Chapter 24

 

April kept her cap on and the large tinted glasses as she asked at the ward reception where Noah’s bed was. It would have been polite to have removed her hat, but it was easier to risk someone thinking she was rude than show her whole face.

She poked her head around the bay and saw Noah sat on his bed looking at a comic with her sister sat at the side of him. His face lit up when he spotted her.

“Aunty April,” he squealed loudly, and her sister turned around.

April rushed up to the bed and threw her arms around Noah, holding onto him tightly. Her heart constricted; she loved the little fellow and had missed him.

She pulled away. “How’s my favourite soldier?”

“Better now. I might be going home.”

“Brilliant. Here you are,” she handed him a brightly coloured gift bag. “It’s a little something for you because I know you’ll have been such a good boy.” She’d wrapped the box several times for fun. “Unwrap it carefully, won’t you?”

She turned and reached for her sister. “Hello, you,” she held onto her tightly also. It had been over three months since she’d seen her. She inhaled the familiar scent of her. She loved Chloe. Her and Noah were her only family.

“Are you okay?” she asked, pulling away from her beloved sister who looked exactly the same as she always did. Glamour and make-up were not Chloe, that was for sure. Her hair was tied back in a no-nonsense ponytail, and she was wearing her obligatory tee-shirt and jeans. She always looked that way. On the occasions she dressed up, she looked so nice, but those times were rare.

“Yeah, I’m fine, much better now Noah’s on the mend.” She pulled a face. “What’s happened to your lovely hair?”

“I had it coloured and cut short for a change. She removed her cap and ran her fingers through it, “Do you like it?”

April moved towards a stack of chairs and selected one for herself.

“I’m not sure,” Chloe frowned, “I loved your long hair. Did you cut it out of choice, or is it some sort of disguise for your work?”

“Choice, you daft thing,” she replied sitting down next to her sister. “What you think I do for living, I’ve no idea,” she pulled a puzzled face, “it’s nothing like you imagine. The most I get up to is mixing with unsavoury characters who in most cases owe vast sums of money. All I do is find information to try and get it back for the creditors.”

“So, you don’t contact me for over three months and I’m not allowed to call you, I have to text first. And that’s all because you’re a debt collector is it?” Chloe replied sarcastically.

She needed to get Chloe off the scent. If she had any idea she’d been in prison, she’d go ballistic, even if it was undercover. It had been difficult enough. She’d missed her sister and Noah so much. But she couldn’t let her know, she’d have been mortified. The police had even sent an undercover officer to visit her in prison, so it appeared she had a relative. It had all been part of the elaborate undercover plan.

“Enough of that Chlo,” she dismissed, “I’m here now. Tell me what the doctors have said about Noah.

Noah, interrupted them. “Why is there all this paper, Aunty April?”

“’Cause it’s more fun. Like pass the parcel,” she smiled watching his tiny fingers deftly opening each layer.

“Go on,” she prompted Chloe.

“The usual chest infection, but he’s also had a bladder infection as well. That’s why he’s been so poorly.” Chloe turned to Noah, “So that means he has to drink lots of juice, remember buddy.”

Noah picked up his glass of orange and took a gulp, before going back to his present.

“But he’s fine now?” April asked, looking for anything in her sister’s face that implied he wasn’t.

“Yes, until the next time.”

She squeezed her sister’s hand.

“Wow!” Noah squealed, holding up a new iPad minus the wrapping paper, “Look, Mummy, it’s an iPad.”

Chloe raised her eyebrows, “My goodness, you’re a very lucky boy,” she gave her a look as if to say it was far too much for a child. “That must have cost Auntie April a lot of money. What do you say?”

April didn’t care. Technology was the way forward and she didn’t want this little mite to fall behind. He might not be able to walk properly, but she’d be damned if his learning was going to be held back.

His gorgeous little face was a picture. “Thank you,” he reached out for another hug and she gladly hugged him back. It was only seconds, but she savoured him in her arms and inhaled his scent as she kissed his little warm neck.

“You’re welcome, sweetheart, you deserve it. Here, let me show you something. There are some games you can play on it. And look there are some songs for you to listen to.”

April showed him how to click on the music icon, and a catchy melody of a children’s song came on.

“How did you know I’d like this song?” he asked innocently, moving his little body in rhythm to the music.

“I asked the lady in the shop what sort of songs were suitable for gorgeous four-year-old special boys, and she told me Paw Patrol was popular. Look in the box, there’s some headphones as well for when you want to listen.”

“Aw, yeah. Can I play it now?”

“Yes, course you can. Your mummy will charge it up for you at night so it always works when you need it. Here,” she passed him the tiny headphones, “try it with these on.”

Noah put the headphones in each of his ears. His beaming smile said it all.

“Can I go show Jake, Mummy?” he asked.

“Go on then,” Chloe replied, “but don’t go any further than the play room as the doctors are coming round shortly. We need to find out if you can go home.”

Noah swung his legs to the edge of the bed and reached for his walking frame, securing the iPad underneath his arm. He grinned at them both.

“Mind you don’t drop it,” Chloe warned, “here, let me put it in the bag so you can carry it.”

They both smiled lovingly as they watched him manoeuvre his way out of the bay, the gait of his hips swaying from side to side as the walking frame supported most of his weight, and the small wheels pushed him forward.

“That’s far too much for a little boy,” Chloe shook her head, “it’s not even his birthday.”

“Aw, don’t be cross. It’s just a treat as he’s been poorly, and I can afford it.”

Chloe reached and clasped her hand, “How can I be cross when I’m so pleased to see you. I’ve been frantic about you, it’s never been as long as this. Please don’t do it again.”

“I know, and I am sorry. I did tell you it would be a while.”

“Yes, but three months without a word. You know that’s not fair. What on earth was it? And don’t be telling me it was debt collecting again, I don’t believe that for a minute.”

April scrunched her face up, “You know I can’t discuss it. As it is, I shouldn’t be here today, so I haven’t got long.”

“Why? What’s more important than your family?”

“Nothing’s more important than you two,” she stressed, “I’m doing this for Noah. I told you, this is the last job. I want you to have enough money for him to go to the States for his op. That’s what’s driving me.”

“But the fundraising’s going okay, so you’ve no need to break your neck. We’ll get there, I’m sure of it. Which reminds me, I’m keeping everything crossed Noah’s going to be okay for the weekend, there’s a party on the lawn, this Saturday afternoon. There are loads of stalls, and they’re having a band. The blokes are doing barbecue food. Gavin’s in charge of burgers,” she rolled her eyes, “they’re buying two hundred of the things.”

“Crikey, I hope they all get eaten.”

“Can you come? Noah would be thrilled if you were there.”

“I can’t, Chlo,” she winced, “I’m in the middle of a job. But I promise you, when this is over, I’ll be able to see more of you and Noah.”

Chloe’s expression darkened. “Why is it I don’t believe you?”

“You must. Look, at the end of this, I’ll have enough money to make a significant difference to the fundraising. When I’ve finished, Noah is going for that op, I promise you.”

“That’s brilliant, but I do need to see you, though. And this job worries me. I know you keep saying it’s not dangerous or anything, but it must be, or else why all the secrecy?”

“I’ve told you, I can’t discuss it. You just have to trust me on that. I’ve not come to any harm before, and this is no different.”

“You say that, but I’m not so sure. Gavin thinks it’s dodgy, he always says something isn’t right. You only get paid lump sums of money if you are doing something risky.”

“Rubbish. What does Gavin know? I wouldn’t do anything dangerous. Why would I?”

“Tell me where you’ve been for over three months, then? Why all the mystery?”

“You know why. That’s the job. I sign a clause to say I won’t discuss it. I’m not allowed to.”

“I get scared for you, April,” her eyes started to well up, “I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”

“Nothing is going to happen,” she reassured, “a few more weeks and it’s all going to be finished. And I promise you after that, as I said before, no more secretive jobs. I’ll do something different.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” she wiped a stray tear with her finger. “Anyway, tell me, are there any nice men in this secretive world you live in?”

April sighed, “Not so you’d notice.”

“I really wish you’d meet someone and be happy like me and Gav.”

“I know you do, and who knows, one day I might. I just need to finish this job, then,” she paused trying to think of something to cheer her sister up, “I tell you what, just to make you happy, I’ll start dating. I’ll join one of those internet dating sites, how about that?”

“Sounds good to me, there’ll be plenty wanting to take you out.”

“Do you think?” she smiled, “I better get on a site quickly then.”

Chloe rolled her eyes, “What like you’re never asked out?”

“Not lately.” She saw the disbelief on her sister’s face, “I’m telling you the truth,” she grinned, “they’re not queuing up I can assure you. Most of the blokes I meet are married or divorced. And they’re the worst as they often have kids in tow and want you to spend the weekends at theme parks and Pizza Hut.” She shook her head, “Not for me, I’m afraid.”

“Yeah, well, maybe you should have found one sooner then.”

“That’s the story of my life. I’m too late.”

“Don’t be daft,” Chloe dismissed, “it’s never too late. When you give up with this secret nonsense, you might find someone.”

“Good job this is my last secret nonsense job, then.”

“Yeah, I’ll believe that when I see it.” Chloe reached for her handbag, “Anyway, do you fancy a coffee if I nip and get us one from the canteen downstairs?”

“Yeah, a latte would be nice. I’ll go and find Noah and spend a bit of time with him. Which way will he have gone?”

“To the next bay on the left, or if he isn’t there, there’s a playroom at the bottom of the ward. He’ll be in there. I won’t be long.”