Dick Francis's Damage Read Online Free PDF Page B

smart navy blue dress with white belt and shoes.
    â€œHello, my darlings,” she squealed, throwing her arms out wide. “Come on in. Q said you might be coming.”
    She gave both of us hugs and kisses and then ushered us through the hall into her expansive kitchen.
    â€œCoffee?” she asked. “Or something stronger?”
    It was ten past ten in the morning.
    â€œCoffee,” Lydia said and I nodded. “Lovely.”
    We watched as Faye set to work with her fancy black-and-chrome coffee machine, producing three steaming cups, each topped with frothy white milk.
    â€œI can’t stand instant coffee,” she said. “There’s nothing like the real thing.”
    We sat at the kitchen breakfast bar sipping our drinks, not talking about the one topic that filled our minds.
    â€œSo how are you feeling?” Lydia asked eventually.
    â€œFine,” said Faye. “That’s what’s so damn annoying. Most of the time I’m absolutely fine. I can’t really believe there’s anything wrong with me, but the wretched doctors say otherwise. And I’m not looking forward to Monday, I can tell you.”
    â€œNo,” I said inadequately. “Which hospital?”
    â€œThe Royal Marsden.”
    â€œHow long will you be in?”
    â€œTwo, three, or four nights, maybe even five. It depends.”
    â€œOn what?”
    â€œThe surgeon, I suppose.”
    â€œWhat exactly will he do?” Lydia asked.
    â€œTake out some bits,” she said with a forced smile. “Maybe it’ll help me lose some weight.”
    We didn’t laugh.
    â€œIf I’m lucky,” she went on, “he’ll just remove my gallbladder. That’s if the cancer hasn’t broken through the wall. Otherwise, he might have to take out some more. I really don’t want to think about it.” She breathed deeply. “But I can’t think of anything else.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you have the surgery last week as soon as you knew?” I asked.
    â€œI’ve been waiting for the right man to do it. He’s been away at some conference or other in the United States. Apparently, he gets back on Sunday, so Monday is the earliest he could do it. The hospital told me it was worth the wait to get the top guy, so I did. I just hope it was the right thing.”
    Faye lost all her composure. Her shoulders drooped and she was close to tears.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she said unnecessarily.
    Lydia stood up and went to put her arms around Faye as a series of sobs shuddered through her body.
    I felt helpless and distraught.
    Faye had always been my rock. She had been the one to wipe away my tears, right from when our dear mother had
Gone off to see God
, as our father had always put it.
    I desperately didn’t want Faye to go off to see God, not yet, not ever, but what could I do? Nothing. Only pray that the surgeon would do his work and save her.
    I stood up and went and put my arms around them both.
    â€œWhat’s this?” said Quentin loudly, coming into the kitchen. “Group hug?”
    The moment passed and Faye pulled herself away, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue and smudging her mascara.
    â€œOh God, what a mess,” she said, trying to laugh. “I’ll just go and fix this.”
    â€œI’ll come with you,” said Lydia, and the two girls went off to make repairs upstairs.
    â€œIt’s very difficult for her,” I said to Quentin.
    â€œShe’ll be fine,” he said with confidence. “She’s a tough old bird.”
    I wasn’t sure if he really thought that she would be fine or if he was just putting on a brave front. I couldn’t believe that he didn’t know the odds. Either way, I thought that he should be more consoling towards his wife, but I suppose that wasn’t Quentin’s style.
    â€œIs there anything you need from me to start your investigation?” he asked.
    â€œThe