

‘It’s okay. Let’s try to just be here.’

‘I agree.’

He leaned forward and gave her kiss. She held onto the sides of his face, shut her eyes and enjoyed the touch of his lips. She took nothing for granted, and knew that when treatment started, all the joy of being loving wouldn’t be in the picture.

‘Take me to bed,’ she whispered against him.

‘With pleasure.’

He got to his feet and pulled a towel from the rail. He stood with it wide opened, and as she stepped out, he wrapped it around her. He lifted her and walked to the bed.

He laid her on the bed and took time to dry every inch of her body. From time to time he smiled at her, and Sahara smiled back. When he was certain her body was completely dry, he took the moisturiser and spread it all over her body.

‘The smell of this cream is amazing,’ he said as his hands ventured down the middle of her body.

‘Yes, it smells delicious.’ She enjoyed his soft touch. ‘I feel so amazing right now.’

‘Great! I’m so glad to hear that.’ He continued to explore her body.

She let out soft moans here and there. The more he touched her body, the deeper the relaxation. After a while she was certain she’d fall asleep. He smiled gently as he watched her eyes fall, but she tried to keep them open.

‘Don’t fight it. Just let go and sleep.’

‘I don’t want to leave you wanting.’

‘I want for nothing. Just seeing you relaxed is reward enough.’

He pulled back the bedcovers and helped her into bed.

‘Relax. Just be.’ His voice soothed her further.

He gently rubbed her back, and it brought a fizzle through her body. It reminded her of the times when she was a little girl and her mother used to rub her back, and she’d just fall asleep.

‘This feels really good,’ she said sleepily.

He gave her a gentle kiss on the side of her face and sure enough, her eyes shut. He smiled. He was glad he’d help her forget the impending news.

‘Good night my love.’ He whispered.

Chapter Three

The car pulled outside the hospital. Eugene took her hand and waited. She took a few deep breaths and tried to calm the raging nerves.

‘You ready?’ he asked.

‘Just give me a few more minutes.’

He nodded, and they sat in silence. Sahara had been down this path before. Even though she tried to convince herself that she was ready to fight, she knew how much strength she’d need to fight it. She wondered if she’d be able to do it. She shut her eyes, and tried to keep the tears from falling. This would be hard.

‘Okay, I’m ready.’ She nodded.

They stepped out together, his hand still holding onto hers. The walk through the familiar corridors sent a cold shiver down her spine.

‘You okay?’ he asked.

‘No, no I’m not.’

‘Okay.’ He stopped a moment, faced her and took her into a hug. ‘I’m here for you.’

‘I know.’ She leaned on him. She allowed him to carry that burden; she would need him every step of the way.

They continued to the reception. She was signed in and soon they were in the waiting room. It had all been done before. She watched the blurting television in the room, and shook her head at the pathetic shows that were playing.

‘People don’t know how blessed they are,’ she said.

‘What’s that honey?’

‘They’re fighting over trivial things. I mean honestly, who cares about the things they talk about.’

‘I know honey, it’s life I guess. We can’t make people see things they don’t want to see.’

‘True. I’m just taking it out on them, not that it matters really.’

‘I was thinking of maybe changing you to a private hospital.’

‘No, I want to stick with Doctor Cross. He’s who I know.’

‘Okay, it was just a thought.’

‘I know, but let me be here where I feel comfortable.’

He nodded. All he wanted was to offer the best healthcare money could buy, but he also had to be careful not to want what he wanted. This was about Sahara.

They were finally called into Doctor Cross’s office. He nodded for them to sit down.

‘How are you doing, Sahara?’ he asked.

‘You tell me, Doctor Cross.’