Page 63 of Six Steps to Happiness
“Thank you,” Ronnie said.
Jack didn’t say a word. Instead, he took her hand and wrapped his own around it.
Sitting there in silence, the atmosphere felt tense. With Ronnie, Willow and Jack on one side, and Nick and Gaye glaring at them from the other, Ronnie wished the doctors would hurry up. She felt Jack squeeze her hand, as if he’d somehow read her mind. It was the exact reassurance she needed.
At last, the swing doors flew open and a chap in a white coat stepped through.
Ronnie, along with everyone else, jumped to her feet eager for news.
“I take it you’re all here for Bea Jacobs?” the doctor asked.
“Yes,” Nick said, hastily stepping forward. “I’m her son.”
“I’m pleased to say she’s looking a lot better than when she first got here.”
Ronnie heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness.”
“Although, she will be staying with us so we can run some tests,” the doctor continued.
“Tests?” Ronnie asked.
“I’m afraid so,” the doctor said. “Syncope,that’s the medical term for passing out, or fainting if you like, happens for a reason. It’s a symptom of something else that’s going on in the body and it’s up to us to find out what that is. But please don’t worry too much at this stage. Whatever it might be we’ll find it, and deal with it.”
“Can we see her?” Willow asked, her expression hopeful.
“Now we’ve gotten her comfortable, yes. She’s been asking if she can have a few minutes with family before she’s admitted to the ward. If you’d like to follow me.” He turned to lead the way.
Ronnie stepped forward to follow in the doctor’s footsteps along with everyone else, but Nick jumped in front of her, blocking her path.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, his face contemptuous.
“To see Bea, of course,” Ronnie replied.
“Oh, no,” Nick scoffed. “You heard the doctor, he saidFamily.”
Nick’s words stung. Bea was her family. She’d been Ronnie’s mother-in-law for twenty-five years, he couldn’t take that away from her, pretend their marriage had never happened. “But…”
“No buts, Ronnie.” He took Gaye’s hand. “You’re out.”
“Dad, please,” Willow said.
Ronnie found the shock in her daughter’s eyes heartbreaking. Not that Nick seemed to care, strutting through the doors, the man was obviously enjoying the sense of power.
Instead of following on, Willow hesitated, as if not knowing what to do for the best.
“Go,” Ronnie said. “Go and see your grandmother.” She could see her daughter felt torn, but the poor girl had no reason to. Ronnie smiled, encouraging her on. “For the both of us.”
As her daughter reluctantly headed through the swinging doors, Ronnie stood there well after they closed. “Don’t worry about me,” Ronnie whispered, tears suddenly rolling down her face. She felt an arm around her.
“Come on,” Jack said. “I’ll take you home.”
46
Ronnie stood on her front doorstep saying goodbye to Jack. No doubt the neighbours had clocked his morning departure, but Ronnie didn’t care. Nick, Gaye, Mr and Mrs Wright, and even independent Mrs Smethurst… As far as Ronnie was concerned, they could each think what they liked. She took in Jack’s towering frame, confident stance and kind face. Despite them all, he looked as tired as she felt. Then again, it wasn’t as if either of them had gotten much sleep the previous night.
He checked his watch. “I suppose I’d better go and get out of this,” he said, gesturing to his uniform. “Or at least change my shirt before the next shift starts.”
“You should.”
