Page 40 of Teacakes & Tangos
‘Brilliant. Yes, I’d love to.’
‘Great. Well . . . see you soon, then?’
I nodded, trying to unclip my seatbelt, which seemed to be stuck.
‘Here. Let me.’ As he leaned over, the nearness of him sent a delicious little shiver through me. He set me free me with a click.
‘Thanks.’ I hesitated, feeling suddenly shy for some reason. ‘Bye, then.’
‘See you.’ He leaned over again, presumably to kiss my cheek, but I turned at that second and our lips collided awkwardly.
‘Sorry,’ he murmured, pulling away slightly, although he was still close enough for me to breathe in the lovely masculine scent of him.
I laughed softly. ‘What’s an accidental kiss between friends?’
‘What indeed.’
Butterflies were fluttering inside me and my head was swimming with confusion.
We were supposed to be taking our time getting to know each other first...
The silence stretched on as we gazed at each other. Xander’s brown eyes seemed black in the semi-darkness. ‘Do you want to come in for a coffee?’ I asked him at last, and I saw him hesitate.
Then my mobile rang, breaking the spell. It was no doubt Lyndsay phoning to find out how my evening at the ballet with Xander had gone.
‘I’d like that,’ he said, as I fumbled in my bag for my phone.
I gave a panicky gasp and looked at Xander.
‘What?’ he demanded.
My heart pounding with a mix of fear and hopeful optimism, I stared at the single word that had flashed up on my phone.
Hospital.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I’d switched on my phone as soon as the ballet was over and I’d been so relieved to find there had been no word from the hospital.
But now they were phoning me?
‘It’s the hospital.’ I glanced in a panic at Xander, knowing I’d either be jumping for joy when I answered it. Or it would be the worst news possible.
‘So answer it,’ urged Xander softly, taking my free hand in his and squeezing gently.
I nodded. ‘Hello?’ I said in a half-whisper.
As I listened to Clodagh, the nurse from Dad’s ward, on the other end of the phone, my heart was skipping about with joy.
Dad had opened his eyes briefly and was beginning to respond to stimulus such as sound and touch.
Clodagh cautioned that it could be a while before Dad was fully aware of his surroundings and could remember what had happened. But the signs were good that he was emerging from his coma.
‘Can I come and see him now?’ I asked, smiling in amazement at Xander as my heart beat frantically. ‘Would that be okay?’
‘Of course,’ she responded immediately. ‘I think it would be a very good thing for your father to hear your voice and know that you’re there.’
‘Okay. I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Thank youso much.’
