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‘I must’ve tripped on something,’ she says.
‘I’m going to turn you slowly, OK?’ He half lifts, half turns her, slowly, slowly, taking all the weight he can. It is not much; she is birdlike compared to ten years ago. With her lying against him, he pushes her gently upwards until she comes to sit at the top of the stairs. When he is sure she is stable, he takes his hands from her back but leaves them almost touching her, just in case. ‘Are you OK?’
She nods but appears dazed.
He glances up at Naomi, who buries her face in Tommy’s head and sniffs loudly. He feels his mouth open. But nothing comes out.
‘No harm done,’ says Joyce, but her voice quavers.
‘I’ll get your specs.’ Sam dashes to the mezzanine and grabs the glasses, hurries back and hands them to her. She puts them on. He watches her for signs of poor coordination. She might be concussed; her retina might have detached; she’s probably broken a rib at least.
She blinks. ‘I think I’ll just sit here for a moment. You two do what you need to do.’
Naomi takes a step nearer to the stairs. She glances at Sam, seems unsure. ‘Do you want me to stay?’
‘No, it’s OK. You go.’
‘Call me later, OK? Let me know?’ Looking down at Joyce, she adds, ‘I’m so sorry you fell, Joyce.’
Joyce holds up a hand. ‘Accidents happen. I’ll be fine.’
Once he has seen Naomi out, Sam races back up the stairs, but Joyce is no longer on the landing.
‘Joyce? Gran?’
‘Just going to soak for a bit.’ Her voice comes from the bathroom.
Outside, he leans his forehead against the door. ‘Are you sure? We should get you checked out.’
‘Sure I’m sure.’ Her voice is small. ‘I can wiggle my fingers.’
‘I know, but—’
‘And my toes. I’d rather avoid the hospital if I can, thank you.’ Her voice firms. There is no pushing against that particular tone. ‘Bit of a shock, that’s all. If you could bring up a glass of brandy and leave it outside the door?’
‘Sure. Coming up.’
He leaves her to fetch the emergency Remy. As he pours a large measure into her best Edinburgh crystal, he notices that his own hands are shaking. She’s climbed up stepladders and onto chairs, often balancing heavy tins of paint. She’s never fallen in all the time they’ve lived together.
But she isn’t walking as well as she used to.
She is not as indestructible as she once was.
CHAPTER 24
Dear Sam,
When you showed me Tommy’s room, I almost lost it. And your face! Looking at me like a dog waiting for a biscuit. I was blinking back tears, I really was. And when you asked me out for dinner, how could I say no? It was what I’ve been hoping for, but it had to come from you. I know I have to be careful. I cannot mess this up, can’t let you think it’s what I want more than anything. And I do want it, more than anything.
Anyway, apart from Joyce’s fall, I think things have been really great. You and your gran are so in the swing of it now, aren’t you? You’re both so loved up too, which is great, because I so want this to work. My mum’s parents didn’t talk to her for the whole time she was pregnant, but then, bam, the moment I came along and my granny held me in her arms everything was forgiven. That’s the power of babies. I hope Tommy can have that power over us.
He’s awake now, so I’ll have to leave this for today. There’s his bottle to heat, the park to walk to, and I need to pick up some more nappies and formula. We can’t all sit around doing up old furniture. Only joking!
But before I go, I will say that you doing that nursery nearly finished me. I’m falling in deeper every time I see you. I’m so glad we found each other again. I don’t think I could go back now even if I wanted to.
CHAPTER 25
That Thursday morning, on the way to the job, Sam tells Miranda he’s taking Naomi out to dinner.
