Chapter 44
Chapter Forty-Four
JOEY
“Thanks for coming along to help,” said Dani, as she, Joey and Vanessa reached the hospital. “Uncle Sergio still isn’t as mobile as he’d like to be, and somehow he’s gathered a lot of stuff at the hospital.”
“No problem,” said Joey with a smile. “As I think I’ve said before, it’s what friends are for.”
They found their way to the stroke rehabilitation ward. Sergio was sitting on the side of his bed, already dressed.
“Well, you look a lot better than when I last saw you.” Vanessa sat opposite him in the chair by his bed, speaking in Spanish.
“You might not remember me. You were so poorly. I’m Vanessa, Dani and Joey’s friend.
” Joey was impressed with the progress Vanessa had made on her language skills in a few short weeks.
Sergio gave a lopsided smile, his freshly combed white hair falling over his forehead. “Dani told me about you and of your kindness.”
“So today’s the day, Uncle. Time to go home. We’re going to help you get settled in.” Dani started gathering his possessions and putting them carefully into the large holdall she’d brought with her.
“I can’t wait,” said Sergio. “The food here has been terrible.”
“Hopefully I can help with that.” Joey grinned. “I have some baked goods to keep you nourished for the next few days.”
“And I’ve done some batch cooking, so there will be meals in the fridge ready to go for you,” said Dani.
It took a while for the three women to help Sergio up the stairs to his apartment, but when he arrived he gasped. “My goodness, girls, what have you done? I haven’t seen it this tidy and clean in years.”
“All part of the service,” said Joey, taking his bag of clothes through to his bedroom.
“Dani has good friends,” said Sergio. He turned away as he spoke, but Joey spotted him wiping a tear from his eye. “Thank you.”
“I have the very best friends,” said Dani.
“But I also have you, and you are my family.” She sat beside him on his threadbare sofa and put her arms around him.
Joey felt a lump form in her throat. She thought of her father.
She wished there was a way to reconnect with him and keep herself safe at the same time.
Vanessa busied herself in the kitchen, making drinks and snacks for everyone, while Dani and Joey made sure Sergio had everything he needed within arms’ reach.
“So, the plan is that one of us will visit you every day to make sure you have what you need. We can bring you shopping, do the washing up, and take care of anything.” Joey handed Sergio a piece of paper.
“Here, this is who will come when. And you can see there a list of all our phone numbers. If you need us, any time, just call.”
Sergio looked at the paper, his eyes filling again for a few seconds, before carefully folding it and placing it in the top pocket of his pale green shirt. “I cannot thank you all enough.”
“I’ve turned your bed down for you, and put a glass of water on the bedside table and a plate of biscuits, so when you go to bed you’ll have everything you need,” said Dani.
She pulled something out of her pocket. “While we were tidying up, we found this photo.” She handed him the picture of the two women in top hats.
Vanessa walked back into the room and sat down, and they all waited eagerly to see if Sergio knew anything about the women.
He took the picture in his shaking hand and gave a one-sided smile. It was a result of the stroke, according to Dani. There was a chance he could get full movement back in his left side, but it would take a little while.
“I had forgotten all about those photos.” He traced his fingers over the face of one of the women. “This was my grandmother.”
“Really? So my great grandmother?” Dani looked more closely at the picture, examining it for family resemblance. “So that’s who Gloria really is!” Joey smiled at the recollection of the names they’d given the women.
“Yes. She was a wild woman, by all accounts.” Sergio chuckled. “By the time I came along she was a sensible lady with a gruff husband. But I remember elderly relatives telling me that she had an unnaturally close friendship with a woman in her youth.”
“Unnaturally close?” Joey raised an eyebrow.
Sergio nodded. “That’s what they would have said in those days.” He regarded the photograph for a little longer. “I think it’s clear from the picture, though. There was nothing unnatural about their love for one another.”
Dani took the photo from her uncle and examined it more closely. “They look like they’re having a lot of fun. Teresa, right? I never met her. I think she died not long after I was born.”
“Yes, that’s right,” said Sergio.
“And do you know who the other woman is? What her name is?” Vanessa adjusted her position so she could see the picture better.
“I don’t know much about her,” said the old man. “My brain is failing me. But I think her name began with an S.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, I’m very tired.”
Joey’s heart went out to Sergio. “No, don’t worry, let’s get you settled down for the rest of the day. We can talk about this again another day, if you like.”
Joey looked across at Vanessa. There was a frown on her face, which was unusual. Joey eyed her, giving her a questioning look. Vanessa shook her head as if to tell her not to worry.
“Mind if I take a quick snap of the picture?” Vanessa asked. Sergio shook his head.
That evening, Vanessa showed Joey and Carl some of the cafe premises she was considering in Birmingham. “I thought this one might be a good option. Look, it’s in a great spot near the high street in Kings Heath.”
“What’s it like there?” Joey was curious about the place Vanessa called home.
“It’s a couple of miles outside Birmingham city centre. It has its own little shopping centre. Lots of cafes and restaurants, too. There’s a great one that serves any flavour of jam you like on toast. A great place to work off a hangover with carbs.” Vanessa gave a small smile.
“Sounds good to me,” said Joey. “Very different to Carmen’s place, though.” She felt bad, highlighting this.
“Oh, very.” Vanessa frowned. “But I guess that’s why I thought bringing something new to the area would be really cool.”
They were all crowded onto Vanessa’s tiny balcony, sitting on cushions and enjoying the sunset with a glass of Rioja – or lemonade in Joey’s case.
Carl leaned back in his chair. “It is, of course, famous as being a place where lesbians go to get married and have children.” He raised his eyebrows.
“Oh shut up, Carl.” Vanessa laughed.
“Is it?” Joey was intrigued. “I thought that was Hebden Bridge, up north?”
“Well, in fairness to Carl, Kings Heath would give Hebden a run for its money. It’s a pretty diverse neighbourhood.” Vanessa took a sip from her wine glass. “That’s why I like it.”
Joey’s heart slowed. This was what was calling Vanessa back. She desperately wanted to tell her not to go. But she knew that wouldn’t be fair.