Page 66 of Six Steps to Happiness
Ronnie laughed while Willow spluttered.
“Mum, we really do need to find out what medication they’ve given her.”
“I’m telling you, Willow,” Bea said. “He’sThe One.”
“And I’m telling you, there’s no such…”
The hospital room door opened, cutting Willow’s sentence short.
“Doctor Raj,” Bea said. Straightening herself up, she gave her granddaughter a wink. “We were just talking about you.”
Ronnie let out a giggle as she looked at the handsome chap before her. Her mother-in-law was right, he did have the power to light up a room.
“I wanted to check how you’re feeling this morning, Bea,” he said.
“Better for seeing you,” Ronnie’s mother-in-law replied.
He picked up Bea’s notes that hung at the bottom of her bed and began reading.
Ronnie turned her attention to Willow, who was obviously thinking the same thing as her; that the man was rather dishy. She tried not to laugh as her daughter sat there uncharacteristically lost for words. And if Ronnie wasn’t mistaken, her daughter was blushing slightly. Ronnie nudged Bea, discreetly drawing her attention to Willow as well.
“How did you manage to swing this?” Doctor Raj asked, putting Bea’s notes back where they belonged. “Visitors outside visiting hours.” He smiled at Ronnie and then at Willow, holding the latter’s gaze a tad longer than necessary. He cleared his throat, as if suddenly feeling less self-assured. “You must be Bea’s granddaughter.”
Willow nodded.
“She’s told me all about you.”
I bet she has, Ronnie thought.
Willow tried to reply, but rather than fully formed words, she seemed to speak in syllables. However, the doctor didn’t seem to notice; he appeared equally as mesmerised.
He shook himself out of whatever was going on in his head. “I think I’ve disturbed you enough,” he said to Bea, obviously trying to regain a degree of professionalism. “I’ll come back and have a chat later, when there are no…” He looked at Willow again. “Distractions.” He appeared to steal yet another look at Willow as he hastily left the room.
Bea leaned towards her granddaughter, excited to hear what she thought. “So?”
Willow’s eyes stayed on the doorway, she seemed to be in a world of her own.
“Am I right? Or am I right?” Bea asked.
“Sorry?” Willow said, doing her best to focus.
Ronnie shook her head, both surprised by and pleased with her daughter’s response to Doctor Raj. She’d never known Willow react to a man like that before and struggled to believe what she was seeing. “Oh, yes,” Ronnie said, answering on her daughter’s behalf. “He’s definitelyThe One.”
“I need some fresh air,” Willow said. “I feel a bit dizzy, I don’t know what’s come over me.” She looked at her grandmother. “I think what you’ve got might be catching.”
Ronnie and Bea watched her get up from her seat and leave the room, the poor woman’s confusion continuing as she turned to head down the corridor. Ronnie and Bea laughed.
“Looks like we’ll be buying new hats in the not-too-distant future,” Bea said, a big smile on her face.
Ronnie chuckled. “I think you might be right,” she said, supposing time would tell.
“Then all this is worth it,” Bea replied, looking around the room. She clasped her hands and dropped them on her lap, gratified.
Ronnie observed her mother-in-law’s contentment, not wanting to spoil her good mood. But with Willow out of the way, Ronnie had the perfect opportunity to have a serious conversation with Bea. Things needed saying and, considering where they were, sooner rather than later. She took her mother-in-law’s hand. “Can we talk?”
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Bea smiled in response. “Of course. What is it you want to say?”
