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Life Begins At 40 Part 2 (finished at last 13 July - pg 13)

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#1: Life Begins At 40 Part 2 (finished at last 13 July - pg 13) Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 4:12 pm
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Life Begins At 40 - Part One

I just can't imagine Jo managing to be pleased about Steve marrying Joan. I know Joan 'reformed', but even so I don't think Jo would have deemed her a suitable match for her son.

Joan headed off to the hospital at lunch time and when she got to the ward she found Jackie sitting up in bed, cuddling the baby and gazing at her with the same rapt expression she had worn the previous evening. "I see the novelty hasn't worn off," she observed, sitting down beside the bed.
"Hello Joan," said Jackie, looking up with a smile. "I've been sitting here most of the morning, just admiring her."
"She's worth admiring," Joan agreed.
"We've decided on a name," Jackie went on, her eyes already back on her daughter's face. "Ken was in this morning - he thinks we should call him Ken and not Kenny now that he's a dad! - and we agreed on Esther Joan. What do you think?"
"I think it's lovely," said Joan, feeling tears coming into her eyes. "It's so good of you to want to give her my name."
"Nonsense," said Jackie with a chuckle. "You are her grandmother and you've been brilliant to me and Ken. It's the least we can do."
"How are you feeling?" Joan changed the subject in the hope of getting her emotions under control again.
"I'm all right," said Jackie. "A bit sore, of course, but so happy. Would you like to hold Esther?"
"I'd love to," said Joan happily, taking the baby from Jackie. "That's why I'm here! Did you get much sleep last night?"
"Yes, hours. They took Esther off to the nursery."
Joan looked around the little ward. There were three other beds, all occupied by young women, and all were sitting up in bed holding tiny babies.
"They're all really nice," said Jackie, following Joan's gaze. "They've all got girls, too. We've had a lovely chat this morning."
"How long will you stay in for?"
"Oh, they think about five days," said Jackie. "I'd rather leave today, but Ken says it's better to stay in as long as possible, just to be sure that everything's all right."
"And you can rest much better here," agreed Joan, watching as a tall, elegantly dressed lady stood in the doorway, looking around her. Catching sight of Joan she paused for a moment, and then came into the sunny room, her high heels tapping as she walked down the ward. As she reached the bed, Jackie looked up and all the colour drained from her face.
"Hello Jackie," she said, her voice surprisingly soft.
"Hello Mum," said Jackie coldly.
"May I stay a while?" her mother asked, looking longingly at the bundle that Joan was holding.
"How did you know I was here?"
"Lynne's mother told me." Mrs. Anderson indicated the chair in the corner of the cubicle. "May I sit down?" she asked.

Last edited by Fatima on Fri Jul 13, 2007 8:17 pm; edited 34 times in total

#2: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 4:29 pm
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One problem may be on the way to a solution.

Now to see Jo's downfall, please. She ought to realise that if Steve's in his late thirties, he's old enough to know his own mind.

#3: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:08 pm
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Hope Jackie and her mum can make up.

#4: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:56 pm
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This looks hopeful Very Happy

Thanks, Becky

#5: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:37 pm
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Hope Jackie can forgive her mum - wonder if her dad is at work or if there is some other reason he's not there.

Thanks Becky

#6: Author: Woofter, Location: Location? What's a location?

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:55 pm
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Oh I jope jackie can forgive her mum.

Thanks Becky. I missed this at the start of the week then I was away all weekend and came back to lots of lovely long updates

#7: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 2:29 pm
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Thanks, Becky. I hope that Jackie and her mum can make things up with each other.

#8: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:00 pm
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Joan stood up and returned Esther to Jackie. "I'll come in again this evening," she said, but before she could leave, Jackie had reached out and grabbed her hand.
"Please don't go," she said and she gave Joan a look of such desperation that Joan could not even think of going. She sat down beside Jackie again and looked across the bed at the lovely looking lady that had made Jackie so miserable.
"This is my mother-in-law," Jackie said, pausing just a fraction too long between the words mother and in.
Mrs. Anderson looked momentarily disconcerted, for it was easy to see the affection between Jackie and Joan, but she soon regained her composure. "It's nice to meet you at last, Mrs. Coles," she said, giving Joan a smile that was almost the exact twin of Jackie's smile and extending her hand just as if they were meeting at some elegant soiree. "Jackie, I've come to tell you how very sorry I am," she went on earnestly. "I can't believe I have been so unkind to you. Do you think you can ever forgive me?"
"Why did you do it?" asked Jackie, who was still puzzled by this.
"At the time I thought you'd done something wrong," said Mrs. Anderson slowly. "To have a baby before you were married was completely against everything I was brought up to believe and I just couldn't accept that my daughter could have got herself in that position. I'm really sorry, though, Jackie. I should have made your well-being of more importance than anything else, but I chose to stand on high moral ground instead. I was wrong."
Joan, who was trying to look as though she was not there, found herself feeling sorry for Jackie's mother. She had obviously spent a long time thinking about her relationship with her daugher and realized that the best thing she could do was support Jackie instead of casting her aside. Through her foolish attitude, she had missed her only daughter's wedding, and all the excitement of planning for the baby's arrival, and its birth. It was all she could do to stop herself from assuring Mrs. Anderson that she was forgiven, but that was Jackie's decision, not hers. Joan contented herself with squeezing Jackie's hand and hoping that she would be magnanimous enough to try to rebuild her relationship with her mother. Mrs. Anderson had made a mistake, but she had come to apologise and to ask for Jackie's forgiveness, and Joan knew that Esther's life would be richer if Jackie could find it in her heart to accept the apology.
"What about Dad?" asked Jackie, her expression marginally less tense.
"He doesn't know that I'm here," Mrs. Anderson admitted. "He's very disappointed, Jackie. He had such wonderful plans for you and he's finding it really difficult to realise that you have your own plans. I will keep trying to talk him round, though. He misses you very much, so don't lose hope."
"This is Esther," said Jackie, relenting at last.
Mrs. Anderson got up and perched on the edge of the bed. She looked into the bundle of blankets and saw a small pink face looking back at her. "Oh," she gasped, sounding awestruck. "She's the image of you, Jackie."
Knowing that it would be all right between mother and daughter now, Joan stood up. "I have to get back to work," she told them. "I'll come in later, Jackie." She leaned over and kissed Jackie and then smiled at Mrs. Anderson. "I'm sorry to rush off," she said apologetically. "I hope we can meet again soon."
"I hope so too," said Mrs. Anderson sincerely. "It's been a pleasure, Mrs. Coles."
"Please call me Joan," said Joan, feeling uncomfortable hearing Vic's name after so long.
"I'm Matilda," was the rather shy response, as if Mrs. Anderson was not used to being on first name terms with people.
"Bye Jackie, bye Matilda!" Joan left, glad that Matilda had made such an important step towards being involved in Jackie's life once more. Esther deserved to know her grandparents and it would have been sad if she had been denied that chance. With a spring in her step, Joan headed back to the office and an afternoon of hard work.

#9: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:44 pm
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Well, that went well, so I do hope that Jackie's father comes round to see the baby.

Joan is behaving in such a mature and sensible way here, that it's hard to connect her with the Joan of 'Problem'.

#10: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 5:12 pm
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That sounds much better Very Happy

#11: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 6:38 pm
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thanks becky!

i hope mathilda really is sorry, and everything will be alright for jackie now

#12: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 8:40 pm
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That's better - sad about her Dad but some men take a while to appreciate that their daughter has grown up and is an adult now.

Thanks Becky

#13: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 4:10 pm
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Jennie wrote:

Joan is behaving in such a mature and sensible way here, that it's hard to connect her with the Joan of 'Problem'.

Oh dear! In her defense, she's now 41 and bound to be more mature than her 15 year old self. I hope I'm not straining the bounds of credibility too far though.

Jackie was soon out of hospital and settling into her new role as wife and mother. Matilda visited often, but always alone; she had not yet managed to convince her husband, Walter, that he ought to accept Jackie as she was, although he did make an increasingly poor effort at feigning indifference to her stories of Jackie and Esther. Joan was thrilled to see Jackie so much happier and to watch Esther thriving as a result of her mother's contentment with life. She visited as often as she could, too, letting Jackie get a nap while she cared for the baby, or helping with some of the never ending housework. Kenny, or Ken as he now insisted on being called, was more than happy to help out with nappy changing and bathing and other baby related tasks, but he was not keen on helping out around the house.
Jack and Jo Maynard stayed for a couple of days before heading back to Switzerland, but they did promise Steve that they would attend the wedding. Jo was no more resigned to having Joan as her daughter in law, but she knew that she could not bear to be excluded from Steve's life and if attending the wedding and pretending to be happy was the price she had to pay for keeping in touch with her son, she would pay it. She might not be able to sincerely congratulate Joan or to welcome her to the family, but she promised that she would do her best to be polite. Steve was not very impressed with her attitude, but before he left, Jack took him to one side and promised to do his best to convince Jo that Steve loved Joan and would be happy with her. He had accompanied Steve 'to the pub' on the evening before they flew out to Switzerland and met up with Joan, which had banished any reservations he might have harboured about the marriage. It was clear that Joan and Stephen were very much in love and once she had realised that Jack really did intend to give her a fair chance, Joan relaxed and Jack found himself enjoying the company of Steve's fiancee more than he had expected to.
As their respective wedding days drew closer, Con and Joan did plenty of shopping. Con had already found a dress that she liked, but she was struggling to find shoes to go with it. Joan had no idea about what would be suitable for her to wear, and the only thing she knew for sure was that the outfit would have to be classy enough to silence any criticisms Jo might want to make, but simple enough to show that Joan had learnt not to over dress. As they browsed through the rails of a large department store, Con let out a sudden yelp of delight.
"Joan! I've found just the thing!" she exclaimed, causing Joan to abandon the classically cut navy suit she had been studying.
"What?" asked Joan, almost running across the shop floor.
"This is perfect!" Con held up a straight skirt with a longish jacket for Joan to see.
"No!" Joan was shocked to think that Con should be waving such a hideous outfit around. "No way!"
"But it's lime green!" Con pointed out unnecessarily.
"And therein lies it's complete lack of appeal," said Joan.
"Mother's favourite colour is lime green," Con reminded her. "If you wear this she's going to think you are the epitome of style and good taste!"
"I think I'd prefer to be thought of as completely lacking in taste, then," said Joan firmly. She could just imagine Steve's comments if she showed up at the registry office thus attired, even if it did send compliments tripping off of Jo's tongue. "But this could be just the thing." From the next rail Joan pulled a dove grey suit, made of some soft material that would hang most becomingly from Joan's now svelte figure. "What do you think, Con?"
"Not a patch on this," said Con, still giggling as she replaced the lime green suit.
"Be serious for a minute," Joan begged. "Shall I go and try this on?"
Con turned to look at the suit her friend was holding. "Yes," she said, abandoning her teasing. "It's gorgeous. You could wear it with the palest pink blouse, or mauve, or light blue..."
"Or white," said Joan, looking around to find the changing room.
"It's over there." Con pointed Joan in the right direction and waited impatiently outside until Joan reappeared, now wearing the suit. "Yes," she said, her voice full of certainty. "That is just perfect."
"Isn't it," said Joan, knowing that she had finally found exactly the right outfit for the wedding. "And I think you're right about the pink blouse," she added. "We'll have to begin our search again now."
Once they had bought the suit, they headed off to another shop, where Con was able to find a pair of shoes she could actually walk in and which would not leave her hobbling up the aisle to marry Roger. And they were very lucky, because in the women's wear department they also found a lovely silk blouse for Joan to wear under the suit. There was just one left, and Joan was, once again, thankful for the diet she was on, for it actually fit her. A year ago it would have been tight, to say the least, but now it looked tailor made for her and she knew she would feel wonderful as she walked into the registry office to marry Steve.

#14: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 4:50 pm
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I don't think it's straining credibility at all - people who're made to feel that they don't fit in at school often change when they leave and are in in environment they're more comfortable in, and (hopefully!!) most of us grow up after leaving school anyway (er, have I grown up?).

#15: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 4:50 pm
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ha ha!! lime green suit!! thanks becky

#16: Author: wheelchairprincess, Location: Oxfordshire, UK

Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 4:55 pm
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I love the idea of wearing lime green to please Jo but very glad Joan has more sense because it is a really hideous colour! And the grey suit sounds lovely.

#17: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 4:58 pm
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I loved the lime-green suit, and I also loved that Con was cynical about her mother.

Thanks, Becky.

#18: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 7:32 pm
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Personally I'm still waiting to grow up - it's not happened yet - all I've managed is growing out! Confused

That was good, glad Jack, at least, has fully accepted Joan - and I'm so glad Joan refused the lime-green monstrosity. Rolling Eyes

Thanks Becky

#19: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 2:29 pm
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Con and Roger's wedding day dawned bright and sunny, much to the relief of all concerned. Joan, who was viewing the day as a practice run for her own marriage now just two weeks away, was nervous about spending the day with Steve's family. Jack Maynard was fine, and Joan was not especially worried about meeting Steve's younger siblings; thoughts of meeting up with Len and Margot and Jo Maynard made her feel very apprehensive though. She stood by the mirror and scrutinised herself from every angle, hoping that the navy dress she had bought for the occasion did not look too sombre. She had been reluctant to get a more colourful outfit, fearing that she would hear it called 'loud', or, worse still, 'vulgar'. She put on her jacket, also navy, but with a fine white trim to it, and her wide-brimmed hat and looked at herself again. She was also to wear a white rosebud as a corsage, which would help alleviate the darkness of her attire. Sighing as she realized that her life from this point would be a constant struggle to dress in a way that would meet with approval from Steve's family, Joan decided that she was as well turned out as she could hope to be and headed off to the kitchen.
"You look wonderful!" Steve was sitting at the kitchen table, sipping coffee. "Just don't blame me if Con hates you from now on. She's going to be furious that you have upstaged her on her wedding day."
"Idiot!" Joan rebuked him, but she smiled nonetheless. "Thank you, though. Are you sure I'll do?"
"You'll more than do," he assured her, and she knew from the admiration in his eyes that he meant it. "Do you want coffee before we go?"
"No, thank you. If I have any more I shan't be able to sit still in the church."
Steve drained his cup and stood up. "Then we'd better be off," he told her. "How do I fix this thing on?"
Joan took the carnation from him and expertly pinned it into his button hole. "You look pretty good, too," she told him softly.
Steve leaned closer and kissed her. "Don't worry any more," he said firmly. "They are going to be unable to find fault with you, so relax and enjoy yourself. Please?"
"I''ll try," she promised, slipping her hand into his and hoping that she would be able to do just that.
They drove to the church and found that the car park was just about full. There were dozens of Maynard relations expected to attend the wedding, and as she got out of the car Joan braced herself to face a whole lot of people she had not expected to see again once she had left the Gornetz Platz. With her arm through Steve's, Joan went into the church. There were few spaces left in the front pews, and for a moment she hoped that Steve would suggest they sit at the back, but he carried on up the aisle almost to the front of the church. There she saw Len Entwhistle and her family sitting next to Jo, while Margot and her family were behind them. Steve drew Joan into the pew with Margot and Joan was greatly relieved as Margot leaned across and shook her hand with a big smile of welcome.
"Hello Joan," she said in a low voice. "Congratulations! I'm so happy for you and Steve."
"Thank you," said Joan, rather taken aback by the warmth of Margot's greeting. She remembered the youngest of the Maynard triplets as a rather heedless and self centred young lady, and had never been especially friendly with her. Then again, she had not been especially friendly with Con, either, and now Con was perhaps her closest friend.
Before they could say anything else, the organ switched abruptly from the quiet melody that it had been playing into a triumphant fanfare and Joan and Margot abandoned discussion in favour of turning to look towards the back of the church.
There, standing in the doorway with her father, stood Con, looking more beautiful than anyone had ever seen her before. Joan glanced back to the front of the church, where Roger's previously anxious expression had given way to one that nicely mixed relief and delight, and then she looked up at Steve. He was not looking at either the bride or the groom; instead his attention was centred upon Joan.
"I can hardly wait until it's my turn," he whispered, before a glare from his mother silenced him
Agreeing wholeheartedly, Joan squeezed his arm and concentrated on enjoying the service.

#20: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 2:43 pm
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*slips into back pew wearing new hat, armed with camera and confetti*

Thanks, Becky Very Happy

#21: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 3:06 pm
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That was nice of Margot. It's always good to feel that you've got another ally!

#22: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 4:58 pm
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'Margot and family' - so she didn't become a nun then? Pleased she was kind and welcoming to Joan.

Thanks Becky

#23: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 5:02 pm
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Does that mean that Margot has seen through her mother? I hope so.

#24: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 2:14 pm
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thanks becky

#25: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 5:10 pm
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Margot's married to the doctor from the other drabble here as I just can't see her as a nun!

The photographs were taken outside the church, and Joan did her best to hide at the back of the group of spectators and well-wishers and watch everyone posing for the pictures. She especially enjoyed watching Jo lining up her children for a picture together, and from what was said it seemed as though Jo made this shot a feature of any Maynard wedding. Everyone responded with good humour, though, and when the photographer pressed the shutter, Joan knew it would be a lovely picture. She managed to avoid most of the groups, but finally Steve sought her out and drew her into the shot, claiming that Con would be annoyed if she did not feature in at least one of the wedding photos.
"Besides, you're as good as family," he pointed out, making Joan smile at just the moment the photo was taken.
Once everyone was satisfied with the number of pictures taken, they began to get back into their cars and head off to the reception. Con had booked a large dining room in a very smart hotel, and the food she had ordered sounded absolutely superb, so Joan was looking forward to the meal very much. Con had promised that she and Steve would be sitting with Cindy and Brian, so she would be able to relax and enjoy the afternoon. On arrival at the hotel, Joan disappeared into the bathroom to freshen up and as she stood before the mirror Margot came in.
"Joan!" she said, still sounding glad to see her. "How are you? I can't believe you want to take on my hopeless brother!"
"He's not hopeless," said Joan loyally, even though she knew Margot was only joking.
"Listen." Margot took Joan's arm and looked straight at her. "I just want to tell you that I'm so glad you're marrying Steve. I can see that you've made him very happy. I'd really like it if you'd come and visit us sometimes - you should meet my family properly - and I'd like to think that we could be friends as well as sisters-in-law."
"I'd like that too," said Joan, surprised to find that she really meant it. She had not been particularly fond of Margot at school, but it seemed that the youngest of the Maynard triplets had mellowed with age and Joan felt that they might actually manage to be friendly now.
"Good. Come on, let's go back to the party." Margot picked up her handbag and Joan followed her out of the bathroom and back to the rapidly increasing crowd outside the dining room. Steve was waiting for her, and next to him was a tall, lean blond man who Margot promptly introduced to Joan. "Joan, my husband Philip Weston. Philip, this is Joan, an old friend and soon to be Mrs. Stephen Maynard."
Joan shook hands with Philip, and soon the four of them were conversing easily.
When they went into the dining room, Steve and Joan found their table, where Cindy and Brian were already sitting along with Roger's brother Roddy and his wife. Joan could hardly remember Roddy Richardson, but she soon discovered that he was as friendly as his brother. His wife, Leah, was Australian by birth and Joan found herself warming to Leah immediately. She was a hearty woman with a loud laugh, but she was a sensible and intelligent sounding woman and she seemed to find both Cindy and Joan something of kindred spirits. By the time the meal ended, Joan had committed herself to meeting up with Leah and Cindy for a girls' night out, and she was very much looking forward to it.
Once they had finished eating, the speeches were made and then Con and Roger cut the cake. Toasts were drunk and people began to drift away, some returning home and others heading up to the rooms they had booked for the night to refresh themselves for the evening do. Joan and Steve headed up to the large sitting room in which the Maynards were congregating and Joan realized that she would not be able to avoid Jo Maynard for much longer.

#26: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:34 pm
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How sad that she feels she has to avoid Jo. So glad the rest of the Maynard family have welcomed her.

Thanks Becky

#27: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:40 pm
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I wish she'd tell Jo where to get off, but I suppose Con's wedding isn't really the place for an argument!

#28: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 6:20 am
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This has been great catching up with. I don't think its unrealistic that Joan has changed from her 15 year old self. Most people I know have and I think it amazing how many people you go to school with and become really good friends with out of school that you never dreamed of being friends with in school. Hope Joey grows up. Glad Jack was so nice about Joan but I kind of thought he should be as he is out in the real world a lot more than Joey and so would be more likely to give people a chance

#29: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 3:07 pm
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Thanks, Becky. I'm glad Joan is being welcomed by most of the Maynard clan, even if Jo is still fossilised in her outdated notions.

#30: Author: wheelchairprincess, Location: Oxfordshire, UK

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:00 am
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I love the fact that Jo is the exception to the rule here and everyone else is being really nice to Joan. But then as I was writing that, I can't remember that we've seen Len so that does make me wibble a bit.

Thanks, Becky.

#31: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 2:41 pm
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It's lovely to see how the other Maynards have welcomed Joan into their fold. I just hope that Jo doesn't make trouble for Joan.

#32: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 5:24 am
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Joan need not have worried. There were so many people in the sitting room that all Jo said to her was how nice she looked. The compliment sounded sincere, too, and Joan was greatly relieved to hear it. Jo herself was wearing a lime green suit, quite similar to the one Con had suggested Joan buy, and a large cream coloured hat, with a lime green ribbon around it. It was a colour that suited Jo's dark hair and eyes and pale skin, though, and she looked exactly perfect as the mother of the bride. Joan spent a while chatting to Con, reassuring her that marriage would not change Con's relationship with her new husband, and then she and Steve caught up with Margot and managed to have a decent conversation uninterrupted by any of Margot's children. Joan was impressed by how well behaved they were; her adopted sons were grown up and her daughter Mary was an angelic looking girl in her early teens, while the twins were still just nine, but they had beautiful manners and were able to sit far more demurely than any of their cousins managed to. Margot assured Joan that it was just appearances though - Mary could be incredibly stubborn and the twins were a mischevious pair at the best of times. Len and Reg also came over to talk to Joan and Steve and if Len's greeting was slightly less warm than Margot's had been, her words were sincere enough. And as Len and Reg were happily living on the Gornetz Platz, their home just a stone's throw from Freudesheim, Joan guessed that they would not see one another very often, so Len's acceptance of her freed Joan from the worry that she was of the same opinion as her mother.
After sipping tea, which was very refreshing after all the wonderful food and champagne and talking, everyone began to head back downstairs to the dining room. The evening party was to be held there, and they had cleared away most of the tables so that people could dance. Various friends and acquaintances of Con's and Roger's who had not been invited to the sit down meal were to attend and the whole event was to be far less formal. Joan and Steve headed down with Margot and her family, for the twins had been promised a couple of hours dancing before they had to go off to bed, and were soon sitting at a table far enough from the music for speech to be possible. Steve supplied them with drinks and before they had been there long, Rosamund and Graham arrived, along with Ricki and her husband. They talked and laughed and Joan found that she had much more in common with her old schoolfriends than she had thought possible. They had all come a long way since those far off days on the Gornetz Platz, and it seemed that they were much more likely to be friends now than they had been then. It was just as Joan had experienced on meeting Con again - they were such good friends now that it was difficult to remember being merely acquaintances in school. It seemed that it was only Jo who could not see beyond her memories of the teenage Joan to the adult she had become.
Finally, Steve leaned closer to Joan. "I really want to dance with you," he told her gravely. "We're just two weeks from our own wedding and I haven't even had a single dance with you."
After years of attending functions with Vic, who enjoyed drinking and talking and would never dream of dancing, Joan had not even given a thought to it. The music had slowed, though, and suddenly the idea of being in Steve's arms seemed very appealing. With a nod of agreement she stood up and they headed over to the now crowded dancefloor. She moved into his embrace, realising that she had psyched herself up for a stressful day and had ended up enjoying herself. Now that it was just about over she could relax and she rested her head against his broad shoulder with a sigh.
"What was that for?" he asked curiously.
"I came expecting to have an awful day," she admitted. "I thought everyone would spurn me and make horrible comments behind my back, but they've all been really nice and I've had a lovely time. I'm relieved, that's all."
"You have to get over this inferiority complex," Steve told her gently. "You are clever and beautiful and smart and people really like you."
"People didn't used to think so," said Joan, lifting her head and looking into his eyes. "When I used to know these people they didn't like me. They thought I was a cheap tart and all they wanted to do was make me fit in with them. They didn't care about my feelings. I wasn't like them so it was their duty to change me regardless of whether or not I wanted to change. In many ways I did want to change. I liked their honesty and the way they were a little more...genteel than I, so I did try to become more like them. But I never liked their dowdy clothes and I always liked to have my hair permed and wear make-up."
"You were always different," he agreed with a smile.
"You don't remember that," she said with certainty.
"Oh yes I do," he told her. "I met you a couple of times and you made a lasting impression on my poor young heart."
"I don't remember that," she told him, still sceptical.
"How cruel!" he told her. "I spent hours fantasising about you and you didn't even notice me!"
"You did not!"
"I did so." Steve smiled down at her. "I still do, come to that."
Unsure now if he was serious or merely joking, Joan merely smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder once more. They danced for ages, and only came out of their romantic phantasm when they realised that Con and Roger were ready to go. The newly-weds left in a positive flurry of confetti, but not before Joan had caught a glimpse of Con's radiant expression and she hoped that she would get as much pleasure from her own wedding day as Con evidently had from her day. Feeling happy herself, Joan clung to Steve's arm as they made their way through the throng of people still partying, and they said goodbye to all the friends and family they could find. Finally, not long after the departure of the bride and groom, Joan and Steve headed off home.

#33: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 7:16 am
—
Glad it all went well for both Joan and Con. It sounds as though Joan is still expecting them to be the same as what they were at school and that she needs to allow them the chance that they're different just as she is. To be fair to Joan, Joey hasn't and has therefore coloured Joan's expectations of the others. Anyway glad to see it all went well for her.

#34: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 10:22 am
—
Pleased it all went well - Poor Joan though, to still be expecting everyone to treat her as they did when she was at School. Sp pleased Steve is there to keep lifting her opinion.

Thanks Becky

#35: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 11:37 am
—
thanks, it was was nice to wake up to a lovely long post!

i hope joan manages to accept everyones friendliness, and im glad con had such a happy wedding day.

#36: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 12:57 pm
—
Glad everyone was so nice to Joan.

#37: Author: wheelchairprincess, Location: Oxfordshire, UK

Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 6:54 pm
—
what a lovely celebration for all involved and especially for Joan who had worried so much. Hope Joan and Steve's wedding goes just as well or better.

#38: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 9:28 am
—
Just reread this again and I was thinking it's funny Steve spent years of fantasizing about Joan and she didn't notice him at all. I guess she's a dream come true after all these years and he must have been so disappointed she went out with Barry instead. No wonder he kissed her even though she was with Barry at Con's party. This is great reading.

#39: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 3:19 pm
—
I'm really loving this. It does seem that getting away from the Platz is a mind-broadening experience, doesn't it?

#40: Author: Becky, Location: Newport, South Wales, UK

Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 3:36 pm
—
Thanks, Becky, great as always.

#41: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 3:41 pm
—
Thank you for all your comments. I'm getting a bit fed up with this, it seems to have been dragging on for ages and is going nowhere fast, so it's encouraging to know that you are still reading it! I just don't seem to get the time to write anything any more.

The next two weeks flew past. Joan was so busy that she barely found time to eat and fell into bed exhausted each night. Although their wedding was not to be the huge affair that Con's was, there were still lots of people coming and arrangements to be made for her family to visit for a few days. Joan's parents were coming to stay with her, while Pam was to board with Kenny and Jackie, which threw Jackie into a panic. She had not met Pam before and was very nervous about having her to stay, even though she had quite spontaneously offered to put her up when she heard that she was coming to London for the wedding. Joan re-did the seating plan three times in the week before the wedding, wanting everyone to sit at the same table as people they felt comfortable with, and she prevailed upon Debbie call the florist almost every day to check that the flowers were going to be perfect and that the necessary button holes would be delivered to her flat and to Steve and Con's house on the morning of the wedding. Finally, worried that Joan would be so rundown by the time their wedding day dawned, Steve turned up on the doorstep and insisted that Joan spend the evening with him. They would go out for a quiet meal and then Joan would have an early night and hopefully feel a little more relaxed.
Although she had tried to tell Steve that she did not have time to go out - she still needed to check that Edna and her husband would have dinner with them on the eve of the wedding and then to plan the menu for the meal - Steve was in no mood to accept excuses. He told Debbie to call her aunt and take a message, put Joan's keys and perfume into her handbag and steered her remorselessly out the door and down to the car. Despite her protests, Steve opened the car door and helped her in, then drove away. He took her right out of town to a quiet country pub and as she sipped a pre-dinner glass of sherry, Joan felt herself begin to unwind.
"Thank you," she said, patting his knee. "I really needed to be able to relax."
"Tell me about it," he said with a grin. "You have been driving yourself too hard lately. If you keep on like this it's not a honeymoon you'll be needing, but a convalescent home."
"I just want everything to be perfect," she reminded him. "Con's wedding was so lovely and I'm worried that everyone will think ours is a pokey little affair beside it."
"They won't think anything of the sort," he assured her. "And just in case you were wondering, I've had my suit dry cleaned and I've bought a new shirt. The wedding ring is in the jacket pocket and my shoes are clean and shiny. I'm all ready for the great day."
"I'm glad to hear it. Jackie says Kenny is also ready, and she's bought the sweetest little outfit for Esther to wear. She won't let me see it until the day, though."
"Now, we aren't going to discuss the wedding at all for the rest of the evening. I know how hard you've worked and it's going to be a great day, so further discussion is unnecessary. Tell me instead about this new boyfriend of Debbie's. She sounds very smitten. Is he suitable?"
Thinking that Steve sounded far more concerned about the worthiness of Debbie's boyfriend that Vic would, Joan told him all that she knew about that particular young man. Steve skilfully manoeuvered the conversation and as they sat back to drink their after dinner coffee, Joan realized that they had not mentioned the wedding at all. She felt far less stressed than she had been of late, and she was grateful to Steve for recognising that she needed some time out and arranging it for her. She reached across the table to take his hand, still marvelling at the way such a thoughtful and caring man should want to marry her.
"Thank you," she said as his fingers closed around hers.
"For what?"
"For noticing that I needed to have a break from the wedding plans," she replied. "You're very perceptive, and considerate."
Steve grinned at her. "I'm not sure Con would agree with that," he told her, recalling the times Con had yelled at him and called him quite the opposite. "Now, it's getting on for ten o'clock and it's high time you were getting to bed. You look far more relaxed than you have done for a while, but a good night's sleep certainly wouldn't come amiss. Come on, you don't need any more coffee. Let's go."
Joan meekly put down her cup and stood up, knowing he was right. They paid the bill and headed home, and even though the wedding was now so close, Joan realized that she had not felt as calm and collected for quite some time. Everything was organised, right down to the tiniest detail, and nothing would go wrong. They would have a wonderful day and then they could begin on the rest of their life together.

#42: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:09 pm
—
im hoping the wedding will go as well as Joan hopes

thanks becky

#43: Author: Kat, Location: Little Venice/Swansea

Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:29 pm
—
Aww! Lovely Steve!

Thank you Becky - and it's not dragging on (not for us anyway!) and we're all very much enjoying! Very Happy

#44: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:19 pm
—
Hope there are no last minute hitches!

#45: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:10 pm
—
Well done Steve - Joan needed that!

Thanks Becky

#46: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:53 pm
—
Thanks, Becky. Steve and Joan deserve their happiness, and I think they're going to find it.

#47: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:45 pm
—
That was lovely of Steve. My cousin did the same for me. She had flown in from overseas and kept dragging me off to sight see with her and refused to let me do anything. It certainly helped with the stress levels and weddings are pretty stressful. Mine was nearly a disaster when the wedding caterer's were over an hour and half late and I was starting to panic. Can completely understand why Joan wants everything to be perfect especially as Joey has already put her down, she wants to impress her or least not be embarassed by anything going wrong. Fingers crossed for a good day for her

#48: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 6:33 pm
—
Steve was lovely there. I hope they'll be really happy together.

#49: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 8:46 am
—
Thanks for all your comments. Very Happy

In the end the wedding was just as perfect as Joan had hoped it would be. In the morning she had nervously dressed and had then paced around the flat until it was time to head off to the registry office. She had had a sinking feeling in her stomach that something would go wrong, but they had reached the registry office in one piece and Steve and his family had all been waiting for them to arrive. He had gallantly helped her out of the car and the touch of his hand on her arm had helped to steady Joan's nerves. She realized that she would not remember a thing about the day if she did not pull herself together, so she drew a deep breath and walked across the dry grass of the verge and onto the registry office forecourt to greet her soon to be mother and father in law.
"Hello Joan," said Jo Maynard, holding out her hand for Joan to shake. "You look lovely," she added, taking in the well-cut grey suit and dusky pink blouse that Joan was wearing. "Look after my son, won't you?"
"Yes, I will," said Joan, able to promise that with complete sincerity.
Jack had settled for hugging her and wishing her every happiness, which had completely settled the butterflies in Joan's stomach, and as she turned again to Steve, Joan knew that she was going to be completely happy with him and that his family would accept her and do their best to get along with her, as she would with them.
They then went into the rather ordinary looking building that housed the registry office and found that their room was already vacant ready for their ceremony. After that it seemed just a matter of minutes before Joan was signing the register and beginning her life as Mrs. Stephen Maynard. Debbie and Con had organised everyone with boxes of confetti and as they left the building, a veritable snowstorm of coloured paper descended upon them and they were still pulling it out of their hair and clothes when they arrived at the restaurant for the reception.
The meal went very well and Joan thoroughly enjoyed the conversation at their table. Debbie and her new boyfriend, Ian, were there, along with Kenny and Jackie and Esther, who looked adorable in a frilly pink dress and bonnet. Con and Roger, only just back from their honeymoon, were also with them, and Con looked striking in a dark orange trouser suit. Jo and Jack were seated at the next table, with Len and Reg and their family; Joan did her best to pay no attention to their conversation whatsoever, but she could not help overhearing the discussion Len and Jo had about her suit. As all that they said was extremely flattering, Joan wondered if they had intended her to hear it but was glad nonetheless that they sounded so genuinely approving.
Afterwards Joan received many compliments about the excellent food and it seemed that everyone had enjoyed the meal. People began to drift away, for the evening reception was being held at a different venue, and Joan and Steve headed back to her flat. Their cases were there, all ready to take to the airport later that evening. They were booked on a night flight to a destination that Steve so far had refused to divulge, and Joan was still doing her best to feign indifference on the subject, even though she was currently being consumed with curiosity about it.
Joan's parents and sisters joined them, along with Joan's children, while Steve's family had returned with Con to her home, which was larger than Joan's. They were to meet up later at the club in which the evening reception was to be held, and from where they would leave for the honeymoon. They drank more champagne, provided by Joan's father, and proposed toasts to the health and happiness of the newly weds, until Joan protested that she would be so tipsy she would not be able to attend the other reception. Mrs. Baker made coffee at that point, and by the time that they were ready to set off to the club, everyone felt refreshed and ready to party all evening.

#50: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:03 am
—
So pleased it's all going well - and that Jo and Len are making an effort to put Joan at ease.

Thanks Becky

#51: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:49 am
—
Am really pleased it's all going well for Joan. She deserves to be happy

#52: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:21 am
—
yay!!

its back!!

thanks becky

everyone seems lovely here

#53: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 12:38 pm
—
Lovely Very Happy

#54: Author: Woofter, Location: Location? What's a location?

Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 11:23 am
—
Just read from almost the beginning of part two. It's great! I especially liked the idea of a lime green suit to please Joey although I'm glad she chose something else.

Thanks Becky.

#55: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 4:38 pm
—
The evening reception was as much of a success as the meal had been and Joan actually found herself enjoying it more. She was able to move around and mix with her guests, and spend time chatting to her friends. They all seemed to be enjoying themselves and Joan was amazed by the number of people who sincerely complimented her on her outfit and who were genuinely glad to be sharing her happiness. She danced with Kenny and Jack Maynard and Roger and finally wound up in Steve's arms. They were not able to dance for long, though, because they needed to head off to the airport for their flight, but Steve promised that he would take Joan dancing at least once while they were on their honeymoon. With this she had to be satisfied, and she gladly left the party with Steve shortly after ten o'clock.
They headed to the airport and before long were boarding the flight. It had been difficult to keep the destination a secret once they were heading to the departure lounge, and Joan was thrilled to hear that they would be spending the next two weeks in Paris, that most romantic of cities. Vic had promised to take her there many times, but had actually only gone with his secretary and after that with some other young lady he was seeing. As the plane touched down on French soil, Joan decided that she was actually quite glad that she had never stayed in Paris before. Now all her memories of the city would be based on the time she spent there with Steve and not some other holiday with Vic.
The hotel was right in the centre of Paris, just off the Champs Elysees, and although it was the early hours of the morning when they arrived, the city seemed to be a hive of activity. There were plenty of staff on duty at the hotel and they were only too happy to take Steve and Joan up to the honeymoon suite and provide them with champagne and a light supper. After that they were left to discover the joys of the exquisite suite for themselves and to share a thoroughly wonderful wedding night.
During their stay in Paris they visited all the places that tourists enjoyed, Le Louvre, La Tour Eiffel, Montmartre and the beautiful white church of Sacre Cour; they shopped on the Champs Elysees and dined in some of Paris' most elegant restaurants and Steve took her dancing just as he had promised.
Spending all her days and nights with Steve was every bit as glorious as Joan had imagined it would be. He was an excellent companion, intelligent and humerous, considerate and responsible and yet still good fun to be with. They laughed a lot together but also managed to have some serious discussions, and Joan knew that she would find this second attempt at marriage very fulfilling. She had found someone of whom she could never grow bored, someone who could be her best friend as well as her husband, and when she leaned across the table at dinner to confide this to Steve, she knew from his expression that he felt exactly the same way.

#56: Author: Rebecca, Location: Oxford

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 4:50 pm
—
Aw, how lovely. I'm so glad the wedding went well and they're having a gorgeous honeymoon.

#57: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 5:00 pm
—
So glad they're having a wonderful time.

#58: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 5:11 pm
—
That's lovely - and so is Paris Very Happy

#59: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 5:21 pm
—
Sounds so wonderful.

I've never been to Paris. Crying or Very sad

Thanks Becky.

#60: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 6:41 pm
—
sounds lovely

lucky joan

#61: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 4:58 pm
—
Just a little more... Thanks for your comments.

When they got back to London after their honeymoon, Joan and Steve soon settled into married life together. Debbie was busy preparing for her year in Germany, and was also spending a lot of time with Ian, so she was seldom around to cramp their style, while Ken and Jackie were frequent visitors. Con and Roger, who had bought Steve out of his share of the house, were now living there in wedded bliss, and upon Joan's return, she and Con wasted no time in getting together for coffee and to compare notes about the early days of married life. Con assured Joan that she was blissfully happy and even admitted that she wished she had settled down sooner. Joan was pleased for her friend and Con was equally delighted to hear how happy Joan and Steve were.
Joan went back to work after the honeymoon and on her return Barry was among the first to congratulate her. He admitted that he had become very serious about the girl that he was seeing, and was wondering whether he should take the plunge and ask her to marry him. Glad to see him happy, Joan advised him to seize the next opportunity and pop the question to her.
Debbie duly headed off to Bonn for her year away, partly excited about the new experiences she would be having, but also nervous about going so far from home for the first time. Ian, a fellow languages student, would be in Bordeaux for six months, and Joan knew that Debbie was worried about missing him, too. When Steve and Joan took her to the airport, Debbie wept in Joan's arms and it took all of their will power to send her through to the departure lounge and not just take her home again with them. The forlorn voice on the other end of the phone did not help, and Joan worried endlessly about her daughter until she finally got over her homesickness and made a circle of new friends.
Both Joan and Steve took great pleasure in watching Esther grow. They willingly agreed to babysit so that Ken and Jackie could go out together sometimes, and treasured every moment they spent with their little granddaughter. Watching Steve with Esther, Joan occasionally wondered if he regretted having no children of his own, although when she broached the subject with him, he always assured her that he was quite happy to hand Esther back to her parents as soon as she started crying or needed her nappy changed.

#62: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:26 pm
—
Nice to see them happy.

#63: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:45 pm
—
thanks becky,

im still worrying that ths will all go horribly wrong

#64: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:23 pm
—
I'm glad they're so happy and I hope nothing does go wrong!

#65: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:03 pm
—

Quote:

Watching Steve with Esther, Joan occasionally wondered if he regretted having no children of his own

Given the Bettany/Maynard habit of picking up waifs and strays, I'm sure Steve could find some children in need of a home if he really wanted some.

#66: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:05 pm
—
I wonder - it's not too late for Joan, you know.....

Thanks Becky.

#67: Author: wheelchairprincess, Location: Oxfordshire, UK

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:54 pm
—
Thank You Becky. This post made me wonder too... is that going to be the next surprise? After all, Joan HAS been pretty lucky so far.

#68: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 9:27 pm
—
Well, I'm glad they're happy together, but I don't know about a late baby.

#69: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 3:40 pm
—
As Christmas approached Joan began to look forward to Debbie's return. Despite a shaky beginning, she had settled down well and loved her life in Bonn. She had been seeing a very handsome German by the name of Dieter, but she still sounded keen to get back to London for the festive season. Steve had suggested that they travel to Switzerland for Christmas, but Joan gently explained that she would prefer to spend the holiday with her family, so they agreed to go to Zurich for new year instead.
Joan indulged in several huge shopping sprees, getting all sorts of presents for Esther and planning to spoil her rotten, and buying a variety of interesting looking ingredients for a wonderful Christmas meal, as well as plenty of other meals planned for various family members and friends. Jackie's parents, Matilda and Walter, had been persuaded to visit on Boxing Day, and Joan was planning a second traditional dinner in their honour. Steve, never a great shopper, was happy to follow Joan around the shops and enjoy watching her searching for the perfect gift for their family and friends, and was always willing to carry any numbers of heavy shopping bags for her. It gave him great pleasure to watch Joan getting ready for Christmas, as it reminded him of their chance meeting the previous year and made him feel grateful for the difference she had made to his life. He had not been unhappy before, but he realized that he had merely been plodding through a succession of days. Now he was positively skipping along, taking pleasure from simple activities that he had never previously noticed doing let alone enjoying, and for the simple reason that he was doing them with Joan.
Just a fortnight before Christmas, though, Steve noticed a big change in Joan. She had been very involved with preparations for Christmas, putting up the decorations and wrapping presents and working out who would be invited on which day and what they would be fed, and she had seemed so happy. Suddenly, though, she became almost taciturn, saying she was going shopping after work and yet bringing nothing home with her, disappearing into the bathroom almost as soon as she got home, presumably to have a bath, and then slipping off to bed and seeming to be asleep by the time he discovered that she had finished in the bathroom. She rushed off to work each morning with hardly a word to him, and was always very busy when he phoned, so that he could not speak to her then either. In fact, she seemed determined to avoid him as much as possible while living under the same roof as he. Not long after Steve noticed Joan's withdrawl from him, he found Ken and Jackie on the phone, asking why they no longer saw Joan or even heard from her. Debbie, always out with Ian or on the phone to Dieter, agreed that Joan seemed to have become distant and reserved, but was just as much at a loss to explain it as Steve.
Hurt by her unwillingness to even be in the same room as he, Steve was unsure how he should go about discovering the root of the problem. Joan was starting to look pale and did not appear to be eating anything at all. He knew that something was very wrong, but she seemed completely determined to brush off all his concerned enquiries about her health with a very stilted "I'm fine" or "There's nothing wrong" before hurrying out to work or off for yet another two hour bath.

#70: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 3:47 pm
—
Hmm ...

#71: Author: wheelchairprincess, Location: Oxfordshire, UK

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 4:50 pm
—
Hmmm it does sound more and more like she might be Very Busy

#72: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:22 pm
—

wheelchairprincess wrote:

Hmmm it does sound more and more like she might be Very Busy

It does doesn't it. I remember reading in a book about hot baths being good for helping bodies (as they put it) get back to normal. I hope it's only that and not something more sinister

#73: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:16 pm
—
Sounds promising - Joan talk to Steve!!!!

Thanks Becky.

#74: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 7:45 pm
—
oh my....

#75: Author: Identity Hunt, Location: UK

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 9:48 pm
—
It certainly sounds like a "very busy " description - please let us have more info ! Wink

#76: Author: Becky, Location: Newport, South Wales, UK

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:38 pm
—
Hmm, intriguing! Thanks, Becky.

#77: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:20 pm
—
Oooo - is Joan busy?!

#78: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 2:51 pm
—
Surely you don't think Joan would be so miserable if she was pregnant? Shocked

Finally, almost dispairing of ever being able to have a normal conversation with Joan, Steve took a chair from the kitchen and placed it outside the bathroom door. He heard the water gushing into the bath and some splashing, presumably as Joan got in, then it became quiet. He guessed she was lying in the warm water, her face the same picture of abject misery as it had been for the whole of the last week whenever she thought she was unobserved. He sighed and prepared for a long vigil; he was determined to be waiting for her when she came out, though, and then he would do his best to make her tell him what had happened. Perhaps he had made some thoughtless remark that had upset her, or maybe he was not helping her enough with her Christmas preparations. Or had she been annoyed with him for suggesting they go away together for Christmas instead of realising that she would prefer to spend the holiday with her children? Steve knew, from his years of living with Con, that it was possible to upset a woman without realising or even understanding what you had done, but rack his brains as he might, Steve could not think of anything he had said or done, or not said or not done, that could have made Joan so desperately unhappy as she evidently was. He might have annoyed her, or made her feel a little sorrowful, but surely he had done nothing worse.
As he had done for the last few days, Steve continued to ponder the events of the past couple of weeks, searching for the slightest clue to help him in his quest to cheer Joan up and make her back into the loving and joyful woman he had married. The hands of the clock crawled slowly around, and Debbie came home, looking rather taken aback to find her step-father sitting on an upright chair outside the bathroom door. Steve held his finger to his lips, so Debbie would not give away his presence to Joan, and Debbie disappeared into her room with a shrug. Steve continued to wait, and eventually his patience was rewarded. He heard more splashing and the sounds of someone getting out of the bath and after what felt like an eternity the bathroom door opened. Before Joan could disappear back inside and lock the door again, Steve had gently taken her arm and was drawing her down the passage to their bedroom. To his immense relief she did not resist him, and when he closed the door behind them and turned to look directly at her, he thought she looked a little more approachable than she had done recently.
"Please tell me what I've done wrong," he said humbly. "I know I'm a useless oaf, and that I'm a rubbish husband, but I really do love you and I can't bear to think that I'm making you so unhappy. Whatever you want me to do, I will do. I'll change anything about myself that you don't like. Only please, don't be like this. I can't bear it when you're so miserable."

#79: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:01 pm
—
I was thinking maybe she wasn't excited because she hadn't realised and she thought she was "on the change", but I'm worried now - has something happened to her Sad

#80: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:02 pm
—
I knew all this happiness was too much for a Becky drabble...

Thank you!

#81: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:57 pm
—
Good for Staeve - hope Joan will open up about whatever is wrong with her/them.

Thanks Becky.

#82: Author: keren, Location: Israel

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 6:28 pm
—
she could still be very shocked about getting p

#83: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 6:44 pm
—
please tell us what is wrong becky

#84: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 11:08 pm
—

brie wrote:

please tell us what is wrong becky

Please (Making eyes like Puss in Boots from Shrek)

#85: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 6:07 am
—
Once again my pesky bunnies lead me into realms about which I know nothing. Please feel free to point out glaring mistakes and inaccuracies or anything else that doesn't seem right.

"You haven't done anything," she told him, her voice shaky. "You are wonderful, Steve, and I'm really happy with you."
"Then what is it?" he asked, relieved to hear that he was not to blame for her change of mood but more confused than ever about what was upsetting her so much.
Joan drew a deep breath. "I found a lump in my breast," she told him. "They did a biopsy on it the day before yesterday and the results should come through tomorrow. It might be cancerous."
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, astounded that she should keep something so important from him.
"I didn't want to worry you," she said, realising as she spoke that she had probably worried him far more by avoiding him.
"So you've been going through all this on your own," he said, not sure whether to be cross with her or to enfold her in his arms in the hope of protecting her against anything that might take her from him. "You don't need to shield me from the harsh realities of life, Joan. I really wish you had told me - I'd have gone to the doctor with you for one thing. Can we sit down? This is a bit of a shock."
Seeing how pale he was brought home to Joan just how potentially life changing this could be for them both. She stepped forwards into his strong arms, giving way to tears for the first time since she had discovered the lump and guessed that it was something she had to go and see a doctor about. It was surprisingly comforting to know that she did not have to continue to shoulder all the worry and fear on her own any more. She had not told anyone what was going on, hoping that the lump would prove to be benign and therefore not worth worrying about, figuring that they would have time enough to be concerned if she did have cancer.
Steve held her tightly against him, shocked beyond words by the knowledge that she might have cancer. He could not bear to think of what the next weeks and months would hold for them, but he could not rid his mind of the dreadful image of himself standing beside her grave and watching as they lowered her coffin into the ground. The words "It's better to have loved and lost" kept going round and round in his mind, although for a moment he was unconvinced by them.
"I'm sorry," she sobbed, clinging to him. "I'm really sorry, Steve. I should have told you."
"You should," he agreed, glad that his voice was still reasonably steady. She needed him to be strong for her, as strong as she had been while she worried all alone. "But that's not important now. The important thing is to find out exactly what is wrong with you and to get it sorted out."
Steve led Joan over to their bed and sat her down. He kicked off his slippers and sat down next to her, drawing her into his arms again and leaning back against the pillows with her close against him.
"What did the doctor say?" he asked.
"Not very much." Joan reached for her hanky and wiped her eyes. "He immediately sent me for a biopsy, and I did that the next day. Now all we can do is wait for the results."
"And when will you get them?"
"Probably tomorrow." Joan turned anxious eyes to Steve. "What will we do if I have cancer?" she asked tearfully.
"Get you the best treatment possible." Steve wiped her tears away with a gentle finger. "Isn't this one kind of cancer that they can sort out?"
"If they get to it early enough," Joan agreed. "But I'm so scared, Steve. What if it's too late and..."
"Don't say that," he cut in roughly. "Don't even think it. There are some brilliant doctors in my family. They'll know who we should go to and they will make sure you get the best treatment available. We'll fight this and we won't let it beat us."
Steve's positive attitude made Joan wonder if she had been thinking too negatively over the past few days. And yet the knowledge that she might have cancer was so terrifying that it was difficult to do anything other than panic.
"Come on," said Steve, his control over his emotions returning. "Let's get some sleep. Perhaps tomorrow will bring good news and we can laugh at these nightmares."

#86: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:39 am
—
Poor Joan - can understand why she kept it to herself - she's used to shouldering everything alone anyway as Vic was no good. Steve was just right there - exactly what she needed.

Thanks Becky

#87: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:41 am
—
Glad Steve's there to support her - and hope that it turns out to be benign.

#88: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:13 pm
—

Lesley wrote:

Poor Joan - can understand why she kept it to herself - she's used to shouldering everything alone anyway as Vic was no good. Steve was just right there - exactly what she needed.

My thoughts exactly. This is one thing though Joan does need someone at her side

#89: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:28 pm
—
Oh, poor Joan to have thought it was better to suffer this alone than to share it with Steve. I hope she'll be ok.

#90: Author: Alice, Location: London, England

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 4:21 pm
—
Oh dear, poor Joan.

#91: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 4:45 am
—
Even though she knew she was no longer alone, Joan found that night just as long as the previous ones had been. It was so difficult to get to sleep when you were worrying about what the future held and a couple of hours after going to bed she slipped out of Steve's arms and headed off to the kitchen to make some chamomile tea. As she sat in the darkness and sipped the comforting brew she wondered, just as she had wondered every night for a week, whether she would be around to watch Esther grow up, whether she would see Debbie marry and have her own family, if Steve would be all right after she had gone, how her mother would cope with losing a child, and numerous other things that seemed to pop into her head in the very blackest moments of the night.
"What are you doing?" Steve appeared in the doorway, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"I couldn't sleep," she said unnecessarily. "Do you want some tea?"
"Don't get up," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I'll make it."
They sat in a companionable silence for a while, and Joan could almost hear Steve thinking about how many more nights they would be able to keep each other company. How many days or weeks did she have left, would she spend them in a hospital or hospice, leaving him to sit alone with only the memories of what they had once shared to keep him company? She reached out and covered his hand with her own. "I hope you don't have any regrets about marrying me," she said quietly. "And if you do and you want to go, I'll understand."
Steve snorted. "Don't be silly," he said scathingly. "I'm afraid I won't be giving up so easily. You and I are together for better or for worse. I will stick around whatever happens."
"I'm glad about that," she told him sincerely. "Thank you."
They sat for a while longer, and then Steve insisted that Joan try again to sleep. He settled her comfortably at his side and dimmed the lights and then gently caressed her brow, praying for the first time in years, until she fell asleep.
The next day, being Saturday, Joan and Steve enjoyed the luxury of a lie-in. After a week of sleepless nights, Joan did not wake until almost ten o'clock and for the first few moments did not remember the dreadful black cloud hanging over her life. She smiled at Steve, who was reading the morning paper, but before they could do more than wish each other a good morning, the shrill ringing of the telephone reminded them of the biopsy results, which were hanging like the sword of Damocles over Joan's head.
"Mum!" Debbie roared, having answered the phone. "It's for you!"
Joan reluctantly sat up and threw back the covers. Although she had been waiting for this moment for three days, now that it had arrived she was no longer sure she wanted to hear the biopsy results.
"Go on," said Steve, getting up as well. "It might not be the hospital."
Joan pulled on her dressing gown and headed out of the bedroom, glad for the firm grip that Steve had taken of her hand. "Thank you, Debbie," she said, taking the receiver and holding it to her ear, unsure if she was hoping to hear the voice of a friend or the unknown tones of someone at the hospital. Once Debbie had disappeared into the kitchen again, Joan looked up at Steve and he smiled encouragingly at her. "Hello?" she said, and he was proud of the way her voice was so steady.
"Mrs. Maynard?" asked the voice at the other end. "I'm calling from the hospital - I'm Dr. Beecham's secretary."
"Hello," said Joan, "How are you?"
Steve grinned, wondering how Joan could be so polite when all he wanted to know were the results. It was all he could do to stop himself from snatching the receiver from her hand and demanding to be told all the details straight away.
"Very well, thank you," replied the secretary. "Mrs. Maynard, I have an appointment for you to come in and discuss the results of your biopsy. Dr. Beecham will be able to see you on Monday morning at half past nine. Is that all right?"
"Yes," said Joan, sitting down with a bump on the chair that Steve had pushed towards her. "What are the results?"
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Maynard, but I have no idea. I just call to make the appointments," the secretary explained. "Please phone the hospital if you find you are unable to keep the appointment."
Promising that she would, Joan hung up, bitterly disappointed not to be told the results then and there. Now she would have to spend the whole weekend worrying about them, and even telling herself that ignorance was bliss did not help in the slightest.

Last edited by Fatima on Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:34 pm; edited 1 time in total

#92: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 9:12 am
—
If it was bad news then they'd've called her in to tell her face -to -face, surely ...

#93: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 10:19 am
—
Yes, agrees with Alison - must be good news - mustn't it? Confused

Thanks Becky

#94: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 2:48 am
—

Lesley wrote:

Yes, agrees with Alison - must be good news - mustn't it? Confused

One hopes

#95: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:12 pm
—
Oh my! what a cliff!!
Becky where are you?!?!?

Crying or Very sad

#96: Author: wheelchairprincess, Location: Oxfordshire, UK

Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:30 pm
—
Oh no poor Joan! *comforts self with the thought that bad news is not supposed to be given over the phone*

#97: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:14 pm
—
I've edited this to make it a little more realistic! (With many thanks to Lesley for pointing out the errors.)

Steve did his best to keep Joan busy all weekend, but even so the time dragged. Fortunately, Debbie was very busy cooking and shopping and getting ready for Christmas, as well as babysitting Esther so that Jackie and Ken could so some shopping of their own. It was becoming increasingly difficult to hide the fact that she was worrying about something, but Joan was still determined to keep the news from everyone until she knew for sure whether or not she had cancer.
Monday dawned dull and grey, which seemed a very bad omen Joan thought as she dressed, but Steve was on top form, helping her to cook breakfast and ignoring her comments about condemned men and hearty meals. He then drove her to the hospital and sat quietly beside her in the waiting room, squeezing her hand comfortingly and trying to give her some moral support.
After waiting for what seemed like hours, they were shown into Dr. Beecham's office. The doctor was a woman of about the same age as Joan, with greying hair and a very kind face. Joan liked her on sight and knew instinctively that she was in good hands. Bracing herself she sat down opposite the large mahogany desk and looked expectantly at the doctor.
"I'm afraid it's bad news," Dr. Beecham said gently. "The lump you have is cancerous."
"Oh." Joan thought she had been prepared for this, but she knew from the cold hand of fear that gripped her heart that she had been secretly convinced that it would be benign and that she was fine. It was terrifying to hear that she had cancer.
"I realise this has come as rather a shock," the doctor went on, "but it isn't as bad as it sounds. We will be able to operate and remove the growth and then we will be giving you chemotherapy. After that we expect you to make a complete recovery."
"Oh," said Joan again, completely at a loss for words.
"I have an appointment for you to come in for surgery on Wednesday morning," Dr. Beecham continued. "There's a vacancy in the ward and the surgeon has just one other operation booked for that day, barring emergencies. We'll need you here at nine. Is there anything you want to ask me, Mrs. Maynard? I'm sure you have plenty of questions and I will be happy to answer them all."
"Nine o'clock?" Joan asked, realising that she was several steps behind the doctor. "But it's nearly Christmas."
"If we operate on Wednesday, it's probable you will be able to spend Christmas day at home," said the doctor.
"But that's so soon," protested Joan.
"She'll be here," Steve put in quietly. He brutally squashed his own fears and the notion that his world was crumbling around him and did his best to remain calm for Joan's sake. One of them would need to listen carefully to all the doctor had to say, and it seemed that Joan was too overcome by the bad news to take everything in. He did his best to ask some pertinent questions, and found the doctor's words reassuring. She seemed certain that they would be able to cure Joan, even though it would not be an easy course of treatment, and Steve knew he had to cling to this and do his best to make Joan believe in it.
By the time they left, Joan looked unnaturally pale and calm, and he was worried that she appeared to be taking the news a little too well. They left the hospital and got into the car, and Steve turned to Joan. "Are you all right?" he asked, even though he knew that was hardly the right question to ask.
"What will I tell Debbie?" Joan looked anxiously at him, dreading the thought of having to tell her children that she would soon be undergoing cancer surgery.
"You'll have to tell her the truth," said Steve. "Maybe we could go out to dinner with Debbie and Ken and Jackie tonight and tell them then. If you feel well enough that is," he added, for now that they knew that Joan had cancer Steve thought she might feel too unwell to go out.
Joan nodded. "It would be nice to go out together," she agreed. "And I don't feel at all ill. It's strange, isn't it?"
"Long may that last," said Steve fervently. "Come on, let's go and have some lunch."

Last edited by Fatima on Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:59 pm; edited 1 time in total

#98: Author: wheelchairprincess, Location: Oxfordshire, UK

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:23 pm
—
Awww poor Joan but lovely Steve. I do have a slightly sinking feeling however that Joey is going to claim/believe that Joan's cancer is a result of how she "used to be" in CS eyes.

#99: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:03 pm
—
Poor Joan Sad

Thanks Becky

#100: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:12 pm
—
Oh dear. Hope the treatment's successful.

#101: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:16 pm
—
The doctor would not normally ring about this - it would be a receptionist who, when asked, would be able to say they didn't know the results (whether they did or not) and arrange for the person to be seen ASAP - because telling them over the phone just wouldn't happen.

That said though - poor Joan. Crying or Very sad

#102: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:34 pm
—
Poor Joan. Thank goodness Steve is being so supportive.

Speaks very firmly to Fatima's bunnies. 'Joan does not need her parents - in - law to come over to interfere and play the professional.'

#103: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:22 pm
—
Debbie and Ken and Jackie need to know whats wrong especially as they have all been worrying. Poor Joan

#104: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:36 pm
—

Lesley wrote:

The doctor would not normally ring about this - it would be a receptionist who, when asked, would be able to say they didn't know the results (whether they did or not) and arrange for the person to be seen ASAP - because telling them over the phone just wouldn't happen.

Thanks Lesley. I'm editing it to make it more realistic! Any further help/advice will be greatfully received. Very Happy

#105: Author: Identity Hunt, Location: UK

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:48 pm
—
Poor Joan and Steve....
Please let things work out well for them !

#106: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 7:06 pm
—
Poor Joan. What an awful shock for her. No matter how prepared you are for bad news, it's never easy to take in. Thank goodness she has Steve to support her.

#107: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:23 pm
—
Sorry Becky - I must have sounded very officious there - didn't mean it. Embarassed

The edited version is excellent.

#108: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:58 pm
—

Lesley wrote:

Sorry Becky - I must have sounded very officious there - didn't mean it. Embarassed

The edited version is excellent.

No, not at all, Lesley. I warned you I knew nothing about this and said I'd welcome a little criticism, so you were quite right to pull me up on it. And please continue to do so, because I don't want this to disappear too far into the realms of fantasy!

Joan was very quiet driving home, still trying to take in everything that Dr. Beecham had said and to understand that all of this would be happening to her. She could hardly believe that she would be in hospital in two days having a mastectomy, and shortly afterwards beginning chemotherapy. She had always been so healthy, catching nothing more serious than a cold in her adult life, and now she had a life threatening illness. How could it be possible, she wondered. Beside her sat Steve, equally quiet, also trying to come to terms with the devastating news.
"I can't face going out tonight," she told him suddenly. "Let's invite the kids round and I'll tell them at home."
"Of course," he agreed at once. "I'll get fish and chips for us all, to save you cooking."
"Maybe I would like to cook," said Joan, knowing that she was being deliberately aggravating, but unable to stop herself.
"Then you can cook something. I'm happy with whatever you want," he assured her. He reached across and gently patted her knee, glancing at her as she seized his hand and held on tightly, as if she was a drowning woman grasping at a lifebelt.
"I can't believe it," she told him, sounding very close to tears. "If they can't get rid of this I'm going to die."
"Dr. Beecham said there's a very good chance that they will get rid of it completely," he reminded her.
"But if they can't..." Joan's voice tailed off and she fumbled in her bag for a handkerchief.
Wishing they were at home, Steve returned his hands to the steering wheel and went out around the inconsiderate person who had chosen to double park outside the newsagent. "They will," he told her, his voice ringing with absolute conviction. "It's going to take a while, and it will be difficult, but in the end you will be completely well again. You have to believe that, Joan."
"I want to," she sobbed. "Really I do. But I'm just so scared."
"Dr. Beecham said that was perfectly natural," he reminded her. "It's quite all right to feel angry or upset or confused, but you must believe that you will get better."
"I'll try," she sniffed, grateful for his comforting presence. "Thank you, Steve, for being so positive."
"Just make sure it rubs off on you," he told her with a smile. "Home at last. Come on, let's go and make hot chocolate and eat mince pies and have a cuddle."
Joan managed a chuckle at that, acknowledging that it would certainly help her feel a little more positive. "You're on," she said, tucking the hanky in her pocket for later.

#109: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 4:34 pm
—
Steve is so good for her. Poor Joan must feel shell-shocked.

Thanks Becky

#110: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 7:07 pm
—
Stephen is lovely, and at least they seem quite optimistic about the treatment.

#111: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 9:53 pm
—
Steve is so lovely and it's so hard to remember that most cancers are curable so long as they catch it in time.

#112: Author: wheelchairprincess, Location: Oxfordshire, UK

Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 12:23 am
—
I really really love Steve in this. Thanks Becky!

#113: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 2:27 pm
—
Steve is fantastic - so caring and loving and always seeming to know exactly the right thing to say to make Joan feel a bit happier.

#114: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:58 am
—
That evening Ken and Jackie arrived, baby Esther having been left in the tender care of Matilda and Walter. Walter, while still not completely resigned to Jackie's marriage and motherhood, was coming round and now managed to be civil to Ken and almost pleasant to Jackie. Joan had been impressed by Ken's patience, putting up with his father-in-law's comments about young men who took advantage of innocent girls, and mechanics in general, and hoped that one day he would be rewarded by having a father-in-law who respected him and perhaps even liked him. She had to admit that Ken had come a long way from the rather lazy and careless young man that had first attracted Jackie, for fatherhood seemed to suit him and he was far more serious and responsible now. He had even hinted that he might be promoted at work, for one of the senior mechanics was due to retire in the new year, and Ken had high hopes of taking over his duties.
Debbie, emerging from the kitchen where she had been making a rather lovely smelling casserole, greeted her brother and sister-in-law warmly, although Joan could detect an air of concern behind her breezy manner. She felt guilty for being the cause of this worry, and wondered how she had ever imagined that she would be able to undergo the biopsy without alerting any of her nearest and dearest to her fears. Then, knowing the news that she would soon be giving them, she felt guiltier still. It seemed so unfair to put this on their young shoulders and she would, at that moment, have done just about anything to prevent them from finding out.
Although Joan had hoped to tell them once they had eaten Debbie's wonderful meal, she found herself blurting it all out almost as soon as they were all gathered in the living room. "I've got to go into hospital on Wednesday," she told them, grateful for the arm Steve had slung around her shoulders. "I've got cancer." Mumbling something about the casserole, Debbie dashed out of the room, while Ken and Jackie just regarded Joan with shocked expressions. Steve nudged Joan, reminding her that she had to make things sound far more positive, so she drew a deep breath and went on, "Breast cancer. They will remove the lump on Wednesday, and then I shall start chemotherapy sometime after New Year. They are pretty certain they can cure it, but it's not going to be nice while I'm getting the treatment."
Jackie got up from her seat and almost threw herself onto Joan's lap. "Oh, Joan," she said, her voice brimming over with sympathy. "If there's anything we can do, you will tell us, won't you? If you want us to tell anyone or get anything we will."
"Thank you," said Joan, as Steve got up and went to the kitchen after Debbie.
"Oh Mum," said Ken, taking his stepfather's place at her side. He put his arms around them both. "Why didn't you tell us sooner? We've all been so worried about you."
"I wanted to know myself first," said Joan, gently freeing herself from their embrace. "Don't be too sympathetic will you? It seems as though I'm very lucky and that they'll be able to cure me. So there's nothing to worry about."
Jackie smiled. "I can't promise that we won't worry," she said, "But we won't be sympathetic. Lynne's mother had breast cancer and she's fine now. I'm sure you will be, too. It was horrible for everyone while she was being treated, but she's as fit as a fiddle now."
Glad to hear such a positive story, Joan allowed a little seed of hope to grow within her. People did survive cancer, and so could she. "I'd better go and see Debbie," she said, wondering how her daughter was taking the news.

#115: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:04 am
—
Glad Jackie had a positive example to give her. Breaking bad news to people is always so hard - glad they were all supportive.

#116: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:04 am
—
That was so lovely of Jackie. Hope Debbie is all right.

#117: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 2:22 pm
—
I'm glad Joan has such a loving, supportive family behind her. This is going to be so tough for her, but at least she has people she can rely on to help her.

#118: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:40 pm
—
Pleased Jackie and Ken were able to support Joan - think Debbie is breaking her heart in the kitchen. Crying or Very sad

Thanks Becky

#119: Author: wheelchairprincess, Location: Oxfordshire, UK

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:54 pm
—
So nice to see an update with such supportive relations for Joan but so sad that she has to go through this. Crying or Very sad

#120: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 4:25 pm
—
Thank you for your comments. Here's just a little more for now.

In the kitchen Joan found Debbie crying in Steve's arms, her head against his shoulder, evidently finding him as comforting as she had done herself numerous times recently. She felt a wave of guilt sweep over her, hating having to upset and worry her children in such a way, but she also had a tremendous amount of pride in Stephen. He had married her and taken on her family so willingly and now she could see just how much they had come to accept him as a part of their lives. She tried to imagine Vic comforting his daughter as Steve was doing, but failed miserably. Vic would either have disappeared out somewhere at the first sign of emotion, or would have impatiently told Debbie to pull herself together. Joan reached out and patted Debbie's shoulder comfortingly.
"I'm so sorry," she said quietly.
"Mum!" Debbie turned a tear stained face towards her. "I'm the one who should be sorry. But it was all such a shock."
"I know," agreed Joan.
"Steve says that you're going to be well again."
"Yes, that's what the doctor told us. They will be able to cure me, but it's going to take a while, and it's going to be difficult for us all." Joan was determined to help her children to look on things positively, but also to help them understand that her recovery would be a lengthy and difficult process.
Debbie wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. "Sorry to make such an exhibition of myself," she said, sounding far more like herself again. "I guess I'd better get on with the food or Ken will be complaining that he's starving."
"Are you suggesting that I don't feed him properly?" asked Jackie, who had followed Joan to the kitchen.
"Not at all," said Debbie with a giggle that she hastily quashed. "Sorry," she said again to Joan.
"Don't be silly," Joan rebuked her. "Just because I have cancer it doesn't mean that we can't laugh. In fact, didn't someone say that laughter was the best medicine?"
Steve looked approvingly at his wife. He was very impressed with how well she was dealing with telling the children what was to happen, and he knew that they would be supportive and that together they would get through the difficult times ahead.

#121: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 5:09 pm
—
Well done all of them - that Steve is a treasure, isn't he?

Thanks Becky

#122: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 7:51 pm
—
Steve's lovely.

#123: Author: wheelchairprincess, Location: Oxfordshire, UK

Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 11:00 pm
—
I want a Steve of my own!

#124: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 2:53 pm
—
Steve is just what Joan needs.

#125: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 1:50 pm
—
Sorry about the lack of updates. Joan is very elusive at the moment.

Armed with the good wishes of family and friends, Joan duly went into hospital for the operation. Steve stayed beside her until she was given the anaesthetic and when she finally awoke, he was again at her side. Despite having worried about feeling awful when she came round after the operation, Joan was amazed by how well she felt. She was given plenty of pain killers, but she found that she felt remarkably comfortable unless she tried to raise her arms too high. The doctor visited the next morning and declared herself delighted with Joan's progress, and she was told that she could leave hospital the next day.
In the afternoon, Ken and Jackie came to visit, Ken looking anxious and Jackie extremely relaxed. She remembered only too well how worried Lynne had been about her mother, and how her mother had recovered so well from the cancer. The initial operation had turned out to be a relatively simple procedure compared with the chemotherapy that followed, and Jackie was eager to help Joan see that she should not be overly anxious following her surgery.
Debbie and Steve came in later, and while they were there a porter from the hospital arrived with an enormous basket of fruit and a huge bouquet of flowers.
"Mrs. Maynard?" he asked, looking from a clipboard to the occupant of the bed.
"Yes," Joan agreed, glancing over at Steve. He had already brought her flowers and a box of her favourite chocolates, but she would not put it past him to have other things delivered to the hospital for her.
"These are for you," the porter told her unnecessarily, putting the fruit basket on the bedside cabinet and handing the flowers to Debbie. "Are you able to sign for them?"
"I'll sign." Steve took the clipboard and scrawled his name in the place indicated.
Debbie removed the little card from the flowers and handed it to Joan. "There is another card with the fruit," she said, looking in admiration at the splendid varitey of fruit in the basket.
"I hope you didn't send these," said Joan, grinning at Steve.
"No, it wasn't me," he answered, wishing that he had thought of having something delivered to the hospital for a time when he could not be with Joan.
Joan opened the little envelope and gazed in surprise at the message within. It read, 'To Joan, With best wishes and prayers for your recovery, Mamma and Papa Maynard' and the card with the fruit was similarly worded. "They're from your parents," she told Steve, handing him the cards.
"You see," he said, sounding complacent, "I told you they'd come round."
Although unconvinced that they had gone as far as to accept her completely, Joan was, nonetheless grateful for their concern about her. She had a feeling that she would soon need everyone's prayers and good wishes so that she could get through the next part of her treatment.
All too soon visiting time came to an end and they left her to try to sleep. A nurse came round to check that everyone was all right and to dish out the prescribed medicines. Despite thinking she would lie awake, Joan found that she fell asleep easily and did not wake until another nurse came around the next morning. And then she smiled to herself at the thought of Steve coming in later to take her home.

#126: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 1:55 pm
—
Glad the operation went well, but she's got a long road ahead of her.

#127: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 2:35 pm
—
I'm glad Jack and Joey sent those flowers and fruit. That was a nice gesture.

#128: Author: Miranda, Location: Perth, Western Australia

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 3:11 pm
—
The fruit and flowers were lovely from 'Mamma and Papa Maynard'. I'm glad that Joan has (generally speaking) such a wonderfully supportive family. Especially Steve, he's such a nice boy.

#129: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:39 pm
—
That was lovely of Jo and Jack. And Jackie is being wonderful. She's being as lovely to Joan as Joan was to Jackie when she was pregnant. Hope treatment goes well

#130: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 1:29 am
—
Wonderful thought from Joey and Jack - pleased Joan has all this support.

Thanks Becky

#131: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 5:53 pm
—
thanks becky

i just caught up on loads of this and i hope everything goes ok for joan

#132: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:33 am
—
I think my bunnies went off with Jennie's!

Christmas was wonderful. Steve was attentive, Debbie helpful, Ken considerate, and Jackie was supportive. Joan did not try to do too much, so although she wished she could help Debbie with the Christmas dinner she managed to sit back and let her do the cooking, with Jackie to help her. She would have liked to spend lots of time playing with Esther, but that was not possible either and she was obliged to sit back and watch the baby. Despite this, Joan enjoyed the festive season very much. Con and Roger came to visit, as did Matilda and Walter. Cindy and Brian turned up, too, with a truly impressive 'picnic'; they set it up in Joan and Steve's dining room and cleared everything away afterwards, and the four of them had a lovely evening together. Pam brought Joan's parents to visit and almost wished she had not when Joan spent almost an hour closeted in the bedroom with her mother and sounds of weeping were just audible. Afterwards Joan sheepishly confessed to Steve that she had been so thankful to see her mother and had only wanted to lie quietly with her mother beside her rubbing her brow and muttering soothing words to her as she had done if Joan had ever been ill as a child. Agreeing that an overwhelming desire to be with one's mother when sick was something one never outgrew, Steve sympathised and resolved to have a quiet word with Mrs. Baker once Joan began chemotherapy to ask her if she would come and stay with them for a while.
After a quiet New Year, Joan found that she was feeling really well. Her body was healing and the scars looked very well; soon it would be time to take up her first appointment for chemotherapy. She had seen Dr. Beecham and had a long talk with her, assuring her that she was coping very well with everything and doing her best to carry on normally. Dr. Beecham, able to understand the patients' fears better than they did themselves, listened to Joan and answered questions that she had about the next stage of her treatment and by the time she left the hospital, Joan felt ready to deal with whatever they threw at her.
Debbie returned to Germany, albeit reluctantly, and although she was sad to see her go, Joan was relieved, too. From all she had heard, she knew that the chemotherapy would be difficult for her family to deal with and she was glad to be able to spare Debbie at least the stress of coping with it all. Within a couple of weeks, Debbie was writing happy letters, full of descriptions of all that she had seen and done, and it was clear that she was having the time of her life. As Joan was just two days from beginning the chemotherapy, she was pleased to think that Debbie was so happy and was getting on with her life; there was no sense in anyone putting things on hold just because she had cancer.

#133: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:52 am
—
Pleased to see more of this.

Poor Joan - can understand how she feels - everyone wants their Mum in situations like this.

Thanks Becky

#134: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:55 am
—
Glad to see this back!

#135: Author: Lottie, Location: Humphrey's Corner

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:59 am
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Thanks, Fatima - it's great to see this back again! Very Happy

*lays out tempting array of carrots and lettuces to keep Fatima's plot bunnies happy*

#136: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:20 am
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Thank you Becky - it's great to see more of this

#137: Author: Miranda, Location: Perth, Western Australia

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 1:56 pm
—
Lovely update! It's good to see that she got some time being mothered Smile

#138: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 4:27 pm
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Thanks, Fatima. If the PB's, including mine, end up at your place, please keep them. It's too cold here for them.

#139: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:59 pm
—

Quote:

Pam brought Joan's parents to visit and almost wished she had not when Joan spent almost an hour closeted in the bedroom with her mother and sounds of weeping were just audible.

I had forgotton that Pam didn't know. Lovely to get an update

#140: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:18 am
—
thanks becky!

Its lovely to see this back

#141: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:16 pm
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Thanks for the update, Becky. I've missed Joan!

#142: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:23 pm
—
Steve took Joan to the hospital on the day she was to begin chemotherapy. He had been very upbeat about everything, doing his best to cheer her up and make her forget what lay ahead of her by taking her out for dinner the evening before. He helped her pack her bag ready to stay in overnight, and he had arranged a few days holiday for when she came home, so that he could care for her. Mrs. Baker was coming to stay, too, but not for a week, as she had promised to come once Steve had to go back to work. Joan herself was taking two weeks off work, so that she could concentrate on recovering from the first round of chemotherapy before having to return to the office. Her boss was being very sympathetic, perhaps because his wife had had breast cancer a couple of years earlier and he remembered how tiring she had found the chemotherapy, and Joan was grateful for both the compassion and the story of another survivor of cancer.
Steve spent the day at Joan's side. He had bought her a new book to read while she lay in bed, and had provided a lovely packed lunch, definitely better than food offered by the hospital, and he also had a puzzle book, so that she could help him solve some tricky crosswords. He seemed very relaxed, making easy conversation and doing his best to take her mind off of what was happening. He held her hand as the nurse fixed up the drip which would introduce the drugs into Joan's system and by the afternoon, when she had started to feel distinctly queasy, he sat quietly next to her and gently wiped her face with a damp cloth and gave her sips of water when she felt thirsty.
A couple of days later they released Joan from the hospital, for although she still felt far from well, she would be more comfortable in her own home. Steve was shocked by how ill Joan was, even though the doctor had warned him that she would be very weak and tired and sick; he did his best to keep his worries to himself, but he found it difficult to cope with her. She lay listlessly in bed, drinking water but refusing just about everything he brought her to eat, not complaining but looking very sorry for herself. Jackie came over to visit most afternoons, leaving Esther with Matilda, and giving Steve a chance to have a rest. Joan did not talk much to anyone, but Steve found that she looked a little happier with Jackie sitting next to her, sometimes talking about all the little things that Esther had been doing, and sometimes not talking at all, just being there to make sure Joan was comfortable. To Steve's surprise he found himself feeling very jealous of Jackie; somehow Joan seemed to be more relaxed when Jackie was there than when he was sitting with her and in Steve's opinion this should not be so. He was her husband and she should be most comfortable with him. He found niggling doubts about her feelings for him creeping into his mind, wondering if he was not being supportive enough and so she was falling out of love with him, and he sometimes felt that she would have left him if she was well enough to do so.
Steve returned to work with mixed feelings. He felt guilty when he realised he was actually glad to go back to work to escape from the sickroom. Joan was his wife and it was not right for him to be pleased to escape from caring from her. He did his best to tell himself that Mrs. Baker was caring for Joan and that Joan was glad to have her mother there. She had seemed brighter when he collected Mrs. Baker from the station, and had even managed to eat a little of the chicken and mashed potato he had prepared for her. And by the time Mrs. Baker had been with them for a few days, Joan was up and about and eating again. She seemed more cheerful and Steve felt his worries and doubts starting to fade away. His Joan was a very strong woman and she would get through this. She would cope with whatever she had to and would emerge from the end of her treatment scarred and battered but not defeated and he began to feel confident that their relationship would survive the strains and stresses put on it.

#143: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:36 pm
—
Poor Steve - this sort of thing will put a strain on the strongest of relationships.

Thanks Becky

#144: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:02 pm
—
(((((steve)))))

thanks becky

#145: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:26 pm
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((Steve)) - it's so hard on family and friends too.

#146: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 12:59 am
—
Poor Steve

#147: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:15 am
—
Joan lay in bed listening to the sounds of Steve cooking breakfast. It was the last day that she would be able to have breakfast in bed, for she was returning to work the next day. With a sigh she wondered how she would ever find the energy to get up and head off to work when it was tiring enough just getting out of bed and going into the living room. She could not deny that she felt better, though. She had got her appetite back, she no longer felt sick and even the excruciatingly painful mouth ulcers were not quite as sore as they had been. Her mother had left the previous day, with promises to return when she began the second course of treatment, and Joan was looking forward to spending some quality time with Steve again. He had been marvellous she thought with a smile. He had cared for her more tenderly than any of the nurses in the hospital and she could not imagine how she would have coped without him.
Joan threw back the bedclothes, deciding that she really ought to make more effort to help Steve. She pulled on her dressing gown and then straightened the bed, tucking the sheets in neatly and thinking that Matey would be impressed to see that she still made the bed in the way she had been taught at school. She did not hump the matress, but otherwise Matey would be pleased with her efforts. As she reached for her pillow, she discovered that it was liberally covered with hair. Shocked, Joan lifted the strands and put her other hand to her head. It still felt as normal, rather rumpled as she had yet to brush it out, but with a sinking feeling she realised that she was beginning to lose her hair. Somehow that was something she had not really thought about. She had just had surgery and chemotherapy and had been feeling unwell; that her treatment was going to make her hair fall out was something she knew, but had not really associated it with something that would happen to her. Joan grabbed her hairbrush and headed into the bathroom. She peered into the mirror, examining her head from all sides, and discovered that she did have a bald patch. Biting her lip, Joan brushed her hair very carefully, trying to arrange it to see if it covered the bald part, only to discover that the brush was actually pulling out more hair. The sink was full of hair and now she had a couple more bald spots.
"Joan! Breakfast's ready!"
"Just a moment," she called back, wondering what to do. On the little shelf above the sink she saw a pair of hairdressing scissors that Debbie had left behind and before she could change her mind, she snipped away as much of her hair as she could. If she was going to be losing her hair, she wanted to do it on her own terms. After that she took Steve's razor and did her best to get rid of the stubbly bits. She cut herself a couple of times in the process, but finally managed to do a pretty reasonable job of removing most of the hair. Feeling extremely nervous, she gently rubbed her head with a towel and slowly peeled it back to see what she looked like. With a sob she buried her face in the towel, just as Steve rapped on the bathroom door.
"Joan? The omelettes are going to be as flat as pancakes! Is everything all right?"
Joan stumbled over to the door and opened it. "No, I'm bald," she told a rather stunned looking Steve.
"Oh," he said neutrally, looking beneath the towel and hoping he said the right thing. "Well, it's actually very sexy," he said consideringly. "Are you all right?"
"I don't know." Joan gulped and looked up at him. "Do you really think so?" she asked doubtfully.
"Definitely." Steve drew her into his arms and hugged her. "Come on, let's go and have some breakfast."

#148: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:55 am
—
Oh well done Steve - just what Joan needed to hear. Laughing

*I want a Steve*

Thanks Becky.

#149: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 10:26 am
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Poor Joan - but Steve's being wonderful.

#150: Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 10:32 am
—
Well done Steve for saying just the right thing

#151: Author: Miranda, Location: Perth, Western Australia

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 10:49 am
—
Yay for Steve Smile

That must have been an awful shock for poor Joan - and good on her for

Quote:

if she was going to be losing her hair, she wanted to do it on her own terms

#152: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:33 pm
—
thanks becky

(((joan)))

#153: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 4:30 pm
—
Thanks Becky, that was a really moving scene

#154: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 1:57 pm
—
Thanks, Becky.

#155: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 4:11 pm
—
Poor Joan. So glad Steve is there to support her and say exactly what she needs to hear.

#156: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 8:06 pm
—
After breakfast Joan bullied Steve into letting her clear away and then she found her clothes for work the next day and ironed them ready. It was no good leaving everything to the last minute, or she might be too tired to do it. Glancing at herself in the mirror as she hung up her skirt, Joan sighed, almost wishing that she had left her hair alone. Perhaps it would have been better to go to work with her hair skilfully arranged to hide the bald bits. Now she would either have to wear a scarf over it, or go and get a wig and neither option seemed particularly appealing.
Steve came into the bedroom with the washing he had just brought in from the line. He dumped it in a big pile on the bed and sat down to sort it out.
"What will I do when I go to work tomorrow?" she asked him. "I can't exactly go like this, can I?"
"You'd get a cold head," he agreed, smiling at her.
"I know that everyone will expect me to have lost my hair," she said, "but it seems odd to go round like this. Maybe I should put a scarf over it."
"Find a scarf and let's see what you look like," suggested Steve.
After trying several different ways of tying the scarf, Joan managed to find a way that looked more stylish and less like an old grandmother out shopping. "I think I can manage like this," she told him.
"It will become a new fashion," he predicted. "Shall we go out for lunch today?"
"That would be lovely," she told him. "Let me help you with the washing."
After working companionably on a few light chores around the house, they dressed and went out for a lovely meal together. Joan managed to eat well, and although she felt very weary when they returned home, both pronounced the trip a success. Joan gave up the unequal struggle, and went to lie down for a while, only to fall sound asleep for the rest of the afternoon. When she awoke, she lay in the darkness wondering how she would manage to work the next day feeling as tired as she did. However, it was something she wanted to do - to carry on with her life as far as she possibly could - and she would not know how it would go until she had tried. If the worst came to the worst, she would ask to work shorter hours, or perhaps just three or four days a week, but she would only do that if she really could not keep doing her usual hours. Joan threw back the bedcovers, deciding that if determination had anything to do with it, she would work every bit as well as usual, even if she came home and went straight to bed each evening. She would not allow herself to be beaten by this disease.

#157: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 8:17 pm
—
(((((Joan)))))

Don't try too much, Joan - slow and steady and give yourself plenty of rest.

Thanks Becky

#158: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 8:43 pm
—
Joan's being so brave.

#159: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 11:22 am
—
Thanks Becky

#160: Author: Woofter, Location: Location? What's a location?

Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:38 pm
—
Just caugh up, Joan is being so brave. Thank you Becky.

#161: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:15 am
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Poor Joan, its been so hard for her. I used to dive with a kid who had cancer and when she lost her hair, her mother shaved hers off too in sympathy. It really helped the kid

#162: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 9:43 am
—
The next morning Joan woke early and lay for a while in bed, feeling as if she had huge butterflies dancing in her stomach. She was nervous about facing the people at work, worried that they would treat her differently, as if she was someone to be pitied or tiptoed around. Moving carefully so as not to disturb Steve, Joan slid out of bed and dressed, then tied the scarf carefully around her head. She crept out of the bedroom and examined herself as well as she could in the bathroom mirror, deciding that she did actually look quite stylish. It might not be the kind of style that she usually adopted, but she was relieved to discover that she was doing pretty well in the circumstances.
She made coffee and toast and then went to wake Steve. She had been in favour of him sleeping in, but he had told her that he was going to drive her to and from work every day and that she was not going to argue with him on the subject at all. With surprising meekness she had agreed. After all, it would be so much easier to be ferried from door to door than to try to catch a bus back and forth between home and the office. Moaning about the ungodliness of the hour, Steve showered quickly and was soon ready to leave.
"But remember," he told her firmly as they reached the front door, "if it's all too much call me and I'll be there. Or tell Con to bring you home."
"I will," she promised dutifully. "And you remember not to worry too much."
"I'll try not to," he said, taking her arm. "Come on, let's be off."
They headed downstairs and out into the chilly morning air. Joan was glad she did not have to stand at the bus stop and wait for a bus to turn up; it was far nicer to clamber into the car and feel the heater warming her feet. The traffic lights all seemed to be in their favour, either remaining green as they passed through, or turning green as they approached, and soon Steve was pulling up in the huge car park used by the magazine's staff. Steve leaned over and kissed Joan.
"Don't work too hard," he reminded her.
"I won't," she said with a smile. "See you at five."
"I'll be here," he promised. "Earlier if you want."
Joan kissed him again and got out of the car, feeling nervous again. She went in through the familiar front door and across the foyer, heading to the large office at the back of the building where she had her desk. It felt like years since she had last been to work, even though it was only two short weeks ago. As she pushed open the office door, she heard footsteps behind her and a cheery voice wishing her a good morning.
"Good morning," she replied, turning to find Barry behind her.
"You're looking well," he told her, holding the door for her to pass through. "It's nice to see you back."
"Thank you," she said, then, looking at her desk, she stopped so abruptly that Barry almost bumped into her.
"What?" he asked with a grin.
"Oh!" she said, taking in the two huge bouquets of flowers and the large box of chocolates covering the desk. "Did you have anything to do with this?" she asked him suspiciously.
"No more than anyone else," he assured her. "We've missed you, Joan. We're all so glad that you're back again."
Several other colleagues came over to welcome Joan back, and she was relieved to find that they were all able to treat her exactly as they always did. Cindy arrived and shrieked when she saw Joan, before dashing across to envelop her in a massive hug and then Con came in, bearing an enormous pile of boxes marked with the name of a nearby baker's shop.
"It's not your birthday," Joan pointed out unnecessarily as Con put the boxes down on the already crowded desk and gave her a hug. "What's all this in aid of?"
"Just a little something to have with our morning coffee," said Con nonchalantly. "How are you? Are you sure you should be here? It's not that I'm not thrilled to see you," she added hastily, "But I really don't want you to overdo it."
"I won't," Joan assured her.
"And we got you a card!" Cindy had moved the chocolates and was waving a colossal envelope at Joan. "Open it now!"
Joan ripped open the envelope and found that almost the entire staff of the magazine had signed it, from the editors right down to the women who cleaned the office. Discretely wiping a tear from her eye, Joan beamed round at them all. "Thank you so much," she said, touched by their affection. "This is so sweet of you all."
"We're just glad to see you back," said Frank, who worked on the design team. "Now we'll get decent coffee again!"
Joan laughed at him and sat down at her desk, trying to clear enough space to do some work. Cindy took away the flowers to put them in water and the group dispersed to get on with their own work. Lisa, who occupied the desk next to Joan's, told Joan how glad she was to see her again as she passed her a cup of tea and then left her in peace to turn to her in-tray.

#163: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 9:52 am
—
Awww, how lovely. So pleased they are all welcoming her back.

Thanks Becky.

#164: Author: Miranda, Location: Perth, Western Australia

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:41 pm
—
I'm so glad that Joan has so much support and care at work Smile

That must have made that day so much nicer for her!

#165: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 1:39 pm
—
thanks becky

its nice to see everyone being so supportive

#166: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:11 pm
—
Thanks, Becky.

#167: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 4:32 pm
—
That was kind of Barry and the others.

#168: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 3:49 pm
—
What a nice return for Joan. Thanks, becky.

#169: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 5:39 pm
—
Sorry about the dreadful lack of updates. I'm hoping to wrap this up soon, so here's a little more.

Joan had plenty to keep her busy; she found that the morning flew past, even with a brief break for coffee and an extremely large apple turnover from one of Con's cake boxes. At lunch time Con stuck her head out of her office and called Joan over.
"You look tired," she said, closing the door behind them. "Steve said you would probably be exhausted. Come and lie down." She gestured towards the settee, on which she had placed an inviting array of cushions and a blanket. "You won't be disturbed," she added. "I'll wake you in an hour."
"Don't be silly," said Joan. "As if I'm going to lie down and go to sleep in your office!"
"That's exactly what you are going to do," said Con firmly. "I'm off to a meeting. Lie down and I'll put the blanket over you. Slip off your shoes." Con grinned at Joan, who had started to do as she was bidden. "Are you comfy?" she asked.
"Very," said Joan, stifling a yawn. "Thanks Con."
"I'll wake you in an hour." Con pulled the blanket straight and turned off the lights as she left the room.
Although she had not expected to, Joan fell asleep almost right away and it seemed as though not five minutes had passed when Con was waking her. She sat up and glanced over at the clock, shocked to find that it was getting on for three o'clock.
"The meeting overran," said Con innocently. "Here, I've brought you some tea."
Joan accepted the steaming mug gratefully. "I'd better go and do some work," she said, worrying that people would complain that she was not pulling her weight. "Thanks Con."
Joan returned to her desk and again found that the time flew. At five o'clock Steve arrived and she was glad to leave the office with him. It had been a far better day than she had expected, but she was pleased to be heading home. She sank gratefully into the passenger seat and leaned back with a sigh.
"Hard day?" he asked sympathetically.
"No, it was all right, actually," she told him. "I'm just happy to be going home."

#170: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:45 pm
—
thanks becky

#171: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:54 pm
—
Lovely Con.

Thanks Becky Smile

#172: Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 9:58 pm
—
I bet the whole office helped to plan that, so she wouldn't be interrupted. Wonder how they'll manage to work it for the rest of the time she needs it?

#173: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 11:22 pm
—
Thanks for the update.

#174: Author: Miranda, Location: Perth, Western Australia

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:09 am
—

Quote:

"The meeting overran," said Con innocently.

They're all so nice!!

#175: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 8:12 am
—

Miranda wrote:

Quote:

"The meeting overran," said Con innocently.

They're all so nice!!

I agree and Con especially. Glad to see Barry is being lovely throughout it all as well

#176: Author: Woofter, Location: Location? What's a location?

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:42 pm
—
Glad joans day went ok, Con is lovely in this. Thank you Becky.

#177: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:43 pm
—
Great to see everyone looking out for Joan. Thanks, becky.

#178: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:43 pm
—
Thanks, becky, that was so nice of everyone.

#179: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 8:08 am
—
Thanks for all your comments Very Happy

The next few months were filled with ups and downs for Joan. She had just got used to being back at work again, and was even able to get by without having a lunchtime nap, while the next treatment loomed ever nearer. Uncomplainingly she returned to the hospital and went through all the dreadful side effects of the medication she was given, and then returned home to be cared for by her mother and Steve. She gradually pulled up again afterwards, and returned to work, though not to quite the same rapturous greeting she had received after the first treatment. Although people were still very considerate, it was almost as if they had got used to her illness and hardly ever mentioned it. The third treatment was much the same; Joan felt rotten for a couple of weeks afterwards and then returned to work. She was due to have five courses of treatment, but by the fourth she had started to feel extremely miserable. Before she began chemotherapy she had felt quite well; now she was being given such strong drugs that she was perpetually feeling ill. Her mouth hurt, she constantly had an upset stomach, her eyebrows had begun to fall out and she was finding it difficult to shake off the extreme weariness she felt. She had lost so much weight that she looked gaunt and her cheeks were hollow. She was dreading going back to the hospital for the fourth treatment, for she would have to get through all the awful side effects and still know that she had to return again for another dose of chemotherapy. She felt as though she had used up all her reserves of strength and had nothing else left to give. How she could begin to pull herself back through the illness and discomfort she did not know. On the evening before her return to hospital, Joan stood in the bedroom and looked at herself in the mirror. She had always longed to be thin, but now she wished she could see herself looking healthily plump. Instead she saw a bald, scarred, almost emaciated woman looking back at her, her usually bright eyes dull and her face now lined from the pain and suffering. How would Steve ever be able to look at her with desire again? Miserably, Joan pulled on her nightdress and fell into bed, burying her face in the pillow and giving way to tears.

#180: Author: Miranda, Location: Perth, Western Australia

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 8:25 am
—
Oh poor Joan Sad

What a tough time it must be for her..

STEVE!! Where are you?? This is your cue to enter the bedroom and make her feel better!!

#181: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 9:56 am
—
Poor Joan - but I'm sure Steve will be there for her.

#182: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 12:22 pm
—
Poor Joan. It's awful to go through that hell just to get well again

#183: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 4:51 pm
—
(((joan))))

#184: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:18 pm
—
((((Joan))))

Hope Steve gets there for her soon. Crying or Very sad

Thanks Becky.

#185: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 1:08 pm
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By the time Steve came to bed, Joan was already asleep. He lay for a while, gazing across the pillows at her, noticing the tears on her cheeks. He sighed heavily, wondering just how he would manage to keep on being strong for her. It was exhausting, taking care of things at home and going to work and still trying to be upbeat and cheerful to keep Joan in good spirits when all he wanted to do was go to bed and sleep for about a week. And that would just be for starters. Then he upbraided himself for being so insensitive. Joan was exhausted, too, and seemed suddenly so frail and delicate. She was about to willingly subject herself to a combination of ferocious drugs which would leave her feeling so bad she would scarcely be able to leave her bed; she would then make herself get up far sooner than he would ever have been able to, and she would finally drag herself back to work when really it was as much as she could do to walk into the sitting room and sit on the settee. And furthermore, she would do it all without complaining. When she was putting up with so much, whatever gave him the right to feel hard done by? Steve reached out and gently ran his hand across her head. He could not imagine his life without her, even though their time together had not been exactly what he had hoped it would be, and he prayed again for the strength to help her through the days and weeks ahead. There were only two treatments left and then they would be able to rebuild their lives, hopefully both stronger and better people thanks to the hardships they were currently facing. As long, he thought suddenly, as if she was not disappointed with him, or even angry with him, for not doing enough to support her. Sighing again, Steve rolled over and closed his eyes, vowing to be the perfect husband over the next few months. He would try even harder to care for her and would never let her see that he was finding it difficult to see her suffering so, just in case she thought that he resented the amount of time he had to spend looking after her and nursing her back to health again.

#186: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 1:27 pm
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Poor Steve. Sad

It's so hard being the support person. I hope someone lets him know he needs support as much as Joan does and then gives it to him. I hope they both cope with everything going on

#187: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 3:34 pm
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Poor Steve - but I hope he tells Joan all that.

#188: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 4:17 pm
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(((((Steve)))))

Thanks Becky

#189: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 5:54 pm
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beautiful and so sad

thanks becky

#190: Author: wheelchairprincess, Location: Oxfordshire, UK

Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 6:28 pm
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Just caught up with a huge chunk of this after a long break. Touching and sad yet beautiful. Thank you

#191: Author: ali, Location: medway, kent

Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 8:02 pm
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Just wondering how Joan is getting on! Hope Fatima is OK and will come back to this soon.

#192: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 1:00 pm
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I second that!

#193: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 1:53 pm
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me too!!!

#194: Author: ibarhis, Location: Dunstable

Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 2:02 pm
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and me!

#195: Author: Rebecca, Location: Oxford

Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 2:37 pm
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and another!

#196: Author: Woofter, Location: Location? What's a location?

Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 2:27 pm
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Don't know how i missed the last two updates of this for so long. Thank you Fatima.

#197: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 4:13 pm
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I'm sorry it's taken so long to update this; the bunnies packed their bags and headed off a couple of months ago and haven't been seen since.

The treatment went smoothly; Joan was soon back home feeling rotten and finding it difficult to put a brave face on things. Her mother came to stay again, but although she realised how depressed Joan was feeling, there was little she could do to help, as Joan would not speak about it at all. She lay listlessly in bed, staring up at the ceiling and not talking for hours, sipping water but taking nothing more nutritious as she knew that it would make her feel worse. As she was worried about her daughter, Mrs. Baker stayed longer with Joan and Steve, but Joan scarcely touched the nourishing soups and appetising meals she made and would not open up about her feelings at all. Despite appearances definitely being to the contrary, Joan insisted that she was fine, just tired by the treatment, and Steve was sure she often pretended to be sleeping just to avoid talking to him. Things did not improve once Mrs. Baker left, and Joan returned to work; Steve began to despair of ever having any sort of normal relationship with Joan again. She was distant and quiet and he had run out of ideas about how he could break through her reserve.
Finally, one day while Joan was at work, Steve called Con. He had been busily pretending that everything was fine, but he had reached the point where he could not go on any longer. Things were definitely not fine, and he knew that he either had to find a way to put them right or just carry on with the miserable existance that he and Joan were currently living.
"Hello," he said as Con came onto the line. "Can we talk?"
"Yes, of course," she said at once. "I'm all alone and likely to be so for some time. What's up Steve?"
"It's Joan," he told her, getting straight to the point. "She's so down and she won't talk to me. I'm at my wits end to know what to do with her. She scarcely eats, she isn't interested in anything - the children, television, reading, the news, even Esther can't make her smile any more - and I can't bear seeing her so miserable. But she won't talk to me at all. I've tried to get her to open up, but she just says everything's fine. And I know it most certainly isn't fine."
"Oh, Steve," said Con, her voice brimming over with sympathy. "I had no idea. She's putting on a very good act here. She's always busy, so we don't have much time to chat, and I thought she was just tired and fed up with constantly being so ill."
"I'm sure she is, but I think it's more than that," said Steve. "It's almost as if she's fading away before my eyes. She's a shadow of her former self. It's awful to watch,
Con, and I can't being to imagine how much worse it must be to live through it. If only she'd talk to me. What am I going to do? I can't bear to lose her."
"Do you want me to speak to her?" asked Con.
"Not yet," said Steve. "I don't want her to think that I've been calling people to talk about her. Not that you're 'people'," he added hastily, hearing her draw breath to chastise him. "I just want to know how to make her happpy again."
"I think you should take her on holiday when she's finished her treatment," said Con. "Take her somewhere quiet and pamper her."
"Yes," he agreed, wondering why he had not thought of that himself. "She loved Greece. Perhaps we could go there."
"No, she won't want to be parading round in a swimsuit, Steve," said Con gently. "You need somewhere without a beach, where the air is clear and there are quiet places where you can walk, and peaceful little inns for you to sit outside and have lunch."
"Somewhere with mountains," said Steve thoughtfully. "Thanks Con. You're a life-saver. Or at least I hope you are."

#198: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 4:16 pm
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(((Steve)))

Great to see this back becky

#199: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 5:27 pm
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Austria perhaps? Not sure whether Switzerland will be good - Joey could be the best thing for her - or may totally overwhelm her.

Thanks Becky - lovely to see this again. Laughing

#200: Author: dackel, Location: The Big Wide World (aka London)

Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 5:40 pm