As the lift doors closed Jon cornered Steph and was stroking her hair gently, but telling her firmly, “That is not going to help you know, taking it out on Janice and if the hospital staff see you trying to thump her you will find yourself booted out and banned from coming back, is that what you want? To be banned and unable to see your dad?”
“No, of course not, but there’s a lot you don’t know about Janice, her and Dad,” she said sniffing in an attempt to stop herself from crying.
“I am sure there are lots of things I don’t know, but you need to calm down and worry about recriminations once your dad is on the mend, he has to be the priority, doesn’t he?” Jon gently stroked her cheek.
Steph nodded a little begrudgingly, and as the look of irritation spread across his face she laughed lightly. “Yes, you’re right, you’re always right.”
“I’m glad you’ve realised that at last,” he replied arching a brow as he spanked her bottom lightly.
The lift stopped at ground floor level and as visitors filled the lift, Jon pulled her closer to him and as the man at the front called for who was going where and with Steph’s head resting against his chest, Jon called, “Five please.”
They had been backin the communal waiting area for another half an hour or so and Jon had kept Steph safely away from Janice when the porter, nurse and Eddie returned with Roger.
They all moved towards them and the nurse smiled at them collectively and said, “I will page the doctor now, but I should warn you that we have had some emergency admissions so it could be hours before anyone gets up here, but if you take turns and there is no arguing you can come in and sit with Roger once he is settled.”
“Thank you,” said Jon as they disappeared onto the ward.
Over the next two hours they all took turns to spend time with Roger, but as the nurse had predicted no doctor had made it up to see them when visiting time ended. As they all prepared to leave, Steph hesitated and said, “I think I’ll stay a while longer, in case the doctor comes.”
“They won’t let you in,” said Janice. “They’re strict on visiting times,” she explained.
“I’ll wait out here,” Steph said defiantly.
“Sis, please go home, they’ll ring us if there’s any change,” said Dylan.
“I’d rather stay,” she insisted.
“I’ll stay with you for a bit,” said Jason looking scared at the prospect of his own offer.
Steph nodded as she took her youngest brother’s hand and squeezed it tightly.
Jon looked across at the two of them and thought that they both looked like scared children and although he would never have left Steph alone he was even more convinced that he would stay with the two of them and maybe they could talk. Not about his wife, this was certainly not the time or the place, but perhaps he could find out what the story was with Janice and even get a bit more information on Steph’s past.
Eddie interrupted his thoughts when he looked at them both concerned. “I don’t think either of you should stay, you’re both loose cannons at the best of times, so together . . .” he mused.
“I’ll stay with them,” said Jon reassuringly. “And if anything changes or there is anything to tell you I can call you, Eddie, and you, Janice.” He hoped he was offering an acceptable solution.
“You don’t have to do that,” said Steph.
“I know I don’t have to, but it’s what I will do,” he said firmly.
“I can take care of my own sister you know,” said Jason, obviously offended by Eddie’s lack of confidence in him and Jon’s no nonsense approach to staying with Steph.
“I can see that,” said Jon, impressed by his own ability to mask his total lack of confidence in Jason to take care of anyone with his immaturity and obvious distress at their father’s plight. “But I was thinking that I may be of some use in keeping the others in the loop.”
“Oh, okay, cool,” replied Jason as they all began hugging each other before leaving their two youngest siblings together with Jon.
Nine
It was almost midnight when doctors appeared from the lift and entered the ward.
“What is taking so long?” asked Steph who looked absolutely exhausted now.
“I guess the emergencies have held them up,” replied Jon unsure whether she had really wanted an answer.
“Our dad is an emergency,” protested Jason who was beginning to grate on Jon a little now as he appeared incapable of being anything other than petulant and argumentative.
“But he is stable, isn’t he?” Jon found it increasingly difficult to keep the irritation out of his voice.
