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Holly left Val and Len to have some time alone and went to the café where she forced herself to eat a sandwich. Scrolling through the contact list on her phone she called Val’s sons, Ben and Nate, then Jaz and Joe, and updated them. Checking her mobile phone, she saw an hour had passed, so returned to the ward.
Val was propped up in bed, turning her nose up at a plate of food put before her. ‘Just look at the colour of them runner beans, they’re grey! And it’s stone blinking cold.’
‘Well it won’t be as good as your cooking, lovey,’ Len said smiling at her.
Holly grinned. ‘You seem well.’
‘They says I have to get up and walk tomorrow – need the bed, I presume.’
Holly laughed. ‘It’s to get the hip working. Don’t worry, they’re looking after you here.’
Val patted Holly’s hand. ‘Len, love. Get yourself off and have some food. Let me sit here with Holly for a while. She’s had a bit of a shock.’
Len nodded and left the ward, checking his wallet.
‘So, young lady. Why were you coming over to see me? Len said you were all dressed in black. I’m guessing you went to the funeral?’
‘Yes.’
‘And you saw where Sidney was buried?’
‘You knew?’
‘If you mean that he was going to be buried next to your granny, then yes, I did know. I haven’t seen you since he died. I was meaning to tell you but this blinking hip, the pain, I couldn’t think of anything else.’
‘I got myself all worked up realising my family had lied to me. Saying Sydney was some kind of stalker.’
Val pushed the plate of food away and leaned back into her pillow. ‘I should have explained before. But your Mum hated gossip. Thing is, I don’t think she had any idea about your great-grandad hiding Sid’s letters, because as you know, Ivy died in childbirth. And if she had heard it, she would have seen it as idle gossip. There was already tension between the families because of the land dispute.’
Holly turned as the nurse came over to the bed. ‘Right, Valerie. You’ve had more than enough excitement for one day. You need your rest.’
‘But …’ Val protested.
‘Take this painkiller. It’s time for lights out. The other patients here are all post-op as well and everyone needs some sleep.’
Holly rubbed Val’s arm. ‘I’ll come by tomorrow then?’
‘Yes, love – and I’ll tell you everything I know about Ivy. Warts and all.’
