Page 53 of The Second Chance Supper Club

A few days later, and Cath had been in to Kirkton to pick up some groceries.

Realising she had an hour or so to spare before her next tuition, she thought she may as well pop in to the care home and catch up with Maria.

It felt good to give something back in life, to give some of her time.

And she had quickly grown fond of the interesting and at times feisty old lady.

Maria’s body may have been failing with age, but her mind was still as sharp as a pin. Age was no barrier to friendship.

Cath strolled into the airy reception area of the home after being buzzed in. ‘Hi, Linda.’ She recognised the blonde bob of the friendly middle-aged lady who was sat behind the counter. ‘I’m just here to visit Maria. Is she in the day room?’ She’d already started to head for the corridor.

Linda stood up. ‘Oh, it’s Cath, isn’t it … Can you just wait here a minute, please? Take a seat if you’d like.’ Her smile looked rather tight.

‘Oh, all right.’ This was unusual, but Cath wondered if Maria was perhaps using the bathroom, or felt tired and was still in her room.

She settled down on the maroon seat-pad of a functional armchair, taking in the smells, sights and sounds of the care home around her.

Bright flowers in a vase; a large bunch of carnations in reds, yellows and white.

Books, and a couple of magazines – a copy of Living North and a Woman’s Own – laid out on the coffee table before her.

Voices drifting from the day room area …

kindly questions and frailer-voiced answers.

The aromas left from lunch, slightly meaty with mashed potato overtones, and beyond that the bleach-infused scent of cleaning materials.

A buzzer was going off repeatedly further down the corridor, along with anxious, slightly raised voices.

The bustling of swishy-soled shoes. Cath felt suddenly more alert and looked up, in the direction of the noise, listening more intently now.

There was a sense of quietly managed commotion.

The hairs on the back of her neck began to prickle, an instinct rising that this had something to do with Maria …

Julie, the home manager, then dashed by and into her office, giving Cath a polite nod as she passed. The office door closed, and then a phone call, the words a muffle from here. The receptionist caught Cath’s eye and gave a gentle smile.

A few minutes later, Julie came back out. She approached Cath. ‘I’m sorry, but Maria can’t take any visitors just now … She’s taken a fall.’

‘Oh, no! Is it bad? Is she hurt?’

‘I’ve had to call an ambulance. And her son is coming in, too.’

‘Andreas … oh.’ The poor thing. He’d be so worried. ‘Is it okay to wait? In case I can help in any way? I’m a friend of Andreas,’ she explained.

‘Yes, that should be fine. Please wait here for now, though.’

‘Of course.’

‘There are things I need to do. Excuse me, I have to go.’ And with that Julie was off down the corridor.

It wasn’t long before Cath heard the scrunch of gravel outside. She saw the lads’ car with Dan at the wheel. Given the short time it had been, he’d surely been driving over like some kind of stunt man. Andreas stood out, looking shocked and pale, as an ambulance pulled in behind them.

Andreas dashed from the parking area and into reception. He saw, but hardly registered, that Cath was oddly already there. ‘My mother … Maria … ?’

Dan rushed in, hot on his heels.

Manager Julie came out to meet them, her tone full of measured calm. ‘Come on through. We’ve made her comfortable.’

‘Oh …’ Andreas’s voice was full of anguish. Cath’s heart went out to him.

With that, the paramedic team were ushered by. The corridor bustling, on alert, for a few moments, and then a hushed stillness swallowed them all.

Cath sat waiting patiently for news. She picked up the local magazine and flicked absent-mindedly through the pages. Time slowed, the tick of the wall clock felt very like a toll.

Voices once more, the striding of shoes, and a stretcher trolley came into view, carrying a very frail and pale elderly lady. Bless her, Maria. Cath stood up instinctively, it felt like a salute, her heart in her mouth as she watched them go by. Stay safe. Good luck.

Andreas was close behind the medical team, uttering, ‘I’m her son … I want to stay with her.’ His face was ashen.

Dan followed him, as close as a shadow.

‘Just give us a second here, lads.’ The ambulance staff addressed the duo calmly as they reached the exit doors. A carer from the home was also close by, handing over a bag of personal essentials to the paramedic team. Manager Julie keeping pace a few steps behind.

Cath waited a short while, then followed them all out, keeping a respectful distance. She watched as they began to load the stretcher into the emergency vehicle.

Andreas calling, ‘Mama … I’m right here. Can I go in with her, please?’ He was pacing like a caged animal at the rear of the ambulance.

‘Yes, you will be able to,’ the paramedic’s answer came kindly. ‘Just give us a little space here for now.’

The wheels rolled up the ramp, then came a metallic clunking noise of the stretcher being secured. The paramedic speaking loudly, calmly, ‘We’re just making you comfortable here, Maria.’ Seconds ticked away and yet it was like time was on hold.

‘Okay, come on up now, son,’ Cath heard, as the paramedic popped his head out of the rear doors. ‘There’s room for one. Strap yourself in here, just beside her.’

Andreas stepped forward. ‘ Mama mou , I’m here.’

‘I’ll follow in the car,’ Dan called after him, and also to Maria. ‘Take care, my loves.’ He then re-grouped briefly with Cath – who explained she’d been about to visit – and the cluster of care staff on the steps, thanking them all for their help, his car key ready to hand.

The blue lights went on, and they watched as the ambulance pulled away with its precious cargos.

Dan phoned Cath from A&E, late on the afternoon of the fall, asking if she’d mind calling at the flat to take Shirley back home with her for the night.

They didn’t know how long they might be.

He hadn’t then shared the sorrowful news, protecting Andreas’s feelings until his partner had had a little more time to try and absorb it himself.

There were things the doctor had needed to confirm, despite a no-resuscitation order being in place, and arrangements to be made, so Maria still had to be admitted.

Cath hadn’t intended being there in the flat when they finally arrived home the next morning, but had gone over to find a couple of toys and a chew to keep Shirley entertained, which she hadn’t thought to bring with her last night.

It had been a good thing having the little dog as company.

After an evening spent together on the sofa, Cath put the terrier’s fleece-lined bed down on the floor of her bedroom, beside her bed.

The pair of them were restless through the night, wondering what was happening with the two men they cared so much about.

It felt reassuring to have each other close by, at least.

So, there they were in the flat as Andreas and Dan came back.

Andreas looked shattered, as he found the words, through his tears, to tell the end of Maria’s story.

‘Oh, Cath, I held her hand all the way to the hospital. She knew I was there, at the very last … calling me Yie mou, my son. Thank God, I’d made it in time.

But oh …’ His voice cracked, the harsh reality of it all hitting home.

He took a slow breath before adding, ‘She’d already passed by the time we reached the hospital. ’

‘Oh, my love.’ Dan took his partner into his arms.

Cath moved close to lay a hand gently on Andreas’s back. ‘I’m sorry, Andreas. I’m so sorry.’

Shirley gave a whimper, nestled at their feet.

Within their arms, in that shield of support, Andreas whispered, ‘ Adio, Mama ’ , closing his eyes.

And the room felt filled with the heaviness of love and loss.