Page 72 of Mistletoe and Mulled Wine at the Christmas Campervan

‘Right then …’ Lucy rose to stand, though she really didn’t want to leave, but knew his mum and dad would want their precious time with him too.

‘Thanks for letting me see him,’ she turned to his parents. ‘For telling the nurse I was waiting.’

‘It’s the least we could have done,’ Simon responded.

‘Couldn’t have left you sat out there, love. And, we’ll keep you posted on any developments,’ added Denise kindly. ‘Here, let me take your number.’

They exchanged details.

‘Now I’m in trouble, my mum and girlfriend in cahoots.’ Jack tried to sit up again. ‘Ah … oops, that’s sore.’

‘Lie back and rest, you,’ Lucy chuckled.

It was good to be able to laugh, to smile, to feel that hope was back.

And love and life was there all around them in that hospital bay like a big warm hug.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Jack hated to think of the pain and anguish he had put his parents through. Maybe he should have driven more sensibly that night; he’d known that the roads were icy, after all. It could have all ended so differently, he dreaded to think … shit. He’d messed up again. Life was so goddam fragile … so precious. He began to feel a bit shaky, but was trying hard not to let it show.

‘Are you alright, Jack?’ His mum, still there at his bedside, was evidently in tune with him. He could never get away with much, even as a kid.

‘Yeah, just thinking … look folks, I’m really sorry. I’d never have wanted to put you through all that …’ His words came out awkwardly.

‘It’s okay, Son. It was an accident,’ his father spoke calmly, reassuringly.

‘Something you couldn’t have avoided, love. Black ice. Winding lanes. What matters now, Jack, is getting you better,’ his mum added tenderly.

‘Onwards and upwards, hey, Son.’

‘But I always seem to get it wrong.’

‘No, you don’t, my love.’ His mum took his hand. ‘Whatever makes you think that?’

‘The wrong job, the wrong car – oh God, poor Ruby, she’ll be in some state. I’ve gone and wrecked her.’ Oh bugger, his precious Rubes. All those hours he’d spent doing her up, keeping her pristine, and now look what he’d gone and done.

‘Don’t you go worrying about that. We can get her fixed up again. They’ve taken her to the garage at Hunter’s Hill. It’s not the end of the road for Ruby yet, Son, not by any means.’ His dad was trying his best to cheer him up, he knew that. ‘Anyway,’ Simon’s tone sharpened, ‘what the hell are you talking about, that you’re always getting it wrong? You’re doing well, have a good business going there with the cocktail thing. Something you love doing. We’re proud of you, Son.’

‘We only want what’s best for you … and what makes you happy. That’s all we’ve ever wanted,’ his mum added with a gentle smile.

Were his fears these past years that he wasn’t good enough, that he’d never match up to his brother, just that? Fears, not reality?

‘We love you, Son.’ His dad had a tear in his eye. And his dad was never soppy like this. My God, he must have shaken them up. But it was so damned good to hear those words.

‘Thanks, I love you too, folks.’ He couldn’t say anything more as his throat was all clogged up and his own eyes were misty.

His dad leaned over the bed and moved to hug him rather clumsily, all the while his mum still holding his hand, but there was a jolt of pain in his ribcage area. ‘Argh.’

‘Oh Christ, sorry son.’ Simon leaped back.

‘It’s okay, just my ribs.’

‘Bloody idiot that I am.’

The pain eased as his father let go. And they all had to laugh. Though for Jack, laughing hurt too. It was going to be a slow path to recovery, for him and for Ruby, by the sounds of it. But knowing he had the love and support of his mum and dad made that path look a whole lot smoother.

Chapter Thirty-Five