CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Kerry helped Tia out of the car and smiled at Nathan. “Thanks, honey. I'll call you later, okay?” She saw him frown and knew that he was thinking of canceling his meeting so he could stay with them at the hospital.
“Go,” Kerry said firmly before Nathan could open his mouth. “Don't miss your meeting. We'll be fine. This is a hospital, and the hospital is a pretty safe place, don't you think?”
Nathan gave a crooked smile and nodded. “All right. But make sure you call me. I want to know everything.”
Tia grinned at him. “Thanks for the ride, Nathan. I really appreciate that you took time off your busy schedule to drive us to the hospital. Really, I mean it. But—we could just as easily have jumped into a cab...”
“I'll be here to pick you up,” Nathan said sternly. “You are not to take a cab by yourselves.”
Tia giggled and elbowed her sister. “Your mate is sooooo protective. He really loves you.”
Kerry blushed and made a face at Tia. She closed the car door and waved as Nathan drove off. Nathan glanced in his rear view mirror and grinned when he saw her mouth the words: I love you.
She did. She did love him.
He was sweet, caring and protective, and family was everything to him. Despite his packed schedule, he always took the time to come with them for Tia's weekly injections and check-ups. Tia had been taking the new drug for ten weeks now. There were no side effects but the doctor couldn't tell how well her body was responding to the drug until after she had taken all ten doses. Well, today was the day.
Kerry's phone buzzed and she smiled when she saw the message from Nathan. I love you more. Call me once you're talked to the doctor.
They were seeing Dr. Arun today, and they would find out for sure if Tia was improving under this new treatment.
Tia put on a brave front and appeared cheerful and nonchalant but Kerry knew that her sister was terrified inside. This new drug had proven effective on eighty per cent of the patients, but there was still that niggling twenty per cent. This new miracle drug didn't work its magic on everyone. There were many factors at play, and Dr. Arun had explained the probabilities and risks to them. But this was their last hope.
Kerry held her sister's thin hand and walked silently along the corridor. The hospital wasn't too crowded today, and there weren't many patients in the waiting area.
“Kerry,” Tia whispered as they sat down outside the doctor's office.
“Yes.”
“You're crushing my hand.”
“Oh! Sorry.” With a start, Kerry released her death grip on Tia's hand and offered a weak smile.
“Hey, wanna hear a joke?” Tia said brightly.
Kerry nodded, and Tia cleared her throat. “A giraffe and an elephant walked into a bar and...”
But before she reached the punchline, the door to Dr. Arun's office opened and the nurse called them in. Tia and Kerry shot to their feet and walked briskly into the room. Kerry squeezed Tia's hand as they sat in front of Dr. Arun's desk and waited.
“Tia, Kerry,” Dr. Arun greeted them and glanced down at the opened file in front of him. He wasn't smiling, and Kerry heart twisted painfully in her chest.
“What is it? Please, just tell us.” Kerry could hear the panic in her voice, and she fought to keep her pitch and volume down.
Dr. Arun closed the file and said, “I'm sorry. The drug isn't working on Tia.”
He took a deep breath and continued, “In fact, the drug couldn't even contain the cancer in Tia's case. The cancer cells in her body seem to have multiplied at an accelerated rate, and now the cancer has spread to...”
“What? What the hell are you saying?” Kerry demanded. “You said that eighty per cent of the patients...”
“Every patient is different,” Dr. Arun tried to explain. “Tia's body didn't reject the drug. But the drug didn't work the way it was supposed to in her body either. Not only is there no improvement in her case...”
“No improvement?” Kerry was yelling now. “You're lying! How can there be no improvement at all? This is a miracle drug, right? It's supposed to work miracles! You...”
“Kerry,” Tia said, putting a hand on her arm. “Kerry, calm down. It's...okay,” she said in a broken whisper.
“It's not bloody okay! It's not,” Kerry snarled, flinging her sister's hand away. She pressed her palms on Dr. Arun's desk and stood up. “You promised me my sister would be well. You said...”
The doctor shook his head. “I made no such promise. I told you there was no guarantee that...”
“No! You...you promised that my sister would be cured! You said...there was a really good chance...” Her words tripped over one another as she fought down a wrenching sob.
“I explained the risks clearly to you and...”
“You are a liar! Liar!” Kerry screamed as she launched herself at the doctor.
Tia jumped up and grabbed her. “Kerry! Kerry, don't do this. Calm down...”
“Don't tell me to calm down,” Kerry shrieked. She glared at Tia through her tears. “Don't tell me to fucking calm down!”
Tia valiantly tried to hold Kerry back as Kerry gripped the edge of the table and attempted to overturn it.
“You told me my sister would get well.” Her voice cracked as she came to grips with the facts. She didn't want to believe what Dr. Arun was saying but the truth was sinking in.
The cancer was spreading. The cancer was winning.
The drug had failed.
She had failed her baby sister.
Dr. Arun stood up slowly, careful not to make any sudden movement.
“Look, we can discuss other options and...”
Kerry let out a hysterical, derisive laugh. “You just made my sister a whole lot worse. You're supposed to cure her. Instead you made her sicker. I...I'll sue you and the whole goddamn hospital!” It was an empty, hollow threat and they all knew it. They had signed all the waivers and indemnity forms. And what bloody good would suing the hospital do? Her sister still wouldn't be cured.
There was no one to blame, except herself. She had ignored Tia's protests and signed Tia up for this new treatment.
Kerry turned to her sister and tried to tell her how sorry she was. Her voice sounded faint and far away, and she registered the alarm on Tia's face.
“Kerry!”
Kerry swayed and her legs gave out completely. The last thing she heard was Tia screaming her name as she collapsed.