Chapter 32
Hurrying down the hospital corridor, Polly tried to match Zac’s long strides, keeping her eyes focused on him in an attempt to block out the familiar smell of disinfectant and sickness.
Just stepping back inside the hospital was bringing back memories of the last time she’d seen her grandma.
Shoving her hands in her pockets, she tried to suppress the memories.
She was here to support Zac, and that’s what she’d do.
She wouldn’t allow the past to consume her.
Zac pushed open the door to the ward his parents had told him his gran had been taken to and came to a stop by the nurses’ station.
Coming up a few steps behind him, Polly paused next to him as the nurse indicated the family room to their left.
‘Thank you.’ Nodding, Zac turned and walked across to the family room before waiting at the door. ‘Polly, my parents will be in here. Are you sure you want to stay? I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t.’
Reaching out, she pushed the tuft of hair from the middle of his forehead before cupping his cheek with her hand. ‘I’m here for you, Zac. I’m going to stay.’
‘Thank you.’ His expression suddenly relaxing a little, Zac nodded before pushing open the door.
Taking a deep breath, Polly followed him inside.
An older couple, presumably his parents, were the only ones in the family room, and as they entered, his mum stood up and hurried across to Zac before giving him a quick hug, whilst his dad remained on the chair in the corner, one leg crossed over the other whilst a newspaper lay open on his lap.
‘So glad you could come, Zachary.’ His mum glanced across at Polly. ‘Are you two together?’
‘Yes, she came with me.’ Zac cleared his throat. ‘Mum, this is Polly. Polly, this is my mum, Miranda.’
‘Hi.’ Holding her hand up in acknowledgement, Polly noticed his dad glance up briefly from his paper.
‘Lovely to meet you, dear. I’m so pleased Zachary has someone to support him at such a difficult time.’ Miranda sat back down, lifting her handbag from the floor and perching it on her lap.
‘Nice to meet you too.’ Polly spoke quietly, darting her eyes towards Zac’s dad, who made no move to greet her.
‘Dad, this is Polly. Polly, my dad, Alan.’
‘Hello.’ Polly shifted on her feet before following Zac’s lead and sitting down next to him on the opposite side of the room to his mum, his dad having not even acknowledged her.
‘The nurse said Gran is still being stabilised on the ward. Do you know what happened and have you been told anything else?’ Zac looked at his mum.
‘She’s fine. It was just a tumble.’ His dad spoke gruffly, his eyes fixed on his paper.
Polly noticed the muscle in Zac’s jaw jump.
She’d gathered he didn’t have a very good relationship with his dad through the conversations they’d had, but she hadn’t expected his dad to be quite so…
cold. She reached out her hand and laid it briefly on Zac’s arm before pulling away again and clasping her hands in her lap.
She wasn’t sure what he had told his parents about them, probably nothing being as their relationship was so new, and this wasn’t the time or the space to announce they were seeing each other.
‘Apparently, she fell as she was going back into her room from the dining hall. The nursing home staff were concerned she’d broken her hip, but the doctors don’t think so.’ His mum spoke quietly. ‘Your dad’s right. She’ll be fine. A little bruised, but she’ll survive.’
‘Right.’ Letting out a long breath, Zac leaned back in his chair.
Polly swallowed. The relief in his face was clear and he looked a little less broken. Even if he hadn’t told her about his childhood, she’d be able to tell how close he was to his gran by his reaction.
‘How are things with you, Zachary?’ His mum smiled at him.
‘Good. A little better now I know Gran will be okay.’ He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands between his legs. ‘She’s getting on okay, though? Apart from the fall? I’ve not had a chance to visit her since Monday.’
‘Yes, she’s fine.’ His mum nodded and crossed her legs, her handbag still sitting on her knees.
‘And how are you, Mum? How are things at home?’
‘Fine, all fine. Your father had the estate agents round to take photos today.’ Miranda glanced towards her husband. ‘He thought it was best. We both did.’
‘So soon? I thought you were going to wait a while?’ Zac clasped his hands tighter, his knuckles whitening.
‘No point in waiting, son. It’s this or we move Gran to a cheaper home.’ Alan spoke up from the corner.
His mum glanced towards the closed door as if she were worried Zac’s gran might be able to hear them talking.
Zac shook his head, his voice coming out as a croak. ‘We can’t move her. She loves it there. She’s settled. But the house…?’
‘We just need to get things moving. Just in case…’ Miranda’s voice trailed off.
Shaking out his newspaper, Alan’s voice was clipped. ‘It won’t come to that if you get the promotion, son.’
Polly gulped. The promotion. She’d known Zac had worked towards the promotion to help his family, but she hadn’t realised it was this extreme – he got the promotion, or his parents lost the house and his gran risked her place at the nursing home.
She tugged at the collar of her sweatshirt, the room suddenly feeling stiflingly hot.
Zac glanced across at her and shook his head slightly before pushing his hands against his knees and standing. ‘We’ll get some coffee.’
Standing up, Polly kept her eyes fixed to the floor as she followed Zac out of the room, thankful for the distraction and the opportunity to see if he was holding up okay under the scrutiny of his father.
As soon as the door closed behind them, she slipped her hand in his.
His skin was clammy against hers. He wasn’t okay.
Squeezing her hand gently to let her know he was thankful she was there, he led them down the corridor towards a coffee machine by the nurses’ station.
Letting go of her hand, he turned to face her.
‘I’m so sorry about that. I’ve not told them I’m guaranteed the promotion or anything.
I don’t want you to think I assume it’s mine.
I know you have every chance of getting it. Jeez, you deserve it.’
‘Hey, don’t worry. That’s not what I thought.’ No, the only thing she’d thought when his dad had said what he had was that he was putting too much pressure on his son, that he was taking him for granted. ‘I’m glad your gran is going to be okay.’
‘Yes, me too.’ He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘It gets me every time. Every time I get a call from the hospital or the home, I think the worst.’
Taking his hands in hers, she nodded. ‘I know.’
Zac looked around the ward. ‘I’m sorry, this must be so difficult for you to come in here. I mean, I’m assuming this is where…’
Cutting him off before he could finish the sentence, Polly spoke quickly. She needed to drive the conversation away from her. She couldn’t think about the last time she’d been in here, not now, she just couldn’t. ‘Let’s get that coffee, shall we? I know I’m parched.’
‘Yes, good idea.’ Nodding slowly, Zac leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead before turning towards the machine.
Polly smiled sadly. He realised she couldn’t talk about it now.
But she knew she’d have walked across burning coals to be with him today, to support him.
Glancing away, she pinched the bridge of her nose, forcing herself not to let the tears run.
As she watched him take cup after cup from the machine and place them on the small table next to it, she felt her stomach flip. She was falling for him.