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‘Oh, for crying out loud. So you were never together, which is none of my business anyway, but you still managed to break up. Only you and Mimi could do that.’
‘It’s complicated.’
‘Yeah, I don’t doubt that for a minute.’ Charlie was squeezing the bridge of his nose between his thumb and finger. ‘But I’d really appreciate it if you’d wait with me. I need some company...’
Charlie seemed suddenly on edge. As close to panic as Rafe had seen him since the difficult days when he’d had to come to terms with the fact that he wouldn’t walk again. This was the one thing that Rafe had feared, and the only thing that could persuade him to stay.
‘I’ll stay for as long as you want. She’ll be okay, you’ll see.’
‘Yeah.’ Charlie took a deep breath. ‘I know. Thanks.’
‘Let’s have some coffee. There’s plenty of time, and I could do with a cup.’ Rafe’s limbs were aching with fatigue, but the thought of a few more precious moments with Mimi made sleeping out of the question. Just as long as he left before she woke.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THEY SAT AT Mimi’s bedside as she slept. Charlie had moved from his wheelchair to the perching stool which he had brought from home, the extra height allowing him to lean over and see Mimi’s face, but after half an hour Rafe persuaded him to sit back down again and save his strength for when she was awake.
They talked, one on each side of the bed. Speaking quietly about the weather, how it had stopped raining. The wheelchair basketball league, the best beer gardens. Anything and everything, so that she might hear their voices.
‘So some of us were thinking we’d have the basketball club crest tattooed on our arms. Only we don’t actually have a club crest, so we’d have to get one first. And no one can agree on what to have...’
‘Don’t do that.’
Charlie suddenly fell silent. Mimi’s voice had been quiet but clear, and when Rafe glanced at her she seemed to be sleeping st
ill. Charlie rapidly hoisted himself to his feet, twisting urgently towards the perching stool, but he slipped and ended up on the floor.
Now was no time to stand back and let Charlie deal with it. Rafe rounded the bed, keeping his gaze on Mimi’s face, and offered his hand. Charlie gripped hold of him, swinging himself up and finding the stool.
‘Mimi. No tattoos, I promise. Just wake up... Please...’ Charlie leaned over her, his knuckles white on the bed’s safety rails.
She lay unresponsive. This was agony.
‘She might be like this for a while, Charlie. It’s quite...’ Rafe stopped short as Mimi’s eyelids fluttered. They’d done this before and she’d drifted back to sleep. But this time...
She opened her eyes.
Tears spilled suddenly from Charlie’s eyes and he lifted Mimi’s hand to his lips. Mimi blinked a couple of times and licked her lips.
‘Dry... Rafe...’
Rafe had told himself that he would leave as soon as Mimi showed any signs of waking, and let Charlie have this moment, but when he heard her say his name he couldn’t help it. He leaned over the bed, careful not to obscure her view of her brother.
‘Mimi...? Welcome back, honey. You want some water?’
‘Yes... Tell Charlie...’
‘You can tell him yourself. He’s right here.’ Rafe turned, brushing away his own tears as he reached for the beaker of water.
‘No tattoos. I promise...’ Charlie was babbling almost incoherently on the other side of the bed, and Mimi batted her hand as if to shut him up. Rafe dipped a swab into the water, holding it against the side of her mouth.
‘Good... More...’
Rafe handed the water to Charlie. ‘Careful. Don’t let her drink just yet. A drop of water on the swab, just to moisten her lips.’
‘Yes. Thanks, mate.’ Rafe watched as Charlie carefully brushed the swab against Mimi’s lips.
‘My legs... Can’t move...’ She moaned, shifting restlessly in the bed, and Rafe stroked the side of her face to quiet her, the way he’d done so many times in the last three nights.
