Page 134 of Heart of The Night

‘Much better, thank you,’ William replied, his voice soft and slightly slurred from the onset of the medication’s effects.

The nurse gave a nod of satisfaction, then turned to me. ‘I just want to let you know that you’ve got about ten minutes left for visiting. We need to make sure he gets all the rest he can to help with the healing process.’

I nodded in understanding, feeling a pang of sadness at the thought of leaving but knowing the importance of his rest.

For the next few minutes, I stayed close to William, watching as he grew more tired. We didn’t speak much; the presence of each other was comforting enough. I squeezed his hand gently, memorising how his grip felt in mine.

‘Thank you for being here,’ he murmured, his eyelid fluttering as he fought the drowsiness.

‘I wouldn’t be anywhere else,’ I assured him, kissing his hand. ‘I love you.’

A faint smile flickered across his lips, his grip on my hand tightening a fraction. ‘I love you too. Always.’

As the medication fully took effect, his eye finally closed, his breathing deepening into the steady rhythm of sleep. I watched him for a moment longer, my heart full of love and worry intermingled. Quietly, I stood up, squeezed his hand one last time, and placed it gently by his side. I breathed deeply, steeling myself for the days ahead, and walked away, the sound of my footsteps a soft echo in the busy yet somehow lonely space of the hospital.

30 | honey

CARA

I was sure it looked as if I had purchased a whole flower shop. At work, my colleagues had handed me bouquet after bouquet, each one intended for William, who had been transferred to the general ward of another hospital just the day before. News of his assault had spread, and with it, the fact that I was now officially his girlfriend. Ellie hadn’t seemed remotely surprised by our relationship, nor had the rest of our colleagues, but they all refrained from asking any nosy questions – even Ellie managed to resist. Instead, they offered sympathy, well-wishes, and a veritable mountain of flowers. Some chocolates, too.

I was initially at a loss about how to transport all this to William. Carrying it all was impossible. But then I remembered where William had left his car keys. I was due to stop by his flat after work to collect his post anyway, so I decided I’d use his car for the task. It seemed the only feasible option; using public transport was out of the question with so many flowers in tow. William had told me before that I was free to use his car whenever I needed it, and this situation certainly qualified. Still, it had been months since I last drove, and the prospect of braving London’s chaotic traffic was daunting. What if I dented his car? The mere possibility made me shudder.

‘You’re free to leave, Cara.’ Violet’s gentle voice interrupted my thoughts as she stopped by my desk, having just returned from a meeting with John. She had taken over as my supervisor in William’s absence – a small mercy in these turbulent times. I couldn’t imagine anyone else filling his shoes quite so well.

I snapped my laptop shut and looked up into her compassionate brown eyes. Her lips curved slightly downward as she read my exhausted expression. Just yesterday, we had spent our lunch hour talking about William’s assault, and she had comforted me with such kindness that I’d found myself crying in her presence.

She had expressed a desire to visit William herself, and while I relayed her wishes to him when I saw him yesterday, his response was hesitant. He appreciated the thought but preferred visits to be limited to family and myself for the time being. I understood why – William hadn’t disclosed Francesca’s pregnancy to Violet, nor had I, and he was bracing for potentially unsettling news about the paternity test that was due as soon as I arrived with his post today. If the result was not what he hoped, facing anyone else, even Violet, would be too much.

Gathering my belongings, I thanked Violet and left the office, heading directly to William’s flat. My plan was to collect his post first, then return to the office to fetch the flowers and chocolates before going to the hospital.

Upon entering his flat, I immediately located the keys on the console table by the door and then went downstairs to check his letterbox. Amidst the usual assortment of bills, a thick and securely sealed envelope caught my eye, marked with the clinic’s logo. My heart rate quickened as I traced the edges, aware of the weight of the contents within. Holding it felt like holding a potential turning point in William’s life – and ours.

I inhaled deeply and slipped it into my bag, steeling myself for the drive and the confrontation with whatever truths lay ahead.

Driving through London’s traffic proved as nerve-wracking as I had feared, but the thought of what I carried with me was even more intimidating. Each red light was a moment to contemplate the potential changes that the contents of that envelope could bring.

When I finally parked outside the hospital – thankfully without any scratches added to the car – I took a moment to compose myself, gripping the steering wheel tightly. Closing my eyes, I allowed myself a long, steadying breath to settle the nerves that fluttered wildly in my chest. Whatever happened, I was staying with William. And that was all that truly mattered. Like a mantra, I repeated these words in my mind until I felt a tad calmer, then stepped out of the car and gathered as many of the bouquets as I could carry, along with the chocolates and my bag. The rest of the flowers would have to wait – perhaps I could enlist a nurse’s help later. For now, the most pressing concern was the sealed envelope in my bag.

I ignored the curious glances I got as I navigated my way into the building, barely seeing where I was going thanks to the jungle of floral arrangements in my arms. A male nurse promptly materialised at my side.

‘Let me help with those,’ he said, then asked where I was headed.

‘William Night,’ I replied.

Nodding, he guided the way to William’s room, swinging open the door with his elbow and walking in first.

‘Bloody hell.’ William’s voice crackled with astonishment, his eyes widening at the sight of me engulfed in yet more blooms. ‘What’s all this, then? You’ve robbed all the bees!’

A spontaneous laugh escaped me. ‘I don’t see the problem – you’ve already got your honey,’ I quipped, earning a smirk from him. ‘They’re from our colleagues.’ I set the three boxes of chocolates I had managed to carry onto the small table beside his bed, then looked at the nurse. ‘There’s more still in the car. Could you lend a hand bringing the rest in later?’

‘No problem.’ He shot a glance at William, his grin spreading. ‘You’re quite the beloved man, Will.’

‘I’ve no idea why,’ William replied drily, a sardonic twist to his mouth. ‘I take the mickey out of most of them more often than not.’

‘No, you don’t,’ I snorted.

William raised an eyebrow, a playful challenge in his gaze. ‘In my mind, I do.’

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