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In case her father died, Janey knew Emerald meant.
In the small ward Amber was oblivious to everything but Jay. At some stage she had started to talk to him, just a few words at first, more speaking her own thoughts out aloud than anything else, and then she had felt his fingers tremble against her own and she had known that he had heard her, so she had kept on talking, not about her fear of losing him now but of the past and the happiness they had shared, the love they had shared. She had laughed as well as cried as the memories flooded over her and with their release had come a sense of peace.
She was still holding his hand. She felt tired, her eyes dry from the heat, and her throat raw from talking. Love was such a wonderful gift when it was shared, transforming those who shared it, illuminating the dark side of life, transcending mortality.
‘Drogo.’
Robbie was nineteen and considered himself an adult, but the minute he saw Drogo he felt his eyes sting with tears, his emotions reminding him of the way he had felt as a boy, knowing always that he had his stepfather to turn to for comfort and protection.
From the depths of Drogo’s warm hug he asked uncertainly, ‘How’s Gramps?’
‘The last time I spoke to the Hospital they said he was holding his own.’
‘Will he…is he…is he going to die?’
‘I don’t know, Robbie,’ Drogo answered honestly. ‘He’s had what sounds like a serious heart attack, but on the plus side, your grandfather is a very strong and determined man, and if anyone can survive something like this then it’s him. We’ll know more once the consultant has the results of the tests that have been done.’
‘When I saw him at Christmas he was joking that he’d put me to shame if he came skiing with me.’
‘I dare say he would have done, as well. We’ve got fifteen minutes yet before your aunt Polly’s flight comes in from Venice, let’s go and have a cup of coffee whilst we’re waiting for her.’
Manchester; funny how it always smelled of rain, even on a dry day like today, Polly thought, as she stepped off the aircraft.
‘Polly.’
She hadn’t expected anyone to meet her at the airport, but it was a relief to hear Drogo call her name, although disappointingly he had no further news about her father.
‘Will we be able to see Gramps, Drogo?’ Robbie asked as soon as the three of them were in the car and Drogo was driving them south towards Macclesfield.
‘That will depend on the consultant. I’ve already spoken with his secretary and she’s confirmed that he will see us and bring us up to date with what’s happening once he’s seen Jay and checked over the tests they’ve already done.’
‘He’s alive, though, now, isn’t he?’ Robbie pressed his stepfather anxiously, asking the question Polly had not felt able to voice.
‘Yes he is,’ Drogo confirmed.
‘Have you seen him?’ Robbie asked.
Drogo shook his head.
A young nursing assistant came into the waiting room carrying a tray with two thick earthenware mugs of tea on it, some sachets of sugar and a couple of small packets of biscuits, which she put down on the melamine coffee table before exiting the room.
‘I never thought I’d be so grateful for a mug of tea,’ said Janey as she reached for one of the mugs.
Emerald looked at the remaining mug. The tea in it was dark and so strong that she could actually smell it. Reluctantly she reached out to pick up the mug and then stopped as her stomach recoiled from both the sight and the smell of it and heaved nauseously.
‘What’s wrong?’ Janey asked.
‘Nothing,’ Emerald fibbed. It wouldn’t do to have Janey thinking she was so badly affected by Jay’s heart attack that she felt sick; not when, as Drogo had said, she must be the strong one.
She couldn’t face drinking the tea, though, and it was still there untouched when Drogo arrived ten minutes later.
‘Where’s Polly?’ Emerald asked him after she had greeted Robbie with a hug.
‘She’ll be in in a second. She wanted to ring Rocco to tell him that she’d arrived safely.’
Emerald nodded. ‘Drogo, I’m thirsty, but the tea they brought is dreadfully strong. Could you sort out some water for me, do you think?’
‘I’ll see what I can do.’ Drogo looked at his watch. ‘But first I want to give the consultant’s secretary another ring and find out exactly when he’s goi
