* * *
As they drove alongand passed street after street, Annabel couldn’t deny her sense of elation. At last, she’d allowed herself to move beyond her fears and confusion. She didn’t just feel happy in letting go, she seemed whole again. For the first time in a long time, she truly felt that life was meant to be lived and not justendured.
Almost hugging herself, Annabel smiled. It seemed her new chapter had finallybegun.
She snuck a look at the man beside her. Still able to feel his skin against hers, it was strange to think that only an hour ago they had been in the throes of passion. Even stranger was the fact that they’d finally admitted their feelings for each other. They had been honest and used the ‘L’ word, a word Annabel never thought she would use again. She felt a warm glow burning inside as she realised that Katy and Rebecca had been right. She was lucky to experience this kind of connection for asecondtime.
As if feeling her gaze, Dan turned his head. ‘Everything okay?’ heasked.
Annabel took in his gentle, yet masculine features, his kind eyes, and unruly hair, still damp from his post-sex shower. ‘Everything’s fine,’shesaid.
He raised his hand and touched her face for a second, before returning his attention back to the road ahead. Like her, he seemed happy to just sit out the rest of the ride in contentsilence.
As they neared their destination, Annabel couldn’t help the sense of trepidation kicking in. About to meet the woman she’d heard all about, a part of her wanted to tell Dan she’d changed her mind and to just keep driving.What if his mother didn’t approve?she asked herself.What if she died thinking Dan was making a big mistake getting mixed up with a screwball like her?Suddenly feeling the pressure, as far as Annabel was concerned, the answers didn’t bear thinkingabout.
Dan pulled the car into the car park and, manoeuvring into a space, he turned off the engine. ‘You ready?’ heasked.
Annabel tried to mask her fears with a reassuring smile. She nodded. ‘As ready as I’lleverbe.’
Dan leaned forward and kissed her. ‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘For being here.’ He unclipped his seatbelt, ready to go. ‘And believe me, she’s going toloveyou.’
Annabel followed his lead and got out of the car. As if meeting his mother for the first time wasn’t bad enough, she had to do it in a placelikethis.
Dan gave her a wink, but despite the bravado, she could see his concern. Not necessarily in relation to her and his mother, she acknowledged. He’d always maintained that the two of them would get on. His worry undoubtedly revolved around the building itself and, as they made their way towards the entrance, she could tell each step took all the emotional strength that Dan could muster.Understandably so, thought Annabel. Having never been to a hospice before, the prospect of being met with bad news scared the hell out of her, let alone him. As did the old wounds a place like this couldopenup.
She took his hand as they approached the building and trying to put all thoughts of Tom’s death to one side, for the first time since his passing she refused to let her past interfere with the present. The big glass doors automatically slid open and she gave Dan’s palm a gentle squeeze, letting him know that come what may, they’d face it together; a gesture he seemed to appreciate as he gave her hand a squeeze inreturn.
‘Good afternoon, Dan’, said the receptionist, upon clocking their arrival. ‘And looking a lot less worse for wear, I see.’ She turned her attention to Annabel. ‘Now I don’t need to ask who you are. Isn’t it nice when you can finally put a face toaname?’
Annabel wondered what the woman was talking about and looked to Dan for an explanation. He seemed toblush.
‘I’ll tell you later,’ he whispered, before getting back to the matterathand.
‘How is she?’ heasked.
Annabel noticed the receptionist’s smile weaken. As she looked from her to Dan, she could see thingswerebad.
‘She’s okay,’ the woman replied. ‘The nurses have been keeping a close eye on her.’ She paused. ‘Let’s just say she’ll be all the better forseeingyou.’
‘Can we?’ he asked. Dan indicated downthehall.
‘Of course,’ said the receptionist. ‘Go onahead.’
Annabel felt her nerves come to the fore as Dan led the way down the corridor. She wished that she could have met his mother under different circumstances and she wondered what to expect. Having listened to Dan’s colourful descriptions, she’d allowed herself to imagine a glamourous woman, donning perfect hair and make-up as she casually leaned against her pillows. Thanks to the receptionist, however, that image was now shattered. She felt stupid and silently scolded herself. This was real life not an American soap opera. How could she have been sonaïve?
Dan came to a standstill outside one particular room and Annabel took a deep breath, realising this was it. She was seconds away from meetinghismum.
Dan hesitated before knocking. ‘Do want me to go in first,’ he asked. ‘To let her know thatyou’rehere?’
Annabel hastily nodded. Her apprehension insisted the longer she could delay this, thebetter.
Dan almost laughed. ‘She doesn’t bite, you know,’ he said. He gave her an encouraging smile. ‘Just beyourself.’
‘That’s easy for you to say,’ shereplied.
While Dan tapped on his mother’s door and let himself in, Annabel straightened her attire in readiness. Hearing muffled voices, she crossed her fingers in the hope that she’d be met with a sense of approval rather than disapproval and for Dan’s benefit as much as her own. She continued to feel all of a tither and began to wonder what was wrong with her. She certainly couldn’t remember being quite so jittery when introduced to Tom’s mum for the first time. Then again, she reminded herself, Tom’s mum hadn’t been dying, there didn’t seem to be quite so much at stake. Plus, Annabel had been a bit younger during that meeting and, to be fair to herself, a lot morecarefree.
The door suddenly opened, which made Annabel jump. ‘Bloody hell, Dan,’ she said. ‘Don’t do that.’ She put a hand up to her chest. ‘Are you trying to give me a heartattack?’
