Page 35 of Things We Need to Say (Second Chance Love Stories #2)

The journey to the hospital was excruciatingly slow and all Jay could think about was how little time he’d spent with his nan recently.

He prayed that she’d be okay and make a full recovery.

He vowed he’d visit her more often. And he’d have to make more time for his mum as well.

It had shaken him to hear how upset she’d sounded and was grateful that she’d let him know about Betty.

After he parked the car and made his way to the main entrance, he phoned Mary so she could let him know where they were.

Betty had been given a bed in A&E and, when he’d been allowed through, the sight of his usually robust grandmother sitting in bed with an oxygen mask over an unusually grey face frightened him.

She looked at least ten years older than when he’d last seen her and it suddenly dawned on him that she was an old lady.

She’d always been such a powerhouse, he’d never thought of her as old, but he did now.

He was struck with the horrible realisation that she wouldn’t be around for ever.

When things had fallen apart with his mum, she’d been there for him.

She was the one who had given him a stable and loving family life, the wings to find his way in the world and the support that encouraged him to achieve his ambitions.

He didn’t know what he’d do without her and hoped he wouldn’t have to find out just yet.

But he pinned a smile on his face and in a jovial voice said, ‘So what’s all this, Nan? Scaring us to keep us on our toes?’

She pulled down her oxygen mask. ‘It’s all a fuss about nothing. A sit-down in my favourite chair with a nice cup of tea and I’d have been as right as rain.’

‘Now, Mum...’ Mary put her hand over her mother’s. ‘The paramedics didn’t think that or they wouldn’t have brought you here. And while you are, it’s best to get you checked out.’

‘I suppose so, but it’s a waste of time if you ask me.’

A nurse carrying a plastic bowl containing needles and syringes opened the curtains around the bed.

‘Now, Mrs Green, we’d like to take some blood if that’s all right and then do an ECG so we can find out what’s going on with your ticker.’

‘All right, love, you just get on with what you need to do.’

‘We’ll sit outside and give you some privacy.’ Mary led Jay away.

‘Do you want me to get you a cup of coffee?’ his mum asked in the waiting room. ‘You almost look as grey as your nan.’

‘No, thanks. I don’t think I could stomach it. It’s been a bit of a shock, but I’m glad you phoned me.’

‘I didn’t know whether to or not, to be honest. I didn’t want to upset you in the middle of your competition, but I figured that if you were cooking you wouldn’t be able to answer your phone anyway.

Besides, I didn’t think you’d forgive me if I didn’t tell you.

You and Mum have always been so close. I’m glad you’re here, though. ’

Her words came out in a rush and for a moment Jay couldn’t reply — there was a large lump in his throat. He swallowed a few times before speaking. ‘Naively, I always thought she’d be around for ever. Today has made me realise I shouldn’t have taken her for granted.’

‘Me too. She’s so independent, but maybe now’s the time we start taking more care of her.’

Jay laughed. ‘She won’t like that.’

‘No, she won’t, but perhaps she’ll get used to it. Over time.’

‘I’ll try to visit her more often. Although it’s not too easy at the moment.’

‘Mum says you’re doing really well in the competition. You seem to be smashing it.’

‘I keep getting through, that’s the main thing.’ He paused. ‘It shouldn’t be Nan telling you, though.’

‘She was only trying to keep me up to date.’ His mum looked anguished.

He quickly tried to explain. ‘What I meant was it should be me telling you, not Nan. I’m sorry, Mum, I seem to have wasted so much time. And all over a silly feud.’

‘You were hurt, love.’ She patted his arm. ‘And I can see why. I should have supported you more. I should never have let you go.’

‘The way I remember it, you couldn’t have stopped me,’ Jay said wryly. ‘But I was a child. I only saw things in black and white. Now that I’m older I can see the world in shades of grey.’

‘Life isn’t always straightforward,’ she said. ‘Can we put it all behind us and start again?’

‘I’d like that.’ He leaned in to hug her, realising it was the first time in twelve years that he’d felt his mother’s arms around him and smelled her familiar perfume.

All of a sudden he was a child again, being comforted by her after grazing his knee or waking up from a bad dream.

He blinked back his tears, afraid that if he let them fall now he’d never be able to stop.

He leaned backwards and looked away to give him time to compose himself.

To his surprise, he heard her gentle laugh. He turned to her, puzzled.

‘Looks like your nan has finally got her wish. She’s been conspiring to get us back together for long enough.’

And suddenly the tears were gone and laughter bubbled out of his mouth.

The nurse who’d been tending to Betty approached them. ‘You can go back and sit with her now. Although I have to tell you, she’s not happy about being here.’

‘Oh, I know that,’ Mary said. ‘She’ll just have to get used to it, though, because she’s not going anywhere until we find out what’s wrong with her. Can I take her a cup of tea?’

The nurse shook her head. ‘Best not. Just in case we need to do any procedures. She’s better off nil by mouth for now.’

‘Oh! Do you think she’ll need an operation?’ Mary asked.

‘It’s just a precaution,’ the nurse said. ‘Once the consultant has finished his ward rounds, he’ll review her tests and come and see you. Hopefully it won’t be too long.’

‘Thanks.’ Mary got up. ‘Well, we’d best go and break the news to her. But she’s not going to like it. Betty without a constant supply of tea is not going to be pleasant.’

‘We’re just going to have to try to distract her, then,’ Jay said.

The nurse laughed. ‘Good luck with that. I’ll see if we can get you some answers as soon as possible.’

* * *

‘Well, Doctor. What’s the news? Am I going to live?’

The doctor smiled at Betty. ‘You are indeed. I’ve been through your test results and I can safely say that it wasn’t a heart attack.’

‘Told you so.’ Betty beamed at them all. ‘Lot of fuss about nothing. Can I go home, then? I’m gagging for a decent cuppa.’

‘I’m afraid not, Mrs Green. While it wasn’t a heart attack, you had a severe angina attack.’

‘What’s that, then?’

‘Simply put, it’s chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscles. Tell me, Mrs Green, what were you doing directly before the attack?’

‘I was hoovering. I like to keep my house looking nice.’

‘I’m sure you do. Angina can be brought on by a trigger, for instance, exercise, so you may need to take things a bit easier in the future.

The good news is that you appear to have the most common type of angina, which is called stable angina and can be treated with medication.

We’ll prescribe some beta-blockers to make your heart beat slower and with less force.

They should help prevent future episodes. ’

Betty pulled a face. ‘Can’t say I’m too happy about that. I’ve never taken pills before and I don’t like the idea of taking them now.’

‘You’ve been lucky, then, but I’m afraid they are necessary.’

‘And how long will I need to take them for?’

‘For ever, I’m afraid. I’ll also prescribe you a mouth spray, which will help you if you do have any further episodes.

If you do, the first thing you must do is rest. Then take the spray.

Wait for five minutes and, if the spray hasn’t worked, try it again.

If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to call for an ambulance, but the spray — it’s called glyceryl trinitrate — is very effective, so try not to worry about it. ’

Betty nodded.

‘Now, is there anyone at home who can take care of you?’

‘I live on my own, Doctor, and I intend to carry on doing so for a long time yet. But I have family who will look in on me.’

‘Yes, we will, Doctor,’ Mary said. ‘As often as we need.’

‘Not too often,’ Betty gently scolded her daughter.

The doctor smiled. ‘Well, that’s okay, then. I’d like you to stay in hospital just for tonight so we can keep an eye on you and start you on your medication.’

‘Is that really necessary?’

‘I’m afraid it is, Mrs Green. Hopefully it will only be for one night.’

‘But I haven’t got anything with me.’

‘Don’t worry, Nan,’ Jay said. ‘As soon as you’re on a ward, Mum and I will go and get your things.’

‘But what about Roland?’ she said.

‘Who’s Roland?’ the doctor asked.

‘My cat. He likes his routine and he won’t be happy about all this.’

‘Don’t worry about Roland,’ Jay said reassuringly. ‘I’ll feed him when we’re picking up your things and give him a cuddle. I’ll go round first thing in the morning to give him his breakfast, too.’

Betty harrumphed. ‘I suppose that will have to do. Thank you, Doctor.’

‘My pleasure, Mrs Green. And on my way out I’ll ask one of the nurses to get you that cup of tea.’

When the doctor had left, Betty looked from Jay to Mary before speaking. ‘It looks like you two are finally getting on together. Shame it took a near heart attack to do it.’ But even as she spoke, she was smiling.

‘Yes, well, we thought we’d better make amends,’ Mary said dryly. ‘Just in case you croaked it.’

‘You can’t get rid of me that easily, so don’t be thinking that you can.’

* * *

After collecting the essentials for his nan and feeding Roland — who had been meowing loudly at being left on his own — Jay returned to the hospital with Mary to drop them off.

‘I won’t stay if you don’t mind,’ he told his mum and nan.

‘If I get my skates on, I’ll be able to help Liz out.

She said she’d cover for me, but she’s being doing a lot of that recently and I don’t want her overdoing it.

’ He turned towards his mother. ‘Give me a ring in the morning and, if Nan’s going to be discharged, I’ll give you a lift to pick her up and take her home. ’

‘Thanks, Jay.’ His mum leaned in for another hug. Once more he breathed in her familiar smell and a wash of guilt overwhelmed him. What a fool he had been all these years. ‘I’m not sure I’d have got through today without you,’ Mary said quietly.

‘You’d have done just fine, Mum. All the same, I’m glad I was here too.’ His voice cracked with emotion.

* * *

Everything ached by the time Emma finished work that evening.

Jay was working, so she’d have the flat to herself.

She couldn’t wait to have a good long soak in the bath.

Working in housekeeping was a hard job and she really admired people like Adejo who’d been doing it for years.

She supposed you got used to it, but then she also thought people in Adejo’s situation didn’t have much choice either.

She had a family to take care of on her own.

After her bath, Emma poured herself a glass of wine and heated up some soup, which was all she felt like eating.

When she’d eaten, she got out her laptop.

Although Adejo hadn’t been too keen on her idea of cleaners working in pairs, they had continued to work well together.

Now Emma was brimming with ideas on how to improve things and was itching to get them down in black and white.

Not that she’d talk to anyone about them just yet.

She would bide her time until she wasn’t such a newbie and by then her ideas might be taken seriously.

* * *

The sound of the door opening jolted Emma awake. After switching off her laptop she’d settled down to watch some television, but she’d struggled to keep her eyes open and had fallen asleep on the sofa.

She pulled herself upright as Jay walked into the living room.

‘Emma, I didn’t expect you still to be up.’

‘Um, I fell asleep. Long day.’

Jay yawned. ‘Me too. The longest. I think I need a drink. Want one?’

She shook her head, aware that another arduous day lay ahead. ‘No, thanks. I’ll sit with you for a while, though, if you like?’

‘That’d be nice,’ Jay replied. ‘I’ve got a lot to tell you.’

He went into the kitchen to get a cold bottle of beer, then came back and sat down next to her.

‘What’s up?’ she asked.

‘Nan’s been taken to hospital.’

‘ What? ’ She hadn’t expected that.

‘It’s nothing too bad, although they’re keeping her in overnight. They thought she’d had a heart attack, but it turned out to be angina, so at least it’s treatable. She’s not best pleased, though.’

‘I bet she’s not. Will she be able to go home tomorrow?’

‘We hope so. Mum’s going to give me a ring and I’ve said I’ll take her over to pick up Nan if they’re going to let her out.’

Emma was surprised. ‘You’ve been with your mum?’

Jay smiled. ‘Yes, she rang me to let me know Nan had been taken in and I went straight over. If nothing else, it gave us the opportunity to talk. I think Nan being ill has made us both realise life’s too short to bear grudges.’

‘Oh, Jay!’ Overcome with emotion, Emma put her arms around him.

‘I’m so glad you’ve finally managed to sort things out.’

‘Me too. Mum and I have both agreed, though, that Nan’s going to need more looking after. Whether she likes it or not.’

‘Not, I suspect.’

‘I agree. I’m not sure how I’m going to fit it all in. But we’ll manage it somehow.’

‘I’ll help out if you like?’

‘Really?’ He looked at her. ‘You’d do that?’

‘Of course. I know I’ve only met her the once, but I really liked her and I’d be glad to help.’

He kissed her tenderly and she relished the feel of his lips on hers, which she’d been missing recently. When he pulled away, he said, ‘Actually I was thinking of cooking Sunday dinner for her.’

‘Here or at hers?’

‘It’d have to be at hers, I think. Maybe in time we can prise her away from her home, but I doubt she’d be ready for that just yet.’

‘I’m not working on Sunday. I can give you a hand with the cooking if you like.’

‘I’d appreciate your help, but keeping Nan away from the kitchen will be the biggest job.’

Emma smiled. ‘Oh, make my life easy why don’t you? But I’ll do my best.’

‘Come on.’ He took hold of her hand. ‘Let’s go to bed. It’s been one hell of a day.’

After they had undressed and got into bed, Jay reached out for her.

She moved into his arms and, as tired as she was, felt her passion for him mounting.

Afterwards, satisfied and ready for sleep, Emma turned on her side.

As she waited for sleep to claim her, she suddenly realised that in all their conversation she hadn’t had a chance to tell him about her own day.