Page 164 of The Moon Sister
‘So you definitely think there’s been an improvement, Charlie?’ Ally cut in. She always liked to get straight to the point.
‘Dare I say it, but yes. Of course, this might be something to do with the fact that Tiggy has been resting. Or sometimes the heart begins to heal itself . . .’
‘What? Can hearts really mend in ten days?’ Ally queried.
‘Not normally, no, but—’
‘Told you I was feeling better,’ I put in smugly.
‘Do you think that Angelina’s treatments might have had an effect?’ Ally asked.
‘Something has,’ Charlie admitted. ‘Although don’t get too cocky, miss,’ he added, wagging a finger at me. ‘There’s still some slight inflammation, but I’m happy to have you fly home tomorrow and then we can monitor you properly for a while.’
‘I’m really sorry, Charlie, but I’m not coming back to Scotland. I want to stay in Granada. I have Angelina and Pepe to look after me, it’s warm, and I feel more relaxed than I have done for ages. I can always come back to the hospital here and see your Rosa if I have a problem.’
Ally and Charlie shared a look, which reminded me of Ma and old Dr Gerber doing the same when I was a child. Nine times out of ten, that look meant bad news for me.
‘Tiggy, we really think you should fly home as soon as possible. I can’t stay with you, because of you-know-who –’ Ally pointed at her bump – ‘but Charlie has told me that what you need is rest.’
‘Tiggy, myocarditis is . . .’ Charlie searched for the word, ‘unpredictable. I want you to take it easy for the time being, instead of wandering through woods at night, speaking to dead people.’
‘Don’t describe it like that, Charlie,’ I reprimanded him. ‘I’ve got better here – even you’re saying I have.’
‘I don’t think Charlie meant it like that, Tiggy.’ Ally came to his rescue. ‘But neither of us trusts you to rest if you stay here alone.’
‘No, we don’t, and Beryl has already said she’d be happy to take care of you at the Lodge. She’ll have me on speed dial, ready to despatch an air ambulance straight to you in any emergency. So for now, why don’t you two head back to the hotel? I’m staying here for a while. Rosa’s going to take me to their research lab – it’s state of the art apparently.’
‘I bet she is,’ mumbled Ally under her breath. ‘Right, see you later, Charlie.’ She heaved herself up. ‘I don’t know about you, Tiggy, but I’m starving. Shall we get something to eat in the city before we head upwards?’
With me still smarting that Charlie had abandoned us for the charms of Rosa, we asked for directions and then walked to the bustling Plaza Nueva. With every step I took, I felt the jumbled history of this city, from engravings of Spanish pomegranates, to colourful Moorish tiles. The square was lined with grand sandstone buildings, teeming cafés and shops, and a crowd had formed around a pair of flamenco dancers who were dancing in the bright sun. Up above us, the fortified walls of the Alhambra were flanked by trees, as if they were still guarding this city a thousand years on.
We found a cosy bodega in one of the cobbled alleyways off the square, mismatched chairs and tables squeezed into a tiny room where we could feel the heat from the kitchen. Having chosen from the gorgeous array of tapas dishes, Ally tucked into chorizo andempanadillas, whilst I enjoyedpatatas bravasand roasted artichokes, the only vegan things on the menu.
‘So, Tiggy.’ Ally eyed me over her cup of coffee. ‘I hope you’re going to obey doctor’s orders and fly back to Scotland tomorrow.’
‘No way am I going back to Kinnaird, and that’s that.’
‘Tiggy, what is it? This is Ally you’re talking to. You know I’m like a vault; I won’t tell anyone, promise.’
‘I . . . the thing is, Ally, there’s been nothing going on between me and Charlie but—’
‘I thought it might be something like that. I mean, it’s been pretty obvious to me from that first phone call how Charlie feels about you.’
‘Ally! We’re just friends, really. He’s my boss . . .’
‘Theo was mine. So?’ Ally countered.
‘And even if Charlie wasn’t,’ I continued, ‘you wouldn’t believe how complicated his life is. He’s married for starters, to a seriously scary – and very tall – woman.’
‘Okay, answer me honestly, Tiggy: have you or haven’t you been having an affair with Charlie Kinnaird?’
‘No!’ I insisted. ‘I absolutely haven’t, but . . . look, I’ll tell you as long as you swear not to say anything to another soul.’
‘I don’t think anyone in Bergen is interested in your love life, Tiggy.’
‘True, but I really don’t want Ma or the rest of our sisters to know. The Valkyrie – that’s my nickname for Charlie’s wife – thinks something’s been going on between us too. She came to see me in the hospital and basically told me never to darken her – and Charlie’s – door again.’
‘Right. Presumably Charlie doesn’t know anything about this?’
