Page 41 of Teacakes & Tangos
I ended the call and turned to Xander. ‘Oh, my God! I can’t believe it. He’s starting to wake up.’
‘That’s brilliant.’ He pulled me into a hug and I clung to him as tears of relief coursed down my cheeks.
‘You’re shaking,’ he murmured into my hair.
‘I know. I... don’t really know how I feel.’ I pulled away and looked up at him. ‘I’ve got to get to Dad now.’
‘Of course you do.’
I held up my hands. ‘I can’t stop them trembling. Look!’ I took a big deep breath and blew it out slowly. ‘But I’ve got to get myself together. Dad needs me.’
‘I’ll drive you,’ offered Xander.
‘What?’ I looked at him. ‘No, I couldn’t let you. I’ll take Dad’s car.’
‘Look, I want to take you there and I think you could do with some company.’ He gave me a rueful smile. ‘The state you’re in, you might end up at the wrong hospital.’
I smiled. ‘That’s true. But are you sure?’
‘Absolutely positive,’ he said, starting the engine. ‘Let’s go.’
Feeling so relieved that Xander had taken over, I relaxed back into my seat and tried to regulate my breathing. But it was hard with the mix of emotions that were currently crashing through me.
I felt as if I was riding a rollercoaster. With the positive news I’d just received from the consultant, I was hopeful now that Dad would recover – but how long would the journey take, before Dad was back to full health?
We drove in silence and when we arrived at the hospital, Xander dropped me at the main doors and said he’d park the car and wait for me in the reception area.
‘There’s no rush,’ he called after me as I dashed for the entrance. ‘Take your time.’
As I made my way to Dad’s ward, I was thinking yet again how lucky I was that Xander had appeared in my life when he did. It had been a weird moment between us, just before the hospital rang me. I’d really thought Xander was going to kiss me.
And I’d really wanted him to . . .
*****
Dad was sleeping when I got to his bedside. But I wasn’t fazed because Clodagh had warned me that would probably be the case.
I sat down and started talking to him, telling him how I’d been for a promising job interview that morning and talking about my lovely evening out at the ballet with Xander and how as soon as he was better, I was going to book tickets and we’d go to the theatre together, just him and me.
‘Maybe we could treat ourselves... get the train into London and go and see a play in the West End,’ I murmured, leaning closer, my hand over his.
At that, I felt a slight twitch of his arm and my eyes brimmed over with happy tears. I chuckled softly. ‘I thought you’d like that idea, Dad.’ I took a proper hold of his hand and I felt him try to squeeze mine in return.
I swallowed on the aching lump in my throat.
The pressure was very faint but that didn’t matter. He was responding at last to what I was saying! This was the first important step on his road to recovery.
I thought about Minnie. We’d swapped numbers when she came to the house, so I dug out my phone and, as it was so late, I just texted her with the good news that Dad was waking from his coma. I knew she’d be over the moon to hear that.
Then I sat back, feeling exhausted but happy.
And for the first time in weeks, I allowed myself to imagine that things would get back to normal for Dad and me...
*****
As he’d promised, Xander was waiting for me in reception when I emerged from the lift.
‘You’re still here!’ I walked over smiling and he stood up.
