Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
T he laughter in his eyes encouraged her more than any medical update.
‘Ah, so you did hear that.’
‘Sure did. I’ve always wanted a sister.’
Grace put her finger to her lips in case any of the staff were listening. Although she was fairly sure they had more important things to concentrate on.
‘Shhhh. You don’t want to get me chucked out, do you?’
Will reached for her hand.
‘Thank you… for being there and for not doing what you were told.’
‘I don’t usually get thanked for that, but I’ll take it.’
‘Your help was invaluable. If you hadn’t untied Achilles when you did, things could have got a lot worse.’
‘Did a lot of knot work in the Brownies.’
Will attempted to laugh, which turned into a cough and attracted the attention of one of the staff, who looked over and frowned.
Grace grabbed a water beaker with a spout from the side.
‘Here, drink this.’
‘Yes, nurse.’
The word sent a shiver down Grace’s spine.
‘I think they genuinely are about to chuck me out. I’ve got your things, phone, keys and wallet, safe.’
‘OK, thanks. Hang onto the wallet and feel free to spend the money if you need it, but please can you bring my phone in later.’
‘Will do.’
She wouldn’t spend his money– she had some of her own in the rucksack– but it was nice of him to offer. She couldn’t abide a mean man. A mean anyone really.
A sudden grimace had Grace worried that Will was in severe pain. He pulled her close.
‘What about Karen? We left her there. She’s all on her own in the house.’
The idea that he was more worried about the cat than himself made her go all gooey inside. But this wasn’t the time to start examining their relationship. He needed to focus on getting better first.
‘Shhhh. Don’t worry, I told Achilles where the spare key was and he’s going to sort it. I’ll check with him later.’
‘Good thinking, Batman.’
The nurse who had looked her way was doing a cutthroat sign to tell her it was time to leave.
Grace patted Will’s hand and put on her best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice.
‘I’ll be back.’
* * *
No one blinked an eyelid when she walked into the hotel reception in a bloodstained T-shirt. She assumed they were used to it.
‘Here is your room key and your complimentary robe, madam.’
Grace nodded at the female receptionist.
‘Thank you.’
‘And we have a selection of clothes here that are available to buy if that’s of any use to you.’
Grace flicked through the catalogue placed in front of her. It was all pretty pricey. She wasn’t sure if Will’s bosses would be covering the cost of replacement clothing, so she opted for a plain white T-shirt. Her shorts were fine, and she could rinse her knickers in the sink.
‘We’ll have that sent up to you, madam.’
Her room offered yet another view of the Acropolis. Grace stared down at the people in the street going about their business as usual. Cafés were opening up, flower stalls were setting out their wares, and dogs were being walked. It was an ordinary Friday morning in Athens. How could that possibly be, after what she’d just been through? Pictures of Will slumped on the ground covered in blood flooded her mind.
A knock at the door jolted her back to the present. Outside was a cellophane-wrapped T-shirt. Running the powerful walk-in shower as hot as she could bear it, Grace closed her eyes and tried to wash away the memories as easily as the dirt. Wrapped in her robe, she checked the time again on her phone. She was supposed to have a lesson with Nick in an hour. She had to let him know.
‘Angeliki?’
‘Grace?’
Just the sound of her friend’s voice set her off. She gulped back the tears.
‘What is it? What’s wrong?’
‘I can’t teach Nick today.’
‘Why? What’s happened? You’re not making any sense.’
‘It’s Will. He’s been stabbed.’
Angeliki’s sharp cry at the other end forced her to focus.
‘Sorry, don’t freak, he’s OK. We’re in hospital in Athens. He’s been operated on, and he’s come through it well. I’m going back there later. I’ll update you.’
‘But…’
‘Also, can you please check that Achilles is looking after Karen. The spare key’s under the second plant pot to the left.’
‘Wait…’
‘Sorry, I have to go.’
Grace threw the phone down on the bed. She could barely keep her eyes open. Tiredness had seeped into her bones. She needed sleep, but first she’d better set an alarm to make sure she’d wake up in time for visiting hours.
Her rucksack lay open where she’d left it on the floor. Will’s belongings stared up at her. He’d asked her to bring his phone in, hadn’t he? She’d better check if it had any battery first.
The phone flickered into life. He hadn’t password protected it, silly man.
She daren’t, dare she?
Grace scrolled down to J for Jack. There was only one of them. It must be him. Will had praised her earlier for not doing what she was told. It was a big risk, but one worth taking, in her opinion. Her heart was in her mouth as she pressed the number.
‘Hello. Is that Jack Lancing, Will Lancing’s son?’
‘Yes, and who are you?’
‘It’s a long story, and please don’t panic, but I have some news about your father.’
Five minutes later, she’d filled Jack in, and he’d vowed to get on the next flight from Heathrow to Athens. What Will would make of her actions, she wasn’t sure, but the guy sounded genuinely concerned. They’d exchanged numbers and he was going to let her know when he got to the hospital. She’d vowed to help Will get better in any way she could. Surely seeing his son would be a boost?
Grace lay back on the bed and let her mind drift away.
After a few snatched hours of sleep and a call to Sofia, she was back at the hospital reception in her box-fresh white T-shirt with pressed creases down the front. Eva would have gone off shift by now, but they must have her details on file.
‘I’m here to visit Will Lancing in the intensive care unit.’ She added, ‘I’m his sister,’ before the man behind the desk could raise any objections.
He looked down at his computer and up again.
‘I’m sorry, we have no record of a Will Lancing in the ICU.’
Grace fought for breath.
‘What do you mean?’
Surely someone would have rung her if anything catastrophic had happened?
‘Ah, OK, I’ve found him. He’s been moved to a private room, Omega 3, second floor.’
Grace breathed in and out again slowly.
‘Not full of fish oil, is it?’
‘Sorry?’
The joke obviously didn’t translate.
Grace knocked in case Will was having anything done he wouldn’t want her to see.
‘Come in.’
The voice was female. Grace brushed off her irritation at seeing an attractive young nurse bent over Will, taking his blood pressure. That would suit him down to the ground.
‘I’ll leave you with your visitor now, Mr Lancing.’
‘Call me Will, please.’
The nurse gave him a big smile.
‘Will it is. I’ll check in on you later.’
Grace took the seat next to the bed. Now that his upper left arm wasn’t hidden by his shirtsleeves, or the dark of the beach, she could clearly see that in the middle of Will’s tattoo was the name Jack. It boded well. She took Will’s phone out of her bag and handed it to him.
‘There you go.’
‘Thanks.’
Will’s eyes were trained on her.
‘New T-shirt?’
‘Yes. The old one got a bit too Jackson Pollock for my liking.’
‘Sorry about that.’
‘Well, you couldn’t help it. How are you feeling?’
Will reached for her hand.
‘Better now you’re here. But like I’ve been run over by a steamroller. I ache all over.’
‘You poor thing.’
The next moment he’d drifted off again, and Grace spent a peaceful couple of hours reading the latest blockbuster she’d picked up in the hotel reception.
When he came to, she handed him the phone. It had been beeping away while he slept.
‘You’d better check as there seem to be lots of new messages.’
She’d asked Jack not to call or message. He’d let her know half an hour ago that his plane had touched down in Greece. He’d be with them soon.
Will peered at the screen.
‘You don’t have any reading glasses, do you? Mine are at the house.’
‘Yes, here.’
Grace thought her shocking pink glasses rather suited Will. She’d bet that young nurse wouldn’t be able to produce some glasses at the drop of a hat. After reading the messages, Will held the phone to his ear. Grace strained to hear the content of the voicemail. It sounded like a male voice. Not that she was bothered what sex the caller was. Will put the phone down on the bedside table with a smile.
‘Ah, that’s good. They caught the guy that ran off. They’ve both been charged, and all the property recovered.’
‘Wonderful.’
‘They were just a couple of youngsters who obviously thought they’d give it a go. Probably the same two I’d seen hanging around the villa the day before I met you.’
The warmth in his eyes took Grace right back to the night on the beach. She’d need to open a window soon.
‘Ah yes, when you accused me of being some sort of female Fagin, running my little gang of criminals.’
‘That’s not quite what I said.’
‘And remember, they weren’t quite hapless innocents. One of them was carrying a knife. A knife that could have…’
Grace swallowed hard.
Will reached for her hand and stroked it.
‘Don’t get upset. It’s all over now. I’m going to be OK, thanks to you.’
Grace turned away so he couldn’t see her eyes water. When she turned back, she was pleased for once to see Will’s smirk make a comeback.
‘And my employers sincerely hope that having my sister nearby will aid my recovery no end.’
Grace looked out of the window. They must have had notification from the hospital that she was with him.
‘You’re not going to let me forget that, are you?’
‘Nope.’
The text that she’d been waiting for came in on her phone. Jack was in reception. Grace debated keeping it a total surprise for a moment. But maybe that wouldn’t be good for someone in Will’s condition. She’d have to tell him.
‘There’s something else you need to know.’
Will’s face creased into a frown.
‘Yes…’
It was best just to rip the plaster off.
‘Your son’s here to see you.’
Will tried to sit up straighter.
‘What? How the hell…?’
‘I rang him. I figured if it was me lying in a foreign hospital, I’d want my daughters to know.’
The frown got deeper.
‘But I’m not you.’
Grumpy Will was in danger of making an appearance.
‘I would never have bothered my son with this. And you shouldn’t have either.’
Grace held her head high.
‘He’s come all this way now. You’re not going to turn him away, are you?’
Will shook his head in mock despair and turned away. But Grace had seen the glimmer of a smile.
‘Are you?’
‘Grace, you go too far sometimes.’
She decided to leave while she was on a roll and headed for reception. Will’s son was easy to spot. He had the same tall frame, but his hair was a dark blond.
‘Jack!’
He held out his hand.
‘Hi, you must be Grace.’
He had a nice firm grip, like his father. And big strong hands. Well, not quite like his father… but that way madness lay.
‘Grace?’
‘Sorry, yes, that’s me.’
She took him to one side and spoke quietly.
‘Can you just go along with whatever I say to reception, please. I’ll explain later.’
‘Okaay.’
Grace approached the desk.
‘This is Will Lancing’s son, my nephew. I’m taking him in to see Will, if you could give him a visitor’s badge.’
‘Certainly.’
Jack’s face was a picture. But he kept his cool. Definitely his father’s son. Grace explained in the lift, which elicited a smile. She left him at the door to Will’s room. Jack planned to stay in Athens for the weekend, and the two of them needed to have bonding time without her.
‘Can you please tell your father I’ll be back in tomorrow? We can liaise on timings, so we don’t both go in at once.’
Jack leant in to give her a peck on the cheek.
‘Of course, auntie.’
Yes, those two would get on very well, thought Grace, however long it had been since they’d seen each other.
Will looked miles better when she saw him the next afternoon, and even healthier the one after that. The colour had come back into his cheeks, and the hospital gown had been replaced with a navy T-shirt and shorts, which she presumed his son had sorted out for him. Grace herself had caved in and bought another T-shirt from the hotel reception, green this time, and a pack of extremely fancy lace pants that were practically see-through– the only underwear for sale. They were a bit of a cliché, and she wondered if the ordering had been done by a man.
When Grace reached Will’s room, the same nurse had his T-shirt halfway up his chest and was doing something with his dressing. Surely she had other patients to see? But at least Will’s smile held no trace of the pain of the first day. He beckoned her in.
‘Sis, welcome. Your nephew has just left to go back to England. He was sorry to miss you.’
She was getting a bit sick of this one. The nurse gave Will a final sunny smile and closed the door behind her. Grace took the seat next to his bed and he reached for her hand.
‘Seriously, though, I want to thank you again for contacting Jack. It could have backfired spectacularly.’
She had to stop him there.
‘But it didn’t.’
‘No, and let me finish. As I was saying, I am genuinely grateful. It was a lovely thing to do. Sometimes taking a chance is the only way forward.’
There was a lot more riding on his words than thanking her for contacting Jack, and they both knew it, but now wasn’t the time.
‘I’m just pleased there’s someone else in the world with the same sense of humour as you.’
Will fiddled with the edge of the bedsheet.
‘But there is something huge I need to ask you.’
He looked so serious that Grace was worried he’d had some bad news about his test results. Phil had always been hesitant to give her more bad news.
‘You know how much I hate being cooped up in here…’
‘Yes…’
Was he about to suggest she sprung him from the hospital?
‘The doctor told me today that there was a possibility I could go home, if…’
Grace thought she knew what was coming.
‘There was someone there who could keep an eye on me.’
Grace swallowed hard. She’d nursed Phil on and off for three years, and during the last six months of his life more or less constantly. She’d taken early retirement from the job she loved, so as to be at his side, because she knew there’d be no second chances.
Will took her hand and lifted it to his lips, sending shockwaves through her body.
‘I know what I’m asking you, and what you must have been through with your husband. My employers have hired a nurse who will do all the medical stuff and change the wound dressing. But I couldn’t bear a stranger in the house with me twenty-four hours a day.’
He gave her one of his superstar smiles.
‘The only person I could bear being with is you. Will you at least think about it, please?’