The Howards

Chapter 19

2013

I entered Rick's firm after I finished setting up the new exhibition in my gallery, bearing good news for my husband. I greeted all his lawyers and interns. Erin, Rick's assistant stood up from her desk, "Mrs. Howard."

"Hi, Erin," I winked at her, opening the door to his office. I found Rick bending over his dustbin, his face has turned into a terrifying shade of white.

I have never seen my husband in so much pain ever. I dropped my bag and rushed to my husband's side, "Rick, are you okay? What happened?"

He swallowed, hard. He can barely speak, "El, my stomach,"

I shouted for Erin, "Call the ambulance!"

I helped Rick to the couch and held onto his frightening cold arms, "Hang on, Rick. Ambulance is on its way,"

I watched him grunting in pain and then he coughed blood onto my shirt. His eyes that used to hold so much love and admiration for me, suddenly went completely empty and then he passed out.

My blood went cold. I held Rick tightly in my arms, "No. No no no. Maverick!"

The ambulance arrived within few minutes after Rick passed out. My hands are shaking as I followed Rick onto the ambulance. I don't know how I managed to talk to the paramedics. Stomach pains. Coughing blood.

I took a deep breath, placing Rick's cold hands onto my face, "I'm here Maverick, I'm here."

••••

I held onto Rick's hand as we listen to Dr. Carl talking to the whole family, "It's genetic stomach cancer. It has spread to his bloodstream, there is nothing we can do except for painkillers. Food that he digested will come back up and it's going to be very painful,"

As Dr. Carl answered the family questions. Rick and I are communicating through our eyes. It was just Rick and I. We are in our own world, muffling out the voices, blurring the people around us.

My lips on the back of his palm. My eyes were blurred from my tears. The handsome face I wake up to every morning, is now colourless. I want to kiss him all over his face to see the colours in his face again.

Life is such a joke. Rick and I had crossed our one year marriage anniversary. We just got married for one year. I still want to spend the rest of my life with him. I still need my husband.

I felt Rick squeezing my hand and him reaching up to wipe my tears. Rick removed his hand from mine and told everyone, "Get out,"

"Maverick," I tried to take his hand back into mine but he pushed me away, "I need some time alone, get out! Now!"

Randall frowned at how Rick treated me. He quickly guided me out of the room with the rest of the family. Karina sat at a corner, looking on the floor. Gemma is crying in Ray's arms.

I stood behind the door. I heard a loud crash inside the room, followed by the sound of Rick's crying. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move.

The love of my life has stomach cancer.

My husband is dying.

••••

Randall and Karina are sitting at the terrace in Dream Lake.

The last time they sat in absolute silence was when Rick and Eleanor are coming back from college. Rick had told his family that he had planned to propose to Eleanor. Karina found Randall sitting by the terrace, just staring at nothing. Karina doesn't know how long her brother had sat there.