It was an amazing feeling to be sat at the dinner table with all her family surrounding her, with the very welcome addition of Caleb across from her. She had missed this even though she had only been away for a day. Being around the familiar setting at home was one of great comfort to Lou. She was beginning to feel the trials of the day before had been of someone else entirely, here she couldn't feel further from that vulnerable version of herself. This was where she belonged.
Everyone shared around the gorgeous meal that Lisa had kindly made, taking the pressure off of Lou to prepare something. The conversation was also maintained by Lisa, trying to keep the focus on everyone other than Lou, asking about everyone's days. It was a light hearted and just what Lou needed. She couldn't be more thankful for Lisa's help, she didn't have the energy to keep the conversations flowing – never mind cook a meal.
"So Lou how was the girl's night out?" Asked Tim oblivious to the situation. "You're looking a little worse for wear, so I'm assuming it was good?"
The table fell silent as no-one knew what to say. Lou had forgotten she hadn't told her father when he came in as she had been preoccupied with Katie. Now she was dumbfounded as not only did Tim not know but neither did Georgie and she didn't want to tell her in front of the whole family. Her plan had been to tell Georgie alone in her room that night after they'd eaten, to give Georgie privacy should she be upset. The atmosphere could have been cut with a knife, everyone was on edge knowing how Tim didn't like to be left out of the loop.
"What?" Tim asked noticing the awkward glances around the table as still no-one made a move to answer him. "C'mon what aren't you telling me, I'm obviously the last to know something – as usual!"
"Lou went away with Caleb to Calgary" Georgie announced deviously, knowing exactly what she was saying would cause some trouble.
"Caleb…?" Tim asked almost chocking on his words, completely in disbelief at what he'd heard.
"Georgie!" Scolded Lou, unsure how to get out of this situation her daughter had created.
"Well it's true" Georgie said defiantly.
"Is it…?" Asked Tim still not believing what he was hearing, tempted to laugh at the absurdity.
Lou knew no matter what she said next was going to have some major fall out. Things were getting out of control rather quickly. She really didn't want to throw Caleb to the wolves but she just couldn't drop a bombshell on Georgie either. There was only one real option.
"Yes, it's true" Lou confirmed, turning to Caleb and mouthing the word 'sorry' to him.
Immediately Tim's eyes directed towards Caleb, filled with angry disapproval. Caleb met Tim's stare full on without blinking and jaw set. Neither of them spoke for a moment as the atmosphere intensified.
"Caleb…Really?" Tim took a long hard breath, drawing out his judgement. "Honey, you could do so much better than that. I mean an Oil man to a rodeo cowboy - and not a very good one at that! What were you thinking?"
"Dad…" Lou pleaded with him, "Not now okay?"
"Wait – you're serious aren't you?" Tim spat the words out as if they left a foul taste in his mouth.'
"You know I'm sitting right here…" Caleb challenged, unable to maintain his calm any longer, "If you've something to say, you can say it to me"
"Georgie can I have a word?" Demanded Lou, pointing towards the stairs. "Grandpa…?" She added looking to Jack for some help with the full scale war that was about to erupt at any given moment. Her eyes were wide and shining from the tears that would be sure to come.
"Go Lou, I've got it and don't worry about him" Jack replied genuinely nodding towards Caleb, knowing despite what he might think about it, Lou was leaning on Caleb and needed him around right now.
"We've heard enough of your gum's flapping Tim" Jack said sternly before turning to Caleb and adding, "And you best quit while you're ahead. I don't want to hear another word from the two of you."
Lou couldn't help but hide a smile as she walked up the stairs behind Georgie, listening to her dad and Caleb being told off like children was pretty amusing, their faces both a picture. Before she entered Georgie's room Lou regained her composure as this was now a time for seriousness and she needed to come across as exactly that.
"Ugh, I'm sorry Lou" Georgie said without meaning it, hoping to avoid a lecture.
"This isn't about that" Lou explained, "It's not about Caleb and I either for that matter but it might clear things up for you though. This is really hard for me to say and I have put it off all day hoping I'd have come up with an easy way to tell you."
"Tell me what? Oh my god, are you pregnant?!" Georgie accused rather loudly.
"Shhh, no not that" Lou could only hope they hadn't heard that downstairs to fire Tim up some more.
"Then what?" Georgie began to get curious as she couldn't fathom out what else it could be.
"I've been to hospital, that's why I was with Caleb - he drove me there as I wouldn't be able to drive home again. I've had some tests and I'm waiting on some more results" Lou paused to let what she'd said sink in, she could see that Georgie was looking at her with worry. "They are testing me for breast Cancer, they suspect I have it".
Before Lou had finished her sentence Georgie started to cry. "Mom... I'm sorry... I didn't..."
As Georgie's emotions overwhelmed her, Lou wrapped her arms around her daughter, hugging her as tightly as she could manage from her pain free side. Knowing how scared Georgie would feel had tempted Lou not to tell her until everything was confirmed. She didn't want to cause her upset without reason as she'd been through so much for someone so young. Lou was plagued with guilt that she would be adding again to the hurt. She knew she wouldn't have answers to the questions Georgie would have but she could hold her and comfort her until her tears run dry. That was something she knew she could do. She could love her daughter, support her and protect her as much as humanely possible. As Georgie's tears started to slow and her breathing calmed, Lou knew it was time to put her brave face on.