‘When you told me you were going to die young, you neglected to mention quite a crucial little thing.’ She stared at him.
‘What?’
‘That there’s a test you can take to see if you have the rogue gene.’
Oliver shook his head. ‘My mother told you that.’ He put the coffee cup down. ‘She had no right to.’
‘She had every right to. I’ve put my faith in you, Oliver, you’re meeting my daughter right here, in the capacity of someone I care deeply for; you should have told me.’
‘What difference does it make?’
‘You might not have the gene!’
He shook his head again. ‘Don’t do that, Hayley. I’ve told you how things are. Don’t hang on to any false hope that I’m going to be drawing an annuity, because my condition ishereditary. My brother had it, my father had it, Grandpa Drummond?—’
‘Oliver, for God’s sake, there’s a test to take. Even if youdohave the condition, at least you’ll know for certain.’
‘Idoknow for certain. I’ve been having warning signs for months now.’
‘Then take the test and get a little piece of paper that says you’re going to die young. It’s clarity. It’s being prepared. It’s?—’
‘Being reminded.’
‘You’re being bloody-minded and selfish,’ Hayley spat. ‘I want to know. I want to see it in black and white. Because until I do, I’m always going to be hoping it’s not true.’
He let out a sigh. ‘You told me you could deal with this.’
‘I can, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. I’m still into theMiracle on 34thStreetkind of thing.’ She sighed. ‘And you of all people should still have some faith in wishes.’
She watched his reaction to her words, hiding her lips in her cup of hot chocolate. She knew confirming what he thought would be hard for both of them but there was a tiny part of her still gripping tight to the belief that life couldn’t be that cruel to this family, or to her.
‘When they wrote to us, the test was still in its early stages. They used the wordsexperimentalandrisk.’
‘Anything’s got to be better than nothing, hasn’t it? And things will have moved on.’
She watched him, his eyes looking into the mid-distance, as if a hundred thoughts were invading his brain at once. Was she asking too much of him? In a week, she would be returning home and what happened to their relationship then? There was only so much you could do on FaceTime.
Finally, he nodded. ‘If it means that much to you…’ He reached for her hands and joined them with his. ‘If clarification is what you need then… I’ll do it, I’ll take the test.’
Joy filled her up and she smiled, squeezing his hands tight. ‘Thank you, Clark.’
‘Oliver!’ Angel called. ‘Shall I have rainbow sprinkles or chocolate chips?’
Oliver smiled at Hayley, letting go of her hands and getting up from his chair. ‘Are you really asking me that question, smart kid? You know the answer: have both!’
57
OLIVER DRUMMOND’S PENTHOUSE, DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN
Oliver watched Hayley sleeping. Flat on her back, mouth open, gentle noises coming from her nose, her now shorter brown hair a shaggy, yet attractive, mess on the pillow. He couldn’t believe she was still here, still with him. Knowing everything now. She was right. He’d ignored the test for far too long. If, in his heart, he already knew the outcome, there was nothing to lose. And Hayley needed this. Until she saw it for herself, on a report, she’d still be holding out for that Christmas miracle. If they were going to be together then she needed definite clarification about what she’d signed up for. He’d arranged the hospital appointment. Today.
He reached out to her, weaving his fingers into her hair, then softly moving strands from her face. Whatever the outcome, he wasn’t going to run from his future any more. Living every moment didn’t mean only embracing frivolity. It was focusing on what mattered.Whomattered.
Hayley smiled, her eyes remaining closed. ‘What’s for breakfast?’
‘Anything you want,’ he whispered.
‘Anything?’
