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“What’s up?” I ask, giving her a small smile. She is a doctor herself. A cancer specialist. The two of us worked day and night to treat my wife of the terrible disease she suffered, but to no avail. Her cancer was a shock and aggressive and, in the end, untreatable.
“Hi, Aunt Melody,” Harvey says, and I smile at his manners.
“Hi, Harvey. All set?” she asks, eyebrows raised expectantly.
“I can’t wait!” Harvey’s barely able to contain his excitement as he jumps from foot to foot; his little legs can’t stay still for long.
Even though moving to Whispers was always in the cards, taking Harvey away from his mother’s side of the family is a battle I wasn’t sure I could master. But my former in-laws are both professionals who never had much time for their daughters, and that ended up being the same story when it came to their grandson. Since Amanda’s funeral, I’ve hardly seen them these past few years. My former father-in-law, especially, as he’s a man whom I don’t really enjoy being around for no other reason than he is just a pompous asshole who thinks he is better than everyone else.
“Yes, well, I would prefer you both to stay here,” I hear her murmur, and I give her a soft smile. I know she is sad to see us go, but Whispers is amazing. Fresh air, open fields, small, yes, but also quaint.
“We are both excited,” I confirm, and she gives me a tight smile. “What can I do for you?” I ask, wondering why she’s here. I see her around the hospital on rare occasions, but she’s been coming by to see me more and more since I told her of our decision to move.
“I just wanted to say goodbye.” She looks at me with a face full of hope that I will change my mind.
“We said goodbye yesterday…” Harvey and I spent the day with her and her mother, having lunch together. I wanted to do the right thing.
“I know, but that was so… impersonal.”
“Impersonal?” I frown, unsure what she means.
“It’s just. Mom and Dad are still in mourning…”
I take a deep breath because I don’t believe that for a second. It’s true the death of my wife hit everyone hard. Her diagnosis during pregnancy, then starting treatment after birth meant that she didn’t get onto the disease straight away, and after a long year of battle, it finally won. But it has been years now and we all need to move forward. Her parents are more about appearances than anything real.
“And well, we went through so much together.” Her own eyes glass over with tears. This is why I have to leave. I loved my wife. We met just as I was finishing my residency and sold my medical testing solution, dated for a short amount of time, then fell pregnant unexpectedly. I did the right thing and put a ring on her finger, and wehad a shotgun wedding. It all happened so fast, including losing her. I have officially been a widower longer than we even knew each other, but if I’m to have any chance of moving on, then I need to leave here.
“We all need to start moving forward. It’s what she would have wanted,” I tell her sister, resting my hand on her shoulder to give her some comfort. I try to be empathetic. The two of them were close. But with both Harvey and me to look after, I have little left of me to give her. I just want to laugh again. I just want the heaviness in my chest to disappear.
“I know. Of course. Just don’t be a stranger,” she says, reaching out and grabbing my hand. She gives it a squeeze. I appreciate the gesture.
“We won’t. But we do need to go.” My family jet is waiting at the airport, my driver and town car parked outside, packed with our things, ready and waiting for us. I just need to get the box of books that are at my feet and then Harvey and myself out of this house.
“Well, call me when you land,” she says, and I nod.
“Bye, Harvey.” She looks at her only nephew and he gives her a wave, now totally engrossed in a book about planes from my brother, Huxley, and his wife, whom I know he is also excited to spend more time with.
“Bye, Melody,” I say, walking to the door and holding it open for her. As soon as she leaves, my shoulders lower, my stress levels settle, and Harvey comes back to my side.
“Have we got everything?” I ask him, my smile now growing. Being a single dad has been one of the hardest yet most rewarding parts of my life, and I can’t wait to spend more quality time with Harvey.
“Yes! I can’t wait to see Grandma!” Harvey says excitedly.
“Oh, she can’t wait to see you either, buddy,” I tell him, ruffling his hair. LA stifles him. It stifles both of us. The city where I have spent my entire medical career feels almost claustrophobic. It has for me for years.
Like she can hear us, my cell rings, and I see my mom’s name light up the screen.
“Hey, Grandma,” I say, loud enough for Harvey to hear, and he giggles.
“Just checking in. Have you left yet?” she asks, trying to contain her excitement.
“Left? God, woman, how many times do you need to call him!” I hear my dad tell her in the background, and the fact that he is also close to the phone is enough to tell me that they are both ready for our arrival.
“Just about. We are locking up the door now.” I grab my keys and take another quick look around.
“Okay, I have a pot roast on. It will be ready for you both when you arrive,” she says, and my mouth waters. Mom’s pot roasts are the best thing I have ever eaten.
“Sounds great, Mom. We will see you in a few hours,” I tell her, smiling at my son, who is just as excited as his grandparents.