Chapter 27
Twelve months down the track, Honeymoons over and things for everyone had settled back into a routine. Nat and Urs spent every chance they could hiding out in the Swiss Alps. After attempting to show Nat how to ski. Urs decided that it was far too dangerous to give her two long sticks with pointy ends and it was much safer to keep their activities indoors, sauna and spa’s. Nat had found the games room of the hotel they liked to stay in and had become a master of their motor racing virtual games. Urs was convinced that both she and Tracey were totally insane when it came to anything with wheels. But he loved spending the time with her. She had so much energy and was willing to give just about anything a try. Urs was teaching her how to play the drums. (Well at least these sticks didn’t have pointy ends) and Nat was teaching him how to live and love life.

David had become more involved in the business side of things with Tracey. As had all the members of Il Divo. But David to his surprise found he had an aptitude for business and he enjoyed the challenge. Not that he had given up on the singing. NEVER. There was a new world tour in the works. But this time David was much more involved in the logistics of it all. This time the tour would finish in Australia so they could take advantage of the hospitality of their Tasmanian friends.

Tracey had seen more of Hayden this past twelve months having a sneaking suspicion that David was behind it all. She was glad. He was a grown man and she did not want to be a mother who stopped him from reaching for his dreams. But she was very glad for the extra time. And it burdened her so that she had not told him she was dying. A few times she had come close and she was almost sure this was the reason that David had made sure they had time together. Tracey had asked him a few times and David had told her that in her own time it would happen. Mind you, he figured a little push in the right direction couldn’t hurt.
The day came when she found the courage to tell her son that she was dying. Hayden smiled at his mother and gave her a good long cuddle before letting her know he had known almost from the beginning. She and Nat were not the only ones with friends in the right places. Tracey was so proud of him. Hayden did confess however, that he was a lot more comfortable now she had David in her life.

Most days David never thought of the fact that his new wife was maybe dying. When he was with her, he found himself drowning in her sweet tender love, She was kind and gentle, had a sixth sense about his own emotions and feelings, and was so easy to talk to about anything. No matter how ridiculous he thought, she always listened; she always heard what he was saying even when he never said anything. She knew when he needed time to himself, when he just needed to be with the other guys; she also knew when he needed a good kick up the rear end. He would catch himself thinking about her during the day and smile.
Tracey did the same. David’s face would flash into her mind and she would smile to herself. When she was with him his presence enveloped her, she felt safe and alive, and she felt loved. Something she thought would never happen again. He would do little things. Like leaving sweet poems on her mobile phone, leaving the last biscuit in the barrel just in case she wanted one, gently holding her hand and checking her bangles to make sure she had not missed a meal, not making a big deal out of it but appearing with suitable food or whisking her off for a coffee. His excuse to spend some time together. Some days she would find a daffodil (her favourite flower)on her pillow, or on her desk at work, in the car, even in a hotel room. Always one and always from David. He was attentive, romantic, made her laugh and she felt like she was home when she rested in his arms. Her Merlin made the whole nasty world go away.
That is why when she slipped on the stairs a few days before they were due to start the tour she did not make a big deal out of it. Tracey had noticed a few things over the past few months. Her left side was weaker; the strength in her hand was less. Not enough so anyone else would notice but enough that she would. Her nights had become much more restless. David was used to her getting up or not sleeping a lot but now it seemed that she could not sleep. The doctor had increased her pain medication and changed others but the cocktail that once helped her live a relatively normal life was no longer strong enough. She tired much easily now. Her little fall was another sign, her leg would just give way, she never knew when or where and most times she managed to counter the weakness by shifting her weight onto her right leg. The pain in her chest had intensified and soon she would no longer be able to hide just how much it hurt. Thankfully she had only had one other attack like the one in Tasmania and she had been in Japan at the time. David did not know about it. Although when he met her at the airport she could see the worry in his eyes. But he never pushed her to talk about her illness and she loved him for that.
As the tour was going to end in Australia they had started in the north, England and Europe. They were in their US leg of the tour when Tracey could not hide her ill health any longer. It happened backstage just as the group were finishing on stage. Tracey had known she was not having a good day but had expected to last until they got back to the hotel. She had been waiting in David’s room when it hit. But it was not David who got to her first. Urs swung the door open and raced in. He’d been sent to grab the video camera. He was half way into the room when he saw Tracey on the floor, Urs came to a screeching halt in front of her and for a moment thought she was asleep, until he really looked at her. He knelt down beside her and touched her on the shoulder. “Tracey!!!.” He shouted her name again “Tracey!!!”
Tracey was shaking and doubled over in pain. Urs felt just how hot she was. “My God Tracey what is wrong?!!”
Tracey managed to open her eyes and caught hold of Urs’ hand, in a weak voice she spoke. “Get Merlin for me Cowboy.”
Urs was on his feet and out the door in a flash already shouting David’s name at the top of his voice. Other people back stage got a bit of a shock as he flew past them. “DAVID!!!!” Urs rounded a corner as he shouted David’s name again almost knocking the other members of the group down.
David just looked at Urs and then began to run. He knew it was Tracey, leaving Urs to explain to the others.
Both Carlos and Sebastien watched as David ran out of sight. Urs had begun to rush back towards the room while he explained to the others. The more he explained the faster they walked. When they got to the room David had moved Tracey off the floor and was holding her on the sofa. Urs was first in. “What happened David? Is she sick?”
Sebastien was over come with the way Tracey looked. “Dear Lord David she looks terrible.”
David shot Sebastien a look that chilled him to the bone. Before David could say something he would regret Carols stepped in by placing a reassuring had on Sebastien’s shoulder. “David what can we do?”
David held Tracey closer as he felt another wave of pain hit her body. “Nothing. It will pass.”
Urs was not so sure. “But David how can you know? She is in so much pain.”
David had tears in his eyes as he answered. “I’ve seen it before.” He looked down to his wife and ran his fingers through her hair and then looked back to his friends “She’s dying.”
His three friends were dumfounded, the shock and realisation of what he had said registered on their faces, the room was silent for a few moments, no one knowing what to say. Sebastien’s voice was almost inaudible as he spoke. “How can you be sure David?”
“She told me.” David looked down at Tracey “Shut the door till this is over and then help me get her back to the hotel.”
Carlos shut the door as Urs pulled out his mobile phone and began to send a text. “Calling Nat.”
Sebastien went to kneel down beside the sofa. “There must be something we can do?”
David was about to answer but Tracey spoke. “Be my friends.”
“We will Mon Cherie we will.” Sebastien began to cry.
Urs sat in the corner with his head in his hands, Carlos had rested against the door he was saying a silent prayer.

Later that night the four members of Il Divo sat in the lounge of David’s room as Tracey slept in the bedroom. David knew they needed answers. He had talked it over with Tracey and now was the time to let them know the whole story. So David talked and they listened.
Urs was the first to speak, he was hurt and angry. “So she has been ill the whole time we have known her and you didn’t tell us. You married her and you didn’t tell us.” Urs was upset and they others could tell “All this time we could have helped you and you never said anything.”
David was distraught and shouted back at Urs. “Don’t you think I wanted to? But I promised I wouldn’t, for Gods sake she hasn’t told Hayden yet. Back off Urs.”
Urs was about to launch into another shouting match when they all heard the ear piercing whistle from Sebastien. “Enough!!!” He moved so that he was between Urs and David. “Urs, if it had been you she had told would you have kept it a secret?”
Urs’ expression changed and softened. Sebastien continued “I thought as much. So now we know we must help anyway we can.”
Carlos turned to David. “How do we help my old friend?”
They all turned to the bedroom when they heard Tracey’s voice. “By being exactly who you are”
David could see that she was holding herself up against the door. He went to help her.
David took her to the sofa and the guys gathered around, they looked like little lost puppies. Tracey smiled at each one of them. “Don’t be like that. This is exactly why I didn’t want David to tell you. Why I wouldn’t marry David.” She smiled and held his hand. “But he wouldn’t take no for an answer and you three…You have been such a wonderful blessing to me. I don’t want you to feel sorry for me.”
Sebastien’s voice strained with emotion. “But Trace…”
Tracey placed her fingers over his lips to stop him from speaking. “I think it is time I went home for a while. Let you boys have some fun without me”

They all went to say something when Nat burst into the room. She went straight over and sat next to Tracey, gave her a big hug and pulled her to her feet. “Time you went back to bed.”
Again the guys went to protest but she stopped them. “I’ll talk to you lot in a minute.” Nat turned her attention to her friend. “Come on then.” Nat took Tracey back to her bed returning to the fellas a few minutes later. She shut the bedroom door and rested against it, letting the tears roll down her face. Urs made a move to comfort her but she stopped him. “Stay…So you all know the truth now. The next step is up to you. Are you going to treat her like a leaper or are you going to be her friend. She needs you to be strong for her now, be yourselves.”
Carlos spoke. “We will do what ever she wants.”
“She wants you to keep going. Finish the tour.”
They began to protest but did not get far. Nat turned her attention to David. “You knew this day would come David. She gave you enough reasons to walk away, she gave you every chance. But she’s not done just yet. She’s tired and can’t do the rest of the tour with you but we’ll be waiting for you.” Nat could see the looks on their faces. “I’m going home with her” Nat smiled at Urs. “Right now she needs my energy Urs. Do you understand.?”
Urs smiled and walked towards her, they touched foreheads and he kissed her tenderly. “I do. She has been looking out for us since before we knew her. She saved my life.”
“We have six weeks off at the end of this U.S leg of the tour.” It was Carlos. “We will be coming to our Tassie hideout then for a little while.” He stamped his foot on the floor.
“No arguments, just arrangements.”
The others smiled; he would get no argument from them.