A Walk Along the Beach(64)

    While waiting, I connected with my parents and assured them all was well, that I was in the States and would arrive back in Oceanside soon.

“By any chance have you heard from Willa?” I asked, hoping they might be able to fill me in on what was happening with her sister. My thoughts bounced from one scenario to another, not knowing what was worse.

My mother was on the other end of the phone, with my dad listening in. “Not a word. Has something happened?”

“It’s her sister. Shortly after I left, Willa learned that Harper’s cancer had returned.”

“Oh no. I’m so sorry, Sean, but Willa didn’t reach out. Did you expect her to?”

“No, but I was hoping.”

We didn’t talk long; I was in a hurry to get off the phone, anxious to try phoning Willa again. Although I loved my parents and was happy to hear their voices, the person I needed to speak to most was Willa.

When my flight was announced, Willa still hadn’t returned my call, although I’d tried twice more. The two hours I was in the air flying into Seattle felt like the fifteen and a half hours it took to fly from Manila to California. Each minute felt like a year. The wheels had barely touched down when I reached for my phone, turned off airplane mode, and tried her yet again.

The results were the same and I groaned in frustration. I paid a king’s ransom at the airport for a car service to drive me to Oceanside.

By the time I arrived, I was mentally and physically exhausted. I felt like I could sleep for a week, but I needed to collect Bandit. After everything my dog had been through, he must believe I was another human who had abandoned him.

When I drove up to the Hoffert home, Bandit was curled up on the porch, snoozing. At the sound of my car door closing, he lifted his head. Seeing me, he leaped up and raced to the fence, his tail swinging so hard and fast it slapped against the sides of his body.

    After opening the gate, I got down on one knee and Bandit licked my face as I gave him the attention he craved. When Teresa and Logan came out of the house, I thanked them both for looking after Bandit and explained why I was away longer than I’d expected. I was grateful knowing Bandit was being well cared for.

Then, because I was anxious to find out what I could about Willa and her sister, I asked Teresa, “What’s the word on Harper Lakey?”

Teresa’s face fell. “We haven’t heard much. Just that she is in that cancer hospital in Seattle.”

“What about Willa?”

“She’s in Seattle, too. Friends of theirs are keeping her coffee place going. Everyone misses Willa, though. It’s not the same without her. Don’t imagine her being away this long is good for business.”

The last thing Willa needed on top of everything else was for Bean There to fail on account of her absence.

With Bandit resting in the backseat, I drove home. I unpacked my camera gear and my computer, fed Bandit, took a shower, and crashed. My bed had never felt more welcoming. Tense as I was, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to rest. To my surprise, I fell asleep almost immediately.

A persistent sound like a church bell played in my sleep, droning on and on until I realized this was no dream. It was my phone. I nearly fell out of bed in my eagerness to answer before it went to voicemail.

“Hello,” I said, my voice sounding more like a croaking frog than myself.

“Sean?”

“Willa. Willa. Thank God.” The relief I felt just hearing her voice was nearly my undoing. “I lost count of how many times I tried to reach you. Did you get my messages?”

    “Where are you?”

“Home. Oceanside.”

“Oh Sean,” she gasped, sounding close to tears, “you don’t know how much I’ve missed you.”

“Same goes for me. It’s been hell being unable to be with you, especially now.” A stampede of questions raced through my mind and I almost didn’t know where to start, so I went with the most important: “How’s Harper?”

She hesitated, as if she wasn’t sure how to respond. “The same…Maybe a bit worse. We need to get her white cell count up and it isn’t happening, and now…now…” She paused and seemed unable to continue.

I knew next to nothing about the treatment for cancer. “What’s happened?” I asked, when she didn’t finish.

“Dr. Carroll has her on oxygen. She hates the mask, but she needs it. I keep telling her it won’t be for much longer. I have to believe it won’t be long before she’s better, but it’s getting harder every day when I see her declining.”

“Dr. Carroll is her physician?”

“Yes, but John Neal is with her every day, too. He’s been wonderful. They’re in love. He’s doing everything possible to keep her alive.”

That sounded hopeful. “When can I see you?” I asked, needing to take her in my arms, hold her close, and breathe her in. As much as possible, I longed to relieve her of this burden.

“I’m in Seattle…Oh, did you know Lucas and Chantelle are married? A little more than a week ago. I’ll explain everything when I see you.”

“I landed only a few hours ago. I’ll get what sleep I can and drive into the city first thing in the morning. I’ve got a million things I need to do, so I won’t be able to stay long; I’m sorry, love. I hope you understand.” Any time with Willa would be worth the drive, even if it was for only an hour or two.