‘I’m coming,’ interrupted Fletcher.
‘Of course, we’ll all go,’ Jasper reassured him.
Later that afternoon, the four of them drove to the hospital. Ruby explained what had happened on the way there.
‘She was just walking down the stairs when she tumbled on the last few steps. I saw her…’ Ruby’s face crumpled in anguish. ‘She was flat out for a minute or two before I rang for an ambulance…’ She started to sniffle.
Adira grabbed her hand, they were both sitting on the back seat of the Range Rover, as Jasper drove solemn-faced. Fletcher stared out of the windscreen, still looking dreadfully pale.
‘It’s all right, Ruby, we’ll soon see her,’ comforted Adira, praying that Lilly would be OK.
When they entered the hospital, Jasper considerately held back with Adira.
‘We’ll let you two go first,’ he told them. ‘We won’t all be allowed to go in together.’
Fletcher nodded and ushered Ruby into the ward where Lilly had been admitted. Jasper and Adira took seats out in the waiting area.
Fletcher’s eyes swept round the room. He saw her by the window at the end of the row.
‘This way, Ruby.’ He took hold of her arm and strode up the ward. Lilly was asleep, laying small and vulnerable like a child. Fletcher’s chin started to wobble again, before he fought for composure. He had to be strong for Ruby. He pointed to the chair beside the bed. ‘You sit down,’ he motioned to her.
‘No.’ Ruby turned to look him in the eye. ‘If she wakes up, your face will be the first thing she’ll want to see.’
Fletcher stared, open-mouthed.
‘You do realise,’ she continued in an icy cold voice, ‘she asked for you when regaining consciousness.Fletcher, she said,where’s Fletcher?’
‘Oh Lilly…’ he whimpered, looking at the frail, old lady lying in bed before him. Tears stung his eyes again, threatening to fall any second. He gulped back the emotion.
Still, Ruby just stared aloofly at him. ‘You were all she ever wanted, Fletcher,’ she stated flatly.
Chapter 44
The next few days went by in a bit of a blur at Lilacwell. All the villagers were shocked and saddened to hear the terrible news of Lilly’s fall. Whilst making steady progress, she still remained in hospital to fully recuperate and allow the swelling to go down. Lilly had been delighted by the army of visitors who had continually come to sit with her, showering her with presents, concern and promises of assistance once she was discharged. Fletcher had been at the hospital every day on vigil. It killed him having to leave her there at night, wishing he could safely see her home. The Laurels was empty without her. Even having Jasper and Adira there didn’t fill the gap of not having Lilly wandering about in the background, forever chatting to him. He’d been staggered at Ruby’s words in the hospital. Did he really meanthatmuch to Lilly? It was times like this that made him realise just how precious Lilly was to him. Something Ruby would be quick to point out, he thought.
Never having missed a visit since her fall, the nurses had all grown fond of him, as he joked along with them and the rest of the patients, trying to inject a little humour into the place. Lilly’s face lit up every time she clapped eyes on him, which warmed his heart.
‘Once you’re well enough, let’s have that summer ball, shall we?’ he half-teased, loving the look of enthusiasm she gave.
‘Oh yes!’ she squealed, taking him utterly seriously. ‘We could all do with a boost.’
How right she was, reflected Fletcher, anything to make her happy.
That evening, he voiced his thoughts to Jasper.
‘I think it’s a great idea,’ he said. ‘But let’s hire help, instead of trying to do it all ourselves.’ He’d seen it as an opportunity to set the ball rolling with his business ventures. They would need to employ a small team of staff to assist with future events.
‘We’ve always managed before,’ replied Fletcher.
‘Yes, when you were all thirty-odd years younger, not riddled with arthritis or recovering from a fall.’ Jasper looked at his uncle sternly.
‘Yes… you’re right.’ Fletcher cursed himself – of course Lilly couldn’t help, she was far too fragile. And could he really see himself lugging chairs and tables round? He laughed to himself. What had he been thinking? A classic case of the mind willing, but the body unable.
Adira was thrilled to hear of the summer ball when Jasper told her of his conversation with Fletcher the next day.
‘It’d be lovely to see The Laurels host a party again.’ She stared dreamily into the distance, ‘I can just imagine how it used to look in the old days.’
Jasper smiled, loving her passion. ‘Well, it’s a good opportunity to see how future events will pan out. I intend to start hiring staff. We’ll need assistance setting up a marquee, plus catering and waiting on.’
