Page 90 of All We Want for Christmas
‘Are you sure? Are you OK to drive?’
‘I’ll be fine now I know my – friend – is going to be OK. That’s all I need to know and they have other visitors with them. They won’t be on their own.’
Paula smiled wearily. ‘I’m very pleased to hear it. You go home and get some rest. You must take care of yourself too. Your friend will need you when they’re home.’
‘Thanks,’ she said, picking up her bag and vacating the seat for them. ‘I hope your son is much better very soon.’
Lara trudged down the corridor, hearing Steve and Paula discussing ‘that bloody bike’, but also sounding hugely relieved.
She hurried past the crowded A&E, where two men dressed in Santa costumes were having to be pulled apart by security, past the Christmas tree in the hospital foyer, and out into the blinding sunlight of the winter morning.
Flynn was OK. Well, not exactly OK, but he would be. He was strong and still young, and he had so many people who cared about him and loved him – he’d be fine. And she had no doubt at all that he would buy another bike, no matter what his father said. Unless, as a father himself, he decided he no longer wanted to take the risk.
Flynn’s parents knew about Molly and Esme and all of them – his next of kin – his family … were by his bedside.
Lara told herself to count her lucky stars and be thankful that Flynn was alive and would mend. Then she got into her car, leaned over the steering wheel, and sobbed her heart out.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Flynn wasn’t sure whether it was better to be awake and in pain or drugged up with no control over what happened to him.
Either state wasn’t a lot of fun.
He’d been amazed to find out from his parents that he’d missed the whole of Boxing Day and that it was now 27 December. The upside was he’d been moved to a regular ward and was feeling slightly less out of it.
His parents filled him in on what he’d missed and told him they’d been by his bed since they’d arrived. He was astonished to discover that they’d met Molly, Brenda and Imogen, and had struck up an admittedly awkward friendship born of necessity.
‘They’re letting us see Esme later,’ his mother said. ‘I can’t believe I’m a great nanny. How is that possible? I’m not old enough …’ She shook her head, tears filling her eyes. ‘I just can’t believe it and I’m thrilled, of course, but … fancy never telling us about Molly. I’m finding it hard to forgive Brenda and Imogen for that. Very hard.’
Flynn couldn’t say he blamed them.
‘Not now,’ his father murmured. ‘Not here. Flynn doesn’t need it.’
‘It’s OK to feel angry and upset, Mum,’ Flynn said. ‘I – I haven’t even got used to it myself. Imogen had her reasons for staying quiet. I—’ He had to stop speaking partly because he still felt too weak to talk much, and also because his brain didn’t always connect properly with his mouth. The thoughts had floated around at times, probably because of the drugs, but as they’d been gradually reduced, he was becoming more aware yet was also in more pain.
So many bridges needed building but he didn’t feel he had the strength to even begin the construction process.
‘OK. Another time,’ his mother said.
‘And at least we do know about them now,’ his father murmured, patting his hand.
Flynn closed his eyes but then opened them again. ‘Did you – have you spoken to Lara?’
‘Lara?’ They exchanged a glance. ‘Who’s Lara?’
‘My – friend. We work together at the castle. Does she know about the accident?’
‘Erm. I assume so,’ his mother said. ‘I think Harvey might have called the castle. We asked him to tell all your work mates because we were in no state to. We were only concerned with getting up here as fast as possible.’
Flynn nodded. ‘OK. I’ll ask him.’
His mum smiled at him. ‘He did text us a couple of times and ask how you were. He said he’d come and see you tomorrow. He was very worried about you.’
‘Tomorrow? I hope to be out of here by then … or soon afterwards,’ Flynn said, with a vehemence that left him coughing.
His mum offered him a glass of water. ‘I think they’ll want to keep you a while longer. You’ve had a serious accident and they need to make sure you’re OK.’
‘I don’t want to be in here a second longer than I need to,’ Flynn insisted. He pushed himself up on the pillows even though it hurt like hell. ‘Do you know where my phone is? Please?’
