“Well, we haven’t had the pleasure of being introduced yet.”
“Granny…”
“What? My daughter’s been assaulted, the café is ruined. I come over and find…him. Don’t I have the right to ask questions?”
“Don’t get wound up, now…” My father’s voice instantly makes me smile.
“Of course I’m wound up – how couldn’t I be? My daughter was nearly…”
“Your daughter is here,” I say, slowly lifting myself into a sitting position on the sofa.
“Oh, my God,” Mum cries, her hands flying to her mouth. “Your face!”
“Mum!” my sister interjects. Then she comes over and hugs me tight. “How are you?”
“I’ve been worse.”
“And him…?” she whispers.
“Not now, please,” I say, nodding towards Mum.
“Got it.”
My sister helps me back to my feet and my parents hug me affectionately.
Evan puts the kettle on and we all sit down on the sofa.
I tell them all what happened – at least, what I can remember – and I try to ignore my mother’s gasps punctuating every word.
“So what are you going to do now?” Dad asks, concerned.
“I’ll think about it tomorrow. I can’t do it now.”
“If you need anything – if you need your mother to stay…”
“That’s not necessary,” Ryan says, sitting on the arm of Evan’s armchair.
Everyone turns to look at him.
“I’m here.”
“Oh…okay,” my father gets up and takes Mum’s arm. “Do you want Evan to come and stay with us for a few days? Just until you’re back to normal.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Evan says, standing up too. “I want to stay here with Mum.”
Dad ruffles his hair and nods, before saying goodbye to me with another hug.
“Call us,” Mum calls from the doorway.
She closes it behind them and I exhale heavily.
“Wow. I complain about my family, but yours…”
“I don’t want to talk about it. Right now, I just want to have a shower. I still smell like the hospital.”
“I’ll help you,” Ryan offers.
I look at him, raising an eyebrow.
