Page 73 of Lost in Love
Chapter 22
Anna paced the car park of Baycroft Care Home. She’d taken a taxi, and her dad had been due to arrive in the hospital transfer ambulance ten minutes ago. She’d looked the care home up online. It seemed okay and had specialist Parkinson’s care. Not that it mattered all that much; as soon as social services bucked their ideas up and assessed the house for his return, she’d be over to collect him.
It was a thirty-minute drive from Nunswick and had cost a fair whack for the taxi. She had contemplated asking Katherine to bring her, but after their last conversation, when she had said she would go it alone in future, Anna realised she had put a final nail in the idea of anything between them.
Katherine had spoken her mind, more fervently than ever before, about Harry’s situation. Anna knew if she had involved her again, she would be sitting in her rather lovely car getting another earbashing about how he should be staying in the home. She couldn’t go back on it now, even though she missed the annoying, beautiful doctor even more than she had realised she would.
Anna analysed the care home; it was a newish building and didn’t look as dreary as the one her mum had been in. It had a large car park at the front, was nicely landscaped, and appeared meticulously maintained. Noticing it was two-storey, she hoped her dad would have a room on the ground floor so he wouldn’t be tempted to take the stairs.
She shivered and regretted not bringing a cardigan; the front of the home was north-facing, so at least the garden looked to be south-facing. Not that her dad was one for sitting out in the garden; he was much happier in front of the television or reading a book.
The sound of an engine diverted her attention to the road. An ambulance drove past and turned up the driveway, pulling up in front of the building. Relief swept over her at her dad’s beaming face looking through the window.
The driver wheeled him out of the back of the ambulance; he rested his plastered arm on the hospital bag on his lap.
“How are you doing, Dad?” Anna leaned down and gave him a kiss.
“Oh, I’m all right. This is all a bit of a fuss. I told them I could take a taxi.”
The driver shook his head. “I keep telling him it’s all part of the service.”
“Well, it’s very kind of you to lug an old man around,” Harry replied loudly over his shoulder.
The driver pushed him through to a spacious reception area. Anna followed with a small suitcase of belongings she’d brought from home.
A woman a little younger than Anna met them and introduced herself as Lucy.
“I’ll be taking care of you, Mr Walker, and when I’m not here, it will be Susan; she’s my counterpart. If you need anything, just let us know.”
Harry nodded.
“Your room is on the ground floor. We know you’re a little unsteady on your feet, so it’s best to keep you down here.”
Lucy must have noticed the relief on Anna’s face as she gave her a reassuring smile.
“Shall I give you a tour of downstairs and then show you to your room so you can get settled?”
Anna looked at Harry. “That sound okay, Dad?”
“Oh, yes, lead on.”
Anna relieved the ambulance driver and took up position behind Harry. Lucy led the way out of the reception area into a large, two-storey glass atrium that overlooked the garden and surrounding countryside. Even Anna’s jaw dropped; it was stunning. It was a lot bigger than the front aspect of the building suggested.
“This is the main area, where meals are served if residents would prefer to eat outside their rooms. We fully assist them if they require it. It leads out onto a lovely patio area which we use in good weather. Over there is our library.” Lucy pointed to a door at the far end of the atrium. “We work within the local authority library system to borrow any books we don’t have; you only have to ask. There is a craft and hobby studio next door to that and a games room and a quiet lounge. We also have a movie club, Harry.”
Harry’s ears pricked up, and he grinned. “Movie club?”
“It’s open to everyone, but it does seem to be dominated by the chaps now. It might be something you’d like to go along to. It’s on three times a week, and you can suggest movies you’d like to see and vote on them. We have a big screen in the games room. It’s more of a social event really, to get like-minded residents together.”
Harry’s face lit up. “Sounds great. Do you have popcorn?”
Lucy smiled at him. “We certainly do.”
“You’re only here for a few days, remember, Dad,” Anna said.
Harry nodded.
“It’s very nice,” Anna added, not wanting to sound negative.
