Page 43 of Ask Another Day

‘Afraid not. Then you’ll be stuck in them for weeks - once this cast is on, you won’t be able to get the jeans over it. So it’s either cut them off now or after. But either way, it’s got to be done.’

And that did it. She hadn’t cried when she’d opened her eyes to Natalie’s worried face on the floor of the pub. She hadn’t cried when trying to get into Seb’s car. She hadn’t cried when Grace had confirmed her worst fears. But as Gavin cut through her recycled denim jeans, silent tears tracked down her face.

Her phone buzzed from the chair beside her. Grasping for the distractions it offered, she fished it out from the bag Rose had packed for her when she’d come to pick up Natalie.

Owen:

Exciting news. Cornwall has confirmed everything is in place.

So I’m heading down tomorrow.

It’s been fun re-connecting Hols.

Catch up next time I’m home?

Holly clicked out of her messages and allowed herself to wallow. It was like the universe had it in for her. A broken ankle wasn’t enough of a shit show. Let’s chuck in your favourite jeans being cut off you, and your crush leaving you for Cornwall with a cheery message. She stopped listening to all the information Gavin was still trying to impart, and gave in to the disappointment that was her life.

Holly’s mind was still wandering when Gavin left the cubicle and Seb’s head popped through the curtains.

‘Ready to go home?’

She nodded. She didn’t say anything when Seb carefully scooped her up from the bed and gently eased her back into the wheelchair. She didn’t say anything on the drive home, or when they arrived outside the pub. She didn’t say anything when he set up a bed for her downstairs in the office, or when he got her a drink. It was as if her voice had just left her.

*

He must have said goodbye because the next sound she heard was the pub door clicking shut. In the silence that enveloped her, she sobbed. And that was how Rose and Luke found her a few minutes later.

‘Rose, can you go and sort some clothes out for Holly please?’ her brother asked as he knelt down and pulled her, carefully, into a fierce hug.

‘It’s going to be OK. We’ll sort this,’ he said as his arms tightened around her.

‘What… so you’re a surgeon now?’ she managed to say between sobs.

‘Good to see you’ve still got your sharp wit,’ Luke stroked her hair away from her eyes. ‘Jeez, you look awful.’

‘You’re supposed to be cheering me up.’ But she laughed anyway.

‘Cheering you up, yes. Lying to you - no.’ He dodged her slap, before looking at her seriously as adding, ‘Seriously though, I know it’s not going to be easy. But between me, Seb, Rose, and Lucy, we’ve got this.’

Holly didn’t know why she said her next words. Maybe she wanted to be miserable. Or maybe it was too painful now Owen was gone. Whatever the reason, though, she said them just as Seb had slipped in through the pub doors with a sleeping Natalie in his arms.

‘I don’t want him in the pub anymore, Luke.’

‘Who?’ he asked, totally confused.

‘Seb. There’s plenty to keep him busy at the micro brewery in the run up to our next season’s ale. I’m going to close the kitchen until I find a replacement chef.’

‘Why? That doesn’t make any sense, Holly.’

Up until then neither had heard Seb enter the pub, but they both turned towards the sound of Rose’s sharp inhale as she witnessed the scene from the stairs. Wordlessly Seb handed Natalie to Rose, then turned and left. Holly had seen the hurt on his face at her words. But she stood by them. He’d been amazing tonight. Just who she’d needed. But that made it all a hundred times worse. It hurt having him around, but not having him.

‘Holly, I know he hurt you on your birthday, but this isn’t about that still, is it?’ Luke whispered, keeping his question only for her ears. When she didn’t correct him, he wiped a hand down his face. ‘That was twelve years ago.’

‘Doesn’t feel like it was twelve years ago, Luke. It feels like it was last week.’

And because she didn’t want any more conversations, she turned her back to him as she curled herself under the covers of her makeshift bed, and tried to go to sleep.

*