Chapter Five
With Drew andhis diagnosis on his mind, Ash reassigned everything on his calendar to Oren and his other associate and spent the rest of the day researching everything he could about Drew’s cancer. He sat and read stories of men who’d ignored their diagnosis, afraid of impotency and losing their partner, only to have the cancer spread. Ash vowed to never let that happen. Drew would know he was loved whether they had sex again or not.
He took his lunch, some kind of sandwich he couldn’t remember eating, and continued to read about treatment and survival rates. He didn’t care if Drew had one ball or two. Ash had once represented a man in a divorce case where his wife left him because he’d fallen and lost the use of his legs and most of the use of his arms. Seeing how unsympathetic the wife had been to her husband’s condition had turned Ash’s stomach. The husband stated she was happy enough with him when they were flying all over the world on exotic vacations, but now that he was restricted, she’d decided the marriage wasn’t for her. Lucky for his client, Ash had insisted on a prenuptial agreement, so despite her cries for more money, there was no way he’d allow that to happen.
He’d never leave Drew, no matter what, and he knew Drew felt the same. They were bound together forever.
In sickness and in health.
The day ended and he shut off the computer. Drew texted him to say he’d spoken to the urologist and he had a CT scan scheduled for tomorrow morning. He buzzed his secretary.
“Laura.”
“Yes, Ash.”
“I won’t be in the office tomorrow morning. Please make sure my calendar is clear.”
“Ok. You don’t have anything scheduled.” She paused. “Is everything okay? You’ve been sitting at your desk, in front of the computer all day.”
He’d changed so much from the man who’d lived his whole life in the shadows to someone proud to walk in the light. He hated keeping secrets now, but Drew’s wishes were paramount.
“Everything’s fine. No worries.” His other line buzzed, and his brows lifted in alarm. “I have to get that.” He pushed a button. “Esther, how are you? Is everything okay?”
Despite having lived in America for over seventy-five years, her soft voice still retained a slight accent.
“I’m fine, Asher. I haven’t heard back from Drew and I called the office. They said he left a while ago. Do you know where he is?”
Goddamnit.He hated lying to Esther. No one had ever given him such unconditional love and support. Not even Drew. But he couldn’t break Drew’s trust. It wasn’t his story to tell. And, he reckoned, he wasn’t lying. He really didn’t know where Drew was at the moment.
“I don’t know exactly. He had some meetings, and I know he wanted to do some holiday shopping. We have a birthday to celebrate, you know, as well as the holidays.”
“Oh, you don’t need to buy me a present. I could never imagine living to this age, and to have my family around me is all I could ask for. Nothing else could bring me greater joy.”
Ash picked up the papers he’d drawn up earlier in the week. “I have to agree with you. Nothing means more than family. But…” He allowed himself the first laugh of the day. “A little present now and then doesn’t hurt.”
Esther joined him. “Well, maybe you’re right. And how are you? Not working too hard, I hope?”
“I try not to.”
“Which means you are. You and Drew both need to relax. Maybe you need to take some time away together. When was the last time you took a vacation?”
“Never,” he admitted. “We’ve been to Luke and Jordan’s lake house but nothing for an extended time.”
“That’s not a vacation, darling. I’m talking about a real trip, away from everyone, where it’s just you two.”
It sounded wonderful to Ash, but nothing could be decided until Drew found out what the treatment for his cancer would entail. Perhaps he would only need the surgery and checkups. He’d spent the better part of his day praying for that.
“I guess we’ll have to coordinate our schedules for that.”
“Listen to me. If you wait until everything is perfect, you’ll never do it.”
“As usual, you’re right. I’ll see what I can do. And as foryou, young lady.” His voice caught on all the emotional warfare in his head, and he struggled to not lose his shit on the phone. After taking a deep breath and exhaling, Ash wiped the sweat from his brow. “We’ll see you next weekend.”
“I’ll have thelatkeswaiting for you.”
“I can’t wait.”
He hung up the phone and texted Drew.
