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“Callum, what did you do this time?” She said, her words were direct but with love.
“I fell off a ladder, Adaline was there to call an ambulance. I was only unconscious for a few minutes, maximum. I came around when they got me here. No harm was done.”
“You have to be careful,” she said. “I'm so glad Callum has you to look out for him. Although he has kept you away from me, goodness knows why,” she said.
“You know why mum, you will suffocate her with affection. I wanted to make her fall in love with me before you scared her off.”
“I don't suffocate,” she laughed after she spoke. “I have a lot of love to give.” She turned to me, putting her hand up to the side of her mouth to hide what she was saying from Callum. “Don't listen to him Adaline, I know my boundaries. I promise I'm not thinking about the wedding cake.” She winked at me and then turned her attention to her son.
Steph and Elliott were outside the ward. I escaped the clutches of Darlene and updated them with Callum's head injury. I told them I'd find my way home and they could get back to what they were doing before my frantic text. They took turns to see Callum. The nurse only allowed two people to be with him at any one time.
I ventured back into the hospital room once Steph and Elliott had left. Darlene had settled herself into the only chair and was talking animatedly to Callum. He nodded now and then with his eyes firmly shut. When she spotted me approaching, she vacated her seat and kissed Callum's cheek.
“I'm leaving Adaline, but we must get a coffee or even better,” she said clasping Callum's knee. “You should come to my house for dinner. Callum can cook while we discuss the ball. Have you got a dress yet? I know a great little boutique that has a dress what would be perfect for you.”
She said or rather gushed. I caught most of what she said, she was only inches away from me.
“Mum, I think Adaline would like a night off from the charity ball organising. She's spent every evening since I've known her fielding your emails.”
“I am sorry about that, I'll try to manage that better,” she said and clutched at my sleeve to find my hand. I'd pulled down the sleeves of the t-shirt I was wearing to hide my flexing fingers. I itched to tap a surface to think about what I would say once Darlene did eventually leave. “Please come for dinner, you can cometomorrow, Callum will be released in the morning.”
“Mum,” Callum exclaimed. “Let her speak.”
“I'd love to come for dinner,” I said. It wasn't what I was thinking at all. Darlene had that effect on me, either I gave in now, or she'd badger me until I gave in. I knew the signs of an over exuberant mother. Steph was nearly catching up to that level.
Part of me welcomed the comfort and attention, I'd never had it from my mother, and somehow I knew Darlene meant every word she said.
“Can't wait, I'll get my driver to come and pick you up. You can have a drink, and Callum doesn't have to worry about after-effects.”
I swiftly looked to Callum, I wasn't expecting after effects. He rolled his eyes and shook his head.
“I'm fine mum, I'll see youtomorrow. Thanks for coming.”
She smiled at her son and patted his covered foot. She kissed my cheek before hugging me close and then she was gone. It left me and Callum's heavy silence.
“Come over here Adaline, I need a kiss,” he said and beckoned me over with a weary wave.
His command melted my heart. I had so much to say to him, to tell him off for not telling me about his mum but most of all I wanted to tell him I was happy he was alive. I kissed his lips and sat on the edge of the bed.
“You scared me, Callum, I thought you were dead,” I said. He took my hand and laced our fingers.
“I’m sorry for scaring you, I bleed a lot when I cut myself,” he said trying to make a joke of it. I had an idea what haemophilia meant. I had an urge to rush home and remove all sharp objects and buy rounded furniture.
“I know, Steph and Elliott told me,” I said. The paramedics hadn’t told me anything on the way to the hospital.
“I’m grateful that you were there at all. It could have happened at any time. You were there, and that’s what counts.”
“What if I’m not there next time and you bleed and die?”
I couldn’t fathom what would happen and what a horrific way that would be to die.
“It’s a condition I’ve lived with all my life, just like you have lived with your deafness all your life. You adapt and make allowances. You protect yourself and remove all reasonable risks while still trying to live. I didn’t take great care of my health when I was in school, I made poor food choices and gave up taking part in sports. Eventually, I talked to an expert, but did nothing until my dad died.”
He tugged my hand and tickled my palm, I laughed, and he smiled.
“Can we talk about you?” He asked.
“No, we cannot Mr Hague, son of Darlene. I feel such a fool for not putting all the clues together.” I said and leant forward. “It’s your fucking charity ball, your family’s charity, and you forgot to tell me that bit,” I whispered through gritted teeth. This made him laugh harder. The angrier I got, the more he laughed.
