Chapter 73
Chapter seventy-three
At the bottom of the stairs, her stomach rumbled and let her know she’d made the right decision to come back down.
She sipped the cocoa from the mug in her hand and headed back into the kitchen, rummaging in the fridge for cheese, butter, and an onion that lurked at the bottom of the vegetable box.
There was bread in the bread bin, and she cut two healthy slices. The butter was rock solid, so she gave up trying to soften it and shaved curls over the bread instead.
Next, she sliced some onion and cheese, covering the bread and butter.
She pulled the drawer free on the air fryer and laid each piece down gently on the rack, then set the timer.
She checked her phone again. Nothing but that stubborn green light.
Not that it mattered, Rosa would most likely be asleep by now, although tomorrow was a Saturday and she wouldn’t have work, so she might be up?
Imogen would have work, though—the new café job. Knowing Rosa, she would be awake early to make sure Immy got there okay.
Sipping more of her drink, the day replayed itself in jagged flashes, repeatedly looping back to the way her heart had beaten out of her chest when her mum had said the words ‘heart attack’.
The journey had been easy enough at least. Carl had met her at the airport and driven her straight to her parents’ home to drop her bag off. Then he’d guided her back to the car and driven her straight to the hospital where Meredith was sitting stoically by Schultz’s bedside.
It was family only allowed while Schultz was in die Intensivstation, Austria’s version of ICU. And despite Carl being as close to family as any man could get, he left them to it.
Billy let her thoughts wander to the wires and the beeps and the back and forth of doctors and nurses, all rapidly speaking in German and then more slowly in English.
A suspected heart attack had quickly been assessed as an actual heart attack. Schultz looked smaller in the bed, his bald head shiny with sweat.
When the air fryer beeped, she plated her meal and took it and the mug through to the lounge, then sank onto the sofa.
She’d barely taken a bite before her eyelids grew heavy. She rubbed her face, then gulped down a mouthful of cocoa and took another bite, chewing slowly as she decompressed the day. Whatever adrenaline had been holding her up all day, finally gave in.
She woke with a start.
The plate was still sitting on her lap, the half-eaten piece of toast falling from her fingers to land on it.
Her eyes squinted in the half-light and found the clock on the mantel—2:20a.m. A noise startled her—tap, tap, tap.
Billy put the plate down on the sofa and stood, stretching her back as she tried to work out what the noise was and why it had woken her—not that it was a bad thing—she needed to go to bed and get a proper night’s sleep.
There it was again.
This time, though, the sensor light sprang on. Someone was outside.
She’d never been scared here, but at this hour, with the dark pressing at the windows, a shiver ran through her.
Fortunately, common sense prevailed. What kind of intruder knocked in the middle of the night? She crept along the hallway to the door and leaned close.
“Who is it?” she whispered—not that her mother would wake up if she’d taken one of her pills.
“Ma? Let us in.”
The reply was muffled, but she’d heard it clearly enough. “Imogen?” She swung the door open. “What in the—” The words died as her gaze landed on Rosa and every tension in her body melted away.
“Thank, God. I was beginning to think we’d have to sleep in the car,” Rosa said, nudging past her and setting the small case down with a thud. “How’s Schultz?”
“Yeah, how’s Grandpa?”
“He’s…as well as can be expected right now,” Billy answered, then quickly pulled Imogen into a hug. Her arms wanted to reach for Rosa too, but Rosa stepped back, chin lifting as if distance could keep her steady. “He’ll be pleased to see you,” she said, kissing the top of Imogen’s head.
“I used the emergency card,” Imogen admitted. “I’ll pay it back.”
“It’s fine.” Billy glanced warily at Rosa. She’d forgotten all about the emergency card she’d given Imogen. “This is an emergency, right?” She ushered them both into the lounge and closed the double doors.
Rosa didn’t look at Imogen as she said, “Imogen booked the flights, despite my saying we needed to speak to you first. Why aren’t you answering your phone?”
“Battery died, and I’ve been at the hospital all day. It’s only been charging for the last hour…and I fell asleep.”
“How’s Meredith?” Rosa asked—and the question underneath it hung in the air: “How are you?”
Billy exhaled. “She’s okay. Exhausted. She’s taken a sleeping tablet, so hopefully she’ll sleep all night. But she wants to be back at the hospital as soon as possible.”
“That’s understandable…I’d be the same,” Rosa said.
Imogen yawned. “I’m going to go up to my room.” She turned to Rosa. “Are you sleeping in with me?”
Billy jumped in, “You can have my room, I’ll take the couch.”
“Thank you, it’s fine. I can sleep in with Imogen.” Rosa smiled, assessing Billy. “You need to get some sleep, too. No doubt it’s been just as exhausting for you.”