Chapter 27
27
Kate looked at her phone again. There were no messages. It was almost 11.00p.m. She didn’t know what time Joel was leaving for Kent but she was thinking that parents of at least age fifty plus would be going to bed before midnight. But then again, it was his family home; he probably had a key.
She had eaten spaghetti bolognese (six minutes to cook, two minutes to stand) and drunk a whole bottle of white wine while watching a documentary about Gulf War syndrome. She now knew that flashbacks and nightmares were part and parcel of some of the returning soldiers’ lives.
She was just about to consider opening another bottle of wine when the phone rang.
She leapt on it hurriedly before the ringing woke Bethan.
‘Hello,’ Kate spoke quietly.
‘Kate, it’s Hermione.’
‘Hi.’
‘Kate, I’ve just had a call from the hospital. It’s Joel,’ Hermione spoke seriously.
Kate felt her blood run cold.
‘What’s happened?’ Kate exclaimed.
‘They wouldn’t give me any details; they got my number from a message I left him about a suit fitting. They’re trying to contact his parents. He’s on Marlborough Ward.’
‘Is… is he OK?’
‘I’m sorry sweetie, I really don’t know,’ Hermione replied.
‘Oh God, I have to see him, I have to go there,’ Kate spoke, panic-stricken.
‘Give me ten minutes, sweetie and I’ll come and mind Bethan for you,’ Hermione said.
‘Did it sound serious? Was it a car accident? I told him to text me when he got there and he hadn’t. I knew something was wrong,’ Kate gabbled, close to tears.
‘I’m coming over.’
‘Mione, I’ve been drinking, I can’t drive there,’ Kate exclaimed as she caught sight of the large empty wine bottle.
‘Call a cab, tell them ten minutes – putting my shoes on now,’ Hermione told her and she ended the call.
By the time the cab dropped her off outside the entrance of the hospital, she was a bundle of panic and her heart was bursting with fear. What had happened? How bad was he? What if it was critical? There was so much she wanted to say to him. So much she should have said before.
She walked onto the ward and took a deep breath. She was terrified. She looked at some of the patients in the nearest beds and put a hand to her chest, frightened at their injuries. None of them were pretty.
A nurse hastened towards her, carrying some files, and Kate cleared her throat to speak.
‘Excuse me, could you tell me which bed Joel Brown is in?’ Kate asked.
‘It’s very late – are you family?’ the nurse enquired, looking at Kate suspiciously .
‘Yes, I, er, I’m his sister, Kate Brown. The hospital called me, told me to come,’ Kate lied, hoping she was convincing enough.
‘He’s in bay two, just across there. He’s had an MRI and a CAT scan and we’ll have the results in the morning. He’s very lucky someone found him when they did. The doctor will be able to tell you more in the morning,’ the nurse told her.
She pointed to a bay Kate had already glanced at without recognising the occupant. Looking a second time, she saw it was Joel. His face was swollen to almost twice its usual size and his lip was stitched up. She put her hands to her mouth, unable to hide her shock.
‘Are you OK?’ the nurse asked, seeing Kate’s reaction.
‘Is he conscious?’ Kate questioned.
‘Oh yes, he’s just resting. So don’t stay too long please and keep your voice down,’ the nurse said quietly.
Kate took a deep breath and then propelled herself over to the bed, swallowing her concern and horror as best she could.
She sat down on a chair next to his bed and studied his horrific injuries. His handsome face was now a patchwork of red and maroon bruises and cuts. He looked like someone who had done ten rounds with David Haye without a gum guard or a referee.
‘Joel,’ she whispered.
His large eyes flickered open and he looked at her.
‘Kate,’ he said, sounding uncomfortable.
‘Well, now, isn’t this a fine way to get my attention? I mean, if you wanted attention, you just had to say. And what have you done to your face? That nice make-up lady at Knowing Me Knowing You isn’t going to be happy with you,’ Kate attempted to joke as she squeezed his hand.
Joel attempted a smile and then winced in pain .
‘What happened? I told you to drive carefully. Why didn’t you listen?’
‘I wasn’t in the car,’ Joel replied.
‘Then what happened?’
‘I got jumped on the way home, by three or four guys,’ Joel said, stifling a cough.
‘Attacked? What, you mean mugged?’
‘Yeah, they took my wallet,’ Joel responded.
‘Well, have you told the police?’
‘Not yet. I will, they’re coming in the morning, I think.’
‘How could someone do this? And why did you make them fight you for your wallet? You should have just given it to them,’ Kate said crossly.
Joel didn’t answer.
‘Are you hurt anywhere else, apart from your face?’ Kate asked with a swallow.
‘It hurts pretty much everywhere,’ Joel informed her.
She squeezed her eyes tight and tried to stop the tears escaping.
‘Hey, don’t cry. Looks are superficial, remember and I’ve been told the inside is going to be just fine,’ Joel told her.
‘You have Hermione to thank for me being here. She left a message about a fitting for your wedding suit and the hospital called her to try and find your next of kin. Shall I ring your mum and dad?’ Kate offered.
‘No. No, I don’t want to worry them,’ Joel said.
‘But, they’ll be expecting you.’
‘No, they won’t.’
‘But you were going to stay with them,’ Kate reminded him.
This time, it was Joel’s turn to sigh.
‘You told me you were going to stay with them,’ Kate repeated.
‘I know. ’
‘You lied to me,’ Kate said, taken aback.
‘Because I didn’t want to make things difficult for you. I thought if you thought I was going away, it would just make it easier. I know you’re still in love with Matthew,’ Joel spoke, unable to keep the sadness out of his voice.
‘I’m not,’ Kate replied automatically.
‘Kate, we agreed to be honest with each other, didn’t we?’ Joel said with a cough.
‘Yes, and now you’ve lied about visiting your parents. So much for you always telling the truth.’
‘I know I shouldn’t have done that but I did it for the right reasons.’
‘I don’t know how I feel about anything at the moment,’ Kate admitted.
‘It’s OK.’
‘No, it isn’t; it’s not right. I mean, I’m not that sort of person. I mean, we’ve kissed and we’ve…’ Kate began.
‘Slept together,’ Joel spoke.
‘Yes. We shouldn’t have done that.’
‘Shouldn’t we?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘For the record, it didn’t feel wrong to me.’
Kate shook her head.
‘I don’t want to let you go, Kate, not if there’s the slightest chance you could feel the same way about me as you do about him,’ Joel spoke.
‘He hurt me and he threw me away.’
‘I would never do that – ever.’
‘I know.’
Joel coughed and tried to sit up to reach his glass of water. Kate reached for it and helped him drink it. He spilt some out of the corner of his mouth and Kate hurriedly reached for a tissue to mop it up.
‘Thanks. I’m making more mess than Bethan, aren’t I?’ he replied with a half-hearted smile .
‘Joel, when you get out of here, I want you to come and stay with me until you’re better,’ Kate said determinedly.
‘But, you don’t have a spare room,’ Joel stated.
‘I know. Just don’t tell the nurse; she thinks I’m your sister,’ Kate replied.