Page 101 of Take a Moment

‘You’re not moving in together already?’

‘No, dafty,’ Sasha giggles. ‘He’s just helping me find a place. He and Matt are also going to hire a van and bring my stuff down from Glasgow to save me the removal costs.’

I beam at Matt. ‘That’s fantastic. I can’t believe you’re here. So, you lot have been plotting behind my back then.’

‘I’m not sure “plotting” is the right word.’ Matt leans over and kisses me. ‘We’ve definitely been up to nice things to make you happy. Right, Sash?’

‘Right. Oh, you guys aresooocute together. I’m so glad you’re back together.’ She suddenly looks all dewy-eyed and emotional.

‘Stop it,’ I command. ‘No more crying. It’s banned. I’ve done enough of that to sink a ship these last few days.’

‘But they’re happy tears.’

‘Don’t care. Now can we go?Please.’

A chuckling Matt obediently releases the brake on the wheelchair and we set off together. As we head towards the ward exit, I glance into the patient rooms, seeing one poor soul after the next, lying alone, some of them talking to themselves or crying out in frustration or distress, and all I can think is that I hope it’s a really long time before I have to be back here again. And how lucky I am that after feeling so lost and alone just days before, I now have the most incredible boyfriend in the world and my best friend taking me home.

Chapter 34

After what feels like endless days cooped up in my apartment (although in reality, it’s just two weeks), I’m back on my feet and almost at ‘my normal’ again. My first day back in the office is a cold, crisp Thursday morning in early December, so I get an additional boost from the twinkly Christmas lights peeking out from residential windows.

As I walk, I can’t help smiling to myself. It’s not just the freedom and returning sense of independence that’s cheering me, I’m also so thankful for having Matt and Sasha in my life. They’ve rallied around me relentlessly over my recovery period, taking it in ‘shifts’, and they’ve been so discreet about it. Matt has played the role of human-sized hot water bottle perfectly, cuddling up to me and keeping me company on the evenings and weekends, while Sasha’s been out viewing apartments and having her ‘Sammy time’. Sasha has also whiled away the days with me, tempting me with chocolate, chatting dreamily about Sammy, and shouting at the TV during the more tense moments of the box sets we’ve enjoyed together.

Though I’m generally positive about my return to work, my stomach clenches anxiously as I enter Brindley Place and approach my office building. Despite Emmanuel’s reassurances, I’m still feeling apprehensive. It’s only been two weeks, but things have changed enormously now that my situation is out in the open. It’s possibly not helping that it reminds me of when I went back to my old job in Glasgow.

Before walking inside, I take some slow, deep breaths to calm myself. I try to focus on nothing but my breath billowing out in clouds before me. I’m just going back to work. The office is full of the same great people I worked with before I went off.

When I eventually reach my desk, I’m surprised to find that none of my team are there. I hang my coat over the back of my chair and dump my bag on the floor, about to unpack my stuff, when I notice a yellow Post-it on my computer monitor. Scrawled on it in black ink is the message ‘Alex, come straight to the boardroom when you get in’. I frown. Emmanuel didn’t mention an early meeting. If I’d known, I’d have come in earlier. I hate turning up late.

Slinging my bag back over my shoulder, I head back down the corridor. However, as I reach the boardroom door, I realise there’s no noise coming from inside. Usually when it’s occupied, you can hear the murmur of voices. I give a quick knock and open the door, and as I do, there’s an eruption from inside.

‘WELCOME BACK.’

I almost drop dead from fright. Suddenly there’s music and laughter and colour. And a big bright banner sporting the words ‘Welcome Home’ hanging across the whiteboard at an odd angle. My whole team is there – other than Danielle, I clock – and so are a handful of colleagues from other teams with whom I’ve developed strong working relationships. To say I’m overwhelmed is an understatement. I stand there open-mouthed as Emmanuel approaches and gives me a hug.

‘Welcome back, Alex.’

‘Did you arrange this?’ I ask her.

‘This is the work of the team. I had nothing to do with it. They asked if I thought it would be all right and I said I expected you’d be very touched.’

‘I’m definitely touched. No, that’s not enough. It makes my previous return to work seem like I had a highly contagious disease and was released from quarantine too early.’

‘That’s really not how it should be.’ Emmanuel tuts. ‘Well, hopefully this lot have made up for that.’

‘They sure have.’

I greet my teammates individually, as they approach me one by one.

‘Great to have you back, Alex.’ Dhruv gives me a fist-bump, followed by a sequence of complicated ‘handshake’ movements I can’t follow.

‘You know I have coordination issues, right?’ I decide it’s best to just get things out in the open.

‘Was a test.’ He gives me a sneaky wink. ‘Still not convinced you’re not a spy. Reckon you’ve been off on some kind of secret mission.’

‘Right, sure… by the way, Ethan Hunt said to say “hi”.’

He looks baffled for a moment, then laughs loudly, extending his thumb and pointing his index finger at me in a you-just-about-had-me-there gesture.

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