‘Thank you. And do let me know how things go with Jess,’ she said, ready to step outside.
‘I will do.’
Alice walked carefully down the half a dozen steps, holding on to the handrail as she did so. Even though Alice’s recent blood work at the doctor’s had not revealed anything immediately life threatening, there was no doubting that she was becoming frailer.
Her doctor had asked her to blow into a tube on her recent visit, and the result had shown a slight problem with her breathing.
‘Which is probably not that unusual,’ the kindly GP had told her.
‘At my age,’ Alice added.
‘And especially with a slight chest infection.’
He had told her then that she probably had the beginning of heart failure.
‘Which I realise sounds dramatic,’ said the doctor. ‘But it just means the heart is working less efficiently, as it does not pump blood around the body as quickly as it once did,’ he explained.
‘I see,’ Alice had said as she digested the news. ‘So my dancing days are definitely over, then?’ she joked.
‘Maybe. Although moderate exercise is recommended. I would suggest carrying on with the walking that you seem to enjoy. Keep moving,’ he had advised. ‘You are obviously strong; just know your limits.’
‘Of course,’ she had told him, reminding herself that she probably needed to hire that cleaner sooner rather than later.
FORTY-THREE
MARK
Mark felt like he was walking in lead boots as he made his way along the magnolia painted hospital corridor with the stark strip lighting.
Lynn had called him that afternoon, telling him the hospital had called to tell her that there had been a rapid decline and their mother had developed pneumonia. They didn’t think she had long left.
The whole place could do with a spruce up, that was for sure, the only hint of luxury being the coffee shop and M&S on the ground floor, thought Mark, trying to distract himself from what awaited him.
He had stopped outside the shop earlier, briefly wondering if he ought to take something for his mother, but then hadn’t Lynn told him that she was barely conscious? Even so, he went inside and mindlessly bought some grapes and a magazine that she would never read.
Several times he had thought about turning back and walking away. After all, what was the point in being here after all this time? Especially if she was barely alive. There would be no resolution with his mother now, even if wanted it.
Just as he was seriously considering heading back to his car, he spotted Lynn entering the building through the glass door at the front entrance and striding towards him.
‘I was just about to text you,’ she said to him as she glanced at her watch. ‘I thought we were meeting outside; I have been waiting for you.’ She seemed mildly annoyed.
‘Were we? Sorry,’ he said, before giving her a hug. ‘Maybe I was considering doing a runner?’ He raised an eyebrow.
‘Were you really?’
‘Not sure. Probably. Anyway, I am here now, so I might as well get this over with.’ He exhaled deeply, his stomach beginning to turn over with nerves.
He knew it must have sounded heartless as he uttered the words, yet he was unable to suppress his inner thoughts. But if Lynn wanted him here, then he would be. For her.
‘Come on,’ she said gently, taking her hand in his as they took the lift to the second floor. ‘And it might actually be good for you to see Mum.’
‘You mean give me some closure?’ He looked at her doubtfully.
‘I’m not sure what I mean.’ Lynn sighed. ‘It’s just that I know you, and I imagine you would always regret not being here. I read somewhere that the person who cuts another person off goes through a lot of pain themselves, despite the decision they make,’ she said as they headed upwards in the lift. ‘Although maybe I am completely wrong.’
Was she right? It hadn’t been easy when he first kept his distance, that was for sure, but lately? These days he hardly thought of his mother, although sometimes she would appear in his dreams. Di would have said it was a sign that there was unfinished business between them.
Lynn curled her brother’s large hand in hers and found his palms to be slightly clammy.
