Lydia talked to Theo about her shopping, about the carrot cake they’d eaten. She told him they were going out tonight so she didn’t have to think too much about him going away tomorrow. ‘We’re going to All Bar One. You know, the place we went that served smarties in shot glasses.’ She smiled at him and when she saw Anita at the far end of the ward, approaching, she knew she couldn’t hang around. She stood up and pressed her lips to Theo’s. They were warm, the same as they’d always been. He was the man she’d fallen in love with. He was her Theo, the man who loved being outside, being a part of the action, who never let her give up on herself.
‘I love you, Theo.’ She whispered into his ear.
She nodded to Anita, but when Anita called after her she simply said, ‘See you in a couple of weeks,’ because if she turned around and looked at Theo one more time she’d fall to her knees and beg them not to take him away.
Just because something was right, it didn’t make it any easier to deal with.
Lydia went to the ICU to say goodbye and thank some of the staff who’d cared for Theo and finally made her way through the reception and out into the spring air. Tonight she’d shower, wash her hair, put on her make-up and her new outfit with heels, and she would start to adjust to what her life was now, today, with Theo moving onto another stage. What other choice did she have?
‘Lydia?’
She turned at the voice. ‘Connor?’
‘Ah, at least you remember my name.’ He smiled and she returned the gesture.
‘I wasn’t that drunk.’
‘What brings you here?’
‘Oh, I…I’m visiting a friend. What about you?’ She asked the question before he could ask any more details.
‘I’m visiting my new niece.’
‘Wow, Ian’s wife had the baby!’
‘Yep. And she’s gorgeous, looks nothing like Ian.’ He made Lydia smile. ‘Matilda Jilly. She’s as cute as anything.’
‘That’s great news.’
‘Ian is besotted of course.’ When a taxi pulled up he said, ‘I’ve got to go…it’s Mum’s birthday and I’m taking her to lunch, but it was great seeing you. I hope I bump into you again sometime.’
Before she had a chance to reply she heard another voice behind her, and this time it was Ian. They both waved at Connor who’d already climbed into the taxi.
‘I hear congratulations are in order.’ She beamed at her boss. A new baby was always cause for great celebration, no matter how she felt today.
‘Thank you, Lydia.’ He reiterated all the details and then asked the obvious question. ‘What brings you here?’
‘Just here to see a friend.’
‘Oh?’
‘I’ll see you at work on Monday.’ She turned to go but he put a hand on her arm.
‘Lydia?’
No longer did she have the strength to hold herself together. The slightly sympathetic voice was enough to weaken her. Her face crumpled and all of a sudden her boss was hugging her as she wept on his shoulder.
In the café Ian ordered a coffee and for Lydia, a can of Tango.
‘So are you going to tell me what that was all about?’ he asked.
‘Do I have to?’ She sipped from the can of drink. ‘Can’t we talk about Matilda?’
‘Of course I’d love to, but you don’t get out of it that easily.’
‘You’re not the boss of me when we’re not at work,’ she tried again, but her tentative smile didn’t put him off.
‘Lydia, just tell me what’s going on.’
