Legal Prejudice 2 - Weather The Storms

Chapter 10

On Monday Allie took a very early run on the beach and Michael was sitting with a couple of coffees on the sand when she got back. She leaned her back against his chest and took one gratefully. She said, "Thanks, I love you Michael." He kissed her from behind and wrapped an arm around her waist, "Allie I know you need to get ready now, but call me later yeah when you're done at the doctors." She nodded, "I will, I promise."

She drew up on her boss' drive. Margie spotted her and came out to save her ringing the bell. Max's car was gone which didn't surprise Allie as she knew he'd be anxious to get to the office after a week away. They checked into reception at the clinic, and Margie was given a clipboard with some paperwork to complete. Within fifteen minutes they were shown into a consulting room where Margie changed into a gown, and a few minutes later a female doctor a similar age to Margie and a smiling brown haired nurse came in. Having greeted the patient Margie explained Allie was a close friend she'd brought for moral support. Allie squeezed her hand as Margie crossed the room and the doctor pulled a curtain across and did a physical examination. Allie held her breath waiting for some sort of reassuring noises from the doctor, but none came and she seemed to spend a long time feeling in the same place. Coming out and pulling the curtain back she smiled and said, "Okay, I think we'll get a mammogram, an ultrasound and take a biopsy if that's okay Margie. Then we'll know for sure what we have there." Margie nodded shakily and the nurse left, returning with a robe for Margie and a bag for her things. The doctor handed over some forms and the nurse showed them where to go for the mammogram. Ten minutes later Margie came out and they were directed to the ultrasound room. When the door opened Margie asked if Allie could come in and the doctor, another lady with Lisa on her name badge said, "Sure, just sit that side."

She started to scan, starting on the non suspicious side first, then asking Margie to turn towards her. She moved the probe backwards and forwards what seemed like endless times before stopping. "Margie we need to take a biopsy now I know the area I'm looking at, so I'm going to give you a local anaesthetic to numb the area if that's okay? Margie nodded and glanced at Allie who took the hand nearest to her. The doctor smiled, "That's good, hold, was it Allie's hand." Once it was done she said "Well done, we just need to give that a couple of minutes then we'll take the samples. Allie squeezed Maggie's hand before dropping it, "You did amazing. I'm a total coward over needles, just ask poor Jeremy. He says I went like chalk every time he came at me with one. You're way braver than me." Margie gave a small laugh "He doesn't say too much but he's a lovely guy isn't he?" Allie smiled "He is Margie, and he and Robyn are really happy, I'm so pleased they found one another.

The doctor came over wheeling a small trolley and Allie grabbed Margie's hand again. Allie felt a bit queasy seeing the needle for the biopsy, but Margie didn't look and was just aware of four loud clicks as the samples were taken. Using a large piece of tissue passed to her by the nurse, Margie wiped the jelly off and Allie covered her back up. The nurse reappeared and told them they had a two hour wait and directed them to the cafe. With Margie dressed Allie looped her hand through her arm and they headed for the cafe. Margie felt strangely calm and couldn't help but laugh when Allie said, "Oh my goodness Margie, that thing they took the biopsy with was like a giant knitting needle. Is is sore?" She shook her head, "You have such a way with words Allie. No, to be honest I can't feel anything out of the ordinary at all."

The time past slowly and Allie tried to keep the chatter going as a distraction, until eventually it was eleven twenty and they made their way back to the consulting waiting area. They were called through and Allie grabbed Margie's hand as the doctor ran through the results, "Margie we have found a mass in the area you could feel some changes in. The biopsy has confirmed that it is a cancer, but it looks as if the remainder of the breast is clear and the preliminary diagnosis is a grade two. This is good news because it means we caught it early, and if you have to be unlucky enough to have a breast cancer, this is the best situation to be in. Allie slipped an arm around Maggie's back as a few tears slipped down her face. The doctor passed her a Kleenex and continued, "You could choose to just have a lumpectomy at this stage, but in cases like yours I would recommend a mastectomy on that side with an immediate reconstruction, just for risk management of recurrence, and to avoid having to go back for a second surgery if we don't get a good clear margin around the tumour. Margie shuddered at the word and Allie pulled her closer. The doctor smiled kindly, "I know it's a lot to take in Margie, but we'd like to get you back tomorrow for a body scan, just to double check we're not seeing anything elsewhere, and to be clear I really don't expect that we are, then we can get you in for surgery on Thursday." Margie gasped but nodded, "I need to tell my husband." The doctor nodded with understanding, "well, we'll go ahead and book you in on that basis, and you can call to confirm when you've had chance to discuss it with your husband. That'll give you a chance to think of any questions you need to ask." Margie nodded, the nurse opened the door and escorted them out passing a small folder over with a number of booklets.

Allie got her to the car and opened the passenger door for her. Jumping in the driver's side she reached over to hug Margie and just said, "Let's get you home." When they arrived back she crouched down to where Margie had dropped on the couch and took her hands. "Margie, I'm going to get Max and ask him to bring Dan okay?" She nodded sadly and before Allie walked to get her phone from the hall table she added, "Margie I'll come with you on Thursday, I'll take care of Max. He won't be on his own." Margie threw her arms around the younger woman, "Thanks Allie, for today, and for knowing I need someone to be with him. I love you so much for it."

When Max answered the call coming in from Allie he was in his office and had just finished the e mail backlog following his trip. "Hey Allie, you okay? Coming in later?" Allie knew there wasn't going to be an easy way to do this so she simply said, "Max, the appointment wasn't for me, it was for Margie. You need to come home and bring Dan. She's going to be okay, but she needs surgery this week." There was a brief pause whilst it sank in then he just said, "I'm on my way, I'll just get Daniel."

While they waited Allie went into the kitchen and filled the kettle to make tea. While she was waiting she called Michael. Hearing his voice she struggled to hold it together, "Michael, I'm fine. The appointment was for Margie. She has breast cancer and needs surgery later this week. I'm just waiting for Max and Daniel to come over." Michael took a deep breath, "do you need me Allie?" Her voice wavered, "Yes, but I need to keep it together and if you come I'll fall to pieces. Let me go and I'll come home as soon as I can." Michael's heart ached for her, "I'll work from home the rest of the day and be at the apartment whenever you get back. I love you Allie."

She made the tea and tried to coax Margie to drink some until she heard Max and Daniel coming in. Max touched her arm as she stood up to let him sit next to Margie and he gathered her to him as she sobbed. This tipped Allie over the edge, and no matter how hard she tried to stop them she could feel her own tears spilling down her face. Dan was filling up too, and she crossed to where he'd stopped by the doorway, holding onto him as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head.