As the immediate crisis of George's operation had passed, awareness was creeping into Karen's brooding thoughts that Jo and John were only the most immediate circle of those who knew George, who cared about her. As she sat back in her armchair on Thursday night, she reeled off the names in short order of those who must be told. These included Nikki, Helen, Barbara, Yvonne, Roisin and Cassie. She dismissed out of hand the idea of phoning through the news, as she would have to tell the same story many times over and it certainly didn't feel right. That is where the idea of a gathering came into her mind. She lit a cigarette, and started to puzzle as to over where would be a convenient place. Larkhall certainly had the rooms, but it had nowhere comfortable or friendly. Also, she had to consider that Larkhall was situated south of the river and the others had their lives and jobs situated all over London. At last, the obvious idea came to her mind and, with a smile of satisfaction, she picked up her phone.
"You're being very mysterious all of a sudden, Karen." Nikki enquired, as they strolled to their cars. "You phone me up at home to propose I join you and the rest of the gang in going down to the pub on a Thursday night. Not any pub but the one round the corner of the Old Bailey. It sounds a great idea but there's something that I just don't get."
"It somehow seems fitting, Nikki."Karen said enigmatically. "You wait and you'll find out."
To her intense relief, Nikki's natural curiosity seemed to evaporate. Perhaps, it was just the effect of a long hard week. At least it meant that, at this time of the year, it meant driving through sometimes sunlit streets, instead of through the cold, bleak rain lashed night. Karen smiled automatically at Nikki, as she got into her car but it faded as she reflected on the self imposed task she had in hand.
Hours later, Nikki led the way ahead of Helen and she pushed open the door of the pub. Immediately, she was wrapped up in intensely nostalgic feelings of good will. She and Helen had good mental associations with this pub, the scene of the intermission in the struggles for justice in court. It was where they celebrated their togetherness and inclusiveness in light hearted banter, that was more serious in purpose than they made out. Each of them was sensitive to the needs of each other, and made delicate adjustments as a matter of course. As they entered the large, airy room, she and Helen grinned as they caught sight of Karen, who had commandeered a long table and high backed chairs ready for them all.
"Hi Karen, long time no see." Helen greeted Karen
Helen was right. It had felt a long time since they had seen each other, as they had been so busy with their own lives that time slipped through their fingers like fine sand.
" I'm glad you're the organized one."
"Well, someone's got to be the bossy one." Karen retorted.
The atmosphere was the same as normal as Yvonne's cheering presence made itself felt, soon followed by Barbara's sense of calm, Cassie's mature form of brashness and Roisin's gentler maternal glow. Everything seemed right in the room, as each one of them lent their particular coloration to the whole.
"How are you doing, Barbara?" Yvonne cheerily asked the other woman.
"Working for the local council again. I must admit it is all very quiet and impersonal. Instead of the internal politics of parish life, I have petty minded office politics instead. They really haven't lived."
"I bet they find you a dark horse, eh Babs"
"That's the side of me they don't see."
"Sorry to interrupt you all but I'm buying the first round. What do you all want?" Karen replied cheerily enough.
They gathered round the table, drink in each hand and broke into the general delighted chatter of those old friends, who had not seen each other for some time. Karen's mouth moved to say the appropriate words and her smile seemed convincing. As her act was convincing enough, everything felt congenial to everyone except her.
"I'm surprised Jo and George ain't here, but I suppose they're busy with the next trial. You never know, even the judge might have come here with us if he had the bottle." Yvonne broke in to make casual conversation.
Instead of the round of laughs that Yvonne had expected, a sudden silence descended on the room, while the rest of the pub sounds faded into the background. One glance at Karen betrayed her extreme discomfort for all to see.
"Well, that's part of the reason I fixed this up, as well as meeting you all again. Time flies"
"What's going on, Karen?" Nikki asked quietly.
The other woman said nothing for a little while. She was torn between doing her duty, and not wanting to spoil the convivial atmosphere that had built up. It made her feel whole and relaxed and totally off duty, as nothing else in her life quite succeeded in doing.
"I don't feel comfortable in breaking this news to you all but I have to tell you that George is in hospital for breast cancer. They operated on her but it was too late to save it. I must say that she is comfortable and being looked after"
These hesitantly phrased words hit home like a bolt of lightning. It spoke of every woman's nightmare, and struck so deep that the other five verbally fluent women were lost for words.
"I really hate to spoil the party but I had to tell you. It's been kept under wraps long enough as it is"
"How long"
Karen gave a big sigh as she confessed the truth under duress.
"George has had it since last Christmas but never told a soul till she told me very recently. She saw a private doctor at short notice and Jo went with her to the hospital"
There was a sharp intake of breath. Five very alert minds were mentally pencilling in the chronology of events, first and foremost being Barbara's trial.
"So all the time George was standing up in court, she was putting her own health on the line." Cassie found herself saying on automatic pilot.
"There's a bit in what you say, Cassie but there's more to it than that." Karen jumped in hastily, feeling very defensive for George, frowning at the other woman. Above all else, she did not want Barbara to feel guilty as if her troubles had kept George from seeking the medical treatment she had urgently needed. "From my experience of working in a hospital, I have seen too many women who have acted in the same way as George, from all walks of life and education. It goes right across the spectrum. The only difference is just how long they leave it. ……. It was one reason why I got out of nursing. Anyway, the latest that I've heard is that she's coming out of hospital on Saturday"
"Is that good news or bad?" Nikki queried.
"It's too early to say but the signs are fairly hopeful, but we have to follow this one step at a time." Karen found herself saying. Jesus, she really did feel as if she were wearing her button up the front nurses uniform instead of her favourite suits. It struck her, as she paused for breath that all the familiar expressions were rolling off the tongue as if it were only yesterday that she had last uttered these words.
"The most important thing is that George is a fighter. You've all seen that. Believe you me, that will to survive will carry you a long way, more than conventional medicine would have you believe"
"She will have John and Jo to help her through this one. They care." Broke in Helen to also strike the positive note.
"And so do we, don't we." Roisin chimed, having carefully listened to every word that was said, while Cassie kept quiet. "She deserves our help"
A glum silence fell on that part of the room. It went without saying that all of their sympathies were with George at a moment like this, the same as any of them, but they felt helpless to do anything practical. Flowers and get well cards were all very well but they seemed to fall well short of the mark.
All of them broke into spontaneous expressions of sympathy, which started to hurt her head as she listened and finally, she cut the others short.
"Look here, now that we're all here, we'll enjoy ourselves, right? Another day, we'll work out what needs doing. George will be looked after, I'm dead sure of that one. It's what we're all best at and all. Right now, I'm buying in the next round even though it's really on George. She likes a good party and that is what she would want us to do tonight"
The tone in Yvonne's voice was her big hearted toughness at its best, as she took charge of the situation. The others colluded with her by pretending to forget the sad news awhile. They knew each other well enough to realize that tomorrow was another day and would be dealt with.