A Fateful Farewell
Page 8
‘I’m so sorry John; she’s not responding.’
‘You mean?’
‘I’m afraid we’re losing her.’
‘Let me see the babies before I return to sit with her.’
Shocked and dazed he lifted up his little son and daughter and held them close; tears streamed down his face. Little Kate played with his face with her tiny hand. Eventually, he put them down and headed downstairs.
Cedric and May arrived and tried to console him; they sat with him in the visitor’s lounge for a while. Later, RG and Peg called. John was so shocked and dazed he hardly heard their efforts to comfort him.
He returned to Kate’s room and sat at her bedside hour after hour; she appeared to be in a coma; the only sound the constant pinging of the heart monitor. He held her hand and told her how much he loved her and begged her to come back to him and their little ones. The nurse entered the room frequently and checked her; Dr Rutledge stayed with him for a while; she was deeply disturbed.
John was plied with cups of coffee; shocked beyond belief that he was going to lose his beloved Kate.
As midnight approached it seemed the end was near. Then, she opened her eyes, sighed and stretched herself; her colour improved; she smiled.
‘That lovely Indian doctor healed me.’
He didn’t see any Indian doctor.
He was so shocked he could scarcely believe his eyes; he leapt up and took her in his arms. ‘Thank God you’re all right love.’
‘John, I’m starving; will you ask the nurse to get me some tea and toast?’
Tears ran down his face; tears of joy.
‘John, get me something to eat before I die of starvation.’
‘I will love.’
He rushed to the nurses’ station and asked for tea and toast for Kate. They thought he was losing it until one of them checked the patient. Pandemonium followed; Dr Rutledge was told and rushed to Kate’s bedside.
‘Kate love we were so worried about you.’
‘That lovely Indian doctor healed me.’
She smiled. ‘You must have been dreaming love; we haven’t any Indian doctors.’
‘He stood by the bed; put his hand on my forehead; I could feel the energy surging back into my body.’
A nurse arrived with tea and toast. Kate tucked in; she was really hungry.
‘Can I see my babies now?’ She handed back the tray.
Her doctor checked her out briefly and switched off the heart monitor. ‘As a precaution we’ll do the bloods again Kate but you’re perfect.’
John was still in a state of euphoria.
‘I’ll get your dressing gown and bring you up.’
‘When can I go home with my little ones?’
The doctor smiled. ‘Tomorrow if all’s well.’
***
Their return home was chaotic and exciting; John driving his new estate car; the two babies fast asleep in their carry cots. Jack was waiting for them at the cottage with nurse Anne Grogan, a middle aged kindly lady. She fed the babies and settled them in their nursery while Kate and John unpacked the cases and tried to get everything back to normal. Eventually, it all happened.
May and Cedric arrived later with a parcel of baby clothes and were duly introduced to little Kate and John as they would be called. They admired the babies, had coffee and sat with the ecstatic parents. Kate was so excited; Cedric was curious.
‘We were worried about you Kate,’ he ventured.
‘It’s all down to that lovely young Indian doctor.’
He knew there wasn’t an Indian doctor in the hospital.
‘What did he look like?’
‘He was young, smiled, such a lovely smile; he didn’t speak.’
Cedric turned to John. ‘Did you see him?’
‘No, I must have nodded off; all I remember is Kate suddenly relaxing with a big sigh; she opened her eyes, smiled at me and said I’m hungry.’
***
John and RG met with Rory in Cedric’s house to bring the affairs of the Foundation up to date. Rory, just back from London, opened his file and passed around some sheets of paper.
‘As you can see, sales of the quantum are still continuing although at a slower rate; we now have a very substantial fund for distribution. I’ve been through the applications from Irish charities and NGO’s operating abroad and I’ve listed my suggestions for the coming year in each case opposite the amount requested.’
‘Those figures look very reasonable,’ Cedric remarked.
‘Will you ask May to issue the cheques?’
Rory continued. ‘We have so much in hand that I’m suggesting we buy some properties in this country.’
John studied the figures. ‘I think we should do that.’ He paused.
‘Any progress on the education front?’
‘I’ve talked with all the university people; they’re all in favour but far from unanimous on implementation; what do you think?’
‘I think that any student who gets the points for third level, but cannot attend for financial reasons should be entitled to our support.’
‘I agree,’ RG added. ‘But we need to be cautious here; we should limit our expenditure to those who genuinely need it. And failure in two exams should lead to the withdrawal of our support.’
‘Rory,’ Cedric asked, ‘what’s the position on industrial grants?’
‘I’m looking into a number of applications. This is a very slow process; we have to be fully convinced before agreeing to pay out funds. I’m not making any suggestions at this time.’
‘I think we should only make loans,’ RG began. ‘That will encourage genuine applicants.’
John nodded. ‘I agree.’
‘And if a venture fails?’
‘We’ll just have to take the loss; I don’t want the Foundation seen as a soft touch.’
‘Whatever happened with our friend Ziegler Felde?’
‘The crafty bastard. Told the FBI he knew nothing about it; accepts the bank has a fine to pay and is currently negotiating with the Attorney General.’
RG turned to John. ‘Do you want to leave him in charge of the bank?’
‘We might as well; that way we can keep tabs on him. That bastard did me a good turn but he doesn’t know that.’
***
The months passed quickly. Kate settled down to a whole new way of life for the second time; so happy and excited as she got to know her little ones and they got to know her and each other. Her original plan to breast feed had to be abandoned. They slept well most nights. Little John who had a veracious appetite; Kate was more genteel and they smiled a lot; already familiar with the sweet sound of their mother’s voice, they loved to be taken up and cuddled.
May called regularly; with four little ones herself she was generous with her advice. She was also very happy; she loved Cedric; had spent several nights with him and in due time they planned to marry. She confided in Kate; she was disappointed Cedric couldn’t have children; she would have loved to have his babies; only two mind you!
Nancy called and they sat outside sipping coffee. She had quite a bump now with two months still to go. Captivated by the kids – six months old now – she was very happy.
‘I’m so glad I made the right decision Kate.’
Kate smiled looking at the children in their playpen nearby,
‘They are what life is all about.’
***
John was walking up the mountain with Jack when he had his first dizzy spell; he sat on the heather and held his head in his hands until it passed. It was alarming while it lasted and he hoped it was a one off; he had always enjoyed excellent health. As the weeks passed he noticed he had slowed down and his balance seemed to be affected. He said nothing to Kate.
His great joy was to sit and play with little Kate and John who now called them “Da-da and Ma-ma.” Jack appointed himself their guardian; they loved him. Whenever they sat in their buggy outside the cottage he sat beside them and woe betide any stranger
who came too close.
There was great excitement when Nancy’s baby daughter was born; everyone assumed Cedric was the father; her denials were ignored. But she was happy and quickly settled down to bringing up her little Anna. She called regularly to the cottage and also visited Cedric; she’d given up trying to convince people.
Kate noticed that John was failing and asked him to go for a check up. Although reluctant, he agreed. He was now suffering from a severe headache and his balance was getting worse. They went to see Dr Jack Corcoran in Castlebar; he decided to send John to the Mater in Dublin for a brain scan.
A week later Dr Corcoran sent for both of them. He broke the news as gently as he could; John had an inoperable brain tumour. Kate drove home in a state of shock; John who suspected the outcome was a bit more composed; it was better that Kate be left to the kids.
To him it seemed ironic; the man who stood on the cliff top three years earlier was fast approaching the exit again; this time with more hope of seeing his loved ones; leaving behind his beloved Kate and their lovely little ones was hard to bear. If Cedric was right it wouldn’t be the end; he would meet them all again.
His affairs were already in order; he was leaving the Foundation, firmly established, in safe hands. Some good would come of his up and down life after all. He told RG and Peg, Cedric and May, and Rory and waived aside their sympathy; he insisted he’d had a good life.
Kate prayed for a miracle; she couldn’t bear the thought of losing him. She kept cheerful in his presence; she would have to be strong for him; thankfully the kids were blissfully unaware. Later there would be plenty of time to mourn.
***
It seemed appropriate that he should end his days in Castlebar hospital where he first met Kate. They talked a lot during that time; she was delighted that he now believed in Cedric’s God as he called Him. To his great joy she brought the kids to visit him most days.
By special arrangement with the matron Cedric got permission to bring Jack to see John for one last time. He put his front paws up on the side of the bed and snuggled into John’s arms. He hugged his old friend tearfully and, when Cedric finally persuaded him to leave, John lay back exhausted.
RG, Peg, May and Cedric were regular visitors; Peg awaiting confirmation she was pregnant; May and Cedric planning their wedding in the New Year, wondering how local gossip would deal with it. John’s instructions were very clear; a private funeral, no mourning, no publicity.
It came suddenly in the end; Kate had just left the hospital to meet Peg for a coffee when he slipped away peacefully. She was devastated but knew she had to stay strong. She would make certain her little ones would know about their wonderful father. Cedric, May, RG and Peg spent a lot of time with her in the days that followed. She chose a solid oak coffin.
The cortege moved quietly from the funeral home in Westport; travelled to the old monastery and cemetery by the bay; the pallbearers carried the coffin to the Molloy grave in the corner followed by Kate, May, Peg, RG, Rory and Cedric. On a signal from Cedric they lowered the coffin, placed mock green grass over the grave and stood well back.
Cedric stood beside Kate and put an arm around her.
‘I know John doesn’t like speeches but I can’t let this occasion pass without paying tribute to a great and humble man who leaves behind him a loving wife, two beautiful children and good friends. We have only known him for three short years; in that time he has achieved more than most achieve in a lifetime; his good works will live on long after we’re all gone. But mostly we remember him as a good human being.’
***
Afterwards, they gathered in Cedric’s comfortable dining room for a light meal; Rory had to leave early to return to Galway. Seated around the table they eat in silence. Kate, still sitting down, spoke quietly.
‘I want to tell you about John. We first met in Castlebar hospital when he was brought in by Cedric with appendicitis. After Cedric left I prepared him for the theatre. He was in so much pain I gave him a shot of Morphine which relaxed him so much he became very talkative. It soon became clear to me he had come to this part of the world to end his life.
What he didn’t know was that, in my grief after losing little Noirin, I was planning to do the same thing when I returned home after that shift. I just couldn’t take it any longer; I had already amassed a large quantity of barbiturates; I would take them, lie down on my bed and join my Noirin.
When I discovered John’s intentions I decided to wait a while longer and try to save him; if I failed I would follow quickly. I suppose it became a challenge; I had no idea I would fall in love with him. I still talk to him everyday and I’m sure he hears me. The last thing he said to me was: ‘I’ll be waiting for you and I’ll take care of little Noirin if she’s still there.’
While they prepared to leave Kate noticed a book with a photo on the front on a side table. She picked it up; it was Yogananda’s book. She became quite excited.
‘Cedric, that’s the lovely Indian doctor that healed me; I knew it wasn’t a dream.’
The End
other books
by James Kilcullen
include:
The Rape of the Rath & The West’s Awake
Exit Adam
The Father of Troy
The Contract
Once we get rid of money everything else will be possible
Short stories:
Intrigue
Pride
Reconciliation
Justice
Conna in Crisis & The Marriage of Ulick
Empowering the Written Word