Sand and Water 4
A Visit with Rhiannon
Disclaimer: I own no one except Rhiannon
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Driving home, John finally realized what Randy had said.
I'll wait until you get back
Randy was waiting to die.
"Trish, it's John," He spoke into his cellphone.
"How's Randy? Did he ...?"
"Not yet. He's waiting until I get back,"
"What?"
"Long story,"
"Coming here?"
"Just to pick up Rhiannon. Please have her ready,"
"Sure," Then, Trish hung up.
Driving through the busy streets of Manhattan, John was lost in his thoughts. Randy was dying. He still couldn't believe he'd have to spend the rest of his life without him. He couldn't believe Rhiannon would never really get to know her other father. He would be a cherished memory, alive in memories,pictures and stories.
Trish was outside her high-rise apartment building, waiting with Rhiannon in hand. John pulled up to the curb.
"Thanks, Trish. We'll be back in about an hour, maybe two," he explained, watching Trish buckle Rhiannon into her booster seat.
"Daddy, how's Papa? When are we going home?" Rhiannon asked. John sighed.
Normally, they lived in Northbridge, Massachusetts, a humble suburb of Worchester. When Randy had gotten sick, they had temporarily relocated to Manhattan to be near Sloan-Kettering, one of the best cancer hospitals in the tri-state area.
"Papa's very, very sick. We may not be going home. We may stay in the city or Connecticut," John explained. "Do you like New York?"
"It's lots louder than home," Rhiannon said. "I go with Daddy," John smiled, his first true smile in days. Rhiannon had that effect on him.
"Ice cream or pizza?" John asked. Rhiannon laughed, considering the choices.
"Ice cream! Aunty Trish and Uncle Chris and me already had dinner!" she exclaimed. John chuckled.
"What'd ya eat?" he asked.
"Chinese food!" Rhiannon exclaimed. "And I had all my brocolli!"
"Good girl!" John praised. Rhiannon smiled.
"How's Papa?" she asked again. John's grin vanished. He had wanted to avoid the topic, for fear that Rhiannon would start crying again.
"He's going to die soon. I won't lie to you," John murmured. Rhiannon nodded.
"Will Papa go with Flopsy?" she asked. Tears welled up in his eyes, as he realized she was relating death to the only thing she knew about it.
"Papa is going to go to Heaven. What do you think Heaven is?" he asked. Rhiannon closed her eyes. He knew she was seriously thinking of the answer.
"Heaven is where God and the Angels live. When Papa dies, the angels will be there to say hi," she said. John nodded.
"Can you visit Heaven?" he asked, wanting to figure out how much she knew.
"I don' think so. Can I?" she asked. John shook his head.
"You're right. We can't visit Heaven," he replied. She began to cry softly. Pulling into a street space, he got out of the car and helped her out of her booster seat.
"Daddy?" she asked, tears running down her face. He picked her up. She laid her head on his shoulder.
"Yes, Rhia?" he asked, using Randy's nickname for her. She picked her head up and glanced into his eyes.
"That's Papa's name!" she shouted angrily. John nodded.
"Sorry, Rhiannon. What was your question?" he asked. She sighed.
"Is it okay to cry?" she asked.
"Of course, Baby. Any other questions?" he asked, sitting down on a park bench. She nodded, sniffling.
"If I get sick, will I die like Papa?" she asked.
Those words stung John. He then realized that everything she knew about her world had been tested. It wasn't right.
"Sweetie, Papa has a special sickness called cancer. If you get a cold or the flu, you won't die," he explained. "Probably."
"Will you die?" she asked.
"Eventually. Everyone dies. I plan to be with you for a very long time." he explained.
"Will I die?" she asked.
"Someday," he replied. Then, she began to sob with furious wails.
"I got mad at Papa for not being home. Is it my fault he is gonna die?" she asked.
With that one question, John lost it. He began to sob. Rhiannon began to rub his back, and tried to comfort him. John was amazed by the small child's compassion.
"Papa going to die because of cancer. You didn't cause his death because of being mad. Do you want to see him?" he asked. She nodded slowly.
"Yes," she said.
"Okay. Let me tell you some things. The beeping machines next to his bed are called monitors. They tell the doctors and nurses how fast or slow is heart is beating. He doesn't have hair because of a special medicine called chemotherapy. The medicine helped kill the bad cancer cells. He has lost a lot of weight. That's why he doesn't look like he normally does. His throat hurts, so, he can't talk in a loud voice. He can only whisper," he explained. "Do you understand?"
"Yes. Daddy, can I hurt him?" she asked. He shook his head.
"No, Princess. You can't hurt him," he explained. She nodded, kissing John's forehead.
John knew Rhiannon would never be the same. She had lost alot of her childlike innocence.
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Chapter 4 is up! I am still stunned by the popularity of this story.
Just a small warning. You'll need your tissues next chapter.
Keep reading! Keep enjoying! Keep reviewing!
JenLea
PREVIEW: Rhiannon says her final good-bye to 'Papa'.
