Page 30 of The House Guest
“Yes.” She shook with me. “I have cancer. That’s why I’m wearing the head wrap. Just thought I’d let you know, so you didn’t have to wonder or ask me about it.”
I couldn’t help but admire her candor. I nodded. “How many times have you had to explain that to people?”
“I do it at the top of every introduction. Makes me feel better to get it out of the way.”
“I totally get that.”
“I normally wear a wig, but it’s too damn hot today, and this cotton is pretty cool, while still protecting my head from the sun.”
“Thank you for being so open. It must be exhausting feeling like you need to explain the situation to strangers.”
“Well, thankyoufor not saying ‘I’m sorry’ when I told you I had cancer.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about if you’re happy and staying present.” I smiled. “And you seem to be doing well, despite everything?”
“I am. I try my best not to let my mind go to the dark places. I’m living my life as Candace as best I can, not as a patient. It’s important to stay busy and distracted. But most important, I have to surround myself with positive people.”
I nodded. “When my mom had cancer, we had to shut out some friends who were real downers.”
“Yeah…the ones who always feel compelled to tell you that their distant relative died of the same disease you have.”
“That’s the worst.” I rolled my eyes.
“Is your mom…okay?”
My stomach dropped. “She passed a few years back.” It killed me to have to admit that.
Her expression fell. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
Chandler walked over, interrupting our conversation. “It didn’t take long for my beautiful wife to charm you, did it, Primrose?”
“Maybe all of thirty seconds.”
Dorian grinned from behind him.
Candace and I moved to sit on lounge chairs while Dorian and Chandler opened the barbecue grill. She told me she and Chandler had both grown up with Dorian. They were all friends in school. I got the impression that Chandler and Candace also came from wealthy families, particularly since they went to the same private school.
Her eyes lit up when I told her I was an artist, and her excitement only grew when I showed her some photos of my paintings on my phone. She was so easy to talk to, and it was a huge relief to realize I might enjoy this afternoon instead of having to put on a front. I’d been planning to fake my way through the entire thing, but she made me feel so comfortable.
At one point, I went inside to use the bathroom, and I found Dorian alone in the kitchen, looking through the refrigerator.
I snuck up behind him. “Whaddya looking for?”
“Chandler brought a bunch of meat to grill, but we have no condiments. That was poor planning on my part. I’m gonna head to the market.” He closed the refrigerator. “Wanna take a ride with me?”
I raised my shoulders. “Sure.”
He told his friends we’d be back in a bit, and he and I got into his Porsche.
As he pulled out of the driveway, I turned to him. “They’re really awesome. You have some nice friends there.”
He glanced in my direction. “You’re shocked I haveanyfriends, aren’t you?”
“I didn’t say that. You did.” I chuckled. “But yeah. You hadn’t brought anyone around besides that one woman you said you used to hook up with, so I assumed maybe you’d lost touch with most of your friends from here.”
“It doesn’t get any better than Candace and Chandler. Truth is, Ihavelost touch with a lot of people over the years. But those two? They don’t let you get away. I couldn’t lose them if I tried. And I’m a lucky guy for it.”
