Page 52 of Knotting Hill
I turn back to JP and Josh when I hear a car pull up to the curb behind me. I turn to see Storm scramble out of the taxi, her breath ragged. She rushes up to me, grabbing my shirt front and dragging me to her, her other hand going up the back of my neck. She pulls me closer, pressing her lips against mine, thrusting her tongue into my mouth in a kiss so fucking sweet, I want it to last forever.
She pulls back and murmurs, “Thank you.”
Then, she is rushing back to the taxi and driving off, leaving me breathless and stunned by the kiss.
“Err,” I stammer.
“Yep, kissing her will do that to you,” JP says, slapping me on the shoulder. “Her hero.”
“Fuck off,” I grouse, but pretty pleased with myself. I feel my phone buzz in my pocket, so I pull it out and stare at the screen.
“Mum?” I ask, answering it straight away.
My blood runs cold when she hastily says, “It’s your dad, Russ. Get to the hospital quickly, you know the one. He’s had a heart attack.”
She hangs up, and I’m left listening to the dial tone, not computing her words.
“Russ?” JP asks, clicking his fingers in front of my face.
“Uhm…it’s my dad. I have to go…”
“Go where? What’s happened?”
“The hospital. He’s had a heart attack.”
“Fuck,” Josh says, grabbing my arm, “Come on.” He shouts for a taxi, and they bundle me inside, but I can’t respond to their queries.
“Which one, Russ?” JP asks, squeezing my arm.
“Hmm?” I look up at him.
“Which hospital?”
“The private one near the park.”
“Go,” Josh says to the driver.
I’m numb.
I’m not sure what to expect when I get there.
I don’t even really know what this means.
At some point, JP and Josh have helped me out of the taxi and up to the level where my mum is waiting. As soon as I see her, drawn and pale, I snap to a little bit.
“Mum,” I murmur when I hug her. “How is he?”
“He has to go for a triple bypass. Whatever that is.”
“They didn’t tell you?”
“He explained,” she sighs. “I-I didn’t understand.”
I nod. “Okay, well, let’s find out. Who is his doctor?”
“Stanley Rivers,” she murmurs and goes to sit down.
She is in shock, barely aware of anything that’s going on.
