Page 122 of Best Summer Ever

‘I started to,’ he swallowed, but then his face began to crease, ‘but then he…’

‘Let’s go inside,’ Penny suggested soothingly in her best teacher voice as she quickly herded us all together.

‘I’ll make some tea,’ said Mum. ‘I’m sure we could all do with a cup and some extra sugar for the shock.’

‘That we could,’ I wholeheartedly agreed.

‘We weren’t even gone half an hour,’ Dad said, sounding dazed as he shook his head. ‘I can’t believe all this has happened in such a short space of time.’

The situation made me feel even more furious about Laurence turning up. Had he stayed away, we would have all been on site and able to look out for Algy and possibly even stop Thomas from putting further stress on his heart and keelingover as a result. I hoped Algy wasn’t going to start blaming himself for what had happened.

‘I need to get to the hospital,’ said Josh, who had a tight hold on Algy’s hand, but relinquished it so Mum could walk Algy in.

‘Not yet you don’t,’ Dad said firmly. ‘The ambulance won’t have reached the hospital yet and you won’t be able to see your father until he’s been assessed and properly admitted.’

‘Dad’s right,’ I said, when Josh looked doubtful. ‘Have a drink and maybe something to eat and then we’ll go together.’

We stalled Josh for as long as possible, knowing that his father could be literally hours waiting to be assessed, but eventually I caved and drove him to the hospital the ambulance crew had told Algy they were heading for.

Josh had tried to telephone ahead, but it had been a long time before anyone picked up and then he was only given the scantest information – nothing more than confirmation that his dad was there.

‘Are you okay?’ I asked, as I slipped my hand into his when we arrived and headed towards the ward he’d been directed to via the main reception.

‘Not really,’ he said.

‘Of course you’re not,’ I sighed. ‘Sorry, that was a stupid question.’

‘I’m so pleased you’re here, Daisy,’ he said, rather than confirm my foolishness.

‘I’m pleased I’m here too,’ I told him, squeezing his hand tighter.

I hated the thought of him having to make this trip on hisown, though I was relieved Algy had been talked out of coming with us.

‘I think this is it,’ Josh said, with a nod to a sign above some double doors.

Once we had buzzed and been admitted to the ward, we heard Josh’s dad before we saw the room he was in. Josh knew who it was because he immediately recognised the angry raised voice and it didn’t take a second for me to work out that there couldn’t be that many American slash English accents shouting the odds at the overworked nursing staff.

‘Is this really the best you can do?’ came the voice in a tone of utter disgust. ‘Well, I want moving first thing tomorrow.’

‘We would be delighted to move you,’ said a tired-sounding nurse as she backed out of the side room and closed the door.

Josh and I walked over to the nurse’s station.

‘I’m sorry to say, that’s my dad in there,’ Josh said apologetically to the nurse, who was now behind the desk. ‘His name is Thomas Alford and I’m Josh Alford.’

The nurse, who looked exhausted, perked up when she saw who was talking to her.

‘You’re Mr Alford’s son,’ she commented, trying to sound professional, which I knew could be a stretch when faced with the blond and bronzed Adonis.

‘I am,’ Josh confirmed. ‘But don’t worry, I’m absolutely nothing like him.’

She gave me a fleeting glance and I returned her look of relief with a smile.

‘I can’t deny that I’m pleased to hear that,’ she sighed. ‘He’s not a happy man, is he?’

‘Nope,’ said Josh. ‘Never. And I apologise for that.’

‘No need for you to apologise, my love.’ She smiled.

---