If Eve had ever seen evidence of a higher power in life, it would have been in that moment. Flora spoke beyond her age and knowledge. It felt otherworldly but so right and she knew Myles felt it also.
His sobs broke Eve as he fell to the floor, and Eve and Flora moved to hold him and rub his back.
They said nothing as he cried but, as his tears eased and his breathing slowed, he slowly sat up.
‘When can I see him?’ he asked.
‘You can sit with him now if you like,’ said Eve and Donna nodded that she would look after Flora, while Eve took him to Edward’s bedside.
‘There’s a machine breathing for him,’ Eve said as they waited for the doors to the ICU to open. ‘And lots of wire and leads.’
Myles didn’t respond but as they walked inside, she saw him pause before he went to Edward’s side.
‘Dad, it’s me, Myles,’ she heard him say and she stepped away and moved to the side of the wall where she couldn’t hear or see.
This moment wasn’t for her to witness.
She looked at her feet, still wearing the same sneakers from when she arrived three days before.
She hadn’t showered and was living on vending machine snacks and coffee but she would be by his side until the story was finished. No matter how it all ended.
*
‘They’re taking him off the ventilator today,’ Eve told her mum as she buttered some toast. ‘So I’m going to shower and head in to see him. His parents are calling but they can’t come yet as his mother has had a hip replacement and can’t sit to fly. But she’s very nice and so is his dad. It’s obvious they love him but they’re just a bit…’ Eve tried to find the word.
‘Posh?’ asked Donna and Eve made a face. ‘Yes, that’s it, like they’re not quite going to let their guard down to say they’re worried sick or are feeling desperate about it all. I can hear it in their voices but I can’t imagine you and Dad being so distant.’
‘We don’t know other people’s families or their responses to things,’ said Donna. ‘We are open with our feelings but just because some people don’t say them aloud doesn’t mean they don’t feel them deeply.’
‘I know, it’s just weird,’ said Eve as she spread apricot jam on her toast and ate it as she packed her bag for the hospital.
It had been a week of Edward on life support and slowly he was being weaned from the sedation drugs to try and get him off the ventilator.
Eve was at the hospital every day and it was only Donna who could get her to go home and shower and sleep, reminding her that Edward would need Eve to be strong and well while he recovered.
Hilditch was coming to spend the day with Flora, and Myles was getting ready for school when the doorbell rang.
‘I’ll go,’ said Eve to her mum who was flicking through the news on her iPad.
Eve opened the door and saw a fireman with a box in his arms.
‘Hi?’ Eve said.
‘Hello, I’m from the Crossbourne crew that went to Cranberry Cross. The housekeeper said the family are staying here?’
‘That’s correct,’ said Eve.
The fireman handed her the box.
‘This was found with Edward Priest when we got to him. We thought you might like to know it’s survived.’
Eve looked into the box and amongst a white towel was the little white kitten.
‘Christmas,’ she cried.
The fireman looked surprised.
‘That’s her name,’ Eve said, feeling tears coming. ‘Thank you so, so much.’
