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“I am going to call for an ambulance to take your mother into hospital. She needs to start on oxygen right away and be monitored”.
“F…for how long?” Mina had whispered, seeing as he had looked at her with such pity on his features.
“I am not sure … Your mother is going to need constant supervision Mina”.
Looking at the man, she had realised what he was trying to say, her head shaking.
“No…my mother is NOT going to spend the rest of her life in hospital”.
Her eyes looking beseechingly at him, seeing the discomfort on his as he had repeated “She needs medical supervision Mina…we can only offer that in hospital”
Remembering Nikos’ words, she had gasped, “I am staying with Nikos Dupris” searching around for her bag before pulling from it the card he had given to her, seeing the surprised frown on the doctors face.
“He told me that there was a medical team waiting for when my mother needed it” the doctor’s eyebrows rising before he had smiled.
“Then I would say contact them Miss Lane…your mother needs them now”.
Moving quickly over to the telephone, she had lifted the receiver dialling his number with fingers that trembled, his voice on the other end sending a strange feeling of relief through her.
“Nikos Dupris”.
Mina only able to whisper “Nikos?” Hearing the sharp intake of breath from him “Mina? Mina what’s wrong?” a sound of panic entering his voice.
“I…I’m with the doctor” she had finally managed. “My mother needs your team…c…could you?”
She had not needed to say anymore as he had spoken his voice calm and reassuring.
“I will phone them now Mina…they will phone you right back. It will be fine”.
Unable to say more, she had hung up the phone, waiting, instinctively knowing that he would not let her down. Within ten minutes the phone had rung, Mina answering it, hearing the authorative voice of a woman who identified herself as the leader of the emergency team. Handing the phone to the doctor, she had moved back into the bedroom to once more hold her mother’s hand, kissing it softly, muttering soothing words telling the frightened woman that it would be OK.
“Don’t let them put me in hospital” had been all she could whisper, every word a struggle for air, every word tearing her daughter apart. Shaking her head, she had once more been thankful to Nikos for organising the team, something that had meant so little to her when he had first mentioned it so many weeks ago, but now so important.
“No…no Nikos has organised everything mum. You won’t be going into hospital, the hospital is coming to you” trying to sound upbeat, to inflict a small laugh to her voice, seeing the relief on her mother’s face “N..Nikos again” had been all she had said as her eyes had fluttered closed, blessed sleep taking her.
The rest of the day had passed in a blur, the team arriving and unloading an alarming amount of equipment which they had taken into her mother’s bedroom, hooking her up to oxygen as Mina had sat silently in a corner watching everything, her insides feeling so numb.
As night had fallen a strange peace had settled on the villa, all going quiet as the doctors had finally left, only one nurse remaining, coming to sit beside Mina carrying a tray with tea and sandwiches which she had placed on the table beside them.
“Thought I would make myself some supper Mina” she had said breezily, lifting a cup and depositing it in her hands “Drink up”.
Looking at the other woman with surprise, she had done as she was told, the warmth of the liquid bringing some life back into her tired and shell shocked body.
“My name is Alice” she had continued, her voice bright as she had lifted her own cup along with a sandwich.
“Eat up…” Mina lifting a small quarter of a sandwich in an almost automatic response, before she had paused, her eyes looking at the other woman.
“How is my mother?” she had asked, the first time she had been able to all day. Alice had smiled warmly back at her, her look comforting.
“Better Mina, much better. Her oxygen levels are back up and she is breathing easily now”.
Mina had given a small choked half-sob, the relief filling her as she had nodded, a tremulous smile rising to her mouth.
“Thank you” she had managed, her eyes showing the depth of her gratitude.
Giving another smile Alice had pointed at the sandwich “Well if you really want to thank me…..then eat that” she had said kindly, Mina nodding and smiling as she had eaten it, feeling suddenly hungry as she had quickly demolished two more, Alice chattering at her the whole time.
When they had eaten and cleaned up, she had snuck into her mother’s bedroom, following Alice who had checked on the levels of the machine, smiling encouragingly at her, Mina so relieved to see the colour once more on her face, her chest rising and falling rhythmically unlike that morning. For the first time that day feeling content and sure that her mother was well, her eyes had shown her relief as she had moved out of the bedroom with Alice.
“It’s late Mina…I understand that you are living on the Dupris estate”.
Mina had nodded her head softly, frowning as she had looked at the time giving a small groan seeing that it was nearly 1:00 in the morning.
“Yes…But if you don’t mind Alice, I would like to move in tomorrow. I want to be with my mother as much as possible”
Patting her arm softly the nurse had nodded.
“Well I am sure that she would appreciate having you here” her face kindly, as she had walked with her to her car.
At the villa, Nikos had once more paced the room, his eyes again looking at the clock. Frowning he had wondered for the thousandth time where she was, what was happening, his only information being from the Team lead who had informed him that her mother was comfortable and doing well.
Moving over to pour himself a drink, he had flicked another look at his mobile phone, tempted to call her, knowing that he couldn’t. She had enough to deal with. She didn’t need his constant interference. With a sigh, his mind had once more flashed to the last time he had seen her that morning, everybody waving Dina off to school, Mina radiant with her large smile as she had laughed at him, her eyes sparkling, the joke he had already forgotten as once more he had needed to hold down the way his body had responded to her.
The opening of the door had brought him around quickly. Moving from the study he had seen as she had already ascended half-way up the stairs.
“Mina!” he had called, seeing as she had froze at his voice, her back stiffening as she had not turned around.
“It’s…it’s fine Nikos” she had managed, so aware of the quiver on her voice.
“Thank you for everything…you have no idea what being able to stay in the Villa means to my mother”.
Moving to the stairs himself he had gently spoken.
“Are you OK?”
Seeing as she had nodded her voice breaking as she had moved quickly up the stairs to her room.
“I’m fine…please I just need some sleep…sorry Nikos please…I’ll speak with you in the morning”.
She had then ran the rest of the way, pushing the door of her room open to escape from him, to find the peaceful solitude of her room, where she could really let go of all of the emotions rushing through her.
Sinking down onto her bed, she had finally let the sobs tear through her, as her heart had broken. Hearing the soft tapping on her door, she had pulled herself up, dashing away the tears as she had tried to pull herself together enough to answer, her voice coming out shaky and higher than normal “Yes?” the sound of Nikos, raising panic within her. Of all people she did not want him to see her so upset.
“Are you OK Mina?”
“I…I’m fine” she had managed the tremor in her voice still audible “Please…..just …leave me alone” her hands frantically wiping the tears which flowed down her stricken face.
“I’m coming in” his determined voice had made her groan, as the door had opened, Mina turning so that he would not see her face. Looking down at the bed she had coughed softly, trying to sound calm, despite the pain and hurt which invaded every part of her.
“I said I was fine Nikos, please just leave me alone…I’m tired”.
She had heard the sound of his footsteps moving closer to her, wishing that he would just go and leave her to her heartache. Nikos had stopped before Mina, watching as she had kept her head down, her face turned away from him. Still the tears on her cheek were visible as he had paused unsure what to do.
“What happened Mina?” he had asked softly, seeing as her shoulders had begun to shake gently as she had lost control once more.
“P…please just go” she had stammered, as with a soft sigh he had squatted down before her and pulled her into his arms, feeling as hers had flown around his neck, her head burying itself deeply into his shoulder, her small body wracked with heartrending sobs.
