Chapter 6
His palm on my nape has been a constant source of comfort since we left New York. At JFK, on the plane, through Heathrow, every available opportunity to hold me has been taken. It has been needed and welcomed. I’ve been quite oblivious to our surroundings, not even getting myself worked up each time our passports have been checked. Between gentle kneads of my nape, my mind has only allowed me to think about Nan.
We had time to buy suitcases. Too much time. I told Miller to go buy them himself, but my order was totally ignored. He was right. I would have only moped around the suite, driving myself up the wall if left alone. So we went shopping together, and I couldn’t help appreciating Miller’s attempts to try to distract me. He asked my opinion on what colour, size, and style of suitcase we should buy, not that my answer counted for anything. After telling him I liked the red, fabric range, I half listened to the reasons why we should buy the graphite, leather Samsonite range.
Once we’ve collected our new suitcases from baggage arrivals and I’ve vaguely registered Miller’s annoyance at the few scuffs on the leather, we emerge from Arrivals into the cool evening air at Heathrow. I spot William’s driver before Miller and quickly make my way over, jumping in the back after giving him a courteous nod. He joins Miller at the back of the car to help load the bags.
Then Miller slips in beside me and rests his hand on my knee. ‘My place, Ted,’ he instructs.
I lean forward. ‘Thank you, Ted, but can you take me straight to the hospital?’ I ask it as a question, but there’s no choice of answer, and my tone tells Ted that.
Miller’s gaze is burning into my profile, yet I won’t allow myself to confront him. ‘Olivia, you’ve just got off a six-hour flight. The time differ—’
‘I’m going to see my nan,’ I grind through a clenched jaw, knowing my tiredness has nothing to do with Miller protesting. ‘I’ll find my own way there if you’d rather go home.’ I see Ted’s eyes in the mirror, flicking between me and the road. They’re smiling eyes. Fond eyes.
Miller makes a point of displaying his frustration with a long, over-the-top sigh. ‘The hospital, please, Ted.’
‘Sir,’ Ted agrees on a nod. He knew it was never up for discussion.
As we break the confines of the airport, my impatience grows as William’s driver weaves through the rush-hour traffic on the M25. We find ourselves at a standstill on more than one occasion, and each time I have to fight the urge to jump out and run the rest of the way.
By the time Ted pulls up to the hospital, it’s dark and I’m beside myself. I dive from the car before it comes to a stop, ignoring Miller shouting after me. I’m out of breath when I land at the main reception desk. ‘Josephine Taylor,’ I splutter to the receptionist.
She eyes me with slight alarm. ‘Friend or relative?’
‘Granddaughter.’ I shift impatiently while she starts tapping on her keyboard, throwing the odd frown here and there at the screen. ‘Is there a problem?’
‘She doesn’t appear to be on our system. Don’t worry, we’ll try another way. Her date of birth?’
‘Yes, it’s—’ I’m halted mid-sentence when my nape is claimed and I’m led away from the reception desk.
‘You’ll get to your nan a lot faster if you listen to me, Olivia. I’ve got the details. I know what ward she’s on, the room number, and the directions to get us there.’ His patience is clearly wearing thin.
I remain quiet as he steers me down the never-ending tunnel of white, my trepidation mounting with each step. It’s eerie, the echoes of our footsteps lingering forever in the hollow space. Miller is quiet, too, and I hate myself for being unable and unwilling to ease his obvious concern for me. Nothing will make me feel better until I see Nan alive and well and throwing some spunk in my direction.
‘Here.’ His palm on my neck twists gently, prompting me to veer left, where a pair of doors open automatically and a sign saying Welcome to Cedar Ward greets us. ‘Room three.’ Miller drops his hold, leaving me feeling unstable and weak, and indicates to the second door on the left. My steps falter, my heart refusing to ease up with its steady thumps. The heat of the ward hits me like a sledgehammer and the smell of antiseptic pollutes my nose. A gentle nudge in my back encourages me to take the handle, and after loading my lungs with much-needed air, I turn the knob and push my way into the room.
But it’s empty.
The bed is perfectly made, all of the machines neatly tucked away in a corner. There’s no sign of life. I feel dizzy. ‘Where is she?’
Miller doesn’t answer, instead moving past me and halting abruptly, taking in the empty room himself. I’m just staring blankly at the empty bed, everything else around me blurring, including my hearing, which only vaguely registers Miller insisting that this is the correct room.