Page 26 of All Right No

“I don’t have any siblings. My mother’s on marriage number four, I think. Dad died in a drink driving accident. He was the drunk driver. No one else got hurt, thankfully. He was a good man, even if he wasn’t a sensible one. Things got pretty crazy for a while after he died. My mother and I don’t see eye to eye anymore. We haven’t spoken in three years, and I’m in no hurry to pick up the phone.”

Having allowed it all to gush out in one breath, Ginny sucked in some air. Ash met her gaze and gave her a curt nod.

“I’m sorry about your dad, and about things being strained with your mum too. It’s difficult not to have a family to rely upon.”

“I have you,” she said. “At least, I hope I do.” She went to him and gave him a tight hug. “Ash, I’ve sat by your bedside. It wasn’t fun, and it isn’t something I want to have to do again. You have to take care of yourself. Do you have a repeat prescription?”

“Ginny,” he grumbled, layering a warning into his tone.

“Do you?”

“They’re gone. Flushed. That’s the end of it. There’s no negotiating this. We’re not running to the chemist.”

“But—”

“My health, my decision. You need to accept that I know what’s best for me. Can you do that?”

Ginny rubbed her eyes. It didn’t seem she was likely to have a choice in that.