Chapter 19
19
PRESENT DAY
Lined with palm trees and clad with undulating white shutters, the hospital – less than ten minutes from Allegra’s house – looked more like a hotel than a hospital to Maggie. She wheeled Allegra, now in a wheelchair at the insistence of the ambulance staff, through the front doors and into the airy reception. Inside, the space was calm and cool. They were directed straight up to another floor to wait for someone to assess the injury and, as suspected, the x-ray showed two broken bones in Allegra’s left forearm. The painkillers she’d been given on arrival had taken the edge off according to Allegra, but Maggie could tell she was in more pain than she was willing to let on. Once the cast had been put on and all the medical checks completed, Allegra was discharged with instructions to rest and to keep the arm protected and elevated as much as possible. The nurse spoke quickly to Allegra in French, handing her a paper bag stuffed with tablets. Allegra nodded and thanked her.
‘You are staying with Madame Morgon?’ the nurse asked Maggie. Without waiting for a response, she continued. ‘She will need looking after for the next few days. The instructions for her medication are all in there but it is very important that she rests and protects her arm as much as possible. This first few days are critical. And put something cold on that arm to help reduce the swelling.’
Maggie looked at the nurse. ‘Of course.’
‘But you’re going home tomorrow, aren’t you?’ said Allegra.
Maggie looked at Allegra, incredulous. ‘I’m not going to leave you on your own now. I can stay for a few more days, just until you’re more comfortable.’
‘I’m sure I can call on some friends to check in on me.’
‘And I can change my flight when we get back. I’m not back at work until next week. Please, let me help.’
The nurse signed a piece of paper and asked for Allegra’s signature, then turned to Maggie. ‘I think it would be a good idea for you to stay for a few days if you can.’
‘See?’ said Maggie to Allegra. ‘She agrees.’
Allegra sighed. ‘I don’t want to be a burden.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ said Maggie.
‘Well, that’s very kind but you can only stay on condition that you let me pay for your flight if you can’t get a refund.’
‘We can argue about that later,’ said Maggie. ‘Let’s get you home.’
It was late afternoon by the time they got back to the house and Allegra was already feeling the soporific effects of the painkillers. Maggie helped her up the stairs and onto her bed, then fetched her some water.
‘Are you comfortable?’ asked Maggie, as she opened the windows to let in some breeze.
‘Thank you, I’m fine. I think I’m going to close my eyes for a little while.’
‘How about a pillow under your arm?’
Allegra agreed and once settled, Maggie left her to sleep. She didn’t want to go to the terrace just in case she couldn’t hear Allegra from there, instead settling at the table by the kitchen with a cup of tea. She searched for different flight options on her phone, then fetched her laptop to clear down her emails. She’d had three from the production company doing the reality show, despite not committing to the job yet. Ignoring them, she emailed her father instead, knowing he’d print it off and read it out to her mother as they sat in the garden with their evening drinks. Maggie described the Old Town and the house, their visit to the islands and the food market and, of course, the fall. Maggie thought of her parents, her biggest cheerleaders.
As the bells in the clocktower rang out at six o’clock, Maggie went to check on Allegra, relieved to find her still sleeping. Realising she was now starving, Maggie went back up to the kitchen and broke off some of the fresh baguette Allegra had bought earlier that day. She looked in the fridge and took out the creamy white cheese, cutting a slice and putting it on a plate. Then she poured herself a small glass of rosé from the open bottle in the fridge and carried it all carefully upstairs to the terrace. As the sun started its descent behind the hills to the west of the bay, Maggie savoured the food in front of her. She swirled the glass of rosé and stuck her nose in as she’d seen people do on a Saturday morning cookery programme. With no one around to make her feel self-conscious, Maggie took a long, deep sniff. The scent of red grapefruit filled her nose and when she took a sip, it was as if she were tasting it in high definition. She savoured every sip and mouthful and once she’d finished both what was on her plate and in her glass, Maggie returned downstairs to check on Allegra.
Finding her still sleeping, Maggie went to the kitchen and topped up her wine glass, taking a picture of the label with her phone before putting the bottle back in the fridge. She spotted the box of photographs on the table and sat down, her glass of wine in reach. She lifted off the lid and took out the camera from the top, placing it carefully on the table. Taking out the first few photographs, she lay them down flat and looked at the images again. Allegra and Luc sitting at the table in Etienne’s flat, their faces so joyous Maggie could almost hear their laughter. Then there was the photograph of Etienne standing on the street, scarf draped around his neck with a book in his hand. There was the photograph of Allegra and Etienne, that stolen kiss on the bench caught on camera by Elizabeth. Taking out the next few photographs, Maggie slowly turned them over and placed them on the table like a giant jigsaw, each piece a part of Allegra’s story. Another showed Allegra and Luc dancing in a tiny bar, a man in the corner playing the accordion and, just out of shot, the side of Etienne’s head as he watched with a smile on his face. Allegra looked so carefree, mid-spin, dressed in black trousers and a short trench coat, her ponytail swishing up in the air behind her. Then there was one with Etienne and Allegra in what looked like a wine cellar but must have been a jazz club judging by the posters on the wall behind them. They had their heads close, Allegra speaking as Etienne listened to her intently. Maggie turned the photograph over to read the back. In pencil, she could make out what she now knew to be her grandmother’s writing. E & A, Bal – 1961 . What a time that must have been for them all, thought Maggie. She couldn’t help but smile to herself, the images so full of life – and love.
By now, the light was starting to fade. She got up to close the windows, then heard Allegra’s voice. ‘Coming,’ she called. ‘Just a second.’ Leaving the photos where they were, Maggie went down the stairs to Allegra’s room to find her awake and propped up on her pillows. ‘How are you feeling? You’ve been asleep for quite a while.’
Allegra shifted herself up a little more. ‘Much better. Those painkillers were most effective.’ She laughed, then winced.
‘Where does it hurt?’ asked Maggie, gently sitting on the end of the bed.
Allegra touched her arm. ‘It doesn’t hurt so much as just ache. It’s fine if I keep it still.’
‘Are you hungry? I was starving when we got back. I hope you don’t mind but I had some bread and cheese.’
‘Actually, that sounds good.’
‘I’ll go and fetch you some. Is there a tray I can put it on?’
‘Yes, in the cupboard to the left of the sink.’
‘More water? Tea? Martini?’ Maggie laughed.
‘I would but by your own admission your martini making needs work. Just some more water for now, thank you.’
Maggie went to put a plate together for Allegra, slicing some more bread and putting cheese and paté on it together with a small bowl of green olives. She carried the tray downstairs and put it down on the table next to the bed.
‘Here, let me help you,’ she said, placing the plate closer to Allegra. Picking up the water glass, she refilled it from a large water bottle she’d brought down with her, leaving it on the floor next to the bed.
‘Did you have a look at flights?’ said Allegra, as she slathered a thick bit of butter onto a piece of baguette.
‘I’ll have a look tomorrow, once we know how you’re doing. The nurse suggested I stay for the next few days so unless you really don’t want me here, that’s what I’m going to do.’
Allegra laughed gently. ‘Maggie, I’m thrilled you’re here. I’d much rather have you than one of my friends fussing over me. They’d be no use with these stairs anyway.’
‘I’ve been looking at some more photographs whilst you’ve been sleeping. There’s a lovely one of you and Etienne in a jazz club. The Bal, it says on the back.’
Allegra smiled at the very mention of the name. ‘Yes, that was our favourite.’
‘Can you tell me what happened after you went back to New York?’
The smile faded from Allegra’s face.
‘How stupid of me. It’s probably the last thing you want to talk about.’
Allegra lifted her gaze to Maggie. ‘No, I’d love to tell you. Where did we get to?’
Outside, the clock chimed.