Her Great Expectations by Joan Kilby Page B

brought some old computer disks to make robots.” Oliver’s soft-featured, pimply face was transformed by interest and hope.
    Jack rubbed the back of his head. “I guess I could fast-track the school project I’m developing. How would you like to help me build a prototype dogbot?”
    “Cool!” Oliver grinned, eyes shining. “What’s a dogbot?”
    The boy’s eager curiosity reminded Jack of himself at that age. Something tripped over in his gut. It must be tough on Olly not to have his dad around. If Leanne hadn’t died, Jack might have had a son who would look at him the way Oliver was looking at him now.
    He clapped an arm around Oliver’s shoulder. “That is what we’re going to find out.”





CHAPTER SIX
    “D IABETES IS ONE of the leading causes of kidney disease—more than excessive drinking or smoking,” Sienna informed the guys at the Men’s Shed later that week.
    She’d asked Jack if she could give a talk on men’s health issues as a community service and he’d suggested she come at their morning coffee break. Standing beside her posters propped on an easel, she concluded, “I have a patient who contracted type 2 diabetes at the age of thirty-three. Without treatment, his kidneys slowly deteriorated. Now, at fifty-five years old, he has to spend fifteen hours a week on a dialysis machine just to stay alive. He can’t travel or do any of the things he’d planned to do in retirement. One in four people with diabetes develops long-term kidney damage.”
    She glanced around the room, her gaze resting briefly on Steve. “Don’t be one of the statistics.”
    Over the smattering of applause, she added, “Are there any questions?”
    Paul, Ralph, Steve and Bob were seated on the couch and chairs. They’d listened in polite silence. Now they shook their heads— no questions. All through her talk Sienna had been conscious of Jack leaning against the fridge, arms crossed over his chest, watching her.
    She unhooked her flip chart and started to dismantle the stand. She hoped the men—especially Steve—had taken in the message, but it was hard to tell. “Help yourself to the fruit and veggie platter. I’ll stay around for a few minutes in case you want to ask me anything.”
    Paul reached for a handful of carrot sticks and dipped one into the chickpea dip Jack had made for the occasion. The other men, including Steve, gravitated toward the chocolate chip cookies Jean had dropped off earlier.
    Sienna left the chart stand and offered the veggie platter to Steve. “Can I have a word?”
    Steve threw a hungry glance at the chocolate chip cookies, then sighed and took a few cucumber sticks and a slice of melon. “Sure.”
    Sienna set the platter on the table and followed him away from the others.
    “A cookie wasn’t going to kill me.” Steve eyed the cucumbers in his hand with distaste. “Were you aiming your talk at me?”
    “Not just you. Men’s health is an important issue. I give the same talk to other groups in the community. But I’m glad of the chance to speak to you privately.” Sienna glanced around to make sure no one was within hearing distance, then continued. “I received the lab results from your blood sugar tests. Your blood sugar is three times the acceptable level.”
    Behind his steel-framed glasses, fear flickered in Steve’s eyes. “There must be some mistake.”
    “There’s always a possibility these results are an anomaly,” she said. “That’s why standard procedure is to confirm with a follow-up test. Same thing again, on a different day.”
    Steve groaned. “Not more fasting.”
    “I’m afraid so.” From her purse she produced a pamphlet and gave it to him. “Read that. Discuss it with your wife and family.”
    Reluctantly he accepted it, then immediately rolled it into a cylinder. “And if the next test gives the same result?”
    “It will indicate you have type 2 diabetes. It’s not the end of the world,” she added quickly as his expression turned