Page 60 of Six Steps to Happiness
“She’ll want us there,” Willow added.
The nurse put a hand on Ronnie’s arm. “Please,” she said to them both. “Someone will be back to update you once we know more.”
“Come on, you two,” Jack said, appearing at Ronnie’s side. “Let the doctors do their job.”
Ronnie stood there silent as she watched the nurse disappear behind the swing doors too. Ronnie couldn’t understand what was happening. Less than an hour previous everything had been so normal, so perfect. Bea had seemed fine. Ronnie tried to pull herself together, before turning to Willow and Jack. “Someone should ring Nick.”
“I’ll do it.” Willow rummaged in her bag for her mobile. “Are you okay hanging on for a minute?” she asked Jack. “Until I get back.”
Jack nodded as Willow smiled, her appreciation obvious as she headed outside.
“You don’t have to stay,” Ronnie said. “I mean, you’re on the clock and I wouldn’t want you getting into trouble.”
“But I want to.”
Feeling grateful, Ronnie wanted that too. She clearly didn’t have her daughter’s strength when it came to emergencies.
Jack led Ronnie over to the waiting room area and taking a seat, she glanced around. Children with various injuries sat fidgeting next to concerned parents; an elderly woman sat coughing and spluttering, her symptoms unappreciated by the thirty-something woman with a bandaged hand; and a teenager sporting a sling sat with a smile on her face, still managing to scroll through her smartphone. Ronnie smelt the mix of antiseptic, bleach and vomit. Boy, did she hate those places.
Ronnie sneaked a look at Jack, wondering what he was thinking and why he’d offered to stay. She felt an awkwardness in the air around them, as if they both had things they wanted to say, but each recognised it was neither the time nor the place. “I suppose you come here a lot?” she said, needing to break the silence. “What with the things you have to deal with.”
“Goes with the territory, I’m afraid.”
Recalling all the occasions she’d sat in Accident and Emergency back in the day, Ronnie knew what he meant. The police often turned up with some drunk or drug addict or domestic violence victim in need of medical attention. Of course, she was there for the same reason, having dialled 999after her latest beating. The hours she’d spent in crowded hospital waiting rooms, the lies she’d told about walking into doors or slipping on the stairs. She took a deep breath and let out a long woeful sigh. Better that than being at home when her drunken mother woke up.
“Penny for them?” Jack asked, interrupting Ronnie’s reverie.
“Sorry?”
“A penny? For your thoughts?”
Ronnie took a deep breath, pushing her memories back into the recesses of her mind where they belonged. “I’m just worried about Bea.”
“She’s going to be all right. You’ll see.”
Ronnie returned his encouraging smile, wishing she had his confidence. If only she’d paid more attention weeks earlier when Willow had said her mother-in-law hadn’t been well. Ronnie knew if anything happened to Bea, she’d never be able to forgive herself.
“I thought we could all do with one of these,” Willow said. Suddenly appearing with three cups of coffee, she struggled to hand them out. “Not sure how they’ll taste, but it’s better than nothing.”
Jack jumped up to help, passing one to Ronnie before taking one for himself.
“Dad’s on his way,” Willow said.
44
The swing doors burst open and a nurse stepped out from the corridor beyond. Ronnie rose to her feet in readiness of an update on Bea’s condition, but the nurse kept her eyes forward and walked straight past. Watching her go, Ronnie’s face fell and with no other choice, she sat down again, disheartened.
Jack smiled a gentle smile. “It won’t be too long now.” He checked his watch, quickly turning his attention to both Ronnie and Willow. “Are you two okay if I go and book off, let comms know I’m done for the day?” He indicated to his police radio. “I’ll only be a few minutes.”
Ronnie nodded. “We’ll be fine.”
“Won’t you have to drive the police car back to the station?” Willow asked.
“I’ll get one of the lads to pick it up. And hopefully get mine dropped off after they’ve done that.”
Ronnie opened her mouth to say something, but Jack jumped in before she could speak. “No, I don’t mind,” he said, anticipating her very words. “And, yes, I’m happy to hang around as long as it takes.” He gave Ronnie’s arm a tender rub before going on his way.
Watching him head off, Willow filled her cheeks with air, as if dying to say something.
