Henry could feel it. The moment she said it, it was as if all the tension left his body – like a balloon deflating, only without the accompanying high-pitched shriek. Although he knew without a doubt that Peg would have found that funny, too. God, hewas starving. He picked up a sandwich and took a huge bite, savouring the food, which actually tasted of something.
‘Not cheese and beetroot today, then?’
‘We can have those tomorrow,’ said Peg.
A companionable silence lengthened as they both ate, and it was just like he remembered.
‘Thank you,’ he said, after a few more minutes. ‘These are so lovely. After hospital food, this is a veritable feast.’
She pulled a face. ‘You missed your Christmas dinner,’ she said.
‘So did you.’
Peg nodded. ‘True…but there’ll be others. Which is the most important thing. Two days ago it didn’t look as if you’d see another one.’ She paused for a moment. ‘And can I just say, before the others get back, that if you staying here is going to work, I want you to know that there are no expectations. And I need you to be honest about how you’re feeling. If you want to sleep, sleep. Whether that’s in a chair beside the fire, or upstairs in your room. Similarly, when you’ve had enough chat, say so. I know how exhausting that can be when you don’t feel well. Basically…just be as you would in your own home. I don’t intend to “care” for you while you’re here, because I’m not sure that’s what’s needed, but also because if I did that to Mim, she’d never talk to me again. And I also have things I need to do, and like to do, and while you are absolutely not in the way – please don’t ever think that – I want things to be…normal and not in the slightest bit weird.’ She finished in a rush, screwing up her face. ‘Sorry, is that okay? I wasn’t sure how to put it.’
Henry smiled and reached for a mince pie. ‘All things considered…I think that’s absolutely the best possible thing you could have said.’
The others arrived back just as they were finishing their meal, bursting through the door mid-conversation. Henry got to his feet, suddenly nervous that they would find him lacking.
Blanche was the first to come forward, her smile warm and her hug gentle.
‘I’d like to give you a much bigger squish,’ she said. ‘But I’m scared I’m going to hurt you.’
‘I’ll take a rain check for now,’ Henry replied, patting his side. ‘And, as soon as I can, I’ll come and claim it.’
Henry turned his attention to Mim, the woman he thought had died. Her wrist was in plaster, but other than that, there was evidently plenty of spark left in her. He could see it shining from her eyes, from her wind-burnished cheeks, and in the mischievous grin she gave him.
‘I can’t even shake your hand,’ she said. ‘But I’m pleased to meet you.’
‘I’m very pleased to meet you too,’ he said, holding back the question he wanted to ask. He offered an elbow. ‘Isn’t that what we do these days when we can’t shake hands?’
Mim offered her elbow in return and they bumped them gently together, laughing.
And finally, there were Peg’s daughters – one tall, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes the same as Peg, and one slightly shorter, still with blue eyes, but softer, almost grey in colour and with honey-blonde hair. The two girls were alike facially, but that’s where all similarity ended, and he knew instinctively what Peg’s husband must have looked like.
The taller of the two gave him a warm smile. ‘I’m Izzy,’ she said. ‘We’ve heard a lot about you.’
‘I’m sure you have,’ replied Henry. ‘And I’m sorry I’ve caused your mum so much upset and upheaval. I don’t plan on making a habit of it, believe me. But it’s nice to finally meet you, Izzy. I’ve heard a lot about you too. And Phoebe, of course.’
He smiled at Izzy’s sister, who returned it, only shyer and not quite as wide.
There were no kisses from these two, or hugs as yet, gentle or otherwise, but that was okay. These were Peg’s girls, her protectors. They weren’t going to welcome him in wholesale, not until they’d got a better measure of him.
‘Sofia’s gone then, I see,’ said Blanche. ‘And Adam?’
Peg cleared her throat. ‘Yes, I think…there was some talk about you going back with them so they could drop you home, but I mentioned I’d already asked you to stay for dinner so…I hope that was okay? I’m happy to take you home myself though, if…’ She trailed off, seeing, as they all could, the vociferous shaking of Blanche’s head.
‘I’m certainly not passing up the opportunity to have dinner with you all,’ she said. ‘And I wouldn’t dream of asking you to ferry me about. Sofia can come and fetch me tomorrow. That is, if they plan on coming to see you then, Henry? I do hope so.’
He nodded. ‘I believe so,’ he replied. ‘They’re letting me settle in first. Don’t want to overwhelm me on my first day out of hospital.’
Blanche narrowed her eyes. ‘Good,’ she said, although Henry wasn’t sure which part she was referring to. ‘Well, that’s a relief. And I think you staying here is for the best all round. Not being funny, Henry, but could you honestly see yourself staying with Adam? The couple of days before Christmas were enough to drive you over the edge—’ She broke off. ‘Sorry, that was a bad choice of words. But being serious for a minute, going back home is not an option. At least, not for a few weeks yet – the hospital still needs to monitor you. And you need to be somewhere you can relax and recuperate. Not become so stressed that your head explodes.’
‘Blanche, you have such a way with words.’
19
29 DECEMBER
