Chapter 37
37
After picking up Bob and Philip, Ethan drove to the hospital to visit Eddie.
‘How is your home looking today?’ asked Philip.
‘Better thanks,’ replied Ethan. ‘Ryan, Joe and Nico are giving the whole place a second coat of paint and then I think it’ll just be a matter of airing it out, although the smell has almost gone now.’
He was grateful for his friends’ help and would be moving back in there the following day. Ryan had already helped him pick out a brand new oven and Katy had insisted on another order of new bedding, cushions, curtains, tea towels and towels for the bathroom. She had also added table lamps and other furnishings.
‘All the nice things,’ she had told him. ‘So you can stop living like a student at last!’
Despite grumbling, Ethan was grateful for her input as he really had no idea about such things.
Once they had parked outside the hospital, Ethan and Bob slowed their normal walking pace in deference to Philip’s slower speed as he limped alongside with them.
Ethan was still surprised that Philip had offered to come along, but he was hoping it would be a positive visit for his grandad to see an old friend.
A short while later, they were with Eddie in the small ward.
‘So how are you?’ asked Philip, as he sat down on the chair next to the bed.
Eddie nodded. ‘Not bad,’ he replied, his congenial smile still a little wonky.
‘I’m sure it’s been a great shock,’ said Philip, nodding. ‘I know it was to me.’
Eddie looked at him. ‘Yes. It was. I knew I’d not been feeling right but couldn’t quite put my finger on it.’
‘Things will still seem a little awkward for a while,’ Philip told him. ‘A silly thing like making a cup of tea could take forever in the early days. Now, I’ve got used to using my other hand.’ He lifted up his left hand. ‘Of course, being right-handed I’ve had to learn to do everything again.’
Eddie looked down at his hands. Thankfully, he had kept the majority of his mobility, both in his hands and feet. ‘I guess I was lucky,’ he said. ‘If you call it that.’
‘I’m not sure I would,’ replied Philip. ‘But here we are anyway. Survivors the both of us.’
Both men shared a smile and the fact that they weren’t alone in going through their ordeal.
‘I hope you can learn by my example,’ said Philip. ‘In what not to do, I mean.’
Eddie looked at him in surprise. ‘What do you mean?’ he asked.
‘The fact was that,’ began Philip, taking a deep breath. ‘I was embarrassed. About being incapacitated. I felt less of a man, I guess. I lost my job, my freedom. But it turned out that I was the only one keeping me a prisoner, nobody else. I was too proud. Defined by how other people would perceive me.’
Ethan and Bob exchanged stunned looks. He had never expected Libby’s dad of all people to admit some kind of failing. But it seemed to be what Eddie needed to hear as his grandad was nodding along with him.
‘That’s what I keep thinking,’ said Eddie. ‘I keep thinking folk will think me stupid if I can’t think of the right word.’ He frowned. ‘I keep getting a bit muddled or sometimes just can’t find the thing I want to say.’
‘Yes. A stroke can do that,’ said Philip. ‘And sometimes, when you’re tired, it gets a little worse in my experience. My advice would be to accept that you’re going to have bad days and don’t push yourself too hard when you do. Take each day as it comes.’ He hesitated as he glanced up at Ethan suddenly, his eyes blazing with emotion. ‘Your loved ones help. They help very much indeed.’
Ethan knew that he was talking about Libby and nodded in reply.
‘And you’ve got the perfect goal to aim for,’ added Philip, before looking up at Ethan. ‘Elizabeth told me that you’re pressing ahead with the plans for the Christmas train.’
Ethan nodded. ‘Definitely,’ he said. ‘We’re going to make it one of the best ones ever.’
‘You shouldn’t have had to cancel your work though,’ said Eddie.
Ethan shook his head. ‘I’ve told you, Grandad, it’s fine,’ he replied. ‘They’ve found someone else to take on the project. In the meantime, we’ve got a big family meeting tonight to thrash out all the details. You’re going to be there too, thanks to video calling.’
They looked at Eddie, who appeared a little emotional at the talk of the Christmas train. Ethan went to lean forward but found that he was beaten by Philip reaching out to pat him on the hand.
‘That’ll be something, won’t it, Eddie?’ he said. ‘I was a small child when the last one went off, but I can still remember the thrill of seeing it all lit up in the darkness of winter.’
‘So can I,’ replied Eddie in a gruff voice.
‘Well, it sounds like it’s in good hands,’ said Philip.
‘Aye, it does,’ replied Eddie, before a small frown crossed his forehead. ‘But I’m still worried about the ballroom dancing.’
Philip looked back at him surprised at the change of topic. ‘Pardon me?’ he asked.
‘Grandad’s been going each week with Grams,’ Ethan told him.
‘I’m just not sure I’ll be up to it after all this,’ said Eddie, gesturing at his hospital bed.
Philip smiled. ‘Do you remember that I used to love cycling?’ he asked.
Bob spoke up. ‘I do,’ he said.
Philip nodded. ‘I used to love cycling, going round all the lanes, up and down the hills. Hated to give it up.’ He looked at Eddie. ‘Look, you might be able to go back to an old interest. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t turn your hand to something new.’
‘New?’ asked Eddie.
Philip shrugged his shoulders. ‘Well, the world’s your oyster, as they say,’ he told him. ‘But perhaps we can both discover some new experiences together. I’ve got a few plans of my own that I’d like your input with.’
‘I’d like that,’ said Eddie.
‘So would I,’ said Philip. ‘I could do with making some friends. I’ve been cut off from too many people for too long. And I worry about the effect it’s had on Elizabeth as well.’
‘She’s fine,’ said Bob.
‘I hope so,’ said Philip.
‘And you’ve always had friends,’ added Eddie.
As the three men exchanged a smile, Ethan smiled to himself. Perhaps out of something so terrible like a stroke, something good could also appear, he thought.
‘Elizabeth wanted me to give you some of her chocolates,’ said Philip, handing over a box to Eddie.
As Ethan took a breath, he could smell the familiar aroma of cocoa and instantly thought of Libby. He hadn’t seen her since that fateful night of the accident and had missed her. He couldn’t wait any longer and decided to go and see her when they returned to Cranfield.