Page 28 of It's Now or Never

‘Just in that ward through there, love,’ she said, pointing to the corridor on the left. ‘I was just on my way to get a coffee. I’ll fetch you one too.’

I wandered into the ward, fear in the pit of my stomach, not knowing what might be awaiting me, and saw Gramps lying in the first cubicle by the nurses’ station looking every one of his seventy-eight years. I rushed to his side.

‘Gramps, what have you done? I leave you alone for a day and look what happens to you.’

He stirred in his bed, his eyes fluttering open to greet me and when he smiled, tentatively, I felt a huge surge of relief. In his hospital gown he looked fragile and vulnerable, but I was simply overjoyed he was still here looking at me with love in his eyes.

‘I’m fine, sweetheart. Now, I don’t want you worrying.’ He patted me on the hand. ‘I’ll be out of here before you know it, just you wait and see.’

‘I do worry. You know that. And you’re not going anywhere, not for a little while at least. How did it happen, Gramps?’

‘I got up in the night to go for a pee and I must have taken a tumble on the way back. Don’t really remember much about it. Only that I couldn’t get back up again. It was Marcia who found me in the morning.’

‘Oh no, you didn’t spend all night on the floor, did you?’

‘It’s all right, love. I’m okay now.’

‘Yes.’ I took hold of his hand and interlocked my fingers with his, squeezing them tight. Thank goodness for Marcia. If it hadn’t been for her, coming round and finding him when she did, then who knew how long he might have been stuck there. ‘What have the doctors said?’

‘They’ve done some scans. They think I’ve had a little stroke, that’s all. They’ll be doing some more tests and I’ll be sent to the stroke clinic to get my medication sorted, but I’ll be all right. They’ll keep me in for a couple of days, I should imagine. But don’t you look so worried,’ he smiled. ‘It could have been a lot worse.’

At the moment it hardly seemed possible. I felt dreadful that I hadn’t been there for Gramps when he’d needed me and that Marcia had been trying all that time to contact me without any luck. What if it had been worse? If it had been a major strokeinstead of a mini one? If Gramps’ last memory of me was me storming out of his house after being rude to his friend…

‘Here you are, Jen.’ Marcia was back, looking the epitome of calm and level-headedness. I felt a huge wave of gratitude for her, for being there when I wasn’t and for bringing an air of cheerfulness and normality to Gramps’ bedside. On my own, I’d have been a quivering emotional wreck.

‘Thanks, Marcia,’ I said, taking the paper cup gratefully, my hands shaking. She sat down beside me and patted her hand fondly on Gramps’ leg beneath the sheet.

‘How are you feeling now, love?’

‘Oh, you know, all right. My head’s a bit sore,’ he said, putting a hand up to his temple and wincing as he did so. ‘I’ll feel a whole lot better when I get out of this place.’

‘There’s no hurry, Gramps. You want to make sure they get you properly fixed up before you get home again.’

‘What about Harvey? He’ll be getting anxious without me. He’s such a sensitive little boy.’

‘Don’t worry about Harvey. He can come and stay with me for a couple of days. He’s used to my place and I’ll be working from home now anyway so we can keep each other company.’

Gramps was the only family I had left. After losing Mum and Nan in such quick succession, I certainly wasn’t ready to lose Gramps too. Who knew how long we would still have together. I didn’t want to spend that time squabbling over things that really didn’t matter.

‘You’re not to worry about anything, Harry,’ said Marcia. ‘We’ll take care of things at home, won’t we, Jen? All you need to concentrate on is getting better.’

Marcia wasn’t kidding when she said she’d take care of things. In the days following Gramps’ stroke, she stripped all the beds, washed every bit of linen in the house, dusted andvacuumed from top to bottom and blitzed the bathroom and kitchen with a vigour that put my lacklustre domestic skills to shame. I could have sworn she had twice as much energy and stamina as me despite being forty years older.

I worked outside in the garden, mowing the lawn and strimming the edges with Harvey mooching around behind me. All my plans were put on hold until I knew Gramps would be ready to come home from hospital. I spent one morning working out in the sunshine weeding his flowerbeds. When I was finished I went indoors and found Marcia cleaning out the oven. I flicked the switch on the kettle and pulled out two mugs from the cupboard.

‘Gramps won’t recognise this place when he gets home. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the place looking so clean. Thanks for everything you’ve done, Marcia.’

‘Well, it doesn’t take long once you get started, does it?’

‘Look,’ I said handing her a mug of tea. ‘I just want to apologise.’

‘What on earth for?’

‘You know, the other night when I came round. Talking to you like that, it was very rude of me.’

She smiled, and shook her head. ‘It really doesn’t matter. I’ve forgotten all about it. We’ve got more important things to worry about now, haven’t we?’

‘I know.’ I sighed, feeling an unexpected surge of affection for Marcia. I’m not sure how I would have coped without her these last few days. ‘Gramps’ illness has made me realise just how selfish I’ve been. All I want is for him to be happy and healthy again.’

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