Nina’s shoulders were rigid, and her hands were tightly clasped in her lap.Alex and Leo sat either side of her, trying to transmit love and confidence by leaning towards her, and by taking turns to make encouraging remarks.As the minutes went by, these inane comments got fewer and farther between.They had managed to leave Jess, Stan and George at home, but Edward was sitting opposite Alex, pretending to read a battered copy ofHeatmagazine, and crumbling a biscuit in his saucer.He gazed at Alex from time to time but seemed diminished by the hospital’s smell and atmosphere.Edward started suddenly as Alex jumped to his feet.
‘I’m going to find out what’s going on.I can’t stand this a moment longer,’ he said, striding towards the door.
‘I’ll come with you,’ answered Nina, jumping up to follow him, but finding that her legs were so unsteady that she was forced to sit down again.Leo got to his feet.He ached to know how Harry was doing but was frozen with fear when he imagined the doctor coming back to give them bad news.How could he manage without his beloved father?Surely this couldn’t be the end for the loving, dynamic man who had brought up his boys single-handed, and given them security and deep affection in the awful time after their mother’s death, when Harry himself must have been dragging around a grief the size of Newcastle.
‘Look, give it five more minutes, then we’ll all go to find out,’ he promised, ‘they did say that they’d come and tell us if there was any news, and we’ll only get in the way if we go now.’
‘But there must be some news by now.We’ve been here for hours,’ said Alex, going to sit by Edward, who wrapped a reassuring arm around Alex’s shoulders.Leo sighed rather hopelessly and tried not to wish he had someone to hug him.A sick feeling was creeping through his chilled body.He felt like a small boy again, and he wasn’t sure if the huge lump in his throat and the ache of unshed tears were for Harry, or for his mum.
‘Wait, someone’s coming,’ said Nina, and now she mentioned it, Leo could hear businesslike footsteps approaching above the noise and bustle of the A&E ward.He yanked the door open, torn between the need to know and a terrible, leaden dread.
Silence fell and the doctor came into the room.He blinked round at them.It was not obvious who was in charge here.The five faces that greeted him were equally anxious, and by now everyone was on their feet.Leo cleared his throat, terror closing his windpipe for a second.He took a deep breath.‘H… how is my dad?’
‘Ah, you must be the next of kin.Denis Lamb?’
‘No, I’m Leo, my oldest brother isn’t here.Could you just tell us what’s going on?’Next of kin?Those words struck even more fear into Leo’s heart.Wasn’t that what they said when someone was dead?
The doctor looked around at the family.They were uncomfortably close to him in this narrow, stuffy little room.
‘Could we all sit down, do you think?’Everyone did as they were told automatically, perching on the edges of the stained chairs.
‘Well?’barked Alex, clutching Edward’s hand so tightly that the bones cracked.The doctor leaned forwards, elbows on the metal arms of his chair.He looked unutterably exhausted.
‘I’ve examined Mr Lamb, and a series of tests have now been completed.The news I can give you at the moment is largely good.’
‘So, he’s not going to die?Are you sure?’blurted Leo, unable for the moment to take in the information properly.
The doctor smiled.‘He says not.Mr Lamb would like to see you all as soon as possible.He tells me that you will all be “in a right state by now” and that you’ll need stiff brandies all round.And he was also adamant that I should tell you that on no account should you cancel your plans for the café because this is just a hiccup and not a crisis.Does that message make sense?’
Sensing that they were all about to leap to their feet, the doctor held up a hand.
‘Now, before you all head off to see Mr Lamb, and I’m afraid I can’t help with the brandy cure, there are a couple of things we need to talk about.Mr Lamb has suffered quite a severe heart attack tonight.’
There was a collective intake of breath, and Alex said, ‘But he is going to be OK, isn’t he?He will make a full recovery?’
‘I am optimistic that if Mr Lamb senior is willing to adapt his lifestyle somewhat, to take regular medication and to rest for a few months, he will probably be able to function normally in the future.However, you are the people who know him best.Is that likely to happen?’
‘It had bloody better happen,’ said Nina, beginning to cry, ‘or I’ll flatten the old bugger.I’m not losing him now.’
‘We won’t lose him, Nina.We’ll take him home.’Leo saw the doctor’s alarmed expression and grinned, the unbearable tension gradually draining away.‘Oh, not tonight, I know you’ll want to keep an eye on him for a bit, but as soon as possible, and we’ll give him so much TLC that he’ll probably want to strangle us all within the week.’
The doctor’s answering smile was weary.‘Come along then, you can have five minutes with Mr Lamb now, and then I must insist that he gets some sleep.’
‘Can’t I stay with him tonight?’asked Nina, heading for the door.
‘I’m afraid not, Mr Lamb needs complete rest for the moment.’
‘But I wouldn’t disturb him, I just want to make sure he’s going to be all right.’Nina’s tears started again, and Leo moved to comfort her, putting both arms around her shoulders.
‘Come on, Nina, we’ll just have a little while to put our minds at rest, then we’ll all go home.This has been a day and a half.And we still need to ring Josh and…’ he paused, gritting his teeth.‘And Den.’
35
Friday passed by in a blur of phone calls, frantic errands and last-minute panics.The promised newspaper article hadn’t appeared that morning, there was a delay with the flyers, and when the glossy leaflets did arrive, Stan’s friends were too hungover to deliver them, so Mab dealt with publicity on social media, Leo and Edward took to the streets, while Jess and Nina finished the party food preparation and George and Alex added the final touches to the shop sign.It was a work of art, thought Leo, standing back to view the glossy deep blue background, the delicate silvery dragonflies, and the tiny green and gold books that formed the border.He smiled broadly, and waved a proprietary arm at the shop front, as he issued flyer after flyer to passers-by.The sound of cool jazz came from the open doorway and the warm scent of coffee was tantalising.Neither café was providing food today, and some of Edward’s regular customers were disgruntled, having looked forward to tea and wholemeal buns for their elevenses.
‘Opening time’s nine o’clock tomorrow,’ Leo shouted to a group of pensioners heading for the market.
‘It had better be worth our while if you want us to come back specially.The bus fare’s gone up, you know, and Edward always saves us our special table on a Saturday when it’s busy.’The haughtiest lady of the party was unimpressed by Leo’s flyer and dropped it into a nearby bin.
