Simon's Choice by Charlotte Castle Read Free Book Online Page A

Sister, newly arrived on the day shift, went from bed to bed, familiarizing herself with each patient’s night time notes, greeting children and soothing fraught parents. Two volunteers made their way up the ward with a trolley, the bottom loaded with tired looking paperbacks, the top with sweets, crisps and tabloids. Simon passed them all as he returned to Sarah's ward.
    “I’ll take a Daily Mail, please.” Simon counted out some money and handed it to one of the ladies. “And some polo mints as well. Thanks.” He pocketed his change and headed towards Sarah’s bed, relieved to see her sitting up and watching TV while her mum folded clothes into the nightstand.
    “How are my girls?”
    “Better. Daddy! It’s Ben Ten! Look!” Sarah grinned, pointing at her television. He glanced up at the small cartoon boy fighting an enormous green alien. “Are those for me?” She pointed at the polo mints in his hand. The ravaging effects of yesterday’s chemo had obviously lessened overnight and Sarah’s indomitable spirit had made a welcome return.
    “Yup. You had some breakfast?” Simon pulled up another of the shiny armchairs. The wooden arms and high back were so familiar now.
    “I had a bit of cereal. I wish they had oranges. I’d really like oranges right now.” Sarah continued to stare, rapt, at the screen. On the television, drool poured from the alien creature's mouth.
    “Oranges, eh? I think we can provide those.” The cravings, Simon knew, were similar to those of a pregnant woman. Chemotherapy affected patients in different ways. The nausea was standard, but controllable to some extent by anti-nausea drugs. Patients often didn't want to eat, but equally would crave certain foods. It was important to help Sarah eat as much as possible on good days.
    “Hey, Babe.” Melissa leaned forward and kissed Simon on the cheek. “You’re here early.”
    Simon gave an inward sigh of relief. Melissa, though looking dog-tired, seemed to have thrown off the anger of the day before. He pointed at a Starbucks bag he was carrying. “Thought you might like some proper breakfast.”
    He pulled up the sliding hospital bed table and unpacked two large lattes and a small hot chocolate, along with assorted Danish pastries, paper napkins and plastic stirrers. “Better than cheapo cornflakes and cold tea, hmm?”
“Hell, yes.” Melissa fell on the Danish pastries. “Can I have the pecan one, please?”
Sarah nodded, grabbing the cinnamon swirl, leaving Simon with his usual apricot. He grinned. “Did I do good?”
“You did good.” Both Melissa and Sarah mumbled affirmatives, their mouths full of pastry.
    Simon settled back in the chair with his coffee. “Has anyone been round yet?” It was only 8 a.m., but ward life started early, as Simon knew only too well.
    ”The SHO came round half an hour ago. She was pleased to see Sarah is feeling stronger today. We go onto bag three of six – high dose Ara-C, through the chest catheter. They’re pumping her full of saline solution to keep her kidneys and bladder happy, which is making her pretty uncomfortable. Mr. Abnam is coming later and we’ll hear more. Is there any sugar?” Melissa scouted through the contents of the Starbucks’ bag.
“I don’t think I grabbed any. Sorry. Listen, Mel, Dad’s a bit upset. He didn’t mean to …”
“I know. I know. And I’m sorry. I was tired and … well, I’m sorry. I’ll give him a call this afternoon. It’s just all so …”
“He’ll be fine. He takes everything on the chin, my dad.”
“I know. Aha!” Mel victoriously brandished a small packet of Sweet and Lo, which she had dug from her handbag. “These will do.”
“All meals free! Look, Dad! All meals free!”
    Melissa and Simon turned to look at the television screen. The final frame of an advert stared at them: a telephone number surrounded by fireworks and a familiar pink fairytale castle in the background.
    “You said the meals were astronaughtily expensive.