Day 6

The weather hadn’t improved overnight and they spent most of the morning lingering in bed. Around 11:30 they finally dragged themselves out of bed to shower and pack. They were only planning of spending tonight in Philly, then taking the red eye home the next night. Cynthia threw her clothes in Richie’s half empty suitcase and he was surprised to only see two outfits, one casual and one a bit nicer, one dress, one pair of shoes and pajamas along with her mostly empty toiletry bag which contained only the essentials, her toothbrush, a hairbrush, a razor and a minimal amount of makeup. Having been married to an actress for a decade and having dated models since then, he had expected a bulging suitcase or two, before he remembered who he was with now. Cynthia was proving to be different from the women of his past in every way.

After a quick bite to eat, Richie excused himself to his office to finalize and confirm their travel plans and accommodations and check in with a anxious Jon for the third time that morning.

Cynthia took this time to get some fresh air. She left Richie a note on the kitchen counter and headed out the patio doors and down the familiar stairs to the beach. She took off her thongs when she reached the sand to let the wet sand between her toes. Though the rain had stopped for now, a thick fog left the beach eerily deserted. She found a strange comfort in the solitude and sat watching the constant crash of the waves. Deeply breathing in the salty air, she reflected on her life; what it had been, what it had turned into and how it would surely end.

How did I get to this place? What did I do to deserve all this? Under other circumstances, in another life, maybe. This is like a fairy tale, being with him, but I know it cant last. I was a good person, damn it, why can’t I get that break, she thought watching a flock of sea gulls over the horizon.

She lived in a small town almost all of her life. She had a loving family, both of her parents were still alive and she had two older brothers. She had been in love once, but never married, love was never on the top of her to do list. She had a good job as an accountant, nothing too exciting but it was consistent. Her life was what it was supposed to be for a small town girl who had only left her home state twice at the age of 35.

Then it happened. Cancer. The one word that would change her life forever. She had no idea that the day she went to the doctor for what she thought was a lingering chest cold would essentially be the beginning of the end. Her end. She was sent for a routine chest x-ray to confirm a bronchitis diagnosis, but when the x-rays came back they were full of masses in her lungs.

Because of its advanced stage they began a variety of treatments, each one worse than the last. It was a long fight, nearly a year. A fight that almost killed her, not the cancer; an unparalleled irony. She lost her hair, and seemingly her dignity, from the chemo; she had burns for months from the radiation; and the other medication left her too sick and frail to keep any food in her. She had always been a trim woman and a near 50 pound weight loss left her literal skin and bones.

Her family had supported her throughout the entire ordeal; her brothers even shaved their heads in solidarity the first time she lost her hair. She was grateful of their support as she saw the old adage, “you never know what kind of friends you have until you go through hard times,” first hand. Her friends and coworkers had been supportive in the beginning, but eventually they stopped coming by to see her. Out of sight, out of mind and all that.

A year ago, she was finally given a clean bill of health. She had won the battle at least; the war was not yet over. She had once been so close to death, but now it seemed she was given a miracle and she intended on enjoying every minute. Within a month she had left her small town and began traveling. She had been from coast to coast of the United States and soon set out for the rest of the world. By the time she ended up back in Southern California, she had been to 22 European countries, Russia, 7 Asian countries, Australia, New Zealand, and 10 other countries in Central and South America. A passport to rival a rock star’s, but she could say that she was skiing in the Alps, shopping in Milan, Paris, London, and Prague, snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef and in Rio for Carnival.

She was coming up on her one-year re-check so she left Cancun and headed to Southern California where he oncologist had moved. That’s when she received the news. It was back and worse than before. The doctor had laid out an extensive plan for he, to give her more time, but remission seemed highly unlikely. She refused treatment; no way was she going through 6 months of hell just to die. She was going to do things her way, which left her with weeks as opposed to months. That was a sacrifice, selfish as it may be, that she was willing to make.

She had thought of going home when she heard it was back, but the thought of her family fussing over her and treating her with “kid gloves” didn’t sound too appealing. That was no way to spend your last days. She hadn’t even told them she was sick; there was nothing they could do except worry and she loved them too much to put them through that.

It was at this crossroads of going home and dying with family or going out on her terms that she met Richie. A man who treated her like a woman, not damaged or broke, who didn’t ask too many questions but above all of that he was kind and compassionate. All of those things is what was making it difficult thinking in a week and now one day she would leave. She couldn’t stay and let him know what was going on, he deserved better than that. Someone to spend his future with.

She had just hoped that she could hide the truth from him until then. Like the first time around she had good days and bad, but she could feel herself slowly getting weaker, needing more sleep and having less energy. None of this had any effect on her spirit; if there was one thing she learned it was that she was resilient. Even on her worst days she had a smile; there was no use in being in a miserable mindset when your body turns on you. She had to keep positive to keep fighting, and this time would be no different.

Cynthia studied the rhythmic waves, trying to refocus her mind. She was never one to allow herself to wallow in a pity party. No use in harping on the inevitable, you can’t control that. What you can do is take hold of what I’m doing with the time I have left, with him. Then I’ll decide where I’m going, she thought.

She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to look at the hand’s owner. “Sorry darlin’ I didn’t mean to scare you,” Richie said with a smile and a kiss.

“I didn’t hear you coming,” she said.

“The sand has this tendency to muffle footsteps,” he teased. “What are you doing out here?”

“Just thinking,” she replied.

“Am I gonna get any more than that,” he asked.

“I’m not thinking so,” she said.

“That just means I’m gonna have to work on my charm,” he said smiling.

“Are you gonna sit,” she asked patting the sand next to her.

“No, I actually came to find you. I just got off the phone with the car company and they’ll be here in about 20 minutes to take us to the airport,” he said.

“Perfect I should probably change outta these quick, because they’re full of sand now. That would make for an uncomfortable flight,” she said as he helped her to her feet.

“Whatever you wear, you’re gonna look sexy as hell which is why I’m a little concerned about the flight,” he said to which Cynthia replied with a confused look. “See I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to keep my hands off of you all the way to Philly,” he said wrapping his strong arms around her small waist.

“Well, what do you suggest we do about that,” she asked seeing the mischievous twinkle in his eye.

“I do have some ideas,” he said.

“Are these ideas illegal in certain countries,” she asked.

“I’ve never gotten in trouble for what I’m thinking about,” he said through a grin. “And you get to join this really neat club, that is if you’re not a member already.”

“We’ll see,” was all she said as she led him back to the house. Well that would certainly qualify as enjoying every minute I’m with him, she thought smiling in the comfort of his arms.