Page 23 of A Found Family at the Cornish Country Hospital

‘Hello.’

‘Is that Isla?’

‘Speaking.’

‘Hi, it’s Sandy from the Forever Family clinic, I’m ringing about the results of your screening tests.’ There was a note of something that sounded like hesitation in Sandy’s voice, and Isla shivered, despite the sunlight streaming through the window behind her.

‘Are we all good to get started with the treatment?’ Isla was vaguely aware that by saying the words out loud, she was willing them to somehow be true, but Sandy was already sighing.

‘I’m afraid not. One of the blood tests has indicated something that needs further investigation and it’s really important that you see your doctor as soon as possible, so that further tests can be arranged.’

‘Tests for what?’ Goose pimples were prickling on Isla’s arms. Her own health had never been something she thought about much, because she spent so much time worrying about the rest of her family. But Sandy’s response wasn’t the most reassuring.

‘The screening tests have shown up an abnormality with the white cells and platelets in your blood.’

‘Leukaemia?’ Isla almost dropped the phone. It couldn’t be true, she felt fine. Maybe a little bit tired, but in her job that was to be expected. And, yes, she’d lost some weight, but that could be explained from rushing around all day too.

‘Not necessarily, but it’s one of the things that will need investigating. You gave the clinic consent to contact your GP when you underwent the tests, and we’ve already been in touch with your surgery. My understanding is they’ll be calling you about a referral to the hospital for further tests and to meet with a haematologist.’ Sandy’s voice sounded falsely bright, as she carried on. ‘I’m so sorry Isla, and I know this must be really worrying, but try to keep in mind that there could be a lot of potential explanations. Have you got someone there you can talk to, or someone you can be with? It will really help if you have some support while you wait for the next set of results.’

‘I’m going over to my grandparents’ for dinner, so I can talk to them.’ As the words came out of her mouth, Isla crossed the fingers on her left hand. She wasn’t going to tell her grandparents about this. She wasn’t going to tell anyone until she knew what it was they were dealing with.

‘That’s good, but, if you need to, you can always access the counselling service here too. I really hope the further tests show that the initial results are nothing serious.’ Sandy mightbe hopeful, but she sounded anything but convinced, and Isla suddenly realised she was shaking.

‘Thank you.’ It was all she could manage before she ended the call and, as she turned to put down her phone, she caught sight of herself in the mirror above the mantelpiece. She didn’t look any different than she had a few moments before, and it was still almost impossible to believe that something could be happening inside of her that had the potential to be life-threatening. Almost, but not quite. And even the tiny possibility made Isla go cold.

Aidan had been wanting to have the first beach barbecue of the summer almost since Easter, but he’d finally persuaded Jase that tonight was the night. He’d been on an early shift, and Jase had managed to finish work on time for once. So they were down at the Taylor family beach hut, at the north end of Port Kara beach, just after half past five. The beach hut had been in Jase’s family for over forty years, and he’d recounted numerous tales of the fun he’d had with Tash, and their friends, when they’d been growing up. It was just one more Taylor tradition that Aidan couldn’t wait to follow when he and Jase finally had a child of their own. He’d been driving himself mad over the last couple of weeks, jumping every time the phone rang, in the hope that the clinic had found them a potential surrogate, so going down to the beach and just enjoying some time with his husband, was a desperately needed break from it all.

It had been a tough time since the trip to Ireland. Jase had been stunned by their sudden departure, but he hadn’t questioned it when Aidan had insisted they needed to leave straight away. Later on, they’d talked about what had happened,and Jase had held him, when he’d eventually cried the tears he’d been determined not to shed in front of his father. His mother and sisters had all been in touch, begging him to come back for another visit soon, and promising him it would be different next time. He’d told them again that they were welcome to come to Port Kara, but he wouldn’t be going ‘home’ any more. It had been years since Ballaghaderreen had felt that way. The revelation that had hit him, that home was wherever Jase was, hadn’t changed. And Aidan now had the kind of unconditional support and love his husband had been lucky enough to grow up with. He’d never find that in a place where Sean Kennedy’s opinions seemed to overshadow everything else. He’d never allow their child to be exposed to that either. And if the rest of his family wanted a relationship with Aidan, it had to be on his terms.

‘Do you think four sausages each is too much?’ Aidan turned to look at Jase, who was taking a bottle of wine out of the cool box.

‘Given that we’re having king prawns and chicken too, I’d have to say probably.’

‘Yeah, but all this talk of trying for a baby seems to have convinced my body that I need to eat for two!’

‘I thought we’d agreed not to mention the B word tonight.’

‘We did, but—’ Aidan’s response was cut off as his phone started to ring and, when he looked at the display, he realised it was the call they’d been waiting for. ‘Oh my God, it’s Forever Family.’

‘Don’t build your hopes up, until you know what it’s about.’ Jase reached out and touched Aidan’s arm, but it was obvious from the look on his face that he was excited about what this might mean too. Either way, Aidan couldn’t wait another second to find out.

‘Hello, Aidan Kennedy speaking.’

‘Oh, hi Aidan, it’s Fraser, one of the matching coordinators from the clinic. I work with Annabel, who you spoke with before.’

‘Hi Fraser, how are you?’ He was itching to just blurt out: have you found someone?But he was trying to follow Jase’s advice and keep some of the hope damped down, so that it didn’t crush him if it wasn’t the news they’d been praying for.

‘I’m fine, thank you, and I hope you guys are going to be even better than that, when I tell you I think we’ve found you a match.’

After that, most of what Fraser said was a blur and thank God he’d told Aidan that he’d follow everything up in an email, with guidance on how to proceed in setting up a meeting with their potential surrogate, whose name was Ellen. As soon as the call was over, he and Jase were both whooping and hugging, and neither of them had been able to hold back the tears.

‘I can’t believe it’s true, can you?’ Aidan was shaking his head as he spoke, and Jase was laughing and crying at the same time.

‘No, I can’t. I think I spent so long trying not to get too excited and convincing myself that it could take ages if it ever did happen, that I almost stopped believing it would.’

‘Me too.’ Aidan suddenly stopped and put a hand on the side of his husband’s face. ‘But you would tell me if you had any doubts, wouldn’t you? It’s not too late to stop this, if it isn’t 100 per cent what you want.’

‘I’ve never wanted anything more, apart from marrying you.’ Jase put his hand over Aidan’s. ‘What about you?’

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