And Isabella had learned, over and over, that very little ended up “all right”.
But she couldn’t think of that now.
She had a plane to catch.
She didn’t know which one yet or when it left but whatever or whenever, she was going to catch it.
* * * * *
Prentice
Prentice stood looking out the window of his daughter’s hospital room thinking that there was only one thing worse than watching your always full of life and laughter wife wasting away in a matter of months.
That was seeing your always full of life and laughter six year old daughter lying in a coma in a hospital room.
These were his thoughts when the door opened and Annie walked in.
Prentice began to smile a tired smile. The accident was two days ago and Annie had barely left the hospital. Debs and his mother had fallen to pieces but Annie had been a rock.
The smile died when Annie, who was setting down suitcases, was followed by Elle.
For the first time in forty-eight hours, Prentice forgot about his daughter and he stared at Elle in shock.
In his memory, both recent and past, he never remembered Elle looking bad.
Decades ago, she was always bright-eyed, pink-cheeked and cheery, a healthy glow emanating from her. She wore even her casual clothes with a grace that made them stylish.
More recently, she was cool and refined, classically beautiful, her poise alluring. She wore her sophisticated clothes with a grace and assurance that made them striking.
Three weeks she’d been gone and now she looked gaunt and fatigued. She’d lost weight. Her pallor was startling. There were soft, blue shadows under her eyes. Her hair was tied up in a mess on top of her head and her blouse and jacket were wrinkled as if she’d slept in them.
Her tired eyes skittered across him and went direct to the bed.
Prentice watched as she lifted her hand, held onto the edge of the door with white-knuckled fingers and her eyes closed slowly.
He wanted to be furious at her unbelievable cheek.
He couldn’t be.
He didn’t have the energy and he didn’t have the capacity when her face filled with the worry he’d experienced gnawing at his gut constantly for two days.
He watched as she opened her eyes, let go of the door and strode into the room to Sally’s bed.
Then he watched as she reached out and touched the cast on Sally’s arm with her fingertips.
Then he watched her head turn from Sally to him.
“I’m sorry, Prentice.”
Christ. Even her voice sounded exhausted.
“Aye. I am too.”
Her head tilted slightly. “Do you mind if I stay awhile?”
Prentice shook his head. “No, she’d like that.”
And she would. If Sally was awake, she’d be in fits of glee.
Elle’s departure had left Jason moody and confused. This had only shifted (slightly) when Elle’s boxes started to arrive.
Sally, on the other hand, chose to think Elle had gone on an enchanted holiday meeting dukes and princes and talking birds and she chatted about all these magical fairytale possibilities and Elle incessantly. Her blind adoration of Elle only intensified when the boxes started to arrive.
Elle grabbed a chair and dragged it to the side of the bed. She dumped her purse on the floor, sat down and got close. Leaning forward, she crossed her arms on the bed and put her chin on them.
Then, with her head turned toward Sally, she started whispering to his daughter.
Annie moved to Prentice.
“I had to call her,” Annie said softly.
Prentice tore his gaze from the bed to look at his friend.
“Aye.”
“She came straight away,” Annie informed him.
If you told him four days ago his daughter would be knocked over by a car and Elle would come straight away, he wouldn’t have believed it. Two months ago, something happened to Annie or Fergus, if you told him Elle would come straight away, he wouldn’t have believed it.
Looking at her, he knew without a shred of doubt she came straight away.
Prentice didn’t know what to do with that so he didn’t do anything with it.
“Aye,” he repeated.
“I know this is going to sound, erm… mad…” Prentice thought most everything Annie came up with was mad but he watched her mutely and she went on, “But, do you mind taking Bella to Dad’s place later? I promised Mrs. Kilbride I’d take her to the shops today. If I don’t go ‘round, she won’t have tea.”
Oh, he minded. A great deal.
And it was mad.
As mad as it was when Annie finagled his last reunion with Elle which, incidentally, ended very badly.
At that moment, Prentice wanted to spend time with Elle only slightly less than he wanted his daughter to be in a coma.
Annie leaned in. “Please, Prentice. I wouldn’t ask if –”
Unfortunately, he was too tired to fight it.
“Aye, I’ll take her to Fergus’s before I go get Jason.”
Annie squeezed his bicep and walked to Elle. She leaned into her friend, Elle’s head turned from Sally to listen and Annie whispered in her ear.
Prentice watched as Elle’s wan face grew ashen and her eyes flew to Prentice.
She tore her gaze from Prentice, looked at Annie and he watched her lips form the word, “Annie –”
“It’s only a ride.” He heard Annie reply before she squeezed Elle’s shoulder.
Without hesitation, Annie hurried out the door not giving Elle time to protest or Prentice time to change his mind.
Yes, Prentice decided, Annie was mad.
“I’m sorry,” Elle said again and his eyes went from the closing door to her.
He didn’t reply to her words.
Instead he said, “I’m getting coffee. Do you want one?”
She shook her head.
Prentice left.
When he returned, her head was back to her arm on the bed but this time it was her temple not her chin resting on them. And this time one arm was slightly extended, the fingers of her hand curled lightly around Sally’s cast.
Prentice walked up behind her and was about to speak when he saw her eyes were closed.
She was asleep.
He studied her tired face for a long moment and then went back to the window. Looking out, he sipped his coffee, wishing it was whisky.
He stood there a long time.
Too long.
It came to the point where he needed to pick his son up from school.
But, God help him, he didn’t have the f**king heart to wake Elle.
* * * * *
Isabella
The ride from the hospital to the school was silent.
They were late.
Isabella was horrified she’d fallen asleep.