And in the meantime, if it was cancer, it would be given a chance to spread, to creep from localized to terminal all because of someone’s inefficiency. Not that he thought Dr Keller inefficient - she was charming, but she couldn’t be expected to track his medical journey every step of the way. It was up to him to take charge, Keith realized. Time was of the essence. After all, he had more important things to focus on.
Mandy, for a start. He wanted all this done and dusted as quickly as possible, so it didn’t overshadow his daughter’s big day. Not that he had any intention of telling anyone what was going on, because no one could do anything about his plight until he had the full picture, and so there was no point. Ginny had enough on her plate, what with running the business and keeping on top of the twins, who were delightful but high-maintenance emotionally, and took up a lot of time. He’d become very fond of Kitty and Sasha, and did his best to treat them if not exactly the same as Mandy then certainly not to make them feel second best. When Mandy had moved out, he’d had no hesitation in letting Sasha move into her room. Ginny had been touched by the gesture, but Keith didn’t see the point in letting the room sit empty when Kitty and Sasha were squashed in together, and they could always re-think if Mandy decided to come home for any reason. He secretly loved the energy they brought to the household, even if it did remind him how dull and restrained Mandy’s upbringing had been, largely because he had always been working and his wife Sandra had been - well, Keith didn’t like to dwell on it too much, because it left a sour taste in his mouth. But luckily Mandy didn’t seem to have been scarred by the lack of attention she’d had during her childhood. Besides, he had made up for it since they’d moved to the Cotswolds; he and Mandy were closer than ever. Which was why Keith was determined that nothing should overshadow her wedding day. He was going to deal with this on his own.
The coffee brewed, Keith poured himself a cup carefully and sat down at the kitchen table. It was strange being in the house when it was quiet. He was rarely on his own, and it was unusual not to hear music blaring, or hairdryers going, or the telly on. But he found the silence disconcerting. He couldn’t think straight, couldn’t focus at all, and he had so much to think about. He had to put his life in order and make some decisions. But how could he, when he didn’t have a definite prognosis? He was still no clearer as to whether he was absolutely fine or destined for months of gruelling operations and chemotherapy.
It was no good. He wasn’t going to be able to bear this waiting and uncertainty. He put down his coffee, went out to his car and headed back to the surgery. He managed to persuade the receptionist to let him back in to see Dr Keller just as morning surgery came to an end.
‘Dr Keller?’
She looked up as he walked in, her smile polite but puzzled.
‘I know it’s not right, just because I’ve got the cash,’ Keith said firmly, ‘but I want to go private. There’s a clinic up near Birmingham. I’ve seen it on the internet. I want the best man, and I want him tomorrow.’
Dr Keller nodded wearily. ‘I’ll do you a referral,’ she said, without protest. Private clinics existed for people to whom time meant money, and who had money to buy time. She could see his Jag in the car park. She wasn’t going to get an attack of the guilts or show him any disapproval. Besides, if Keith Sherwyn went private it freed up space for someone else.
Mayday looked over at the last couple in the dining room, and estimated that as they were on their second pot of coffee, it wouldn’t be rude to present them with the bill before they asked for it. Once they’d settled up, she would be able to go. She never liked to leave the hotel until she was happy that all her lunchtime customers were satisfied. They had been
Mandy, for a start. He wanted all this done and dusted as quickly as possible, so it didn’t overshadow his daughter’s big day. Not that he had any intention of telling anyone what was going on, because no one could do anything about his plight until he had the full picture, and so there was no point. Ginny had enough on her plate, what with running the business and keeping on top of the twins, who were delightful but high-maintenance emotionally, and took up a lot of time. He’d become very fond of Kitty and Sasha, and did his best to treat them if not exactly the same as Mandy then certainly not to make them feel second best. When Mandy had moved out, he’d had no hesitation in letting Sasha move into her room. Ginny had been touched by the gesture, but Keith didn’t see the point in letting the room sit empty when Kitty and Sasha were squashed in together, and they could always re-think if Mandy decided to come home for any reason. He secretly loved the energy they brought to the household, even if it did remind him how dull and restrained Mandy’s upbringing had been, largely because he had always been working and his wife Sandra had been - well, Keith didn’t like to dwell on it too much, because it left a sour taste in his mouth. But luckily Mandy didn’t seem to have been scarred by the lack of attention she’d had during her childhood. Besides, he had made up for it since they’d moved to the Cotswolds; he and Mandy were closer than ever. Which was why Keith was determined that nothing should overshadow her wedding day. He was going to deal with this on his own.
The coffee brewed, Keith poured himself a cup carefully and sat down at the kitchen table. It was strange being in the house when it was quiet. He was rarely on his own, and it was unusual not to hear music blaring, or hairdryers going, or the telly on. But he found the silence disconcerting. He couldn’t think straight, couldn’t focus at all, and he had so much to think about. He had to put his life in order and make some decisions. But how could he, when he didn’t have a definite prognosis? He was still no clearer as to whether he was absolutely fine or destined for months of gruelling operations and chemotherapy.
It was no good. He wasn’t going to be able to bear this waiting and uncertainty. He put down his coffee, went out to his car and headed back to the surgery. He managed to persuade the receptionist to let him back in to see Dr Keller just as morning surgery came to an end.
‘Dr Keller?’
She looked up as he walked in, her smile polite but puzzled.
‘I know it’s not right, just because I’ve got the cash,’ Keith said firmly, ‘but I want to go private. There’s a clinic up near Birmingham. I’ve seen it on the internet. I want the best man, and I want him tomorrow.’
Dr Keller nodded wearily. ‘I’ll do you a referral,’ she said, without protest. Private clinics existed for people to whom time meant money, and who had money to buy time. She could see his Jag in the car park. She wasn’t going to get an attack of the guilts or show him any disapproval. Besides, if Keith Sherwyn went private it freed up space for someone else.
Mayday looked over at the last couple in the dining room, and estimated that as they were on their second pot of coffee, it wouldn’t be rude to present them with the bill before they asked for it. Once they’d settled up, she would be able to go. She never liked to leave the hotel until she was happy that all her lunchtime customers were satisfied. They had been
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