One rainy Saturday morning in October, Libby’s phone began to ring. She rummaged around before finally locating it under a pile of laundry on the bed. She was surprised to see that it was John calling.
‘Hello?’ she said as she answered the call. It was probably Miriam having forgotten her phone.
‘Libby, it’s John.’
‘John! What a surprise! Is everything OK?’
‘I’m afraid not…’ His voice sounded tight and strained. ‘It’s your mother. I don’t want you to worry, but we’re in hospital. She has had a heart attack. She’s in surgery at the moment and the doctors are doing the best they can, but I think it’s a good idea if you get here as soon as you can.’
Libby felt the blood drain from her head. She sat down on the bed. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard. ‘A heart attack? My god, poor mum. Of course, I’ll come straight away. Where are you?’
John gave her the details of the hospital and she hung up the phone. Helen and Henry were away in Florence on a long weekend. John had tried calling her first but hadn’t been able to get through. Trying to fight the rising panic that was coursing through her veins, Libby grabbed the phone once again. She knew that Angus was working on his paintings, but she didn’t know who else to call.
‘Libby?’ Angus picked up the phone on the third ring.
‘Hi Angus. I need your help.’ She started to cry at the sound of his voice.
‘What is it? What’s happened?’ he asked, his voice immediately full of concern.
‘It’s Mum. John just called. She’s had a heart attack.’
‘Oh my god. Is she OK?’
‘I don’t know. She is in surgery. I need to get to the hospital straight away. I hate to ask, but can you come and look after Izzy?’
‘Of course. I’ll jump in the car now. I’ll be with you in five. Libs, don’t worry, she’ll be OK.’
‘Thank you so much,’ Libby said. She grabbed a few things and stuffed them into an overnight bag, her head spinning. Her mother had always been so healthy. She had never had a scare like this before. Memories of her dad dying came flooding back and her eyes smarted with tears once again.
A short while later there was a loud knock on the door. Libby opened it to see Angus standing there in a grey T-shirt with spatters of paint in his hair and on his cheek. At the sight of his concerned expression, she collapsed into his arms and let him hold her as she sobbed. He stroked her hair and rubbed her back. ‘It’s going to be OK,’ he said.
When she had gathered her composure she pulled herself away, running through a list of instructions for the day in terms of looking after Izzy.
‘Just call me if you have any questions,’ she said.
‘I will. We’ll be just fine, don’t worry about us,’ he said. ‘You just go and look after your mum.’
‘I don’t know how to thank you, dropping everything to come and have Izzy. You really are the best…’ She kissed him on the cheek and hugged him tight. She had to pull herself away. She kissed Izzy goodbye and grabbed her bag and her keys, dashing off down the stairs.
A couple of hours later she was running through the hospital corridors looking for her mother. As she turned the corner she saw John, pacing up and down. Her heart went out to him as she saw the worry on his face. They sat side by side and waited for news from the surgeons. Eventually a doctor came to find them.
They stood up as soon as they saw her approach. Time seemed to slow down as she walked towards them down the brightly lit corridor.
Libby’s heart was pounding. Her palms were sweaty and she tried to steady her breathing, to stop panicking.
John reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Libby was moved to see how hard he was trying to fight back his emotions. She could tell it was taking him all his strength to retain his outward appearance of calm.
‘Doctor,’ said John. ‘Is there any news?’
‘How is she?’ Libby asked, desperately scanning her face for any clues.
The doctor smiled at them both. ‘I’m pleased to say that Miriam is in a stable condition,’ she said.
Relief coursed through Libby as she grabbed hold of John and squeezed him tightly.
‘Thank god!’ she said.
John exhaled slowly; he must have been holding his breath.
‘We were able to repair most of the damage,’ explained the doctor. ‘But she will need to stay in hospital to be closely monitored for a few days until we are completely sure she is stable. When we discharge her, she will need to rest and allow herself a slow and complete recovery, avoiding physical exertion.’
Libby and John thanked the doctor and hugged each other, tears of relief falling down their cheeks.
As soon as Miriam had come round from the anaesthesia they went into see her. Libby was shocked at how tiny and pale she looked, dwarfed by her gown and the hospital bed. It was amazing how vulnerable illness made you seem. ‘Mum,’ Libby said as she took her hand. ‘It’s me, Libby.’ Miriam opened her eyes and smiled weakly at them.
‘How are you feeling, darling?’ asked John, bending down to kiss her forehead.
‘Pretty awful,’ Miriam replied, her voice groggy from the anaesthetic. Libby knew that she must be feeling bad, as her mother never usually admitted to any discomfort.
‘I’m going to be your full-time nurse,’ John said. ‘I’m under strict instructions not to let you lift a finger until you are completely better, and I am more than happy to oblige.’
‘Thank you, darling,’ Miriam said to John. She turned to Libby. ‘Does Helen know I’m here?’
‘Yes, I just spoke to her,’ said Libby. ‘She is with Henry. She’s fine. She sends you lots of love and she’s going to come and see you as soon as she gets back from Florence.’ They stayed by her side until she fell asleep again. Then Libby went to phone Angus.
‘Thank goodness she is OK,’ he said as soon as he heard the news.
‘I know. It’s such a relief. It just doesn’t bear thinking about the alternative. How’s Izzy?’
‘She’s fast asleep. I’m just about to tuck into a takeaway pizza and watch one of your DVDs – that is, if I can find one that isn’t too girly!’
‘Honestly, Angus, you really have been amazing. Thank you so much.’
‘It’s my pleasure. It really is. Now take your time, spend as long as you want at home. I can cope with Izzy, no problem; we’ll go to the shops tomorrow and get some food, go for a walk in the park. It’s all under control here.’
It was such a relief knowing that Izzy was in his capable hands. She didn’t know what she would do without him. He really was the most incredible guy. She reminded herself once again just how lucky she and Izzy were to have him in their lives.
Libby spent Sunday by her mother’s side with John, making sure that she was all right. She drove back to London on Monday afternoon in time to collect Izzy from the child-minder, who had relieved Angus of his duties earlier that morning. As Zoe handed her over, Libby held her daughter close and hugged her, appreciating for the first time that the bond between mother and daughter that she experienced so strongly with Izzy was the same as the bond connecting her to Miriam, and quite what a special and unique thing that was.
She drove over to Angus’s flat and rang the bell, laden with cans of beer and bottles of wine to thank him for his babysitting. She was disappointed to find that he wasn’t in. Somebody buzzed her into the building and she climbed up to his flat, balancing Izzy on her hip. She left the bags on his doorstep with a note, surprised at the force of her disappointment. It occurred to her that he might be on a date. She hadn’t asked him about his love life recently; maybe he was dating again and he just hadn’t mentioned it to her. For some unknown reason she felt slightly sick at the thought. She felt absurdly close to tears. Suppressing her emotions, she walked back down the stairs and strapped Izzy into her car seat before driving home.
A few hours later a text pinged on her phone. ‘You didn’t have to do that! You know how much I love Izzy! I would happily look after her every weekend. But thank you. And so glad your mum is OK xx’
She was confused at her reaction to his absence earlier that evening. She wondered if she was becoming too dependent on him. She knew she should be careful. After Luca had left them, she had vowed to herself that she wouldn’t get herself into that situation again. But Angus was different; he had always been there for her. The thought occurred to her that if he did meet someone new and start a family of his own, that would no longer necessarily be the case. Jules had been her friend, too, but maybe next time – with a new partner – it would be different. Her eyes welled up at the thought of Angus not being in her and Izzy’s life. She loved him so much as a friend, she realised just how much closer they had become over the last few months. Perhaps it was a good idea to go into business with him: that way she could ensure that she would never lose him as part of their lives. Plus, she couldn’t think of anyone she would rather have by her side for such an important venture.