the kids. She’d even changed her food shop to be delivered to save going into Ashbridge once a week. She imagined her mother living there before she’d moved to the forest, away from nature. She must have hated it.
Melissa parked up in front of the characterless white building and walked inside, heading towards Patrick’s ward through a labyrinth of corridors, her hand tight around Grace’s. She was still reeling from that conversation they’d had . . . or that argument. She’d pushed Grace too much, taken it too far. Melissa felt a sense of anxiety as she approached the ward, looking down at her daughter to see if she felt the same. But Grace just peered into any open doorways to look at the wards, hungry to see any drama.
‘There’ll be a lot of tubes around Dad’s bed,’ Melissa said, slightly out of breath because of the long walk . . . and the nerves. ‘They’ve shaved his head, too.’
‘You said, Mum.’
Had she? She couldn’t remember.
A familiar figure approached in the distance, dressed in a nurse’s uniform. It was Debbie Lampard, Joel’s old nurse and one of the original Forest Grove residents. She and her husband had been part of Bill and Rosemary’s ‘crew’, but then something had happened and they’d grown apart. She’d never managed to get out of Rosemary exactly what.
‘People change,’ Rosemary would say.
Debbie was in her sixties now, still working hard in a job Melissa knew she loved. Like Melissa, she’d entered her profession later in life, having been a customer service manager before becoming a nurse. Her four children had left home now, and she’d had twins too, which had brought her and Melissa even closer. She’d been a godsend when Joel was alive, so loving and caring. Debbie saw Joel soon after he passed away in the night eleven years ago and had been devastated by his death too. Melissa often wondered if that was why she had moved away from paediatric care. Of course, none of them had expected Joel to live beyond his thirties, but for him to die so young had been shocking for them all. Yes, he’d been struggling leading up to his death. People forget there are muscles in the heart too, so Joel’s circulatory health was always a concern, and sometimes he had problems with breathing. But none of them had expected to lose him so young. As a family friend and the nurse who was always there when Joel was admitted to the hospital with problems, Debbie took it really hard. Not only had she fought to give Joel the best possible care, she’d also been the one to really encourage Melissa to pursue a career in care. During those long days in the hospital, the two of them would discuss the different options open to Melissa when she expressed an interest in physiotherapy and had even got her on the path of taking up a part-time degree in paediatric physiotherapy after years of being a full-time mum and carer to Joel.
‘Melissa!’ Debbie said now, rushing up to her and pulling her into a hug. ‘I’m so sorry about Patrick. It’s such a shock to us all.’
‘I know, I don’t think I’ve quite wrapped my head around it yet.’
‘You’re strong,’ the nurse said, grasping Melissa’s shoulders as she looked into her eyes.
Melissa thought about the way she’d just been with Grace. ‘I wish I had your confidence in me, but thank you.’
Debbie looked down at Grace and smiled. ‘I swear you grow an inch every time I see you! Look at those eyes too. Such a vivid blue. You’re a real beauty, like your mother and your sister.’
Grace smiled shyly at her.
‘How is Patrick?’ Debbie asked quietly, aware of Grace listening.
‘No change as far as I know, which is probably a good thing. He needs rest.’
Debbie nodded, face serious. ‘I was going to say that. No change is good. You know they’ll take care of him here.’
‘Just like they did with Joel,’ Melissa said with a soft smile.
Debbie’s face darkened. ‘I still think about that boy every day . . .’ She shook her head. ‘Listen to me! Obviously everything with Patrick is bringing back memories of Joel. Anything you need, you just shout.’ She looked at her watch. ‘I’d better go. Take care, alright?’ She squeezed Melissa’s hand then dashed off.
‘Did that lady know Joel, Mum?’ Grace asked her.
‘Yes, she was Joel’s main nurse. Don’t worry about all that, though. Come on, let’s hurry up and