Chapter 13 #2
Ten minutes later, with Mim still sound asleep, they were beside the fire, enjoying a cup of tea while watching the hearth dance with flame.
It was almost five in the afternoon. The curtains were drawn against the darkness outside, and the only other light in the room came from the twinkling stars on the Christmas tree.
‘I wonder if I ought to check in with Sofia and see how things are,’ said Peg. ‘When I left, Henry was out of theatre and had just been moved into intensive care. They were still waiting to see him.’
‘It wouldn’t hurt,’ said Blanche. ‘And absolutely finish your tea and have a rest first, dear, but if you do want to go back to the hospital, I shall be perfectly all right, and perfectly happy to look after your aunt, too.’
Peg shook her head. ‘It’s a time for family. I’d only feel in the way.’
‘Perhaps later then, once things are a little calmer.’ She gave Peg a warm smile.
‘Henry mentioned to me that you’d lost your husband at this time of year.
I’m sorry, this must be especially difficult for you.
I think that was why he was so worried about your aunt, because you’d already suffered such a loss. ’
To her horror, Peg felt her eyes begin to well with tears.
‘It’s just this whole bloody thing about Christmas, isn’t it?
That everything has to be so perfect and nothing can go wrong.
But life’s not like that. Sometimes it does what it damn well pleases and there’s nothing you can do about it.
’ She sniffed, blinking furiously. ‘And I’m fine, really.
Julian died four years ago, but it’s just, the hospital, you know.
It brought it all back. The waiting… The not knowing whether you should hope or not.
Telling yourself you mustn’t because it’ll only make it worse.
Remembering every stupid argument you’ve ever had and swearing that if he would only make it through, you’d never have a cross word again.
And hating yourself because you never told him nearly enough how much you loved him. ’
Blanche leaned forward to take her hand.
‘You always think you have time,’ she said, squeezing her fingers against Peg’s.
But Time’s a thief, and she can steal it from right under your nose when you least expect it.
My Daniel has been gone for more years than I care to remember, but there are days, like today, when I rail against how unfair life can be. ’
Peg swallowed. ‘Yes, I’m sorry, of course you must have lost people too. My grief is no worse than anyone else’s.’
‘Perhaps not. But you still have a right to feel it, and to express it. Life can be unfair. But it can also be wonderful and bring as much joy as it does pain. And people…’ She smiled again. ‘She can bring people into our lives, too. Sometimes when we least expect it.’
From beside her, Peg’s phone began to vibrate. She glanced at the screen. ‘It’s Sofia,’ she said, eyes wide. ‘Do you want to take it?’
‘Can you put it on speaker?’ asked Blanche. ‘Then we can both hear it.’ She patted Peg’s knee gently before withdrawing her hand.
‘Hello, Sofia… how are things?’ asked Peg. ‘How’s Henry?’
‘Alive,’ said Sofia. ‘We’ve just been in to see him, but I don’t think he even knew we were there. He didn’t move, just lay there. Propped up with wires everywhere. It was horrible.’
‘I’m sure he did know you were there,’ said Peg. ‘He would have been able to hear you, even if he couldn’t say anything.’ Hearing is the last thing which goes, she thought. She remembered the nurses telling her that.
‘They’ve told us that the next day or so will be critical. Henry’s brain is still swollen and until that goes down it will be hard to tell how things will turn out. And then there’s his lung, so… That’s partly why I’m ringing, because Adam wants to stay. They’ve a room we can use, apparently.’
‘Yes, I thought as much,’ said Peg. ‘But that’s fine. Blanche has brought a few overnight things with her, so she’ll be quite all right.’
‘Can you put her on, and I’ll have a little chat with her.’
‘You’re on speaker, Sofia. Go ahead, she can hear you.’
‘Oh… I see. Well, Henry’s fine, Mum, you’re not to worry.’
‘Sofia, I don’t know why you’re so keen that I shouldn’t know the details of what’s going on. I might not be related to Henry, but he’s still a part of the family, same as me.’
‘Yes, I know but… Anyway. Look, are you sure everything is okay?’
‘It’s fine. We’re worried, of course, about all of you, but I’m perfectly happy here for the time being.’
‘Okay… but I was wondering whether you might be better off back at the home.’
Blanche rolled her eyes. ‘It’s not a home, dear. Haven’t you ever read The Thursday Murder Club? Admittedly, Athelstone House is not as swish as Cooper’s Chase but it’s in a similar vein. It’s my home, yes, but not a home.’
‘No, I know that, Mum, but you know what I meant. You get help with things.’
‘Only if I ask for them. Although Jordan is very obliging.’
She slid Peg a look which Peg was relieved only she could see and she turned away to hide her smile. She was really beginning to like Blanche.