Page 20 of Sunny Sundays at Primrose Hall

‘Did the guy stop?’ Pia asked.

‘Yeah. He called the emergency services. He walked away without a scratch, but I think he was pretty shook up.’

Just then the doctor came and joined them at Jackson’s bedside, clutching a folder.

‘Jackson? Well, the results of the scans are in and fortunately there’s no damage to your spinal column so we can probably remove this now, which should hopefully make you feel a bit more comfortable.’ The doctor leant over and carefully took off Jackson’s neck support. The relief across his features as he stretched out his shoulders was evident and matched Pia’s relief at knowing that he’d done no serious damage to his spine. ‘You have got some broken ribs and a fractured pelvis, which will need fixing. The orthopaedic surgeon will be along to speak to you shortly, but I think you’ll be going down to theatre first thing tomorrow for your operation.’

‘Shit! Really? I was hoping I’d be going home tonight.’

‘Sadly not. You won’t be going anywhere for a while. Your surgeon will probably be able to give you a better idea, but I would say you’re going to be with us for a couple of weeks at least.’

‘Oh!’ Pia’s exclamation met Jackson’s more emphatic and forthright expletive, and Pia gave an apologetic look towards the doctor, who shrugged it away.

‘You’ll be in good hands with the orthopaedic team, who will have you back up on your feet just as soon as they can. In the meantime, I’ll get some more painkillers organised for you.’

Once the doctor had left, Jackson and Pia fell quiet for a few moments as they both digested the news in their own way.

‘This is a bloody disaster,’ Jackson uttered. Pia took hold of his hand, intertwining her fingers through his.

‘I know it must seem that way, but you heard what the doctor said. They’ll be able to fix you up. It might just take a little bit of time, that’s all.’

‘We’ve got the car show next weekend. I need to be out of here for then.’

‘Oh, Jackson!’ Her stomach twisted, knowing how much he’d been looking forward to it, seeing all the exhibits and catching up with his friends. With the best will in the world, there was no way he was going to be able to attend the event this year. It was bound to be a huge disappointment to him. ‘The show doesn’t matter. What’s most important is that you get better. There’ll be other years when we can host the show and I’m sure people will understand when they hear what’s happened.’

‘What are you talking about, Pia?’ Jackson shifted his position, the effort making his face contort in pain. She saw the anger and frustration cross his features too. ‘The weekend’s show will go on regardless of whether or not I’ll be there. We can’t cancel at this late stage. There are too many people depending on us, people who have been looking forward to the day since last year’s show.’

‘Okay, I didn’t mean…’ Her words trailed away. The last thing she wanted was to go ahead with the show without Jackson at her side. It was his passion. He was on first-name terms with most of the exhibitors and stallholders and would know where he wanted all the different classes of vehicles to be displayed within the grounds. To be honest, she hadn’t familiarised herself with the details, knowing Jackson had it all methodically organised in his head. On this particular project, she had just acted as his wingman, performing the admin and any ad-hoc tasks, as Jackson had required. Would she really be able to pull off such a big event on her own, greeting and managing all the petrol heads who would be descending on the hall next weekend, when she didn’t have the first clue about any of it? She couldn’t think about that now, all she could concentrate on was Jackson and getting him better, but she realised, judging by his expression, that he needed to know he had no reason to be concerned about the upcoming event at the weekend.

‘Don’t worry. We’ll manage, of course we will. Mateo and Frank will be on board and we’ll do everything we can to make the day the success it deserves to be.’

‘Have you told Tom what’s happened?’

‘Not yet. I was going to text everyone once you are settled up on the ward.’

‘Right. Well, whatever you do, don’t tell Ronnie and my dad what’s happened. I don’t want them panicking. There’s absolutely nothing for them to worry about.’

‘But, Jackson, we can’t keep something like this from them. They have a right to know. They’re your parents, after all. And obviously I would play it down, tell them that you’re fine and you’re in good hands.’

Jackson shook his head firmly, even that small movement making him wince in pain.

‘Pia, please. Just do as I say.’

She didn’t want to argue with him, not when he was clearly in such a distressed state, but how could she possibly keep something of this magnitude from his parents? God forbid, what if something even more serious happened to Jackson and Rex and Ronnie hadn’t been given the opportunity to know what was going on? She could imagine how she might feel in the same circumstances. Angry, disappointed and let down. She was sure Ronnie and Rex would never forgive her if she kept something so important from them. She took a deep breath, biting back the protestations ready to fall off her tongue. Perhaps once Jackson had a good night’s sleep and had got through his operation, he might be more open to the idea of telling his parents the news.

It wasn’t long before the surgeon who would be operating on Jackson arrived and talked through with them both the procedure for the following day. Jackson would be monitored closely overnight to make sure his condition didn’t change at all, in which case he might need to be taken to theatre urgently, butall being well he would be first on the operating list tomorrow. Pia felt sick just thinking about what Jackson would have to go through, and what sounded like the weeks of recovery ahead, but Jackson was more pragmatic. There was no alternative. If he wanted the best chance of regaining full mobility then this was his only option. All Jackson seemed concerned about was the state of his bike and the upcoming classic car show.

When the porter arrived to take Jackson up to the ward, Pia took the opportunity to get some fresh air. There were some calls she needed to make.

‘Get Tom to come in and see me,’ Jackson called in a croaky voice as she went to leave. ‘Tonight, if he can. I need to talk to him.’

‘Can’t it wait until after your operation? You must be completely shattered. You should rest up. You’ve got a big day ahead of you tomorrow. Nothing is more important than that.’

‘Please, get him to come down now. I need to talk to him. I want to see if he can help us out at the hall in my absence.’

Even when he was incapacitated, wrestling with pain and facing a serious operation, Jackson couldn’t sit back and simply accept his fate. His body might be broken, but his mind was still working as usual, planning and organising his business interests. Really, did she expect anything less from him?

Standing outside the hospital, taking a few deep calming breaths, which did nothing to soothe the tsunami of emotions rushing around her body, Pia was reminded of just a few hours ago when she was standing in almost the same spot. Then her feelings had been at the other end of the spectrum – full of wonder and joyfulness. Now, something snagged at her heart as she realised how fragile life could be. How everything and everyone that she loved, and imagined would be hers for the foreseeable future, could be snatched away from her in an instant. She couldn’t take anything for granted, but the idea ofher life without Jackson in it was too terrible to contemplate. She bit on her lip, her gaze stretching out over the uninspiring vista of the car park, her view blurred by the tears welling in her eyes. She needed to be strong. If Jackson was putting on a brave face then so should she. Her tears would have to wait until later.

---