Page 53 of The Last Saturday In July
Jess stood as the doctor approached.
He gave her a friendly nod. ‘You’re Mrs Bradley’s granddaughter?’
‘Jess Bradley, yes.’
‘Good.’ He turned back to Moira. ‘Here’s a prescription for your painkillers, Mrs Bradley. You’re going to need daily help, so the local health nurse will call on you tomorrow and assess your needs. Do you have family living nearby?’
‘My older son Seamus lives in Arklow, and my other son and his family are all in Dublin. I’ll be fine, won’t I, Jess?’
Jess nodded reassuringly. ‘Absolutely.’
The doctor seemed satisfied. ‘I’ve spoken to the geriatrician, and she seems happy enough. We’ll send you out a reminder of your next appointment, but any problems in the meantime, just phone the hospital.’
Moira grumbled as an orderly helped her into a hospitalwheelchair and waited with her as Jess drove up to the hospital entrance, but Jess could see that she was secretly relieved for the help.
Jess pushed the passenger seat back and helped her into the car.
As she drove out the gates and headed towards the N11 to Wicklow, Moira yawned. ‘You’re so good to do this, dear.’
Jess glanced over. Moira’s head, with its pink fluffy curls, was resting back against the seat and her eyes were closing. ‘That’s what family is for Nana.’
But Moira had already fallen asleep.
Jess was grateful that her nana lived in a small bungalow, because she doubted she’d manage any kind of steps. She’d stay with her tonight, and tomorrow she’d phone the number she’d been given in the hospital, to make sure her details had been passed to the local health nurse.
She was heating up some soup when she remembered Simon’s business dinner. ‘Oh crap!’
‘What is it, love?’
She turned to Moira, who was sitting at the kitchen table. She was struck by how frail she looked. She couldn’t tell her about Simon’s dinner. Moira would try to insist she go and, when she didn’t, she’d just worry all evening. Even if she asked Zoe to step in to mind Moira, she would still feel guilty that she’d messed up Jess’s plans.
‘Um, I was just thinking it’s a pity we don’t have some fresh bread.’
‘Oh, I think I have some slices in a bag in the icebox.’
Trying to stay calm, Jess opened the icebox behind her. ‘Got them.’ She popped a couple of slices in the toaster. ‘That’ll all be ready in two minutes. I’ll just go freshen up.’
Jess hurried to the bathroom and took out her phone, almost crying when she saw it was on eleven percent. Could today get any worse? She rang Simon but his phone went straight to voicemail. She waited for the beep.
‘It’s me, Simon. I’m sorry but I won’t make dinner, Nana fell and fractured her foot and I have to stay with her. The lamb is in a dish in the fridge, it needs an hour and a half in the oven. I meant to pick up a cheesecake on the way home, so try to think of that too. I have to go, see you tomorrow.’
She hung up and checked her phone. She hadn’t brought a charger, and her nana used an old Nokia block. She turned it off.
Once Moira had eaten some soup and Jess had helped her to bed, she rang Zoe from the landline.
‘Hi, Nana.’
‘No, it’s me.’ Jess filled her in.
‘Ah shite, poor Nana. I’m glad you’re staying. What can I do?’
‘Don’t say anything to Mam before she goes to work, I don’t want her worrying. But let Dad know. Nana couldn’t get hold of him earlier.’
‘Will do.’ Zoe paused. ‘She can’t be on her own, can she?’
‘No, we’ll have to figure that out, talk to you tomorrow.’
Jess hung up and washed up the few dishes they’d used. She checked on Moira, who was fast asleep, then flicked on the TV, but couldn’t concentrate on anything. She was completely lost without her phone: she couldn’t even monitor how well the virtual tour videos were doing on social media.
