Fifteen
‘Who was that, Dad? I thought I knew all your neighbours,’ Rory said as they made their way to the car.
‘Erica Harris, sorry, Masters. She’s staying in Olivia Grace’s cottage while Olivia’s overseas. She’s Joe Harris’s sister.’ There was no need for Rory to know he and Erica had history. He’d been delighted, but surprised, when she offered to remove his dressing and guessed she was now regretting it. He thought of the state of his cottage. He wasn’t the tidiest of people and with his right hand out of commission, how was he going to clean it up before Wednesday?
Gary was waiting for them at the gate. ‘Everything’s done and the fish are in the cold room in the dive centre, Dad. How are you?’ he asked, seeing Jamie stumble from the car.
Rory answered for him. ‘The doc took out the hook and he had a tetanus shot. He has a course of antibiotics to take, and one of the nurses who lives nearby is coming to remove the dressing on Wednesday.’ Rory took his arm. ‘I think you should probably lie down now, Dad, and…’
‘Don’t fuss!’ Jamie hated this feeling of having to rely on anyone else, especially his sons. It should be the other way round, usually was. Was this what it was going to be like as he got older? They could shoot him before he got to that stage.
‘Sorry, Dad.’ Rory stepped back.
Gary held the door open for them, then Rory’s words seemed to hit him. ‘Your own private nurse, hey? Who is she? I presume it’s a woman.’
Rory answered for him again. ‘Joe Harris’s sister. She’s evidently living just along from here.’
Gary thought for a moment. ‘I didn’t know Joe had a sister but… she must have grown up here. Did you know her back then, Dad?’ He winked.
Jamie chose not to respond.
Once inside, Jamie realised he was weaker than he’d anticipated. He was glad to agree to lie down, and grateful when Gary brought him a mug of hot chocolate – it had been what he and Cindy made for the boys when they were sick as children. He’d forgotten how comforting it could be.
‘How’re you going to manage, Dad?’ Rory asked when he and Gary were ready to leave. ‘It’ll be difficult for you to do much with one hand.’
‘I’ll manage. I’m not in my dotage yet,’ Jamie said testily, though he was grateful for their concern.
‘I can ask Mandy to pop in tomorrow,’ Gary said. ‘She can help tidy up and maybe cook you something.’
‘She doesn’t need to bother. She has young Archie to take care of. She doesn’t need to look after me.’
‘She can bring him along.’
Jamie calmed down. It would be good to spend more time with his grandson. He was normally too busy with… He suddenly remembered the fishing charters he had booked for the rest of the week. ‘One thing you could do for me… You or Rory.’
‘Yes?’
‘Your clients,’ Rory guessed. ‘I can do that. I just need to check with Cam, but I’m sure he’ll be happy to give me the time off.’
‘Thanks, son.’ Jamie was sure too. Cam, as well as being Rory’s boss, was a good mate and would know that, if the boot was on the other foot, Jamie would be the first to offer to help. ‘I’ll send you the information when I can get to my computer.’
‘There’s no need, Dad. Just give me the key to your office.’
Jamie fumbled in the pocket of his pants with his left hand and tossed the key to Rory, feeling as he did so, that he was giving away his independence. He knew Rory would do a good job, but he wasn’t ready to hand over his business just yet.
Finally, Rory and Gary were gone, and Jamie was left in peace. He’d given in to Rory’s suggestion that he lie down, but had chosen to do it on the sofa rather than go to bed in the middle of the afternoon like an invalid. As it was, they’d covered him up with a throw Cindy had bought in a fit of refurbishing, and which he’d forgotten he still had. But he had to admit it felt comfortable.
As the trauma he’d experienced began to take its toll, and the antibiotics began to take effect, Jamie’s eyes closed, his last waking thought that at least one good thing had come out of this. In two days’ time, he’d see Erica again.