“Good afternoon, Dr. Elgin.”
“And what can I do for you?”
“I have a small cyst in my right breast and—”
“Oh, you’ve seen a doctor?”
“No, but I know what it is. It’s just a little cyst. I know my body. I’d like you to use microsurgery to get it out.” She smiled. “I’m a model. I can’t afford to have a scar. With just a tiny blemish, I can cover it with makeup. I’m leaving next week for Aruba, so would it be possible to schedule the operation tomorrow or the next day?”
Dr. Elgin was studying her. Considering the situation, she seemed unnaturally calm. “Let me examine you first, then I’ll have to do a biopsy. But yes, we can schedule the operation within the week, if necessary.”
Rachel was beaming. “Wonderful.”
Dr. Elgin stood up. “Let’s go into the other room, shall we? I’ll have the nurse bring you a hospital gown.”
Fifteen minutes later, with a nurse looking on, Dr. Elgin was palpating the lump in Rachel’s breast.
“I told you, Doctor, it’s just a cyst.”
“Well, to be certain, Miss Stevens, I’d like to do the biopsy. I can do it right here.”
Rachel tried not to wince as Dr. Elgin inserted a thin needle into the side of her breast to draw out tissue.
“All finished. That wasn’t too bad, was it?”
“No. How soon…?”
“I’ll send this in to the lab, and I can have a preliminary cytology report tomorrow morning.”
Rachel smiled. “Good. I’m going home to pack for Aruba.”
When Rachel got home, the first thing she did was take out two suitcases and lay them on the bed. She went to the closet and started collecting clothes to take to with her.
Jeanette Rhodes, her cleaning woman, came into the bedroom.
“Miss Stevens, are you going away again?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you going this time?”
“To Aruba.”
“Where’s that?”
“It’s a beautiful island in the Caribbean Sea, just north of Venezuela. It’s a paradise. Great beaches, beautiful hotels, and wonderful food.”
“Sounds great.”
“By the way, Jeanette, while I’m gone, I’d like you to come in three times a week.”
“Of course.”
At nine o’clock the following morning, the phone rang.
“Miss Stevens?”
“Yes.”
“This is Dr. Elgin.”
“Hello, Doctor. Were you able to schedule the operation?”
“Miss Stevens, I just got the cytology report. I’d like you to come into the office so we can—”
“No. I want to hear it now, Doctor.”
There was a slight hesitation. “I don’t like to discuss this sort of thing on the phone, but I’m afraid the preliminary report shows you do have cancer.”
Jeff was in the middle of writing his sports column when the phone rang. He picked it up. “Hello?”
“Jeff…” She was crying.
“Rachel, is that you? What’s the matter? What’s happened?”
“I—I have breast cancer.”
“Oh, my God. How serious is it?”
“I don’t know yet. I have to have a mammogram. Jeff, I can’t face this alone. I know I’m asking a lot, but could you come down here?”
“Rachel, I—I’m afraid I—”
“Just for a day. Just till I…know.” She was crying again.
“Rachel…” He was torn. “I’ll try. I’ll call you later.”
She was sobbing too hard to speak.
When Dana returned from a production meeting, she said, “Olivia, make a reservation for me on a morning plane to Aspen, Colorado. Get me into a hotel. Oh, and I’ll want a car rental.”
“Right. Mr. Connors is waiting for you in your office.”
“Thanks.” Dana walked inside. Jeff was standing there looking out the window. “Hi, darling.”
He turned around. “Hi, Dana.”
There was a strange expression on his face. Dana looked at him, concerned. “Are you all right?”
“That’s a two-part question,” he said heavily. “Yes and no.”
“Sit down,” Dana said. She took a chair opposite him. “What’s wrong?”
He let out a deep breath. “Rachel has breast cancer.”
She felt a little shock. “I—I’m so sorry. Is she going to be all right?”
“She called this morning. They’re going to let her know how serious it is. She’s panicky. She wants me to come to Florida to help her face the news. I wanted to talk to you first.”