Chapter Eighty-Three
Emme woke with a start and gasped for air. Air. She could breathe. Her panicked eyes opened and the first person she saw was her father, sitting at her bedside, a book on his lap. He looked up and gave a smile of harrowed relief.
She started breathing rapidly, in panic, until machinery beeped and whirred and she realised she was alive.
Her father looked across Emme’s bedside, and she followed his gaze. Her mother was sitting on her left. She tried to move but her body ached, she felt pummelled.
‘It’s OK love, you’re OK,’ Marian said, clutching Emme’s hand.
‘We’re here,’ Geoff said.
Emme nodded.
‘I … I …’ she tried to speak.
‘Do you remember what happened, love?’ Marian asked.
Emme thought about the whiteout and the white noise, and then panicked.
‘Cat – where’s Cat?’
‘It’s OK, love,’ her mother soothed her. ‘She’s down the hall. She broke her collarbone when she hit a tree. The boy broke both his legs.’
‘You got off lightly!’ said Geoff, with some relief. She could tell from the sad sweep across his face that he didn’t really think it. He was so immensely relieved.
Emme smiled. She was relieved too. She thought she’d died.
‘How long have I been in here?’
‘Three days darling. You’ve been drifting in and out for three days. The poor boy was in a coma but he woke up last night,’ her mother said.
‘How long have you been in Kristalldorf?’ Emme asked.
Her parents looked at each other.
‘Oh we haven’t even got to Kristalldorf yet, we’re in the hospital in Bloch. Do you remember Bloch?’
Of course.
Emme nodded.
A nurse came in to check Emme’s vitals.
‘Ahh she’s awake! Hello sweetie,’ she said in a German accent. ‘Do you know what day it is?’
They went quiet as the nurse took Emme’s blood pressure. As her parents waited on tenterhooks to see how much Emme might remember.
She shook her head.
Her parents looked at each other, more nervously this time.
‘Well, it must be around …’
‘It’s Christmas Eve. Happy Saint Niklaus!’ the nurse said cheerily, as she noted down Emme’s blood pressure, pulse and temperature on her chart.
‘The doctor will be in to see you soon, I’ll tell her you’re awake and she’ll come on her rounds.’
‘Thank you,’ Emme said, her voice rasping her throat. She felt thirstier than she ever had.
How had she got out of there? How long had her parents been in Switzerland? Was Cat really OK?
She had so many questions.
‘What happened? After the avalanche?’ Emme mustered.
‘You were stuck under the snow my darling,’ Marian said. ‘It was lucky you were wearing Cat’s ski suit. It has one of those thingamajigs that send a signal.’ She paused, as she pressed a tissue to her eyes. ‘Search and rescue could find you more easily.’
‘Not that easily,’ Geoff said. It was like they were recounting a story that had been only half told to them. ‘Search and rescue got to the boy and Cat first, they were nearer the helicopter landing point. Lucky to be alive because they’d hit trees.’
‘You’re lucky to be alive too,’ Marian added.
‘A local man had to get you out himself,’ her dad said. ‘With his shovel.’
‘He had all the gear,’ Marian said. ‘He could see on his gizmo where you were below. He dug you out with his own hands.’
Emme gulped.
‘The kindness of a stranger,’ Geoff said, almost crying.
‘Tristan,’ Marian said.
‘Tristan?’
‘He’s been here day and night, checking on all three of you. He knows the mountains very well apparently. Knew exactly what to do.’
‘He could see search and rescue were having to make choices. Priorities …’ Geoff said, shaking his head.
Emme’s mother welled up.
‘They weren’t prioritising you.’ She put her hand over her mouth, dreading to think what would have happened if the kindly man hadn’t been on the mountain with his avalanche pack on.
‘Guten Abend!’ the doctor interrupted, as she walked in with the nurse at her shoulder.
She explained that Emme had suffered hypothermia, concussion and two broken ribs, which there was nothing that could be done about apart from taking ibuprofen and paracetamol to ease the pain.
‘They heal on their own within three to six weeks and we usually recommend ice packs for broken ribs, but in your case, nein. No ice,’ she said, with a wry smile.
‘Why not?’ Marian asked.
‘Not when she’s recovering from hypothermia and trauma.’
As the doctor looked at her clipboard she said she was satisfied with Emme’s stats.
‘You’re making a good recovery, Miss Eversley,’ the doctor added.
Emme’s parents glanced at each other with the pride of parents whose child had just won an award at school.
‘Mr Du Kok is certainly the hero of the hour,’ the doctor said with a smile.
And Emme was so shocked. So grateful. So tired, she fell back asleep.
When Emme woke again it was just her mother sitting by her bedside, crocheting a dress for Zara.
‘That was a big sleep …’ she said, as if Emme were a toddler.
‘Where’s Dad?’
‘He went off to get some sandwiches. Your friend Tiago’s showing him a better option than the hospital canteen, although I thought they were pretty good myself. They did a nice turkey and cranberry one yesterday …’
‘Of course. Is it Christmas Day yet?’
‘Not yet, love.’ Marian tucked her crochet away. ‘Cat was brought in but you were asleep …’
‘Is she OK?’
‘She’s a bundle of energy, isn’t she?’
Emme smiled.
‘How long are you staying here for?’
There was a polite knock at the door before her mother could answer.
Tristan stood, one hand in his pocket. Denim shirt loose under his thick jacket. His face sunkissed and golden from the South African summer.
‘Mind if I … ?’ he looked at Emme hesitantly.
‘Oh, do come in!’ Marian said, all of a fluster.
His good looks were not lost on Emme’s mother either.
‘Emme, this is the gentleman who saved your life!’ She stood up, almost as if she should curtsey.
‘Tristan, hi …’ Emme gave a small wave.
‘Emme,’ he said, almost in a gasp.
‘Oh, you know each other?’ Marian asked, delighted.
If only she knew how well.
Marian blushed as she made an unnecessary fuss about picking up her things.
‘Maybe you want to talk, I’ll leave you to it. Actually, love, I might go and call Dad, tell him to buy extra. You might want something other than hospital food – and would you like anything, love?’ She looked to Tristan as she wittered.
‘No, I’m fine thank you.’
‘Will you be alright?’ Marian hesitated.
‘Of course Mum, find Dad, get some food.’
‘I can stay with her,’ Tristan said reassuringly. ‘As long as you need.’
He looked at Emme cautiously. Aware that the last time they spoke she was furious with him.
Emme looked back at Tristan, feeling utterly confused.
I was dying, she remembered, realising she had no head space for anger right now. She was too spent.
‘I’ll come back with your dad and sandwiches as soon as I can. Visiting hours end at ten pm.’
Not for Tristan they didn’t. He’d sat in the chair night and day in the waiting room, waiting for the right moment to see Emme.
Marian realised she was fussing. This man, this hero, who had saved her daughter’s life, had that effect on her, so it was best she left them to it.
‘Go Mum, it’s fine.’
She kissed Emme’s head, pressed Tristan on the shoulder, blushed, and walked out.