‘That’s what it’s really about isn’t it? A free ’copter ride.’
‘Well, it will be lot more fun than the way here, worrying about whether you were going to make it through the night, that’s for sure.’
There was no going back now. She was in it for the long haul, or at least until Will was back on his feet.
* * *
Grace rang Elena from the hotel just before she set off to walk to the hospital for the last time. She started to tell her what had happened, but she only got a few words out before her boss interrupted.
‘Oh, yes, it’s terrible. We know Will, he’s a lovely man, and his employers, Panos and Daphne, are friends of ours. We heard all about the burglary and the stabbing. Such a shock for our island. We will have to increase the security at our place too.’
Grace should have guessed they’d all be mates.
‘But I wasn’t aware of your connection with Will. How do you know him?’
Grace really didn’t have the time to be interrogated by Elena.
‘Oh, we’re friends from way back. Anyway, I’m asking to be released from the last two weeks of my contract, so I can help Will at his house. I only have a few lessons, so maybe someone else can take them on?’
‘Yes, of course. Don’t worry about that. You concentrate on Will.’
‘Thank you. I will move my stuff out of my room as soon as possible.’
‘Oh, there’s no hurry. There are no new teachers starting until September.’
‘Thank you again.’
‘It’s my pleasure.’
The helicopter journey back to the island in the late afternoon light was a delight for Grace, as she homed in on all the little landmarks that she’d missed in the dark.
But her joy was tempered by her concern that Will looked way worse again. He’d graduated from a stretcher to a wheelchair, but by the time they’d got back to the house, and she’d settled him into bed with the help of a paramedic, she didn’t want to leave him again and get a taxi to fetch her stuff from the language school. The journey had seriously taken it out of him.
She’d been expecting it. Phil had always gone downhill straight after leaving the security of a hospital, and being bounced in and out of an ambulance wouldn’t have helped. Will was an unbecoming shade of grey under his tan and his eyes were unaccustomedly dull. But this was the last time she’d compare her experiences. Will was going to get better under her loving care. She’d make damn sure of it.
One bright spot was how overjoyed Karen had been to see them both. Someone had obviously been feeding her as instructed but the poor little thing wanted company. She’d taken the kitten up to Will’s bedroom so he could say goodnight to her, but he could barely keep his eyes open. Sleep was what he needed, and sleep was what he’d get.
There’d been no discussion about the bedroom arrangements, but Grace put herself in the spare room. They were firmly back on track as friends, and for the moment she couldn’t think about anything more than that. All her clothes were filthy, so after a shower she’d borrowed one of Will’s shirts from the wardrobe in her room and put on the last pair of the skimpy lace pants. She’d get the washing done tomorrow.
She peeped into Will’s bedroom, but he was out for the count. The nurse would arrive at lunchtime tomorrow, so she’d better try and get some sleep too.
* * *
The sun streaming through the window and straight into her eyes woke her. She’d forgotten to draw the curtains, and a glance at her phone told her it was already nine o’clock. She could hear movement in the other room. Will probably needed help. She should have set an alarm. She wouldn’t get her Brownie nursing badge at this rate.
Will was half sitting up in bed, but his pillows had fallen off. He was about to put his feet down on the floor so he could pick the pillows up.
‘Stay there. I’ll do it.’
Grace bent over and retrieved the pillows. When she straightened up again, Will seemed to be having some trouble with the sheet.
She put on a bright smile.
‘Good morning. Is there anything you fancy for breakfast?’
Will’s eyes went to her bare legs.
‘Do you seriously want me to answer that?’
