Page 71 of Mistletoe and Mulled Wine at the Christmas Campervan

Lucy’s eyes filled as she looked down at her hands, somehow entwined with Jack’s.

‘I should never have shut you out, Luce. And I’m so sorry I was so shut-off, guarded, and that argument at the castle … God, it was horrible. I wasn’t thinking straight. I should have believed you about Liam. But it was all so painful and I thought if I left, it’d be for the best …’

Lucy felt her heart plummet at his words. So, he was thinking of going … of leaving her.

‘But I was all mixed up, I’d got it all wrong, Luce. I couldn’t see what was right in front of me. And I’m sorry, so sorry …’ He sounded so damned tired. ‘It shouldn’t take something like this to give me that perspective, you know?’

‘Don’t worry yourself. Just lie back now, Jack. I’ll be here. Shut your eyes, if you need to.’ She kissed his bruised and battered cheek, whispering, oh so gently, ‘I love you.’

And he nodded. Closing his eyelids. Giving in to the warmth of the pillows. His hand still resting there, enclosed by Lucy’s.

He must have dozed. Jack felt his hand gently enveloped. Opened his eyelids. His face damned sore. His ribs groaning as he tried to move. And there was Lucy, still at his bedside.

‘Hey, sleepyhead.’ Concern was etched over her pretty features, yet she managed a gentle heartfelt smile.

‘Still here, then?’ His words meaning so much more than the literal. Like they’d be there for each other, in the good times and the bad times to come.

‘Of course. How are you feeling?’

‘Sore … a bit groggy.’

‘Hah, no wonder. You’ve taken a bit of a bashing, my love. And you’re on some pretty strong medication.’

While he was sleeping, the nurse had come across and given Lucy more detail on his injuries; seven ribs were broken, and there were facial lacerations as well as many cuts and bruises. He’d also gone into shock at the scene of the accident. Poor Jack. But the prognosis was good. They were keeping a close eye on him after such major trauma, but in another day or so, if all was well, he might be able to go home. That was such a relief to hear.

‘Ah, okay. So, I’m not going to be moving and shaking for a while yet, then?’

‘Nope, no way. Bed rest for you.’

‘Hmm, that doesn’t sound too bad, actually.’ He quirked an eyebrow.

Hah, even in hospital he managed to think about sex! Really. ‘Rest being the operative word.’ Lucy shook her head, smiling.

Jack’s parents then appeared, edging their way back over to his bay, having purposely given the young couple some space for a while.

‘Oh hi, Simon, Denise.’ Lucy felt a blush of colour hit her cheeks. Perhaps they had overheard that last snippet of conversation.

‘Hello, Lucy love,’ Jack’s dad answered with a newfound fondness in his voice. It had been some night for them all.

‘Isn’t it good to see him chatting and awake?’ Lucy continued.

‘Hey, I’m here, you know.’ Jack laughed.

‘Yes, it is good. Really good.’ Denise smiled softly, as she touched a hand on Lucy’s shoulder.

‘Well, I suppose I’d better go.’ Lucy was aware there should only be two visitors at the bedside at any one time. ‘Hospital rules,’ she explained to Jack.

‘Ah, okay.’

‘I’ll come back real soon. Be here again for the next visiting hours. Hmm, s’pose I’d better go home and freshen up in the meanwhile.’ She hadn’t been able to shower or anything, having sat there all through the night.

‘Thought things were a bit whiffy round here,’ Jack said drily.

‘Hey you.’

Jack started laughing, but stopped himself. ‘Ah shit, that hurts.’

But it was so lovely to see him jesting, the old cheeky spark still aflame in there.