Chapter 35
It was the last thing Lottie needed, but she had to make sure her mother was okay and she’d need to provide the A&E staff with Rose’s medical information. The waiting area pulsed with coughing and spluttering adults and babies alike. The winter flu had struck early.
She enquired at reception about Rose Fitzpatrick and was directed to a side room that had a sign on the door declaring it a storage area.
She entered to a space not much bigger than a broom cupboard.
Rose was asleep in a reclining wheelchair contraption.
She looked small and pitiful, and Lottie wondered how her mother had shrunk from the tall, formidable woman she once was.
Rose used to have a way of putting the fear of God in everyone she came in contact with, but she had also loved Lottie’s husband like a son.
When Adam died, Rose had grieved for him in an odd way.
Interfering in everything and agreeing with nothing Lottie did.
Now she lay there in the chair, a shadow of that intimidating woman.
‘Mother?’ Lottie whispered. No response. Louder, she said, ‘Are you awake?’
‘Well I’m not bloody deaf. What are you shouting for?’
There was no point in starting an argument. ‘How are you?’
‘A gorgeous young lad gave me a painkiller. I’ve been here for hours and hours and you wouldn’t even come get me.’
It was no more than half an hour since Katie had called, but there was no point in reminding Rose of that fact or she’d end up getting another earful.
‘I’ll find a doctor and see what they’re doing about your leg.’
‘My leg? What’s wrong with it?’
‘You fell.’
‘I did not. I never had a fall in my life.’
‘Your ankle is swollen. I’ll try to hurry them up, but the place is as packed as Electric Picnic out there and just as loud.’
‘Where’s the picnic? I’m starving. Get me something to eat.’
‘I’ll be back in a minute.’
Lottie left and closed the door. ‘God, whatever I did in a past life, I’m extremely sorry for it because I can’t handle this.’
‘It’s the first sign of madness,’ a smiling porter said as he passed.
‘Oh, don’t worry, I’m well past the first sign. My mother is in there and—’
‘Surely it’s not so bad that you have to stash her in the storage closet?’
‘Not funny.’ But she had to smile.
‘Come with me and we’ll try to get this sorted.’
‘You’re a star,’ she said.
A doctor eventually had a look at Rose’s ankle. She was transferred to the minor injury clinic, where an X-ray confirmed no broken bones. It was just a sprain. Once the ankle was strapped up, she was handed crutches and Lottie took her home.
With Rose seated at the table, Lottie made tea.
Boyd appeared. She’d forgotten he was staying under her roof.
She wanted to ask if the work had started on his apartment, but that would bring a multitude of questions from Rose, and she couldn’t be dealing with that on top of everything else right now.
‘What happened to my favourite woman?’ Boyd asked Rose. Lottie glared at him.
‘Ah sure, how would I know,’ Rose said. ‘I get dragged from Billy to Jack and no one tells me anything.’
‘Looks like you hurt your ankle. Did you fall?’
Lottie groaned. Wrong question, Boyd.
Rose looked at him indignantly. ‘I never fall. Someone must have pushed me. That one over there hates me.’ She pointed an accusing finger directly at Lottie. ‘I bet she did it.’
‘Mother, no one pushed you. You tripped over your feet near the bottom of the stairs. Katie found you there. I’ve been with you in A&E and then at the clinic.’ She put a mug of milky tea on the table and Rose wrinkled her nose in disgust.
‘I can’t drink this. It’s cold and it looks like mouse piss. I’ll make my own tea.’ She made to stand. Unable to put any weight on her injured leg, she slumped back on the chair and began to cry.
‘Jesus,’ Lottie said.
‘Stop taking the Lord’s name in vain,’ Rose sobbed.
‘Will I help you to bed?’ Boyd said.
Rose wiped away her tears, brightening up. ‘You are a naughty boy.’
‘For God’s sake.’ Lottie threw her hands in the air. ‘My head is bursting. I’m going to lie down. You can deal with her.’