by Monica Carly
She had been lucky to have known Martin, and to have had him as her husband. She would never lose sight of that. Surely she, of all people, should be equipped with the knowledge of how to come through this and rise above it. Now there had been closure, with the verdict of guilty and the sentencing of those two youths, it was time to move on. But in what direction?
She thought of Fraser and his family, and of that little boy lying in a coma. Another tragedy that had come out of the blue and threatened to destroy the happiness of all those who were involved. Poor Fraser – he had had so much to bear recently, and had faced up to it all with an impressive courage. She knew he was there at the hospital now, tenderly caring for his grandson, doing everything in his power to will the little boy back to life. Her heart went out to him.
The fidgeting man was still being a trial. When the meal was brought round he could not decide whether to eat it or not, nor which part to attack first. He picked items up and put them down again, sighing in a disconcerting fashion. He struggled to open the packet containing a bread roll and then gave up. The thought of him eating his meal and then not being able to keep it down quite put Angela off hers. She nibbled a small amount and then pushed it away.
She would try and get some sleep, remote though the possibility seemed. The meals were cleared away – with more items seeming to go back into the trolley than had come out in the first place. Angela put her seat back and settled herself down. Her eyes closed, and miraculously her troubled mind began to calm down. She woke to hear the pilot announce that they would shortly be making their descent into Heathrow.
This was the moment she always dreaded. When she flew with Martin she would hold his hand most of the flight, and at this point would squeeze it so hard it was all he could do to repress a cry of pain. She hated the thought of hurtling towards the ground – watching the fields and streets get closer and closer – and couldn’t help wondering how on earth this man-made object, bent on its swift downward path, could be restrained sufficiently to allow a gentle landing.
Panic was on the point of setting in when suddenly a warm sensation flooded through her, dispelling the tension. The nearer they got to the ground the more the feeling of joy – perhaps even triumph – took over. She couldn’t explain it, but an unmistakable happiness swelled up inside her until she wanted to sing aloud. In place of the usual fear a rising tide of happiness threatened to engulf her. It was as though something wonderful had happened. As the wheels hit the tarmac Angela turned to see her white-knuckled neighbour finally release his grip on the arms of his seat. For the first time on the entire flight he smiled.
‘We’ve landed,’ he breathed. ‘Thank God.’
‘Yes,’ replied Angela, beaming at him. ‘Thank God.’
Chapter 29
The next day Fraser’s question was answered. He was just about to leave the hospital briefly for a breath of fresh air when he saw Michael’s car draw up. As soon as it had stopped Michael leaped out and came quickly round to the passenger side where he held the door open for Sarah. Then they walked together towards the hospital entrance holding hands. They were smiling.
Not wanting them to know he had been watching them Fraser quickly retreated to his usual waiting post, where they arrived and greeted him. After the greetings Fraser had to report that there was no change in George’s condition. He was still just hanging on.
‘Wasn’t Kate brave yesterday!’ remarked Fraser. ‘I hope her worries were allayed to some extent, after her visit.’
Sarah’s eyes moistened. ‘I’m beginning to appreciate what a strong and thoughtful daughter I have. I should have realised it before. She has been a real support to me.’
It was Michael’s turn to speak. ‘I’m glad she was able to express her feelings to you. We hadn’t understood the full extent of the responsibility she had taken on her small shoulders for the accident. You helped her to come to terms with it all and to feel absolved from blame. Thank you for being so caring.’
‘That’s what grandfathers are for. Perhaps I can still have my uses.’ Fraser paused. Then he continued, ‘After Edie died I felt useless. I couldn’t cook, I couldn’t mix with people. I seemed to have lost the whole purpose for living, and my confidence deserted me. Now I’ve been able, perhaps, in a small way, to become more involved with your family, and to see that I can make my own contribution, I’m feeling better in myself. That sounds strange, when we’ve all got this dreadful crisis hanging over us.’
‘No it doesn’t.’ Sarah was looking thoughtful. ‘I think I understand what you’re saying. You see …’ she hesitated. The next bit was going to be difficult. She took a deep breath, and then went on. ‘Michael and I have had our own crisis. And I must take much of the blame for that. I was so bent on the day-to-day mechanics of achieving all that had to be done that I lost sight of …’ She was finding the emotion difficult, and had to stop.
Michael took her hand between both of his. ‘I’m not going to let Sarah take the responsibility for what I did. I was completely wrong in looking for comfort outside the marriage. I bitterly regret it. Somehow we had lost the ability to talk things over between us. That is never going to happen again. Sarah has been wonderful, and now we are going to see our son, and dedicate our lives together to him, and, of course, to our daughter.’
They went off to the intensive care unit, and when they returned they looked calm – almost happy.
‘I don’t know how to thank you for keeping up this constant vigil,’ said Michael. ‘It means a great deal to us to know that you are on the spot, all the time. When something does happen to George – whatever it is – his beloved grandpa will be here with him. That is a great comfort.’
As they left Fraser felt a kind of warm glow. He decided to visit George, and then go out for a brief walk.
The sun shone, and the air was clean and sharp. Sea air had a quality that energised and lifted the spirits. How different from the heavy atmosphere filled with petrol fumes that he normally breathed. He made his way back.
He had scarcely arrived at the waiting room when Sister Nina appeared, agitated. ‘Come, quickly, Mr Coleman. Quick! Quick!’
Fraser’s heart lurched. ‘What is it? Has he …’ Fearing the worst, he couldn’t bring himself to say the word.
She didn’t answer, but urged him towards George’s bedside. He looked at the boy, but could see no difference. He must have died peacefully, in his coma. Fraser sank down into the chair and put his head in his hands.
‘Look at his eyes! Look at his eyes!’ Sister Nina’s excitement made Fraser sit up. Were George’s eyes open just a fraction? Fraser thought he could see a slit. Then, as he watched, the slit widened. There was unmistakably a gap and some of the eye was showing. Slowly the lids continued their upward movement until a pair of eyes were visible – lifeless, uncomprehending eyes that apparently saw nothing, that expressed nothing.
‘Georgie! My dear boy! Hello George – it’s Grandpa. Oh George, how wonderful to see you! It’s … it’s magic!’
And now a light began to creep into those eyes. And the mouth began to move! Was that a smile? It was so hard to tell amongst all those bandages.
Then another miracle happened. George spoke.
‘Hello, Grandpa. Grandpa, I really, really hurt.’
‘I know, old boy.’ Fraser reached under the sheet for George’s hand and took hold of it, cradling it between his two large ones. ‘The thing is, you’ve had a nasty accident. In fact, you’ve been asleep for quite a long time. I’ve been waiting for you to wake up.’
‘Where’s Mummy?’ The face began to pucker.
‘She’s been here to see you already today. You were sleeping then, so you didn’t know she was there. She came, with Daddy, just a few minutes ago. She’s on her way home now, but I’ll ring her and tell her you’ve woken up, and she and Daddy will come straight back. You rest a little more, and they’ll soon
be here.’
George closed his eyes and Fraser stood up, fishing for his handkerchief. He blew his nose loudly and wiped his eyes, and then turned to see Sister Nina with the tears unashamedly pouring down her cheeks. Fraser clasped her in a great bear hug and swung her round before he put her down.
‘I don’t know how to thank you – you and all your nursing team. You’ve all worked so hard to keep him alive, and cared for him – I can’t thank you enough!’
‘This is our reward. To see a patient recover. It makes it all worth while. I’m so happy for you.’
‘I must go and call my daughter.’
Fraser hurried to the hospital exit and switched on his mobile phone. He rang Sarah’s number and could hardly speak for the emotion. He heard the heartfelt ‘Thank God’ they both uttered. They would turn round straight away and be there as soon as possible.
Fraser’s phone bleeped telling him a text message had arrived. It was from Angela, and it read, ‘Back with you again.’
Fraser smiled. She had an amazing knack for hitting the nail on the head. With a heart lighter than it had been for weeks he went back into the hospital.
Chapter 30
George found that the world to which he returned was rather different from the one he had left, and he rather liked it. Mummy and Daddy were around much more. Mummy now shared the morning school run with Maria, and was always waiting at the school gate when he and Kate ran out at the end of the day. Daddy had time to play games and take them for walks, and sometimes put them to bed. Even Kate was less bossy! The atmosphere had changed, and without George being able to put his small finger on it, he enjoyed the new arrangements.
He was not aware of the details that had brought about this transformation. Sarah had decided to put a full time manager into her business, and only work herself from 10 am to 2.30 pm – and not at all in school holidays. Michael had cut down on the visits which took him far away, and made sure he was back in good time to see the children. If it meant less income, it did. He now knew what was important in his life.
Above all, Sarah and Michael had been able to talk everything through and come to some radical decisions. They had both stood on the brink and stared at the abyss of what could be their failed marriage, and they had both drawn back. Michael was overcome with remorse, unable to understand how he had allowed himself to get caught in such a tangled web of deceit and betrayal. Sarah saw, for the first time, what her unstoppable drive to achieve had cost both her children and Michael. Sarah and Michael stood at George’s bedside, that first night he was home, glorying in his return and vowing they would try never to let the children down again. Of course there would be mistakes, but their priorities were now defined.
At school George found he was a hero! The class cheered him when he stomped in, and his classmates all wrote their names on his plaster. Kate found pleasure in being able to give vent to the maternal streak which was never very far from the surface. Both children had learned, in the most painful way, the dangers of today’s busy roads.
Fraser returned home, but there were still painful connotations attached to it and he began to feel it would be a good idea to move. The more he thought about it the more he felt it was the right thing to do, and he decided to start on the project without delay. There were, however, still some loose ends to tie up.
The first was his business partner, John. What should he do about him? Before he had come to a conclusion John telephoned and asked if he could come round, as there was something he wanted to discuss.
Sitting opposite, John looked ill at ease, and obviously didn’t know where to begin. At last he said, ‘I’m thinking of asking you to release me from our partnership. You’ve helped me to achieve a good living for many years, and I shall always be grateful, but now I feel I need to do something different. Sadie has some idea of moving to Spain, and I think perhaps I should go along with what she wants. She hasn’t seemed very well or happy recently.’
‘I know, John,’ said Fraser.
‘It’s so important to keep the little woman happy, isn’t it?’
‘I know, John,’ repeated Fraser, ‘I know.’
‘Things have never felt the same, since Edie died. It’s as though a spark has gone out.’
‘I know.’
‘How you must have suffered, with the shock of it, and everything. I want you to know, I really am most dreadfully sorry.’
‘I know, John. I know about everything. I know about you and Edie.’
John froze in his seat and then covered his face with his hands. At last he spoke. ‘I thought you must have known before, that Edie must have told you, but when I came to try and apologise I realised you didn’t know. I’ve been in an agony of indecision, but in the end I thought it was kinder to leave you in ignorance. When did you find out? How long have you known?’
‘For a few weeks now. It was when I finally plucked up courage to turn out her things. I know about your short breaks and your cruises. You were both very clever, keeping it all secret the way you did. You certainly had me fooled. Well, was she good company? I’m intrigued to know what the financial arrangements were. Did she pay your fare for you? If so, you could say I funded your little jaunts, as that was the money I’d put in a Savings Account for her – to use if anything happened to me. Ironical, isn’t it – both of you going off and enjoying yourselves, on my money.’
John hung his head. ‘I don’t know what to say,’ he said. ‘Please give me a chance to explain. It was a terrible thing I did, I know – but Edie …’
‘I don’t want to hear any more,’ said Fraser. ‘I had thought you a trusted partner and friend. I feel let down by so many people – people I thought well of – people who smiled at me and told me what a good fellow I was. All the time I’ve been a laughing- stock, a gullible, cuckolded husband. My friends have behaved as enemies, and stabbed me in the back. Go, John. Go off to Spain. Make amends to your Sadie and try and salvage some good years from the mess that has surrounded us all.’
‘I don’t suppose …’ John, hesitated. ‘I was wondering if you could find it in your heart to shake my hand? Then I promise you’ll never see me again. But I don’t think I can go off and start again without some outward sign, at least, of your goodwill, although I know I don’t deserve it. I know it’s asking an awful lot. I didn’t know it was possible to feel so wretched.’
He stood up and proffered his hand. Fraser stood up also and went to the door, which he held open for John. John reached the door, his face contorted with misery. Then Fraser did hold out his hand.
‘I wish you both well,’ he said. ‘I do understand the circumstances – she used you, as she used me, to fulfil her needs – and God, I know how that hurts.’
Briefly the two men gripped hands.
‘I’ll get a solicitor to draw up the papers terminating our arrangements,’ said Fraser.
‘Will you carry on with the business?’ asked John.
‘Possibly, on a much smaller scale. It all depends. I’m making some changes in my life myself. I’ll have to see how things work out. Well, that’s my affair now. We’ll communicate if we need to, but not otherwise.’
The exchange upset Fraser. He hated being confrontational, but he knew he would not have been able to live with himself if hadn’t spoken out. Now there was a ghost he had to lay. He rang Angela.
‘How would you like a day trip – to Brighton?’
‘That sounds a pleasant idea. I think I can guess the reason.’
‘You probably can – well some of the reasons, anyway. I used to love going there – something about the atmosphere – but now the town is full of horrific undertones I can’t bear to think about it – it’s slid off my map of England. I need to put it back on, by having some pleasant experiences there, in the company of my guardian angel. Please say you’ll come.’
The next day – a beautiful sunny one - they
had set off. Fraser had planned how he wanted to spend it, and his spirits began to rise as they motored towards the south coast. Angela was aware that the day was important to him, and that he had wounds to heal. She chatted lightly, and asked him where he planned to go first.
‘I thought, if you were happy with the idea, we’d go to the Pavilion.’
They both enjoyed wandering round this eccentric, Indian style piece of English culture with its opulent rooms, but the dazzling Music Room with its domed ceiling of gilded scallop-shaped shells took their breath away.
‘Magic!’ breathed Fraser.
Angela laughed. ‘Follow that! Where shall we go now?’
They went to The Lanes, and Angela was in her element poking about in the shops. A necklace with an amethyst pendant caught her attention and she enthused about it to Fraser.
‘I’m getting hungry,’ he said. ‘Would you have a look at the menu in that bistro over there and see if it appeals to you? I’ll look just look at this one.’
She obediently crossed the lane as she was asked, and in a few moments Fraser joined her. He was holding a small box.
‘I’d like you to accept this. It’s a small token of thanks for all you’ve done for me and my family over the past weeks. I really don’t know how I’d have managed without you.’
Angela opened the box and the cut glass amethyst twinkled at her.
‘Oh Fraser! How lovely! You really shouldn’t have – but I’ll accept it in the spirit in which it was given. Thank you very much!’ She planted a kiss on his cheek. Fraser was a little embarrassed.