Keeping Love

Chapter 2

The next morning I was up early. I knew Olivia would be gone by now. I went and sat with my mum and Andy in the kitchen.

"Is Olivia gone?" Mum asked me as she fed Andy his breakfast. 

"Where?" Andy asked.

"Belfast." I told him, "to see her granny and grandpa."

He was happy with this answer.

"You'll be alright son." Mum said rubbing my back briefly and then making me a cup of tea.

"Thanks." I said for the tea.

I sat with mum in the kitchen listening to her talk about local gossip for an hour and watching Andy play with toy trucks when the house phone rung.

I looked at the time. 10am. It could be Olivia.

I went for the phone before my mum could answer.

"Hello?"

"Joe!" Olivia said, she sounded pleased to hear my voice.

I was pleased to hear hers.

"Olivia! How are you? Are you at your grandparents already? How is everyone?"

"Wow! One question at a time!" She laughed.

"Ok. How are you?" That's what I cared about the most.

"I'm ok," she sighed, "I miss you already though. How is that possible. If I was back in Birmingham I probably wouldn't have even seen you yet!"

"Oh it's very possible." I said. I missed her like crazy, "are you at your grandparents already?" I asked my next question.

"Yep. Just got here. Thought I'd give you a ring."

I smiled. "How is everyone?" By everyone I meant her grandpa.

"Ok. I think. Grandpa seems ok. He looks normal to me. And he's acting normal. Granny is worrying around him but he told me that she's just worrying and that he's absolutely fine and that it's all precautionary. I don't know what to believe." She sighed a heavy sigh.

I was confused, "what's precautionary?"

"His cancer. He said it's not real cancer it's pre cancer and that there's nothing wrong with him yet. I don't know if that's a real thing or if he just doesn't want me to worry though. Because he's off to the hospital for treatment and granny won't let him do anything by himself. He seems very annoyed by it."

I didn't know what to say. It sounded like he was trying to hide his illness, "I don't see how cancer can be precautionary."

"No me neither. But he would know more than I would. I haven't spoken to any doctors."

"That's true. And he seems healthy?"

"Yeah. I only say him for 10 minutes or so before he had to leave but he was his usual self. I was really worried when he didn't pick us up from the airport but then when we got back he was more annoyed about that than I was. He wanted to do it but granny made him rest before his hospital appointment."

"It sounds like he's doing well." I wasn't sure if he was just putting on a face for Olivia and Ethan's sake. I had met their grandfather a few times and he was one of the most stubborn men I had ever known.

"He is." Olivia said proudly.

"So what's your plan for the day?" I asked her.

"Well I'm going to go out and see my friends quickly. Let them know I'm back. But then I'm coming back here. I want to be here when my grandpa comes back from the hospital spend time with him. I wanted to go with him but my granny wouldn't let me."