AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Well, the poor lady must have been in agony. She may have simply passed out, due to the pain. But we’ve carried out routine tests to see if anything else flags up. Assuming all her vitals are in order, we’ll need to operate immediately to replace the hip.’
Len nodded.
‘Of course, general anaesthetics come with risks.’ The doctor looked at Len. ‘Do you understand what I’m saying?’
Len turned to Holly and they both nodded.
Holly swallowed. ‘Yes, we understand.’
‘Do you know when she last ate or drank?’
Len’s voice wobbled. ‘She’s not eaten today. Felt too ill and only took a few sips of her tea this morning.’
‘I’ll ask the staff to prepare for the operation. There are a few questions we’ll need answering, so I will leave you with my colleague to take the details.’
Mr Heath left the room and they were joined by a nurse who went through a questionnaire on Val’s medical history and any symptoms she may have had recently. They answered as best they could. Holly found it difficult to concentrate.If only she had taken her to the doctor. Made sure she had gone – Val would not have had the fall and would not be having an operation in such a weak state.
The nurse lowered his clipboard. ‘It’ll be a long wait if you stay, although we do have a small café. If you return to this waiting area, we’ll update you at the desk on how things are progressing.’
Len went to visit Val before the operation. Holly sat in the waiting room, feeling her emotions rise. She had decided it was better that Len went alone. She was afraid of showing her feelings, she didn’t want to distress Val further.
Len returned from Val with a different nurse. ‘They’ll be some time,’ she said. ‘You may want to go back home and pick up some things for Valerie? Nightclothes, toiletries and any of her usual medication?’
‘I’ll do that.’ Holly stood up.
‘I’m not going anywhere,’ Len said. ‘You’ve got a key haven’t you, love?’
She nodded. ‘I’ll be at least an hour, but I’ll be as quick as I can.’
Holly entered the cul-de-sac,and two neighbours approached the van as she parked it on Val and Len’s drive.
‘Any news?’ asked a middle-aged woman with a round face.
‘She’s broken her hip. They’re doing an emergency op on it now.’
‘Poor Val. But never you worry – she’s strong as an ox, that one.’
‘I’m sure, she’ll pull through,’ said the other neighbour wrapping her cardigan around herself.
Holly went into the house, leaving the neighbours to chat amongst themselves. She could smell Val’s favourite perfume as soon as she went in, imagining her at the kitchen sink chattering away. Up in the bedroom, she fetched the small overnight case which Val kept under the bed. She opened a drawer and took out a couple of nighties and underwear. Opening the wardrobe, she chose a smock style summer dress for when Val came out. Holly gulped back the tears.Please God, let her be okay.Picking out one of Val’s cardigans, she lifted it to her face breathing in its freshly laundered scent then placed it in the little case which had just enough room left for Val’s shoes and toiletries.
After picking up the necessary items from the bathroom, Holly carried the case downstairs. As the stairs creaked underneath her weight, she thought of the pain Val must have been in, climbing those stairs with her hip the way it was.I should have been thinking about what’s most important,she thought.Not obsessing over an ancient family feud.Right now, even the hub felt self-indulgent.What’s the point in achieving anything, if there’s no-one to share it with? A lump formed in her throat. Val had always been in her life, always been there for her. And now she felt she’d let her down.
Pouring herself a glass of water in the kitchen, Holly gazed into the little garden. In her mind, she could see Val throwing crumbs out for the birds. Wiping her eyes, she blew her nose on a sheet of kitchen paper and stuffed a couple more sheets into her back pocket. Picking up the case, she headed outside.
‘Send her our love,’ the neighbour called out as she climbed into the van and set off for Weston.
Holly had been sittingin the waiting room with Len, for what felt like hours. Finally, Mr Heath came to see them.
He smiled. ‘It was a success. No bone damage, other than the hip we replaced. Valerie is conscious.’
Holly stood up. ‘Can we see her?’
‘Yes, follow me.’
The surgeon led them to the recovery room, Holly and Len were both teary-eyed when they saw her. Holly forgot all about her fear of hospitals. All that mattered in that moment, was that Val was okay.
‘You silly old sod,’ Val said, as Len gave her a big kiss.
