‘Now, Dad, don’t go blaming yourself.’ Alison smiles reassuringly at me. ‘I’m sure that now you’ve got different painkillers you’ll be back on your feet in no time, Mum.’
I hope she’s right.
We all chat for a while, then, when the meal’s finished, we go into the living room to relax. ‘Did Sam send over the wedding photos?’ I suddenly remember as George sits by me on the sofa. I’m anxious to see them but I know that Sam is a professional photographer and will want to edit and filter to make them look the best they can. Plus he’s doing them for free, as a wedding present to us, so paid work will come first.
‘No, he said he’ll try and do them at the weekend. He’s been mad busy at work,’ George tells me.
He turns on the TV and we watch a film but after a couple of hours I start yawning and my eyes start to close.
‘I think you need to go to bed,’ George says gently. ‘I’ll be turning in myself soon. It’s been a long day.’
‘I guess you’re right.’
George helps me up. ‘You go and get yourself ready and I’ll bring you your night time toddy,’ he tells me.
After a quick wash, brushing my teeth and changing into my nightie I get into bed. George comes in and sits himself down on the edge of the bed, holding out a steaming mug that contains my nightly hot milk and honey. ‘This will help you sleep.’
I take the mug. ‘Thank you. You go up if you want to. You don’t have to stay with me until I’ve drunk it.’ George always insists on sitting with me until I’ve finished my drink and am tucked up ready to sleep.
‘It’s no problem. I’ll worry that you won’t settle all night,’ he says, settling down on the edge of the bed and holding my hand. ‘I can’t wait for you to get well enough to sleep upstairs again. I miss you.’
‘I miss you too,’ I reply. He’s gazing at me tenderly as I sip the drink. It’s warm, sweet and comforting. I finish it off and hand the mug back to George, feeling my eyes closing already. He kisses me and wraps me in a big hug. ‘Sleep tight, darling. See you in the morning. Love you.’
‘Love you too,’ I whisper as sleep claims me.
SATURDAY
44
JUDITH
George is surprised to find me sitting up in the chair, reading, when he comes in to say goodbye before he goes to work the next morning.
‘Goodness, you’re up early!’ he exclaims.
‘I woke up and my foot wasn’t hurting much,’ I tell him. ‘And my head feels so much clearer. I think I’m on the mend, darling.’
‘That is good news.’ He bends over and kisses me. ‘What’s that you’re reading?’
‘A detective book Lizzie bought me the other day. It’s very good.’ I mark my place and put the book on my bedside table. ‘I thought I’d read for a while.’
‘Excellent. But make sure you don’t tire yourself out.’ George’s eyes are full of concern. ‘I have to go to the shop early today so I’m getting something to eat in town, but Alison is in the kitchen making breakfast. She’ll look after you.’
‘I’ll go into the kitchen and help her,’ I tell him. I reach for my walker and am delighted that I don’t need to lean on it so much this morning. I’m finally getting better. I wonder if it’s because I didn’t take a couple of my painkillers yesterday, I slipped them into the drawer on the bedside cabinet so Alison wouldn’trealise. I really don’t think I need as many as she’s giving me, they could be the reason I feel so exhausted.
‘I should be able to move back upstairs to sleep, soon,’ I tell George as we both make our way into the kitchen. I’m determined. We haven’t even spent a whole night together since we got married.
‘I’m so pleased you’re feeling stronger.’ He pats my hand and then pushes open the kitchen door.
Alison looks around. ‘Morning. I didn’t expect to see you up, Mum. I was about to wake you.’
‘She’s feeling very alert this morning, which is great news,’ George says. ‘Well, I’m off to work, I’ll see you both tonight.’ He pulls out a chair for me to sit down at the table, kisses me and then he’s gone.
‘Good to see you looking stronger, Mum.’ Alison hands me a cup of tea and a couple of tablets. I take my blood pressure tablet but leave the others, swallowing it with a sip of my tea. I wrinkle my nose, the tea tastes bitter. I noticed that yesterday too and wonder if the tablets are affecting my taste buds. I’ve heard that can happen with some medications. Even more reason to leave them off. I can take a couple of paracetamol if the pains start to bother me. The swelling is going down now although my ankle is still tender.
‘Not drinking your tea?’ Alison asks, turning around, then her eyes rest on the tablets. ‘And you haven’t taken all your tablets either.’ She looks concerned. ‘It really is important that you take them, Mum.’
‘I’m going to try and manage without them, I think they’re making me feel woozy,’ I tell her. ‘And I fancy some fruit juice rather than tea.’
