Hello from the Gillespies (25 page)

One hour went past. Two. Genevieve became the family’s spokeswoman. After a third visit to the nurse’s station, she had more news. Angela was out of the operating theatre.

‘She’s in intensive care. They had to remove her spleen, but the operation went well.’

Ig raised his hand as if he was in school. ‘I don’t know what a spleen is.’

Genevieve’s expression softened. ‘It’s here, Ig,’ she said, pointing to her left side. ‘I had to ask too. It cleans your blood. But you can live without it.’

‘So they think she’ll be all right?’ Lindy said. ‘That was all they had to do?’

‘They think so, but they don’t know. She hasn’t regained consciousness yet.’

Nick was quiet. Victoria touched his shoulder. He flinched.

‘Dad, it’ll be okay. She’s come through the operation. She’ll be okay. She will.’

‘It’s my fault,’ he said. ‘I should have driven her down here. What kind of husband lets his wife be tested for a brain tumour on her own?’

‘It’s not your fault,’ Genevieve said. ‘It’s no one’s fault. She wanted to be on her own. And for whatever reason, she went for a drive tonight and had an accident. An
accident
. It’s not your fault, Dad.’

‘But what was she doing up in the hills?’ Lindy said. ‘That’s miles from the hotel, isn’t it?’

‘Maybe she just needed a distraction after all those tests,’ Genevieve said. ‘Maybe she wanted some fresh air. When she wakes up, she’ll tell us everything. Lindy, can you ring Celia and update her? And you better contact Horrible Jane too, find out if your Richard got home safely, or if we need to call in a search party. I’ll ring Joan.’

Joan was shocked. ‘But why was she even up there? Should she have been driving after those tests? And is that it, injury-wise? Do you want me to come down? What about Celia? Is she all right on her own?’

Genevieve didn’t have any of the answers.

A nurse told them the doctor would be out to talk to them soon. While they waited, they ate and drank from the vending machines. Ig dozed, his head on Victoria’s lap. Lindy kept talking about Richard. He’d made it to Jane’s house two hours after she’d left him, a journey that usually took only forty minutes.

She was interrupted by the arrival of a doctor, still in scrubs, and one of the nurses. The doctor invited them into a room down the hall.

As they followed them, Lindy became upset. ‘It’s bad news, isn’t it?’

‘It’s not, I promise,’ the doctor said, overhearing. ‘It’s just more private in here.’ He waited until Genevieve had shut the door. He explained about the removal of the ruptured spleen. ‘She’s come through the operation well. She’s in a stable condition.’

‘Were there any other injuries?’ Genevieve asked.

‘We’re keeping a close eye on her, but her pulse is strong again, the bleeding has stopped. Once she regains consciousness we’ll know more, but the tests so far are clear. The best thing you can all do for her now is go home and get some sleep.’

‘But we live four hours away,’ Lindy said.

It was Ig who suggested it. Aunt Celia’s house was empty. It was only two suburbs away, in North Adelaide. Victoria made the call. It was well after midnight, but Celia was still awake. She rang her neighbour, then rang back. He’d be there waiting with the key. It was a five-bedroom house. Room for them all.

The nurse reassured them before they left. ‘You all need some sleep. We’ve got your number. You’re ten minutes away if anything happens. But it won’t. She’s stable.’

As they headed to the car, Genevieve hugged Ig. ‘That was a brainwave about Celia’s house, Ig. Well done.’

‘Robbie thought of it, not me,’ he said.

Celia’s neighbour was waiting outside the house. Ig had fallen asleep on the way. Nick carried him inside and put him to bed. Genevieve did all the talking, thanking the neighbour, filling him in on Angela’s condition. He and his wife had already turned on the lights and air-conditioning, made up the beds. They’d also left a big plate of sandwiches in the kitchen. The Gillespies were touched by their kindness.

Soon afterwards, Nick said goodnight and went to bed. Genevieve, Victoria and Lindy sat in the kitchen, eating the sandwiches, drinking tea, going over all that had happened, every detail the nurse and doctor had said. Lindy was checking her phone for messages.

She smiled. ‘There’s one from Richard. “
Thinking of you. xx
.” Two kisses. That’s a good sign, isn’t it? Two kisses? Should I write back now, or would it be better to wait for a while?’

‘You are unbelievable,’ Genevieve said. ‘Don’t let a little minor thing like your mother being in intensive care get in the way of a possible boyfriend, will you?’

‘Genevieve —’ Victoria said.

‘No, Victoria, this needs to be said. Seriously, Lindy? “Sorry about your accident, Mum, but look, some hipster boy sent me two text kisses, that’s much more important.”’

Lindy stood up, eyes welling. ‘That’s not fair! I’m as scared about her as you are, okay? I just had a nice thing happen to me today and it’s helping me to think about him as well as Mum. But oh no, you have to ruin it like you try to ruin everything good that ever happens to me.’

‘That is complete garbage. You selfish, self-centred little —’

Victoria interrupted. ‘Genevieve, stop it. We’re all tired. It’s been a bad day.’

Lindy snatched her phone. ‘I’m going to bed.’ At the door, she paused, looking back at Victoria, not Genevieve. ‘Mum will be all right, won’t she?’

‘Of course she will.’

Lindy looked at her other sister. ‘Sorry, Genevieve.’

Genevieve rubbed her eyes. ‘It’s okay, Lindy. I’m sorry too. Sleep well.’

They waited until they heard a bedroom door close.

‘Sorry,’ Victoria said. ‘I couldn’t bear a fight. Not tonight.’

‘I’m sorry too. Thanks for stepping in.’

‘Mum could have died tonight, couldn’t she?’

‘She could have. But she didn’t. Don’t think that way.’

They reached for each other’s hands across the table.

‘I don’t even know what a spleen looks like,’ Victoria said.

‘Then you won’t miss hers, will you?’

They started to laugh. And then suddenly they were both crying.

Ig woke Genevieve just after dawn. She’d barely had any sleep.

‘What is it, Ig? Are you okay?’

‘Can I get in with you?’

‘Sure.’ She moved over and he wriggled in next to her. He gave her a look. She moved again, making room for Robbie too.

They lay there holding hands until Victoria knocked softly on the door. She came in and sat on the bed. She had some news. Moments later, Lindy came in too, sleepy-eyed. Victoria had woken her as well. She’d knocked on their father’s closed bedroom door but got no answer. She’d decided it was best to let him sleep. She’d rung the hospital, right at seven a.m. Their mother’s condition was still stable. She hadn’t regained consciousness yet, but all her vital signs were fine. There was no need to hurry back in. Visiting hours were from ten a.m. They’d be welcome any time from then.

They tried to pretend things were normal, that it wasn’t strange to be staying here in Celia’s too big, too grand house while she was back in their homestead. They had showers and dressed in the same clothes. They had nothing else with them. Afterwards, they sat around the kitchen table, eating breakfast, as if it were a normal day, a normal morning.

They heard the front door open. Nick walked in, fully dressed, carrying milk and a newspaper.

‘Dad!’ Lindy said. ‘We thought you were still in bed.’

‘I’ve been at the hospital. I couldn’t sleep. I needed to be there with her.’

The questions flew at him. How was she? Was she awake? Did she say anything?

She was still unconscious, he told them. There were drips and medical equipment around her, some bruising on her face, but she still looked like herself.

‘Can we see her too?’ Genevieve asked.

‘Later today, they said.’

‘But she’s our mum,’ Ig said. ‘Why do we have to wait?’

‘She’s in a special ward, Ig,’ Nick said. ‘She has to be kept safe from any germs.’

‘I don’t have any germs. I had a shower.’

‘Not those kinds of germs, Ig,’ Victoria said. ‘I know, what about you do some drawings for her? Some nice bright ones that she can put by her bed when she wakes up?’

‘When will that be?’

They all looked to their father.

‘They don’t know. Sometime today, they hope.’

‘I’ll draw her some robins,’ Ig said.

As he fetched pens and paper from Celia’s office, the talk turned to practicalities. They needed clothes, groceries. They’d go to the hospital first, and then make further plans.

The eight a.m. news came on the radio. It was like a signal. Their phones started to ring. Word had spread quickly. Joan was first, ringing Genevieve for an update. Celia rang Nick. There was another message from Richard, on behalf of the Lawsons, saying Angela was in everyone’s thoughts.

Genevieve followed her father as he went down the hall to Celia’s study. As she watched, he started going through her filing cabinets. She was taken aback as he opened drawer after drawer.

‘Should you be doing that?’ she said. ‘Isn’t that her private stuff?’

‘She told me there’s family tree info in here somewhere.’

‘What?’ She felt the same rush of temper she’d felt the evening before with Lindy. ‘I don’t believe this. Mum’s lying in hospital; she was nearly killed, and you’re worrying about your family tree?’

He slammed a drawer shut. ‘Don’t talk to me like that.’

‘Someone has to.’ She lowered her voice, speaking quickly, furiously. ‘You think none of us noticed what was going on with you two? That big freeze? We
all
read her Christmas letter, Dad. We all felt hurt. But we got over it. Can’t you?’

‘This isn’t your business, Genevieve. This is between me and your mother.’

‘It
is
my business. When she wakes up again, Dad, the minute she wakes up, if you don’t sort it out with her and apologise, then I will —’

Lindy appeared at the door. ‘Has anyone got a phone charger?’

‘In my bag,’ Genevieve snapped. ‘In the kitchen.’

‘I just asked, Genevieve. No need to —’

‘Lindy, get out and shut the door, would you? Behind you.’

Lindy shut it with a slam.

Genevieve turned to her father again. ‘I know what you’re thinking. Who do I think I am, breezing back home again, saying all this stuff. I’m your eldest daughter, that’s who. And I would have said something to you eventually, even if Mum hadn’t had this accident. This only makes it more urgent. Something’s wrong with her, Dad. It’s not just the headaches. She’s unhappy. Victoria and I noticed it as soon as we saw her at the airport. We think she’s lonely. Depressed, even. It’s all right for you, you’ve got a hobby, a new obsession, but what about her? What was she supposed to do day after day, night after night, while you were locked in the office, doing your research, flirting with your precious Carol —’

‘That is enough. You’ve stepped over the line.’

‘No, I haven’t. This is my family and it’s my business.’

The door opened. It was Lindy again.

Genevieve spun around. ‘For God’s sake, Lindy, now what?’

Lindy held up a paper bag. ‘Why do you have two pregnancy tests in your handbag?’

It was nearly lunchtime. They were all back in the hospital. They had the waiting room to themselves. Nick was in one corner, reading through the family-tree information he’d found at Celia’s. Genevieve was in the other corner, reading a magazine. Ig was quiet, kneeling on the floor, using the seat of a chair as a desk for his drawing.

Lindy was whispering to Victoria. ‘I’ve already said sorry to her. What was I supposed to do, pretend I hadn’t seen them? They were right at the top of her bag.’

‘You should have said nothing. Or at least said nothing in front of Dad.’

‘I didn’t think. I was so shocked.’

‘Sure,’ Victoria whispered. ‘So much for the sisterhood.’

‘I didn’t mean to get her into trouble,’ Lindy insisted. ‘She didn’t answer me when I asked her about them anyway. She just got madder, said it was a silly joke and hasn’t talked to me since, as if it were all my fault Dad saw them. And why did she have two, if it was just for a joke?’

‘I’ve already told you why, and told Dad why. Because I dared her,’ Victoria said. ‘You know how we always dare each other to do embarrassing things.’

‘When you were fifteen, sure; not thirty-two.’

‘We’re back home, we’ve regressed. Once and for all, Lindy, this is what happened. When we were in Port Augusta yesterday, I dared her to go into the chemist and buy either condoms or a pregnancy testing kit, whichever was the most embarrassing. She chose a pregnancy test. And she got two of them, just to show off. You know what she’s like.’

‘Where was Ig when all of this was going on?’

‘Stealing cars and buying drugs? I don’t know; talking to Robbie, probably. What is this, an inquest?’

Lindy lowered her voice. ‘You’re sure it’s not because she thinks she’s pregnant? Or that you are?’

‘No, Lindy, I’m not pregnant and neither is Genevieve.’

By one p.m. Ig was up to his twentieth drawing. He’d now done enough to cover a wall.

‘That’s probably plenty, Ig,’ Genevieve said.

‘No, it’s not.’

‘Ig, when they move Mum into the ward, she’ll only have a little bit of wall space. She won’t be able to display them all.’

‘She will.’

‘Ig, seriously.’

He put down the pencil and stood up. ‘I want to see her.’

‘We all do, sweetheart. But we can’t. Not just yet. Remember what the nurse said?’

‘I want to see her now. I want to see Mum.’

Nick looked up. So did Victoria and Lindy.

Genevieve moved to take Ig in her arms. He pushed her away. ‘I have to see her. Now.’

‘You can’t, Ig,’ Nick said. ‘Not yet. They’ve asked us to wait until —’

Ig took off across the room and ran down the corridor towards intensive care.

By the time they reached him, two nurses had already caught him. He was crying and struggling. There was a hurried conference in the hallway as Lindy and Genevieve tried to calm him down.

‘Ig, she’s still unconscious,’ Genevieve said. ‘That means she —’

‘I know what unconscious means, but she can still hear us, can’t she? I just want to see her. I want to see my mum.’

A different doctor appeared in front of them. He was young, sweet-faced. ‘Hello, there. Ignatius, is it?’

‘We call him Ig,’ Genevieve said.

‘Ig, can you please calm down for me? And especially for your mum?’

Ig went still.

The doctor crouched down until he was at Ig’s level. ‘Ig, I’m sorry you’ve had to wait. I know it’s been hard and I know it feels unfair that she’s just over there and you can’t see her. You can all go in now. Usually we’d ask you to take turns, but you can go in together, as long as you’re as quiet as possible and don’t stay long.’

‘Can I talk to her?’ Ig asked.

‘Of course you can. That’s a great idea.’

‘Can I hold her hand?’ Ig said.

The doctor nodded. ‘I’m sure she’d love that too.’

It was Angela, but it wasn’t her. She looked asleep, but more than that. There were more tubes than they expected, one in her nose, another going down into her throat. Her face seemed puffy. There were bruises on her hands. Nick stepped back, let the children go to her first. They stood close, staring down at her. Victoria reached for Genevieve’s hand, and then for Lindy’s too.

Ig was the first to touch her. He patted her hand, the tiniest of touches. ‘Wake up, Mum,’ Ig whispered. ‘We’re here.’

There was just the sound of the machines, the sight of her chest slowly rising and falling.

The girls followed Ig’s lead, gently touching her hands, talking to her.

‘Can I tuck her in?’ Ig asked Nick. ‘The way she tucks me in?’

‘Be careful,’ Nick said.

Ig gently pushed the covers in close on either side of Angela’s body, as she always did with him. ‘There you are now,’ he said. ‘Snug as a bug.’

It was what she always said to him.

It wasn’t until they were all back in the waiting room twenty minutes later that Genevieve remembered. ‘Oh God. Mum’s tests.’

‘Tests?’ Victoria said. ‘They’re just monitoring her for now, aren’t they?’

‘Not here. The tests she was supposed to have about her headaches. She had a third day of them today. We should have cancelled them. Dad, what’s the name of her specialist?’

He couldn’t remember. None of them could.

Genevieve went out into the corridor and rang Joan.

‘His name’s Mr Liakos. You should go to her hotel room as well, get her things, check her out. You’re sure you don’t want me to come down, give you a hand? I can be there in four hours. Less, the way I drive.’

‘Not yet, Joan, thanks. We might soon, but we’re okay for now.’

‘I’m ready whenever you need me.’

Genevieve decided to go outside to make her calls. Ten minutes later, she was back on the phone to Joan again. ‘You’re sure it was that specialist? After I finally convinced them I was her daughter and explained what had happened, they said they hadn’t sent her to have any tests. That they couldn’t fit her in anywhere until next week.’

‘It was definitely that one. She couldn’t have had tests anywhere else? Organised them herself?’

‘I asked the same question. Not without a referral.’

‘That’s strange,’ Joan said.

‘You said it,’ Genevieve agreed.

She decided to ring the hotel next. She’d just dialled the number when she looked down the street. The hotel was in walking distance. It would be quicker to go there and explain in person. She could pack up her mother’s belongings then too.

The hotel lobby was quiet. Genevieve introduced herself and explained why she was there. The young male receptionist was apologetic. ‘I’m very sorry. What a shock for you all. But I’m afraid I need to see your mother’s ID before I can take you to her room. I’m sorry, it’s company policy.’

Angela’s handbag was back at the hospital. One of the nurses had given it to them the night of the accident, and Victoria had been looking after it since. Lindy and Ig were away buying sandwiches when Genevieve got back to the waiting room. Her father was still engrossed in the family-tree notes. She didn’t mention Angela’s phantom tests to him yet.

Victoria came back to the hotel with her. The receptionist took a brief look at the ID. He apologised again.

Genevieve settled the bill. A young porter accompanied them to their mother’s room. They were all quiet in the lift on the way up. As he let them in, Genevieve felt her breath catch. Seeing her mother’s handbag on the night of the accident had been bad. This was somehow worse.

There were signs of her everywhere. Her pyjamas at the end of the bed. Her dressing-gown draped across a chair. Her make-up and toiletries in the bathroom. Her book and glasses on the bedside table. There was just a small bag, an overnight case. It took them both only a few minutes to pack everything.

Neither Genevieve nor Victoria needed to say it out loud. It was as if she had died.

They held hands as they went down in the lift again.