Declan had told her that he felt the same, despite him knowing it would have given Alice great pleasure.
‘Anyway, I’d better go.’ Jess was in her usual morning rush. ‘We don’t want Maisie being late for school.’
‘And being told off by my teacher,’ added Maisie.
‘We can’t have that, can we.’ Declan had smiled. ‘See you around, then.’
If Declan thought being busy with his accounts had somehow made his feeling towards Jess diminish, then he was wrong. His heart had felt heavy in the days that followed their meeting. As soon as his office was sorted, he would go and speak to her and ask her out on another date. He was desperate to know if there could be any sort of a future for them.
Jess had barely spoken to him the day Alice had shocked them with the news of the apartments. He had taken it as a sign that she was no longer interested in him, but he wasn’t one to give up that easily.
‘Right, let’s get cracking,’ said his mum as she set down her box of cleaning utensils.
Declan had carried the hoover up the staircase, and when she attempted to take it from him, he batted her away.
‘The least I can do is vacuum the carpet, Mum.’ He smiled. He did keep his own apartment in good order after all.
‘If you insist. I will clean the sink and give the cupboards a good wipe down, then,’ she said, marching off towards the small kitchen.
Norman had been around and touched up the paint around the door frames and skirting boards and had offered to paint the walls and ceiling but Declan had refused and hired a painter and decorator. He did not want Norman falling and ending up injuring himself.
Two hours later, with every inch of the office cleaned and his wooden desk polished, Declan sat on the black leather office chair with a feeling of excitement.
A few potted plants had been dotted about, looking good against the white painted walls, along with a couple of comfortable chairs.
‘What do you think, hey, sis? Not bad for someone who left school with three GCSEs,’ he whispered as he looked heavenwards, whilst his mum had gone to make them a cup of tea. ‘I hope you are proud, kid,’ he said as he felt himself choke up with emotion. ‘Because I am.’
In the week that followed, Declan had been so busy with his work he had still not found the time to ask Jess out on another date.
He was mulling it over whilst leaving for work one morning when he spotted an ambulance outside the apartment block. As he drew nearer and noticed Jess chatting to one of the ambulance crew, he felt his heart sink.
He was told that Alice had taken a tumble, and it was feared she may have broken her hip.
Declan popped his head inside the ambulance to find Alice seated and sedated with heavy painkillers.
‘Oh dear, what have I told you about going out on that skateboard,’ he said with his usual humour, although his heart broke at the sight of Alice looking so vulnerable. He couldn’t bear the thought of her not being around.
‘Declan,’ said Alice wearily, reaching out for his hand. He clasped her papery hand in his and willed her to receive some of his strength.
He thought of the day he had first encountered her outside the apartments. He was not ready to say goodbye to her just yet. She had to be okay.
‘I’ll go to the hospital with her,’ he told Jess.
‘What about work?’ Jess asked.
‘My first appointment is not until eleven thirty.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘I will make sure Alice is settled first.’
‘I will come after my shift,’ Jess said to Alice. ‘In fact, I will see if I can finish a couple of hours early.’
‘Oh, don’t you worry about me,’ said Alice sleepily. ‘You have Maisie to think of.’
‘I have packed a bag with essentials,’ Jess told Declan. ‘Nightwear, toiletries, and her phone. Oh, and a bottle of water.’
‘Does she have her phone charger?’
‘Gosh no. I’ll run and get it.’
Jess nipped inside and found the charger as the ambulance crew made sure Alice was comfortable for the journey to the hospital. Declan waved to her as they drove away.
