“He was there when you didn’t answer the phone last autumn. But don’t get your panties in a twist, he’s gay.”
“Oh. Then I don’t have to beat the snot out of him for lusting after my wife?”
“Nope.” She sighed and seconds later she was asleep.
Twenty minutes later he walked in the front door of ‘Parties by Addy’ and stood in the center of the reception area.
“Can I help you?”
“Yes, is Brian or Beth available?”
“One moment.” The woman jumped up and hurried down the hall.
“Brian. There’s this hunk of a man who’s asking for you.”
“Name?”
“Didn’t give one. But I think it’s Addy’s husband.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because it looks like him.” She pointed to the picture on Addy’s desk of the two of them on one of the runs.
Brian stood and rushed to the front office. “I’m Brian, how can I help you?”
“I’m Lincoln Murphy. Addison’s husband. Is there someplace we can talk? Privately?”
“Sure come on back to our office.” Brian wanted to ask so many questions, but something about Lincoln made him hold his tongue. They went into the office and the first thing Lincoln saw was a picture of the two of them on her desk.
“Addy’s not here right now, she took the day off, so I don’t know if I can help you.” Brian drew in a deep breath and held it as he said his next sentence. “I know all about the divorce, so you can’t pull anything over on me.
“I don’t intend to. Actually, Addison won’t be in for a long time. I need to tell you some things, I have Addison’s permission to do so. If you don’t believe me she gave me this to give you.” He handed a folded note.
Brian took it and read it, it was short and to the point, just like Addy herself. “Brian, Lincoln’s going to talk to you, it’s all true. I’m so sorry. Love you, Addy. P.S. Be nice to him.”
“Okay, talk.”
“Addison wanted everyone to know.”
“Okay, we’re all here today, everyone. We don’t leave to visit clients or have clients coming in for another three hours. You want to say this once, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Okay.” Brian reached for the phone on the desk and pushed several buttons and said firmly into the phone. “Important meeting, conference room. Now.” He hung up the phone and grinned. “Addy said less words are more powerful. Follow me.”
Lincoln followed him out and watched as several people, he counted fifteen, came out of offices and down the hall. They all had a cup of coffee and a pad of paper and pen in their hand.” He followed Brian in and took the offered cup of coffee from him.
“The floor is yours,” Brian said, and sat down.
“Thank you, Brian.” He looked at everyone and smiled. “I know most of you might not like me, but I’m not here to win Brownie points. My name is Lincoln Murphy, I’m Addison’s husband. I know you know we’re going through a divorce. I refuse to sign. I love my wife. However, that’s not why I’m here or what matters now. Oh, the loving her matters. But I hope you get my drift.” He looked everyone in the eye as he sipped his coffee. Finally he took a deep breath.
“Addison’s ill. She won’t be in to work for some time.” He held up his hand to ward off the questions. “Please, let me get through this. I don’t know if she shared this with anyone here, but she had her annual checkup a few weeks ago, she had to go back in for more testing. Yesterday she came to my work to ask me to accompany her to the doctor. She has a mass on eachbreast. We spent the night in the hospital because she had a double biopsy this morning. She came through the surgery fine.
“However, she has to stay in the hospital until the results come in, which is in the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours. If it is cancer, they are going to remove the mass on each breast and then she’ll have to start chemo. As soon as she gains at least seven pounds. There may be a possibility that when they remove the masses, I refuse to say tumors, they may have to remove one or both breasts. We are both of the same mind that she can live without them, she can always have implants once she’s healthy. If it’s not cancer, they will still remove the masses and we’ll see what happens after that.”
Brian was the one that held up his hand. “Mr. Murphy, Addy and I have had several conversations about you in the past. She loves you deeply and desperately. Are you saying that you’re going to be by her side every step of the way if it’s cancer and she has to have chemotherapy?”
“Yes. I stand by my vows of ‘in sickness and health’. As we speak friends of mine are clearing out her room and moving her back into our house. I love her desperately. I will be there holding her hand through chemo and afterwards. I’m going to put this out there now. If at any time you need or want to see her, you are welcome. Here’s my number, and our home address, and phone.” He saw a white board and wrote that information for everyone in the room to do as they pleased with it. “Write it down, ignore it, whatever.”
