Beyond the Pain

Beyond the Pain - Chapter Three.

Chapter three.

I had been up twice in the night with Holly's puppies, but still, they woke me at seven the next morning. I had hardly had a chance to put a brush through my hair, when the doorbell rang. It was Jayne, my sister.

“Sorry I'm here so early, but we need to talk,” she said, “It's about mum.”

My mum had had breast cancer last year and had recovered well. I knew it would be bad news.

“Is she okay?”

“She had a scan last week and they found another cancer. It's spread to her left breast.”

I didn't know what to say. I felt shocked, but not upset. However, If she didn't recover I would be devastated.

“Will she recover?”

“The doctor said she has a good chance, since she recovered so well last time. She's starting chemo next week.”

“Okay, that's good.” I said, relaxing slightly, “I'll come and visit her later.”

Jayne is three years older than me, but still lives at home. She has had an on-off boyfriend for years. They'd talked about moving in together, but both of them know it would end in tears. Jayne is more outgoing than me, but she has sense to stay with mum; partly so she can look after her, but also so she can eat mum's home-made meals, that me and her have loved since we were young. She visits me most days, telling me news about mum, helping with the dogs, or just for a chat. We get on better than most sisters do.

“We had puppies last night,” I told her.

“Oh wow, can I see them?”

I led her into the puppy room, which I hadn't had a chance to clean up yet.

“Watch where you put your feet,” I said.

Holly woke with a start and ran over to Jayne, licking her hands. All but one of her babies were scrambling to get to the milk bar. The other, who I could tell was a boy, was still sleeping. He would be the lazy one, I thought. I woke him and handed him over to my sister, who squealed with excitement as she took him off me. He had unusual markings compared to the rest and gorgeous blue eyes. There was always that one special puppy, different from the rest, the loner. I had always liked these ones the best and took extra care to give them attention, so I didn't leave them out.

Jayne stroked the puppy as if he were made of glass, gently petting him with her little finger. She is always so gentle with the dogs. I love the way she cares, although she has never had a very big interest in dogs. She likes to come for walks with me. We often have lunch together, while Nick's at work, then go for a long stroll in the park round the corner. Holly loves Jayne. From the day I got Holly, Jayne had visited to see her. She fell in love with the tiny puppy, with the big brown eyes and the gentle heart. Holly fell in love with Jayne's leftovers. She would bring the food that was left from mum's meals and feed her them like a child. Now, whenever Jayne comes over, Holly sniffs in the top pocket of her parka, where she used to keep the food. It never fails to make Jayne laugh.

She kissed the puppy on the nose, then put him down as gently as she'd stroked him.

“You're always welcome to take one you know. I won't charge. You and mum could do with a man around the house.” I told her.

Jayne laughed.

“Can you imagine mum with a puppy? She'd batter the little one with a saucepan every time it whined!”

She was right. Mum had always been feisty and, if anyone got in her way, she would sort them out. Dad had died when I was six, Jayne nine. Mum had always kept strong, never letting us see her cry, but we heard her sobbing her heart out most nights, after we'd gone to bed. I had always thought that that was why Jayne would never get too close to a man; she was too scared of the heartbreak.