AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sid opened his eyes. ‘Don’t you waste time like I did, son. She was my world. If only I’d been here, things would have been different …’
Mitch rubbed Sidney’s arm. ‘Rest, Sid, save your breath. They’ll be here soon.’
Sid turned his head in Holly’s direction. ‘I thought you were my Ivy, coming to collect me.’
Holly smiled. ‘Val always says I’m the image of my grandmother.’
‘I’m sorry, my dear, it’s not your fault.’ He took a deep wheezy breath. ‘The Lovelands and the Booths never got on, not even before she and I …’ Sidney began to splutter and blood trickled down his face.
Mitch pulled his T-shirt off and used it to wipe Sidney’s cheek. Holly averted her gaze, scared she would stare at his muscular torso.
Mitch touched Sid’s shoulder. ‘Well, me and Holly, we get on. Holly has no problem with us.’
‘Your grandfather, Bill … he was a good sort …’ Sidney’s voice trailed away, his breaths began to come faster, his body and chest pulsated with every wheeze until the last one.
Mitch took Sidney’s limp wrist, feeling for a pulse. ‘Sid, Sid, wake up.’ He looked up at Holly with a shake of his head.
Holly felt tears stream down her face. She had not seen grief this close up before ? other than in the mirror.
Mitch gently placed Sid’s head down on the floor, resting it on his bloodied T-shirt, then rose to standing. He turned his back to Holly, his shoulders hunched. Holly had an overwhelming urge to hold him, to comfort him and she moved forward, then back again, unsure how he would react. She gazed at the lifeless, yet peaceful, elderly man, nothing like the broad figure she used to watch stomping across his land. She had seen the dead before, having been required to identify her parents. That had been awful – their bodies were broken. She shuddered and blinked away the image. This was different, Sid seemed at rest. She turned away, staring again at Mitch, aching to hold him but not wanting to intrude on his private moment of grief, but neither did she want to ignore it.
‘Shall I call someone?’
Mitch coughed. ‘It’s okay, let’s wait for the ambulance.’ He shook his head. ‘It’s all my fault. I should have stayed with him. I let Magda go home for the night, seeing as she’s been with us in Essex for over two weeks. For some reason, Sid seemed stronger than he’s been in months.’
‘He must have been, to get himself out here.’ Holly said.
‘I seem to have a habit of letting people down.’
Holly realised Mitch was referring to his wife. ‘Nonsense this is not your fault. You’ve been caring for him, you’ve made his last weeks much brighter. Without you, he might have faded away in a nursing home.’
Stepping forward, she felt now was the time to comfort him, but they both turned at the sound of the ambulance arriving. The lights were flashing but no sirens were needed on this quiet night. Holly left Mitch and approached the vehicle as the paramedics jumped out.
‘How is he?’
‘I’m afraid he’s gone. He’s been poorly for some time. It seems he came out for a walk and fell. I saw him from my caravan.’ She pointed to her home. ‘But Sid had hit his head and he passed a few minutes ago.’ Holly shook her head and felt her voice breaking up.
‘I’ll check to confirm the death and speak to the next of kin.
Holly nodded her head and led them to Mitch and Sidney.
The paramedic had a quiet word with Mitch, which she could not hear and then bent down and held Sidney’s wrist. Checking his watch, he wrote on a piece of paper. ‘I’ll call out the doctor and the local undertaker.’
Mitch nodded.
The paramedic turned to Holly. ‘Could you take Mitch into the house. Get him something warm to wear and a drink.’
Mitch remained silent and let Holly lead him back into the house. She took a hoodie, which hung from a hook inside the back door and handed it to him.
Once inside the kitchen, Mitch sat at the table, zipping up the top. ‘The brandy’s in the bottom cupboard.’ Mitch pointed to a kitchen unit.
Holly poured the thick liquid into two mugs and passed one to Mitch.
Mitch took a gulp. ‘Vanessa was too young to die. I should have told her not to get the tractor. I was in a rush. It was my job. If I hadn’t been on the phone, if I’d checked the time, I would have realised how long she’d been gone. An hour, an hour I left her.’ He put his face in his arms.
Holly bit her lip and tasted the tears as they fell down her cheeks. ‘You can’t keep blaming yourself.’
Mitch looked up. ‘She bled to death. If I’d discovered her quickly enough, she’d still be alive. How’s that not my fault?’
