Chapter 57
MAYA
It took me a long time to stop trembling after the Gardaí had left.
I wasn’t sure if they had bought my version of events.
Did they believe me or would they be back again?
I just hoped I hadn’t made a bad situation worse.
I began to doubt myself. And now I had unintentionally dragged Liv and Jay into this mess.
Another thought occurred to me then, crashing into my head so brutally, so glaringly obvious that I wondered how I could have been so stupid not to think of it earlier: what if the Gardaí went straight to Liv and Jay and asked them what they had witnessed at our home this evening?
I knew they would be honest and tell them exactly what had happened because that’s the kind of people they were.
If it was discovered that I was lying, it wouldn’t just be Hugo who was in trouble; I could end up in hot water too.
What if Elliot pulled through but his parents were in jail because of our actions?
Or worse, what if he didn’t make it and I hadn’t been his voice to get justice? What kind of mother would I be then?
The nurse came around to check on him a few minutes later. I looked at her hopefully, my eyes searching hers for anything, any sign of good news.
‘Any change?’ I asked when she had finished updating his chart.
‘Still the same, unfortunately. But it can take a while, so don’t be disheartened. His body is putting its energy into healing; that’s what’s most important right now.’
‘Thank you,’ I said, grateful for her positivity in this bleak, never-ending nightmare.
Hugo returned to the room shortly afterwards and handed me a tarry-looking coffee. I took it gratefully.
‘Any change?’ he asked urgently.
I shook my head. ‘He’s still the same.’ I paused before delivering my next piece of news. ‘The Gardaí were just in.’
‘The Gardaí?’ he repeated in disbelief, instantly turning ashen. ‘Wh-what did you tell them?’
‘The same thing that you did. That he woke up and slipped down the stairs. We heard the noise and ran out and found him on the floor at the bottom. They asked why the paramedics found him in the kitchen and I said we moved him.’
Hugo nodded. ‘Thank you,’ he whispered, closing his eyes and holding his head in his hands. ‘I’m sorry.’ He choked out a sob. ‘I’m so sorry for putting you in this position. I don’t deserve either of you. I need to change. I can see that. I’ll get help. I’ll do whatever it takes.’
The hotshot property developer was gone and in his place was a distressed and frightened little boy. I nodded, taking his words in, but was unable to articulate a response.
‘What if he doesn’t pull through, Maya?’ he continued desperately, turning to me. ‘I’ll never be able to forgive myself for what I’ve done.’
‘We can’t think like that,’ I said sharply. I was afraid to let my mind go there. I had to focus on Elliot making a full recovery. I couldn’t cope with the alternative.
‘I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life,’ Hugo went on, ‘but when I look at him, I know I got something right. He’s the best thing about me. You’re such a good mother. I’m sorry I wasn’t a better husband to you. I don’t want to lose him. I don’t want to lose you.’
He wanted my assurance that we could survive this but I couldn’t give him that. I didn’t have room for his pain on top of my own.
I smiled sadly at him. ‘I know you love him just as much as I do,’ I whispered. ‘If only love was enough to pull him through.’
‘I promise you, things are going to be different from now on. I’m going to change.
I swear. I know I’ve put you through hell.
I’ve been self-absorbed; growing the company was all I could see.
I thought I was doing it for you and Elliot, to give us the kind of life I could only dream about as a kid, but it means nothing if I don’t have you both in my life.
Why did it take me so long to wake up and see that?
’ He balled the sheets on the bed in frustration.
‘I know we’ve both made mistakes but it ends now.
You and Elliot are the most important people in my life. I don’t want to lose you.’
Once upon a time I had ached for Hugo to say these very words. I had waited such a long time and now that he was finally saying what I wanted to hear, they bounced off me like rubber ping pong balls.