Fifty
Gill looked up when Joe walked into the kitchen. They had been trying to find ways to pass the time while they waited to hear from the hospital and had resorted to making an attempt at a jigsaw Joe had unearthed, but neither could focus on it properly. Joe had just gone to check on Erica.
‘She’s asleep,’ he said, ‘with Coco lying beside her. I didn’t have the heart to move the dog. I’m guessing Erica didn’t get much sleep last night.’
‘No, I suspect she didn’t. When does Kieren arrive?’
Joe checked his watch. ‘In half an hour. Will you be right here, while I go and pick them up?’
‘Of course. It must be worrying for them. I’ll see if I can rouse Erica before you get back.’
‘Thanks. That would be good.’ Joe dragged a hand through his hair.
Erica was lucky to have him as a brother , Gill thought, so lucky . Not many men would do so much for a brother-in-law like Geoff Masters. How she hoped Erica would change her mind about returning to him. As Gill knew, he’d never change – a leopard didn’t change his spots – and next time, and there would be a next time, Erica might not be so lucky. Gill remembered stories she’d read, cases she’d seen on television, women Ali Wells had told her about. Domestic violence was out there in the community in epidemic proportion, and Erica was a victim of it. Gill hated how so many women didn’t seem to learn, how for a number of reasons they were drawn back to these abusive men. Hopefully, they could persuade Erica not to go down that track. Maybe her son could help, though Erica had said he was in his dad’s pocket.
After she’d farewelled Joe with a hug and a kiss, Gill was at a loose end. She wished she’d brought her laptop with her and could get on with some work. It felt strange to be in Barb’s house on her own – even with Erica asleep in the next room. It would always be Barb’s house to Gill, the house where she’d enjoyed so many book club gatherings. Barb Harris had been a lovely woman, kind, generous, a perfect partner for Joe. The whole town had been devastated by her death. But life went on, and now Joe and Gill… Gill shook her head. She couldn’t think of that in this house.
Gill turned on the electric jug to make tea. She’d be swimming in it before the day was over, but it gave her something to do. She heard a sound behind her and turned to see Coco padding in. ‘Hello, Coco,’ she said, bending down to hug the dog, the warm, furry body providing comfort. ‘Is Erica awake?’
The dog didn’t answer, but in a few moments, Erica appeared, rubbing her eyes, but looking rested. ‘Where’s Joe?’ she asked, looking around the kitchen.
‘He’s gone to meet Kieren and Briony at the airport. Would you like tea? I was just making some.’
‘Oh, I must have fallen asleep. I should have gone with him. They’d expect me to be there. Tea? Yes.’ She slumped into a seat. ‘Thanks, Gill, but shouldn’t you be at work?’
‘I thought I’d be more use here.’ But was she ? Gill made two cups of camomile tea, glad to find a box of teabags in the pantry. She suspected it was Erica’s doing, as she couldn’t imagine Joe buying them. ‘Shall we take these outside?’
‘If you like.’ Erica seemed to have lost the impetus which had led to her announcement she was going to return to Perth with Geoff. Gill hoped she had changed her mind. ‘Any word from the hospital?’ she asked when they were seated outside, Coco at their feet, chewing on a bone-shaped dog biscuit.
Gill shook her head.
Then, as if suddenly remembering, ‘Joe still has my phone,’ Erica said frowning. ‘The hospital was going to call me.’
They were still there when Gill’s phone rang. ‘Hello,’ she said when she saw Joe’s number.
‘The hospital just called. Geoff’s in recovery. Can you take Erica there? Kieren’s plane’s just landed. I’ll bring them and meet you there.’
‘Okay. Erica’s right here. Do you want to speak to her?’
‘Not now. I need to…’ Gill heard the sound of voices, and the line went dead.
‘What is it?’ Erica asked, a tremor in her voice.
‘It was Joe. Geoff’s in recovery. We need to get to the hospital.’
‘Oh!’ Erica began to tremble.
‘It’ll be fine. Joe will meet us there, with Kieren and Briony.’
‘Oh!’ Erica said again, but her face brightened at the prospect of seeing her son with the pregnant Briony. ‘I’ll just wash my face.’
Coco, sensing something had happened, leapt to her feet.
‘Sorry, Coco, you can’t come with us this time. You’ll have to stay here and mind the house.’ At the word stay , Coco padded inside and went to her favourite spot by the door. ‘Good girl,’ Gill said, ruffling her ears. Since knowing Joe, she’d grown to love the dog. It was odd , she thought, how it was easier to acknowledge her feelings for the dog than for the man . She sent that thought to the back of her mind to consider later.
*
When Gill drew into the car park, she saw Joe’s car sitting there. The doors opened, and Joe got out along with a younger man, who looked so like him he could have been his son, and a pregnant blonde woman.
‘Kieren!’ Erica called and rushed over to give the young man a hug.
‘Mum! What were you thinking of to leave Dad? You knew his heart…’
‘Now’s not the time, Kieren,’ Joe said, signalling to Gill, who moved closer. ‘This is Gill Dickson. She’s a friend of mine and Erica’s solicitor.’ As soon as he spoke, it seemed he realised his mistake, when Kieren swung round to face him again.
‘Solicitor? What does Mum need with a solicitor?’
This time it was Erica who spoke up. ‘Can we just go inside, Kieren? We’re here to see your dad. We can sort out everything else later.’
Kieren’s eyes clouded, and he seemed about to speak again, but Briony took his arm. ‘Let’s go in, honey. I need to sit down.’
‘Sorry, sweetheart.’ Kieren patted her hand. ‘I forgot. You must be tired.’
Gill could see the lines of exhaustion on the young woman’s face. The pair had just suffered a five-hour flight leaving late last night, Perth time, to arrive here after midday. She suspected the pregnant young woman had found it difficult to get any sleep on the trip. Taking pity on her, she said, ‘Would you like to come for a cup of tea, Briony, while the others head to the ward? It may be some time before your father-in-law is out of recovery.’
Briony gave her a grateful look, then glanced at Kieren, as if for approval.
‘On you go, sweetheart,’ he said. ‘She’s right.’ He didn’t give Gill her name, and his tone made it sound as if he was reluctant to agree with her.
Leaving Joe, Erica and Kieren to go to check on Geoff, Gill and Briony headed to the cafeteria where they ordered mugs of hot chocolate and blueberry muffins which smelt as if they had just come out of the oven.
‘Yum,’ Briony said, biting into her muffin. ‘It feels ages since I’ve eaten, and the food on the plane wasn’t up to much. I’m always hungry these days.’ She rubbed her stomach.
‘Erica says you’re having a girl?’ Gill said, trying to keep the conversation on a positive note and away from the wife-beater who was recovering from major surgery. She could remember what it was like when she was pregnant with Freya.
‘Yes.’ Briony smiled and her face lit up. ‘We’ve painted the nursery pink. I can’t wait. I’d hoped Mum would be there to help. So, do you think she’ll come back home with us?’
For a moment, Gill was puzzled, then she realised Briony was referring to Erica. ‘I’m not sure,’ she said warily. ‘We’ll have to wait and see. What about your own mum?’
Briony’s eyes clouded. ‘Mum and Dad are both gone. It’s why Kieren’s folks are so important to us. They’ll be little Ava’s only grandparents.’
‘I see.’ Gill did. Briony would most probably feel the loss of Erica more than the others, if she decided to stay in Pelican Crossing.
‘Shall we go now?’ Gill asked when they had finished their hot chocolate, and all that remained of the muffins was a collection of crumbs.
‘I guess.’ Briony hoisted herself out of her chair, and they headed up in the lift to join the others.
When they reached the cardiac unit, Joe and Erica were sitting in the waiting area, Kieren pacing impatiently up and down. ‘They told us to wait here,’ Joe said.
‘Why won’t they let us see Dad?’ Kieren fumed.
Joe rolled his eyes. Clearly this was nothing new.
‘They’ll allow us in when they bring your dad up,’ Erica said. ‘He must still be in recovery.’
‘How long does it take? When did they call?’ Kieren asked Joe.
Joe frowned and caught Gill’s eye. It had been some time since he received the call. Should they be worried ?
At that moment, a man, wearing blue scrubs, a stethoscope poking out of one pocket, who gave the impression of being someone in charge, came hurrying towards them. ‘Which of you is Mrs Masters?’ he asked.
‘I am,’ Erica said in a trembling voice, rising so quickly she almost overbalanced.
‘I’m her brother and this is her son,’ Joe said, stepping forward to put an arm around Erica’s shoulders.
‘What…?’ Kieren began.
‘Can you come this way, please?’ the man gestured to a door leading into a small room.
‘We’ll wait here,’ Gill said, when Briony made to join them.
Joe signalled his thanks.
They were gone for some time.
‘Do you think…?’ Briony asked, clearly reluctant to put into words what they were both thinking. It wasn’t good news .
Gill and Briony didn’t speak as they waited, while members of staff went about their business around them, and other visitors arrived to enter the ward proper. Then the door to the small room opened and the others came out, followed by the doctor. Erica was in tears, and Gill could see Kieren was having trouble keeping his in check. Joe shook his head.
‘What’s happened?’ Briony rose and went to Kieren. He didn’t reply.
It was Joe who said what Gill had already figured out. ‘Geoff’s dead. He didn’t survive. The doctor said the surgery was successful, but he didn’t make it out of recovery.’