An Unforeseen Turn of Events

Chapter Sixty

A nurse entered and gave Daniel methadone to ease the oncoming pain and induce him to sleep. Christine sat frozen at his bedside; she felt she should return to the lobby but couldn't.

Watching her husband sleeping as peacefully as an infant, Christine couldn't come to terms with his disclosure. Was it a betrayal? She always thought of him as a straight shooter, the ultimate Boy Scout, her knight in shining armor. But like everyone born in the world, only human.

She began reflecting about her own failings—wasting her parent's money on college and then disappointing them by getting pregnant when she was not married. She covered her face with her hands in shame. Just when her gloomy thoughts were descending and threatening to overtake her, Christine thought about her job at the modeling agency in downtown Boston.

I wasn't a total screw-up. She thanked God, a guardian angel, or whoever came to her rescue by reminding her that she wasn't a total failure. Then the image of her children came to mind and she felt an overwhelming feeling of peace.

The job was great but they're my crowning achievement.

Her eyes traveled back to her husband, his hair white and not an ounce of fat left on his wasted body.

Christine didn't have the strength to think about the future but knew she would have to carry on somehow.

There was a soft rapping on the door. Dr. Sherman poked his head in.

"How are you, Mrs. Goldberg?" his spoke in a low voice as he studied her intently.

Christine stared at her hands and then clutched her shoulders as if she felt chilled. "It-it doesn't look so good now, does it, Doctor?"

Dr. Sherman looked down. After a moment, he glanced her way and said, "What we want to do now is keep him as comfortable as possible."

Christine's face collapsed in tears. She knew this was the doctor's way of saying the end was near.

"Isn't there anything more you can do to save him?" Christine said as she broke down.

"I think now would be the time to bring in your children and the rest of the family," the doctor told her, pain etched in his face. He looked at Daniel and said, "Your husband is a good man. My brother worked in an office with him at Welco for twenty years. He told me he did many favors for my brother that helped him along with his skills and his career. He would've given the shirt off his back to help someone," Dr. Sherman paused. "You have a very fine husband. A mensch."

Christine nodded as she grabbed tissues. "Y-yes, he is. He gave us a happy life. I wish he never got sick. It's so unfair."

"I agree. But we should all do what we can so he's comfortable and pain-free. That's the best we can do for him now."

Christine nodded through her tears. Of course, the doctor was right. Now was the time to comfort the family and not sit here consumed with her desolate thoughts.

Christine waited until she heard the familiar footsteps of her children and Daniel's family approaching the room. She would rather have reflected in silence at the hospital chapel than dealing with the family, but that wasn't an option; the family needed her and she had to admit that being with them would take away the loneliness she was already feeling.

I should take every minute as it comes, she told herself. Every second was precious, albeit tortuous, and cherish every moment with Daniel, even if it is his last.

She heard her mother-in-law's wailing even before she entered the room.

Christine tried to stand and give them a moment next to Daniel's bedside, but her feet felt like bricks. She touched her mother-in-law's arm, her other hand covering her grief-stricken expression. The other family members filed in somber-faced.