A Walk in Wildflower Park

by Bella Osborne

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Once Anna had fired off quick messages to Sophie and Hudson she switched her phone off again. She was about to ring the buzzer to get back into the critical care unit when her heart leaped at the sound of a familiar voice. ‘Anna!’

  ‘Mum.’ Anna couldn’t stop herself hurtling up the corridor and embracing her mum.

  ‘Ow, careful, love. I’m a bit sore.’ Her mum was in a large black wheelchair that made her seem small. Her temple showed a small graze but otherwise she looked fine.

  ‘Sorry. I’m so pleased to see you.’ Seeing her mum in better shape than her dad was a huge relief.

  The orderly pushing the wheelchair smiled. ‘She’s been discharged but she’ll need to take it easy for a few days. We’re on our way to CCU.’ He set off again and Anna walked alongside clutching her mother’s hand, which meant she was walking at an odd angle but she didn’t care.

  ‘Have you seen Dad?’ asked Anna.

  Claire shook her head. ‘But they’ve been wonderful at keeping me updated. I know he’s not out of the woods yet.’

  ‘But what if …’ Anna’s sentence was lost in fresh tears.

  ‘Now, now. You’re not to think like that. He needs us to be positive.’

  They reached the ward and the nurse came over to them. ‘Hi, Anna. And Mrs Strickland?’

  Claire nodded and the nurse crouched down in front of her. ‘Don’t be alarmed. They’ve taken your husband down to theatre.’ Anna could see the shock on her face and suspected she looked the same.

  ‘What happened?’ Claire’s voice was croaky.

  ‘His blood pressure took a drop. He’ll be in theatre for a while. Why don’t you go home and get some rest?’

  ‘No,’ said Claire and Anna together.

  ‘We’d rather be here,’ said Anna, gripping her mother’s hand.

  Sophie was busying herself with unpacking the pit that was Arlo’s school bag when Dave arrived home, gave her a kiss on the cheek and hung up his laptop bag. ‘Dave, you’ve not shaved again. What’s going on?’

  He leaned in and rubbed his stubble against her neck.

  ‘Gerroff,’ she said with a chuckle. She followed him through to the kitchen where Petal was in her high chair and she swapped an empty yogurt pot for two plastic Peppa Pigs.

  Dave blinked at them. ‘Two Peppas?’

  ‘In case she loses one. It’s okay, she probably thinks one is an evil twin.’

  Dave laughed. ‘Anything to report from the home front?’ he asked, pulling her into a hug and giving her a long slow kiss.

  When they pulled apart she had a think. ‘I went to buy Christmas cards and while I was choosing some nice family ones Arlo licked and stuck down pretty much every envelope within his reach.’

  ‘Does that mean we’re banned from the card shop?’ Dave said with a chuckle.

  ‘I think we need to give it a miss for a while at least. And Petal and I made Christmas decorations out of paper plates and foil.’

  ‘Excellent.’

  ‘Shizz,’ said Sophie, reading the message that popped up on her mobile.

  ‘Homemade stuff always is but the grandparents love it—’

  ‘No, not the decorations.’ She waved her phone at him. ‘Anna’s mum and dad have had an accident.’

  ‘Shit! Shit! Shit!’ shouted Petal happily as she bashed both Peppa Pigs on the high chair. Perhaps that alternative word wasn’t far enough away from the real thing, thought Sophie.

  Sophie filled up Maurice’s bowl and leaned against the cupboard while he ate. She wanted to call Anna to find out what was going on but she knew the last thing she needed in the middle of a medical emergency was people asking for an update. She was pleased to be able to help, even if it was only feeding Maurice. Sophie sat on the kitchen floor and gave the cat a stroke while he crunched on his food.

  ‘Anna will be back soon. I promise,’ she told him. He didn’t seem interested. She wondered if animals ever worried about anything or if they sailed through life simply living in the moment. She could see the benefits of the latter. When he’d had his fill he climbed onto Sophie’s lap and began kneading his claws into her jeans.

  ‘You’ve missed a bit of fuss, haven’t you, boy?’ He head-butted her hand in response. ‘In case you are worrying, don’t. Because—’

  She was interrupted by a tap on the door. Sophie lifted Maurice into her arms and tried to stand and realised for the first time how heavy he was. ‘Blimey, Maurice, you need to come to slimming club with me. You weigh a ton.’ Maurice gave her an offended look as if he understood exactly what she’d said.

  Sophie struggled to the door and opened it. ‘Liam. Hi.’

  Liam didn’t appear impressed with how close Sophie was holding Maurice. ‘Is Anna in?’ He was already peering past Sophie into the flat.

  ‘No, she’s away on business.’ She wanted to keep things formal.

  ‘Right. I really need to speak to her about … some stuff.’ He looked cagey and Sophie wanted to know more.

  ‘She’s got a lot on right now, Liam. You turning up isn’t going to …’ She watched a lone tear slide down Liam’s face. ‘What’s wrong?’

  He hesitated before he spoke. ‘I’ve done something really stupid and I need to put it right.’

  ‘Come in,’ said Sophie, staggering backwards with the weight of the cat. ‘I’ll put the kettle on.’

  After a few hours at the hospital Anna’s system seemed to run out of adrenaline and the fact she’d hardly slept in the last twenty-four hours made her eyelids heavy. It was dark outside and she could feel herself nodding off in the chair.

  She became aware of nursing staff on the move and she came to as a bed was wheeled in. Her father looked the same as he had done before – battered and bruised and with an almost grey tinge to his pallid skin. Claire struggled to her feet and Anna held her steady.

  ‘He’s fine,’ said a fresh-looking nurse. Anna assumed there had been a shift change at some point but the last few hours were a blur. ‘They’ve removed his spleen. That was what was causing the bleed.’

  ‘What does a spleen do?’ asked Claire.

  ‘It helps fight infection and make blood cells but it’s not essential. He’ll be able to function perfectly well without it. He’ll probably never notice it’s missing.’

  ‘Thank the Lord,’ said Claire, clutching his hand.

  ‘And his leg?’ asked Anna.

  ‘Sorry, that’ll need to be a separate operation. Let’s get him over this first.’

  They sat at his bed watching him sleep for another hour, which was interspersed with reassurances from the nursing staff that he was fine and they should go home and rest.

  ‘Would you mind if we got a taxi home?’ asked her mother. ‘We’re both exhausted and they’ve said they’re keeping him sedated so he’s not going to wake up and wonder where we are.’

  Although it initially felt heartless, she had a point. ‘I guess we could,’ said Anna, looking tentatively at her father, almost as if she were seeking his approval to leave.

  ‘I’d like to sleep in my own bed tonight.’

  ‘Of course.’ Anna knew her mother was right but it felt wrong to be leaving her dad alone, although with nurses popping over every few minutes he was hardly on his own.

  They checked the current nurse had their contact details and Anna wheeled her mother down to the taxi rank. The sound of a car approaching at a speed inappropriate for a hospital car park made Anna look over her shoulder. Connor’s car raced off the roundabout and then came to a screeching halt next to the row of taxis. Anna was surprised to see him but oddly comforted. She’d only told Sophie and Hudson where she was.

  ‘Anna. Am I pleased to see you!’ He flung his arms around her and she tried to reciprocate the hug whilst still hanging on to the wheelchair, the last thing they needed now was for her mother to roll off. ‘I was worried so I went to see Sophie and Dave told me what had happened.’

  ‘Hello,’ said Claire,
raising a hand, her shrewd eyes taking him in.

  ‘Mum, this is Connor.’ Mum, please don’t ask any awkward questions right now. ‘Connor this is my mum, Claire.’ Connor, please don’t say we’re an item or my mum will shoot me for not telling her. Anna watched Connor crouch in front of her mother.

  ‘It’s lovely to meet you at last, Mrs Strickland. I’ve been hoping to meet you for a while now but these aren’t the circumstances I’d hoped for.’

  ‘We’re off home actually,’ said Claire.

  ‘Then let’s get you in the car. Are you okay to walk?’

  ‘Oh yes, they fuss far too much in hospitals. They’re worried you’ll sue them. And you must call me Claire,’ she said.

  Anna considered protesting but she didn’t have the energy.

  It was a short journey. Anna was thankful her mum and Connor were chatting in the front. Without having to ask she’d gleaned her dad was driving them to Solihull when his tyre had punctured dramatically sending them into a ditch. Anna wanted to avoid too many details because she didn’t want to be able to picture it. She knew she could do this with a few scant details because the sight of Esme falling from the balcony was something she hadn’t seen and yet she could imagine it as clearly as if she’d witnessed every second.

  Anna helped her mum inside and settled her in the living room. Her parents’ home was cold. The weather was feeling decidedly wintry and with the temperature dropping and her dad being an advocate of ‘put on another jumper’ the house was not that welcoming. Anna turned up the thermostat whilst Connor fussed around her mother who despite her protestations was lapping up the attention.

  ‘I’ve missed you so much,’ said Connor, pulling Anna into another hug. He went to kiss her and she made it a brief one. ‘You’re tired. I’ll take you home.’

  ‘No, I can’t leave Mum.’

  ‘Then I’ll order us all pizza and …’

  ‘Connor, you’ve been really kind but I think what we both need is a good night’s sleep.’

  Connor blinked. He frowned for a moment. ‘Yeah, of course. You’ve had a long journey and a terrible shock. You’re right. I’ll feed Maurice.’ He held his hand out for her keys.

  ‘It’s okay. I’ve already asked Sophie to feed him. But thank you, you’ve been really thoughtful.’

  ‘Right, I’ll say goodbye to your mum and then I’ll be back tomorrow to take you to the hospital. About nine okay?’

  Anna hesitated for a second. She was the one who did the organising. But she was learning that sometimes she had to let go of control. ‘That’d be great. Thank you.’

  She listened as Connor had a brief chat to her mum about how he was here for them both if they needed anything before he gave Anna a fleeting kiss and was gone.

  ‘He’s lovely,’ said Claire, giving Anna an old-fashioned look. ‘Where’ve you been hiding him?’

  ‘Nowhere – I have talked about him.’ She knew she was being a little defensive.

  ‘You mentioned him, yes, but he seems pretty serious about you.’

  Anna didn’t like the way her mother was looking at her. ‘I think we both need to go to bed.’

  ‘I need a decent cup of tea and a cuddle with my girl first.’ Anna went to put the kettle on and prepare for an interrogation by her mother.

  Connor arrived on time the next morning and walking back into the hospital Anna felt like she’d never left. Her mother had come to visit too despite vehemently denying she was in any discomfort even though she was visibly wincing with pain when she walked. Anna had expected Connor to drop them off and go but he’d insisted on staying with them despite her explaining that only two people at a time were allowed at the bedside in CCU.

  Anna gripped her mum’s hand and braced herself for seeing her dad looking pale and powerless as he had the day before. Her mother’s gasp gave her a jolt and they both stared at her father. A nurse was filling in a sheet on a clipboard. Terry was sitting up in bed. It felt like a dream. Her mother let go of her hand and embraced her husband, while all Anna could do was stand and stare as happy tears flowed down her face. She watched him hug her mum. He had more colour and looked alive again, not a hundred per cent but so much better than the wisp of a man he had been only hours before.

  Her mother gave him a playful swipe as she wiped away tears with her other hand. ‘You gave us a fright, Terence Strickland,’ she admonished.

  ‘Anna?’ Her father’s voice was soft. He held out a hand to her and at last she could move her feet. She sat at the side of the bed and wept. ‘Oh, Anna. I’m fine.’

  ‘Apart from the fractured tibia and fibula,’ said the nurse, raising an eyebrow at her patient.

  Terry waved her comment away. ‘That won’t stop me. It’s our party in a couple of weeks’ time and I guarantee I’ll be there with my beautiful girls.’ He held both their hands.

  ‘And that’s how you’ll break the other leg,’ said the nurse. ‘The surgeon will be down later to assess you. Until then, no more promises.’

  ‘Yes, boss,’ said Terry, with a weak salute.

  ‘I’ve already had to put off a surly policeman who wanted to speak to you about the accident, but he can wait too.’

  Anna learned he’d come round in the early hours and they were hoping to operate on his leg later that day and it would likely take six months to fully heal. A member of staff had to tell them off twice for being too lively so after lunch they decided they would leave him for what the ward called quiet time. Anna needed to track down Connor and get herself home.

  Connor was waiting outside CCU and greeted them with a head tilt and a commiserative smile. Anna beamed back at him and she could see the confusion on his face. ‘He’s fine. Dad’s going to be okay.’ She threw her arms around Connor and hugged him tight.

  Connor faltered, surprise etched on his face. ‘My God, that’s brilliant.’

  ‘I know!’ Anna couldn’t hide her joy.

  ‘Claire, I’m thrilled,’ said Connor, giving her mum a hug. She seemed taken by surprise but welcomed the embrace all the same. ‘You must come to our party, Connor. Three weeks today, it’s our thirtieth wedding anniversary, and we would love you to be there.’ Her mum glanced at Anna who nodded her agreement. Of course she wanted Connor to come. He’d proved himself – he’d been there when she’d needed him most. A nice reliable man who cared about her was what she needed.

  Anna felt like she was still on a high when she entered the office on the Monday morning. The news of her parents’ accident was top of the office discussion list and a small crowd soon gathered round her desk for an update, which she gladly gave now the dramatic story had a happy ending. The operation to pin her father’s leg had been successful, so it was now all about him healing. Perhaps that was the difference with accidents: maybe they lodged in your mind if there was no recovery at the end?

  ‘Hudson covered for you,’ said Roberta, appearing and instantly breaking the good vibe.

  ‘Great. He said he would.’ At the thought of Hudson she realised she had only sent him a couple of texts since she got back. Everything had been overtaken by the accident. ‘He’s usually in by now,’ she said, noting the time.

  ‘Didn’t you know?’ Roberta pulled back her shoulders. ‘He’s staying in New York for the time being.’

  Anna knew she was blinking fast but it was hard to control. ‘Right,’ said Anna. She hadn’t expected that but of course it made sense. She hadn’t specifically thought about it but now she did she wouldn’t be going for the New York job. She needed to be here for her father and she had Connor. This was how things were to be. The thought was more upsetting than she’d expected. She swallowed hard. ‘When New York comes on stream, I’ll give him a call,’ she said, checking her watch.

  ‘The most difficult thing is the decision to act. The rest is merely tenacity,’ said Roberta. Her expression told Anna it was another quote.

  ‘Princess Jasmine?’ offered Anna.

  ‘Amelia Earhart,’ said Roberta. Anna ga
ve a little frown. She wasn’t sure what Roberta meant but she marched off looking pleased with herself.

  ‘You sure you’re okay?’ asked Karl, being uncharacteristically sympathetic.

  Anna tried to paste on a smile. ‘Yes, it’s just I’m all over the place what with Dad … everything.’

  ‘Or it could be early menopause,’ said Karl, and she was grateful for the opportunity to take a swipe at him and forget how she was really feeling.

  Hudson had done a good job of finishing off the New York office review; he must have put in a lot of hours since she’d left. It was all factually correct with an unmistakable Hudson edge to it. Despite having loads to catch up on she found she was watching the clock this morning. For one thing her father was being moved out of CCU and she was expecting a call from her mother about which ward he’d moved to but she was also waiting for when she could feasibly ring Hudson without waking him up.

  When she figured it would be eight in the morning in New York she sprang on her mobile and dialled his number. He answered straight away. ‘Hey, you. How are your folks?’

  Hearing his voice made something twist in her stomach. ‘They’re okay. Mum has broken a few ribs and Dad needed a couple of operations but they’ll both make a full recovery.’

  ‘That’s good to hear. I’ve been worried for you.’

  ‘Thanks for getting me to the airport and everything else in New York.’ Her mind drifted back to ice skating in Central Park and watching the lights come on across Manhattan. They were memories she would always cherish as time spent with a good friend.

  ‘And you flew home on your own. Get you, you’re a seasoned flyer now.’ There was laughter in his voice.

  ‘Not quite, but I wouldn’t be as terrified if I had to go again. I hear you’re staying in New York.’

  There was a moment’s silence before she heard him sigh and then speak. ‘I think it’s probably for the best.’

  What did that mean? ‘Really?’ It was out before her brain had vetted it.

  ‘I think maybe it’s time for me to come home. I’m talking to Dad about buying the old house.’

  ‘You’re definitely staying then.’ She was shocked. Something in her gut tugged hard at her. She was losing someone she cared about and it hurt.