It was pitch black and the drone of a distant alarm disturbed me out of the finest dream I’d had in a very long time. There I was, curled up in the arms of Sam on the sands of a secluded beach, in our own little private cove with the sound of the waves lapping all around us …
Damn that alarm.
Sitting up in bed, it took me a second to realise what the sound of the gong was, and over on the dressing table was my iPad flashing. According to the clock it was 3 a.m. What the heck was someone doing, FaceTiming me at this ungodly hour?
It was Molly. I swiped the screen.
‘Huh,’ I managed to say, trying to focus at the bright light.
‘There she is, my gorgeous friend! How’s England treating you?’ She sounded far too cheery for my liking. She paused. ‘Actually, not looking that gorgeous. You look half asleep.’
‘Are you for real? I was fast asleep, never mind half asleep, and I’ve finally got over my jetlag, and you’re waking me up at stupid o’clock.’
‘Time difference,’ she gasped, cupping a hand to her face. ‘I’ve forgotten the time difference. Sorry, sorry, sorry,’ she giggled.
‘Are you drunk?’ I scrutinised her cheesy grin. ‘Yep, definitely drunk,’ I said, pulling the duvet up to my chest and smiling at her. I did miss Molly. It might be three in the morning, but it was so good to see her. I actually felt a tiny pang.
‘A little drunk,’ she giggled again, pinching her thumb and forefinger together.
‘Any reason in particular why you are ringing me?’
‘Just because … just because I miss you,’ her words slurred a little. ‘How’s it going there? Have you booked your flight home yet?’
The question hung in the air and Molly seemed to instantly sober up. ‘You are coming home, aren’t you?’
‘Here’s the thing, Mol, I’ve every intention of coming home at some point, but a little dilemma has been thrown in my way. It’s a long and complicated story.’
‘Spill,’ she stared intently at the screen, waiting for me to answer. ‘I’m going nowhere.’
And so I told her all about Grandie’s offer and, of course, the quandary with Mum and living in New York.
Molly’s words were kind when she advised me exactly the same thing as Grace: ‘You only get one life, so live it. Do what makes you happy.’
Of course I agreed with her, but it wasn’t that simple. Could I put my own happiness before Mum’s, and would I actually be happy if I stayed in England without her?
‘Anyway,’ I said quickly, trying to steer the conversation into another direction, ‘tell me what you’ve been up to and how work is.’
Suddenly, a wide smile spread across Molly’s face. ‘Nothing much happening at the radio station. I got to interview Ben Affleck yesterday,’ she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
‘Whoa! Stop right there. THE BEN AFFLECK?’ I knew I was nearly shouting now and for a second I forgot it was the middle of the night in England.
Molly brought her finger up to her lips and shushed me.
‘And tell me how lovely Mr Affleck is.’
Molly swooned and brought her hand up to her chest. ‘Absolutely lovely, and I told him about my mad best friend off on her adventures to England.’
‘You didn’t?’
‘Of course I didn’t, I had a fangirl moment and spent the whole time dithering over the airwaves while the rest of New York City were probably thinking, WTF?’
I chuckled at the look on Molly’s face. ‘So where have you been tonight to get you a little tipsy without me?’
‘Jay’s friend got engaged, so there was a small party after hours at the wine bar, and we both know what Jay’s like with his free drinks.’
‘Well, he is the best bartender in the city.’
‘And what about that handsome Englishman?’
Remembering last night’s kiss, a huge smile erupted on my face.
‘You’ve met him, haven’t you?’
‘I have.’
‘And?’
‘Sam’s lovely.’
‘I bet.’
‘Right Mols, I need to get some sleep.’
‘Talk to me soon. Miss you.’
‘I will, but at a decent hour,’ I said, blowing her a kiss before flicking off the screen and sliding back under the warmth of the duvet. I briefly considered getting up and making myself a cup of tea, but before I had a chance to climb out of bed I heard the floorboards creak on the landing. Grace was up. I must have woken her while chatting to Molly.
Hearing a light rap on the door, I sat up in bed. ‘Is that you, Grace?’ I whispered, wondering why I’d said that because who else would it be, it’s not as though burglars would be knocking on the bedroom door in the middle of the night.
‘Yes, it’s me,’ said Grace softly, pushing open the door. She was clutching her phone.
‘I’m sorry, did I wake you?’
‘Wake me … no. But why are you awake?’
‘Molly just FaceTimed me, she’d forgotten about the time difference. What’s up, can’t you sleep?’
Grace perched on the end of the bed. ‘I’ve just had a phone call from Mum.’
‘Is everything okay?’ I asked, sitting up, not having a good feeling about this.
Grace shook her head. ‘Afraid not.’
My mouth suddenly became dry and my eyes welled up with tears. ‘Please tell me it’s not Grandie.’
Grace put the phone down on the bed and took hold of my hand. ‘It is. I’m sorry, Alice – he’s been taken to hospital. He’s collapsed.’
Feeling the sudden wrench in my stomach, I felt like I’d been kicked a hundred times, and the tears began to roll down my cheeks.
‘The ambulance has already left for the hospital, but Mum is driving over to collect you now.’
‘Please tell me he’s going to be okay?’
‘He’s in the best place. Get yourself ready, I’ll give you a shout when she’s here.’
Grace stood up and left the room. I heard her footsteps echo down the stairs and the light switched on in the kitchen.
Wearily I stood up, dragged on my jeans, T-shirt and my favourite big baggy olive jumper. I grabbed my phone that was on charge and my bag from the corner of the room, and wiped away a tear before scrolling down to Mum’s number.
I took the plunge and began to type.
‘I need you, Mum. Grandie has been taken to hospital, he’s collapsed. Please come home and see him before it’s too late.’
My hands were visibly shaking as I pressed send. All I could do now was wait for her response.