“Someone needs to go but not all of us.” I stopped speaking as two paramedics walked down the hallway. “Go see Claire. I’ll text you if I end up going. Just keep everyone, and yourself calm.”
Killian spoke to the paramedics, giving a factual account of what we’d observed. They were reassuring and kind, checking the basics.
“Payton, can you and Owen follow in Owen’s car? Mum’s going to go in the ambulance with Dad and Jackson’s gone to get his bike so he’ll meet you there,” Killian said. “I’d go but I’m going to need to stay with Claire and the baby. I don’t want Eliza in a hospital.”
“Sure,” I said, tightening in all the pieces that wanted to crumble. “We’ll keep everyone informed.”
Killian gave me a half-smile and I felt arms encompass me from behind, my back resting into a rock solid person.
“I’ve got you,” Owen muttered and I felt tears pricking at my eyes.
“Stay strong and do what you need to do, but I’ve got you.”
Lips brushed the top of my head and I didn’t care who saw or what they thought. My world was imploding, my centre splitting and I didn’t know how to fix it. At this moment, right now, I needed this, I needed his strength, his arms.
I needed him.
Chapter Twelve
Owen
Payton waspale-faced and wide-eyed in the waiting room. She’d fetched coffees for us all: Jackson, Ava and Eli, who had driven Ava. She had then gone in search of her mother to find out where they had taken her father. Payton had been reassuring and steady, promoting the hospital staff and their work, reiterating comments about the stroke unit and how strong their statistics were. There was no sign of panic or any uncertainty in her body language or expression. She rationalised what had happened and talked about treatments and preventative measures should it be a TIA like we all suspected.
“I’ve seen Mum,” she said, bringing in five bottles of water. “And Dad very briefly. We’ll be able to all see him in another twenty minutes or so, the doctors are just finishing off their initial assessments.”
“What did Marie say?” Jackson said. He’d looked like the world was about to end since we’d left Max’s house.
Payton sat down after passing out the water. “It’s a TIA—transient ischemic attack—and they’re going to do an angiogram and a couple of other tests tomorrow so he is staying in overnight. His blood pressure is high.”
“A TIA is a warning isn’t it?” Ava said. She was standing next to Eli, who’d looked almost as worried. He’d been at Callaghan Green for a couple of years and had worked closely with Grant before he’d retired, and by the look on his face, he’d fucking liked the man.
“It’s the proper name for a mini-stroke,” I said. “There’s unlikely to be any lasting effects but it’s a sign that a stroke may happen. My uncle had one last year. He takes warfarin and has lost weight but that seems to have lessened the risk of a full-blown one.”
The door to the waiting room opened and Marie came in, more colour in her face than earlier. “So your dad is going to have to go on a bit of diet, do more exercise and drink less alcohol. All the things I’ve been telling him since he’s retired. You lot,” she glared around the room, “need to help him and not encourage him.”
Ava went to Marie and put her arms around her, her shoulders shaking slightly. “He’s going to be okay?”
“He’s going to be fine, you silly girl.” Marie pulled her into a hug. “Why don’t you go and see him? Then you can all go back to Max’s and give everyone an update?”
Jackson nodded, putting his phone back in his pocket. “What tests are they doing?” he said.
“Angiogram, the usual blood tests, an echocardiograph and possibly an MRA. He’s scheduled for all those at some point tomorrow. He’s asked if someone can bring him his iPad from Max’s as he wants to Google everything and find out what they’re poking him with. Those are his words not mine,” Marie said, pushing Ava away from her gently. “There’s no need to be upset. I know everyone’s had a shock, but honestly, it’s a good thing this has happened as it gives us a warning that we need to change things. I’ll need earplugs to cope with all your father’s moaning. And maybe ask Simone for some healthy recipes or even to do those cookery classes she was thinking of.”
I glanced at Payton, unsure of who Simone was. “She’s a chef,” Payton said. “Owns the Mount Street Social. And she’s a friend of Vanessa’s. I’ll make us a reservation there.” Her hand slid onto my arm and I was aware of Marie watching us.
“I’ve seen it. Not eaten there though, so that would be good. How’s Grant feeling?” I said, the last to Marie. I could feel Payton’s exhaustion just from her touch.
Marie smiled. “He’s okay. A little shocked and embarrassed. I think it’s been a bit of blur but now he says he feels fine apart from being tired. He’s told me a couple of times to ‘stop fucking fussing’, so his mood is back to normal. They did say he could go home overnight and come back tomorrow, but he’s agreed to stay.”
“In other words, you told him he’s staying.” Jackson had just typed another message again, probably to his other siblings. “Less worry for you because if he goes home you’ll stay up all night to check he’s breathing.”
“Absolutely. Besides, we’d have to go back to Max and Victoria’s and while I know they won’t mind, Seph will be there and I can do without his meltdown and how he’ll fuss your father,” Marie said. “I’ll get a taxi back there when he’s settled. Why don’t you go see him, Ava? Then you and Elijah can get back to Max’s for a bit. Payton, you need sugar else you’ll start going dizzy. Owen, can you take her for some cake and a coffee?”
“Come on then,” I said, taking her hand and pulling her up. “Food before you hangry out on everyone.” I saw Jackson raise his brows and smile briefly.
“I’ll head up with Ava and Eli to see Dad then I’ll head off. Max is going to drop Dad’s iPad off and bring Seph and Callum for half an hour,” Jackson said. “Claire’s staying with Eliza. She says she’ll see you tomorrow and can you send her a photo of Dad so she’s knows he’s okay?”
“I’ll send her one of Dad if she sends me one of Eliza. Then I get the better end of the deal. Right, let’s get you up to see him. Payton, it’s room three on Ward C-Four. Come up after you’ve had food.” Marie patted her arm and led the way out of the room, leaving me and Payton alone.
