Ethan’s car pulled up as I searched for the phone to call him. God knows what I had done with it. Knowing me it was probably lying on the floor in the attic, but it didn’t matter now. I was only going to ring Ethan and ask him to bring Robin back.
I ran outside to get Robin. I shouldn’t take her to the hospital really, but I didn’t want to leave her with anyone, today had been bad enough and that was just a trip to the zoo
Robin must have known there was something wrong. I acted as calm as possible, but she didn’t argue at having to leave Zandra and Bonnie. Sometimes I think she knew more than I gave her credit for even though I did everything I could to protect her.
I relayed the whole thing to Ethan; well Keller told him most of it. Ethan agreed that he would take Zandra and Bonnie back to Alex and then would come to the hospital to see his parents. No doubt he would actually bring Alex with him and not leave her at home wondering what the hell was going on.
Keller drove Robin and me to the hospital in the end, I hadn’t protested, I just wanted to get there and check that they were ok. God knows what I would do if any thing happened to either of them. Yes I was independent, but they meant so much to me. They were like parents.
“Harris please.” I said to the receptionist almost screaming at her.
“Are you family?” she asked looking less than pleased.
“Yes.”
“Nessa.” Said a voice and I turned. My grandfather limped along the corridor towards me. His hand was bandaged, his clothes dark and sooty. His grey hair was tinged from the smoke. I ran over to him and fell into his arms. I was so relieved to see he was alive, hurt but alive. Robin ran over, but she stood back a little, unsure as to whether to hug him or not. I held my hand out for her and pulled her in too.
“Where’s Grandma?” I said. “Is she ok?”
He looked away, but I saw the tears in his eyes. My grandfather rarely cried in front of me. The only times I had seen him do it were when I had caught him unexpectedly. Most of the time it was when he was sat in his garden under my mother’s tree. I know after all these years he still hadn’t forgiven himself for her death.
“Grandpa?”
“Is she…. Is she dead?” I asked daring myself to say it. I felt Robins grip tighten.
He didn’t reply, just shook his head as if it was just too hard to speak.
“She’ll be ok Grandpa. She’s a fighter.”
“Mr Harris.” Said a voice and I turned and the doctor was looking at my Grandfather. God no I knew that face. What the hell was going on? In less than twenty four hours I had managed to run into Keller and now Mark. I stood mouth open. I hadn’t seen him either since the day I left. I had said goodbye to them both and then left him and Keller as I went home.
“Your wife is awake, but drowsy.” He said ignoring me. I know he knew who I was, he had looked at me. I saw the shock go over his face before he went back to expressionless doctor and turned back to my Grandfather. “You can see her now.” He said continuing. “But please don’t keep her too long, she needs her rest.”
“Mark?” I said “Is she going to be ok?”
He turned to me, his blue eyes emotionless. He was still handsome no matter how much time went by. His hair was longer than when I last saw him, but his face was so striking and defined. His skin tanned and that just seemed to bring out the colour of his eyes even more. I used to think that if I stared at them long enough I could drown in them. They were like deep blue water.
“I can’t say at this strange Miss King. I will keep you informed.” With that he walked away.
Miss King? Not even Vanessa. Well I was certainly still in the bad books, even after all these years.
My Grandfather was already on his way to my grandmother’s room, but I stood there between them both as they both walked away in different directions. I stared at the back of Mark as he went. He turned and our eyes met. They were so cold. I looked away ashamed. I had hurt him so badly and for that I was sorry.
My Grandfather was already in my grandmother’s room when we caught him up. I watched him for a moment through the glass. Her long grey hair looked filthy and matted not how she would have wanted it. She always kept it long and shiny. I watched as he lifted her hand in his and rested his face against it holding onto her as if she was the last person in the world. Tears fell down my cheeks as I watched them. After all this time, all these years they still loved each other more than anything.
I watched as he ran one of his hands down the side of her face around the wire coming out of her nose. She smiled at him, her eyes still closed, but that small touch meant so much to her. It was the kind of love that most people only ever dream of.
“Hey.” I whispered as I finally entered the room with Robin still holding my hand.
“How’s she doing?”
“Vanessa.” My grandmother said, her voice was horse and quiet.
I went to the other side of the bed and held her other hand carefully. Robin ran round to my Grandfather and he pulled her onto his knee and tried to keep her distracted from how my Grandma looked. There was a drip attached to her and I didn’t want to knock it loose or cause her any more pain. She looked so fragile in the bed. Her skin was pale and looked almost paper thin. It looked so delicate like if you touched it you would be able to feel her bones underneath.
“What happened?” I said looking up to my Grandfather.
“I don’t know.” He said shrugging painfully. “We were talking and then something smashed through the window, then flames. That’s all I can remember.”
“Nothing else?”
“No.”
My Grandma tried to whisper but I couldn’t make out what she said it was so quiet.
“What was that?” I glanced at my Grandfather hoping for a translation. “There’s something else isn’t there?”
“There was a call. About five minutes before. That’s what we were talking about.”
“A call? What about.”
“It… it was for you.”
Who would call me at their house? Anyone that knew me had my number and anyone that didn’t, well I didn’t want them to call simple as that.
“What did they want?”
“We don’t know.” He said. “They said tell Vanessa 72 hours.”
Crap
