Chapter 20
MARCO
‘I have had the most bonkers day.’
The guy I saved from the truck, well, okay, not truck, transit van, is sitting in the exact same place as Fitz had been sitting only hours before.
He’s an odd chap but always glass half full.
In fact, more like glass flowing over. I get the feeling it would be impossible to burst his balloon.
I have no intention of asking why he’s had such a bonkers day.
I’ve only known him for three days. Sadly, these three days have been on the trot.
Once in the ambulance as we sped towards the hospital.
The second time was the following morning when he came in smelling of diesel oil and carrying flowers, which was kind of sweet especially as no one’s ever bought me flowers before.
And then today. So, three times total, and every single time he’s told me that he’s had the most bonkers day.
The man should be in my shoes. His name’s Minty.
Which in itself is a bit odd. Because he’s not Minty, anything but.
Each time he comes in, I can see the nurses worrying about where he’ll sit and what he’ll touch.
‘I did buy you a little something,’ Minty says, putting a wrapped bacon sandwich onto my sheets.
‘Jack sends his love. And Lennie and the greengrocers.’ He pulls a stack of fruit from his other pocket.
‘You’re a hero, to be honest Everyone saw you do the dive.
Man, I wish I had it on camera. You practically flew. ’
I certainly flew after the van hit me.
Minty looks around the ward, smiling at all the other people that are laid up. Most of them ignore him. ‘I mean, mate.’ He grabs my hand, looking earnestly into my eyes. ‘You’re the best.’
‘Thanks,’ I say. ‘Anyone would have done it.’
He laughs. ‘No, no. You are a star, and…’ He clears his throat. ‘How do you feel about dating?’
Oh no. I feel my heart sink. This cannot be happening. I knew this guy was getting too close. ‘Actually Minty, I–’
‘Only, my sister…’
I feel relief flood over me.
‘Yeah, I honestly think,’ he continues eagerly. ‘You and my sister–’
‘Actually, Minty…’ I know I’ve got to stop this.
I don’t want affairs. I don’t want one-night stands.
I don’t want to be sandwiched into everyone else’s idea of what or who I should date.
‘I’ve got my eye on someone really special.
Sorry, mate.’ I glance around the ward and then suddenly my heart sings.
It literally rises up and blocks my throat, pushing aside any ideas of what I was about to say, or any urgency to say it, because it’s her. Clara.
‘Marco,’ she says, standing there, as if singled out from the entire world. Singled out for me.
‘I’m so sorry,’ I say. ‘I didn’t mean to run off.’
She waves something in her right hand. A napkin? ‘I got your note. It was kind of…’ She opens it out. ‘Written in blood, so I knew you meant it.’
I reach forward, pain shooting down my right side, but I don’t care, I just have to hold her, touch her. She grabs my hand. ‘Oh, and I see you’ve met my brother.’ She nods towards Minty.
‘Seriously?’ I do a double-take.
‘Yeah.’ She smiles. ‘He washes up okay.’
Minty laughs. ‘You see, sis, I told you. I told you I could find you the right man.’
I kind of wish I hadn’t had to take the brute force of a speeding van in order for that to happen, but then again…
She sinks into my arms. ‘I hear you’ve left your job?’
‘Fitz is taking over. She’s got Amy back in and helping out. Can’t believe I treated Amy so badly. But she forgave me.’
‘She’s a sweetheart like that. Fitz and Amy, the dream team. They’ll be fantastic.’
‘Don’t I know it. Fitz bought all my shares. So she’s the big boss now. Betsy’s going to have to keep her hands off, and Fitz is happy. She loves work and is pretty partial to Terry.’
Clara laughs. ‘Happy endings all around.’
I shrug. ‘Exactly. It was time for me to step back, but I hear you’ve stopped pursuing a career in music?’
‘Hmmm. I’ve decided I want something more down to earth. High-rise living, it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. But I still want to sing in the shower.’
I draw her towards me and kiss her soft lips. ‘Now that, I want to see.’