One Summer in Paris(107)

“I called you, too, but your phone kept going to voice mail.”

“I was probably trying to call Ron.”

“So what do you know? What details?”

“Not much. I mean, I know the hospital, but not much else.” She felt an ache spread across her chest. “She probably fell because she was drunk. You do get that, don’t you? This isn’t going to be pretty.”

“Life isn’t always pretty, but friendship gets us through the ugly bits. I’ll be there with you. And if you don’t want me to come with you to see your mother because she doesn’t know me, I’ll wait in the corridor and you can come and talk to me whenever you need to.”

The fact that Grace was willing to stand in a cold, impersonal hospital corridor for Audrey almost tipped her over the edge.

“I can’t believe you did this. No one has ever put me first before.”

“We’re friends. And in the spirit of friendship I’m pointing out that you could do with putting on some makeup or your mom will be the one worrying about you. You look like an extra in a ghost movie.” Grace reached for her bag. “Did you eat before you left? If not, I’m going to pay a visit to the buffet car.”

Audrey hadn’t even thought about food. “I don’t think they sell anything green in the buffet car. Unless it’s mold on bread.”

“That doesn’t sound appetizing. Maybe I’ll buy chocolate bars.”

“Grace Porter, that doesn’t sound like a good choice.”

“It doesn’t, but I know you love chocolate and we can’t all make good choices all of the time.” Grace squeezed her hand. “Stay there. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Audrey watched her go. She was still anxious about her mum, but now she had Grace there she felt stronger. She’d been worried she wouldn’t be able to cope, but now she thought she probably would.

The train arrived in London and she was so glad to have Grace there because she took over. It was raining, but somehow Grace managed to get a cab. Audrey texted Ron to say they were nearly there and when they arrived at the hospital there he was, waiting for them at the entrance dodging the flow of people going in and out of the hospital.

He hugged Audrey awkwardly and shook hands with Grace after Audrey introduced them.

“Thanks for coming with her, Grace. Decent of you. I didn’t expect you to get here so quickly, Aud.”

“I jumped on the first train.” Audrey hauled her bag onto her shoulder. “How is she?”

“She’s out of surgery. The operation went well, although she’ll be out of action for a while because she broke her leg and her arm.” Ron scratched his head. “She was sleeping, but I know she’ll be pleased to see you. I thought you might like a cup of coffee first. Then we can have a bit of a chat.”

A chat?

He was going to tell her he was leaving.

Audrey’s pulse rocketed. Her heart skipped in her chest and she couldn’t breathe properly.

“Okay. Coffee. Whatever.” She grabbed Grace’s hand as they walked to the small coffee shop on the ground floor of the hospital.

Ron found a table and then went to buy drinks.

Audrey felt sicker than she did when she waited for exam results. “This is it, then. He’s going to tell me he’s leaving.”

Grace frowned. “I don’t think so, honey.”

“Why did he bring me here, then?”

“I’m guessing it’s because he wants to tell you more about your mom before you see her.”

There was no time to reply because Ron returned with a tray, three coffees and two prewrapped slices of brownie.

The coffee was murky and looked like nothing anyone would want to drink unless they were desperate.

“Okay, so I thought I could tell you a few things so we don’t have to talk in front of your mum.” He ripped open three mini packets of sugar and tipped them into his coffee. “Don’t judge. It’s the only way I can keep this stuff down. Oh, and I got you these because I know you like them.” He stuck his hand into his pocket and pulled out two of her favorite chocolate bars.

Audrey was touched. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings by admitting she was already full of chocolate, so she ate one and thought that if there was a way of curing her chocolate habit it might be eating it in bulk.

Her hands shook under the table. “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

Ron blinked. “No, although I’ve been here since midnight and I could probably use a shower, but it can wait.”

“I meant, you’re leaving my mum.” Audrey’s throat thickened and she felt a flash of horror. Before Paris she’d never cried. Never. Now she seemed to have turned into a water feature.

Ron looked bemused. “Why would I leave her? I just married her.”

Audrey thought about Grace and David. “Marriage doesn’t mean anything.”

“Yes, it does. It means I wanted to be with her. I didn’t marry her on a whim, Aud.” Ron stirred his coffee, took a sip and pulled a face. “Shit, that’s bad.” He glanced at Grace. “Excuse my language.”

Grace smiled. “No problem.”

Audrey would have gaped if her jaws hadn’t been welded together by chocolate. Why was Ron allowed to swear when she would have been lectured? Grace obviously liked him enough to give him a free pass.