I runthrough the hospital’s reception. ‘Rory Martin,’ I cry, tapping my fingers on the top of the desk while I wait those excruciating seconds for the receptionist to search my brother’s name on his computer.
The image of my brother lying in the middle of the road, hurt, confused. The fact someone could knock him from his bike and then drive off.
The receptionist is speaking again, and I can hear the words but I’m not making sense of them. I stare back at him blankly, my feet firmly rooted to the floor. There’s a small tug on my elbow and then I’m following Mimi down endless corridors.
Rory, usually so full of charm, looks so helpless, lifeless in his hospital bed. He’s awake, and the frown on his face looks like it will never leave. I rush to his bedside, theopposite side to Mauve. Jess, Mimi and Luc hover by the door, giving us some space.
‘Oh, Sienna, I’m so glad you could make it.’ Mauve reaches over Rory’s body to pat the top of my hand gently. ‘Don’t hold his hand on that side. Broken elbow.’
‘I can speak for myself, mother,’ Rory grumbles.
Jess told me gently about the crash after the press had emailed her asking for a comment. I should be surprised that Mauve didn’t call me to let me know, but I’m not. It’s hardly shocking.
‘What happened?’ I ask Rory, trying not to touch him so I don’t hurt him.
‘Don’t ask him that, Sienna,’ Mauve admonishes. ‘Let the poor boy rest.’
Rory’s brows somehow furrow deeper. ‘Was on a roundabout and a car decided too late they were going to exit,’ he croaks, wincing.
I shake my head slowly. ‘How long are they keeping him in here?’ I ask Mauve.
‘At least overnight because he has a concussion, and then when that’s better, they’re probably going to have to operate on the elbow,’ Mauve explains.
‘Can I get anyone a cup of coffee?’ Luc asks from the doorway.
‘Please, Luc,’ Mauve replies sweetly. ‘Sienna will have an orange juice.’
‘I’ll have a coffee too, please, Luc,’ I correct.
‘That can’t be good for your… vocal problem,’ Mauve says.
I let her words wash over me. There is no point in reacting. Tune Mauve out like you’re used to, Sienna. Don’t let this be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Not here. Not now.
But I am reaching closer and closer to my snapping point.
Luc disappears with Jess, and Mimi enters the room, taking a seat on the final chair.
‘Have the police been in?’ she asks gently.
Mauve frowns. ‘It was just a car accident.’
‘They’ll need to take a statement if this is a hit-and-run,’ Mimi explains.
‘No,’ Rory whispers. ‘Not yet.’
A silence settles over the room and the storm clouds in my mind thicken.
‘I don’t know how much use I’ll be,’ Rory says. ‘I don’t remember much. Just that one minute I was on my bike, nearly at Sienna’s house, and then I saw a car doing something weird – I presume to make a quick exit – and they must not have seen me because the next minute I’m on the floor.’
My head snaps to Mauve. ‘This happenednear my house, and you didn’t call me?’ I shout-whisper through gritted teeth. ‘Are you fucking serious?’
‘Sienna,’ Mauve shakes her head and holds up her finger to shut me up. Like I’m a child. ‘Not now.’ She pauses. ‘I thought you’d be too busy to come.’
‘That wasn’t your decision to make. And I’d never be too busy to come.’
‘Do you know what kind of car it was?’ Mimi cuts in.
‘Mimi, what is this? The Spanish Inquisition?’ Mauve questions.
