Page 32 of The House at Hope Corner
‘Hannah, there’s no rush. Ned and I can get married any time. What’s important is that Fraser makes as full a recovery as possible, and then once things are more settled we can think about it then.’
She tore off the top of the packet of seeds she was holding, trying to judge how to pitch her next statement.
‘And it might be that it will be easier to have the wedding somewhere else and let them take the strain, rather than having it here, with all the extra work that involves. I expect there are some lovely places around.’
Hannah considered this for all of a millisecond. ‘No, I don’t think so,’ she said. ‘I think we’d hate that.’
Flora gave a tight smile. ‘Well, then… as I said, plenty of time to think about it.’ Today was really not the day to have this conversation. She stared at the packet in her hand. Still, at least the seed of the idea had been sown. Oh, the irony…
She sprinkled a few seeds over the tray of compost. ‘These are going to look so gorgeous,’ she added, trying to lighten the mood. ‘We’ll have to have a look and see where the best place will be for them once they’ve grown on a bit and can be planted out. Where do you think they should go?’
‘Well, as we’ll have so many, I think I’d like to have some for the cottage garden as well. If we do ever get to move in there there’s only a patch of lawn at the back so a few flower beds would look very pretty. The rest I was thinking would look lovely on the big triangle between the two houses. It’s where we have the table and chairs out in summer, under the shade of the big chestnut.’
Flora nodded. ‘Imagine how great they’ll smell too. Well, I think that’s settled then. We’d better get a few more done.’
The hands of the clock were creeping round, and by the time they had finished and tidied up, watered their seeds and washed their hands, Flora reckoned it might be time for a cup of tea. And a phone call.
Chapter Twelve
Flora’s heart was literally pounding in her chest, and she hoped to God that Fraser’s still was too. She felt like she was choking; as if her stomach had somehow risen, leaving her lungs with no room to expand. One look at Hannah’s face confirmed that she was feeling just the same. Flora shook her head. Of course she was. How ridiculous to think she could be anything other than terrified.
They were both sitting at the kitchen table, a mug of tea and a plate of biscuits in front of them. The biscuits lay untouched and, although Flora’s mouth was dry as a bone, she couldn’t bring herself to drink. She had completely underestimated the amount of time they would need to finish up in the greenhouse, and making a pot of tea had taken all of three minutes, not the twenty they had until it was time to make the call.
‘Would you like me to ring for you?’ Flora asked. She didn’t want to at all, but she had to offer.
Hannah inhaled a deep breath. ‘No, I should ring. That’s kind of you, Flora, but…’ She couldn’t finish the sentence. She stared out across the room, her fingers wrapped tightly around her mug, drawing comfort from the warmth.
The hospital hadn’t rung them; that had to be a good sign, thought Flora. If anything had happened during the operation they would have made contact. She swallowed and sneaked a glance at Hannah, reaching down to stroke the top of Brodie’s head, which was pressed hard against her knee and had been since the moment they’d sat down.
‘I think I’ll ring now,’ announced Hannah, getting to her feet. ‘I can’t stand this. Even if they tell me to ring back, that’s okay. It’ll be something.’
Flora nodded and watched as she left the room. Should she go with her, to stand by her side? Should she loiter by the kitchen door and try to hear what was being said? Or should she just give Hannah some space and wait for her to return? She leant forward and buried her face in Brodie’s fur. ‘What do I do, boy?’ she whispered. ‘What would Hannah want?’
But she knew whatshewould want, and so she slowly got to her feet and went out into the hallway.
Hannah’s hands were shaking as she dialled the number, but as she waited for it to connect she smiled gratefully at Flora. It must have rung about twenty or thirty times before it was answered and, as Hannah made her request, Flora’s stomach shifted, fizzing with anxiety.
There was a long pause and then Hannah closed her eyes, her lips murmuring, her breath leaving her in short pants. ‘Oh, thank God…’ She held out the receiver to Flora and melted back down the corridor.
Flora stared at it in surprise. ‘Hello?’ she said.
The voice at the other end sounded just as confused as she was.
‘No, I’m sorry, this is… I’m Fraser’s… daughter-in-law. Yes, I think his wife’s just gone to sit down.’ She listened for a moment. ‘Okay, no, that’s lovely, thank you. Oh… we’re so relieved… Yes, I will. Thanks… Bye.’ She hung up, a rushing noise in her ear, trying to keep the nurse’s words in her head so that she could repeat them.
Hannah had returned to sit at the table, her back to Flora as she entered the room and, as Flora moved back to her original seat, she could see slow silent tears making their way down Hannah’s cheeks.
‘I thought I’d lost him,’ she said, as soon as Flora sat down.
She reached over to take her hand. ‘I know,’ she said. ‘But it’s over, Hannah.’ She beamed. It wasn’t over, not by a long chalk, it was only just beginning, but Flora wasn’t about to divulge any of her memories or the things she’d uncovered during her Internet research. ‘The nurse said the operation went well and, although he’s not awake yet, he’s in recovery. You can see him tomorrow.’
Hannah gave a series of rapid nods, and clutched briefly at Flora’s hand before her grip went slack again.
‘Shall I make us some more tea?’ Flora asked, but there was a swift shake of the head. ‘Are you sure, because I’m going to have another?’ Flora’s tongue was now welded to the roof of her mouth. She got up to re-boil the kettle. ‘We must let Ned know too,’ she added, turning back around, but Hannah was still staring into space. ‘Hannah?’
The vacant eyes slowly refocused on her.
‘Would you like to give Ned a ring?’
