“Thanks for coming.” These were the only words Roy got out when he opened the door to us before Mark engulfed him in a bear hug.
We moved into the living room, but I soon excused myself to go into the kitchen to make cups of tea and coffee.
When I returned a few minutes later, tray in hand, I heard Mark hesitantly say, “Even if it is…” He trailed off.
“Cancer. You can say it,” Roy said quietly.
Mark nodded. “It could be a benign tumour. They might be able to operate and take it out.”
Roy used his left hand to take the cup off the tray I held out. “Thank you.” To Mark, he added, “Yes, that’s something I’ve thought about.”
I was sure Roy didn’t think it was benign. Mark, on the other hand, seemed to be clinging to the idea for all he was worth.
In an obvious effort to change the su
