CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Rory sat in the hospital corridor, thinking about Sky.
When she took her helmet her eyes were red rimmed and puffy. It troubled him to imagine her doing the journey alone, upset and in tears. He had to be with her. There hadn’t been a moment’s doubt for him, not a decision to make. He’d done it on instinct. Because he cared about her. A lot.
He’d been surprised how familiar the journey felt, and the surroundings, once they entered Cadogan. Before they took off for London he’d spent a lot of time riding around the area—often to get out of the house because Sky was there, setting off fireworks in his mind and body. It seemed odd that they came back together. Or maybe not?
The general hospital was familiar too. He’d had to go there himself once for a busted rib—courtesy of his dad. It wasn’t dad who took him though, it was Draco and Sean. They insisted he get it checked out, when they saw he was in pain. While the three of them waited for the x-ray results, they talked about their dreams of leaving for London. It became a serious plan. The three of them made a pact.
When they’d hit the road they’d all three consciously split with the town, and their parents. Departing on their bikes with only a backpack of kit, they’d left for freedom and adventure. Draco had given the place the finger as he left, vowing he’d never come back. Rory had glibly agreed. It’d been an immature reaction and it embarrassed him to even think about it now. Of course he’d have to come back one day. His dad wasn’t going to live on a beach in Thailand forever.
Restless, he stood up and peered out the window, glancing at the hospital grounds. This was where Sky had been born. Most of all the hospital surroundings made him think of his mother. Back in Dublin, she’d died in the Oncology ward, slipping away unexpectedly, clutching his hand and whispering incoherent words.
Surreal, a different hospital and a different land, and yet undeniably familiar. The very nature of the place crowded his mind with memories.
“Rory?”
Snapping back to the moment, Rory turned toward the voice.
Rowan, Sky’s sister, was coming toward him.
“Rowan, hello. How’s the patient?”
Rowan came right up to him and stared at him with intense scrutiny.
“She’s going to be okay, thank goodness.” She paused, and continued to look into his eyes. “So, how long have you and Sky been seeing each other?”
“We bumped into each other on the tube, just a few days ago.” It was the truth.
“Coincidence, huh?” She didn’t look convinced.
Rory nodded.
Her eyes bored holes into him. Eventually, she broke into a wry smile. “No need to look so shifty.”
Rory’s instinct was denial. He didn’t want to appear shifty. “I’m not. We get on well. It’s not against the law.”
“No.” She looked almost wistful. “I’m glad you got together, I told her she shouldn’t follow you to London but she wouldn’t listen.”
He shook his head. “She wouldn’t have known where I was, it was chance.”
“She hoped though. I hope you look after her.”
“I intend to.”
“Good. I appreciate you bringing her.”
“Unfortunately we have to head back later today. Her supervisor is a cold-hearted bitch, only gave her today off, even though it was a family emergency.”
“Nice.”
“She needs a better job.”
Rowan nodded, seemingly impressed. “How’s Sean?”
“He’ll be out for Christmas. I’m hoping to set him up with a job at the bike shop where I work.”
She didn’t respond for ages. “Come on, you better go in and speak to Nan. They allow two at a time so I’ll wait here with Gladys, while you take a turn with Sky.”
Rory wasn’t sure he wanted to go in there. Partly because it would make him think of this mother again. Partly because Nan was a bit of a scary lady and he didn’t have the first idea what she would say when she saw the pair of them standing together at her bedside.
“Don’t look like that,” Rowan said with a soft laugh. “You know what she’s like. She’d be annoyed if she knew you were here and didn’t say hello.”
“True.” Rory opened the door.
Rowan waved to her great aunt and held up the cardboard cup of tea. As they exchanged places Gladys nodded at Rory and looked at him with curiosity. “Rory Rattigan, what a hero you are, getting her here so quickly.”
Hero? Rory almost laughed aloud. It was the last thing he expected her to say. And it was pretty damn far from what he felt, with the dubious legacy of his hacker days hammering close at his back.
He moved to be at Sky’s side, and rested his hand on shoulder.
Nan was barely awake but peered at him anyway.
“Hello, Nan,” he offered.
Nan smiled. “Rory Rattigan. More handsome than ever.”
Rory was used to them chasing him off from Sky, this was too weird. She was a woman now, an independent woman, not a crazy kid, that’s why.
Sky looked up at him gratefully. “Nan’s going to be okay, and she’s going move in with Gladys, Rowan too.”
“That must be a huge relief.” She squeezed his hand.
Nan lifted one hand and gestured at Sky. “Have you heard from your mother at all?”
Rory felt her tense. “No, she’s still in Thailand. I’ll contact her if Rowan hasn’t already. We’ll let her know you’re going to be okay.” She seemed awkward. “Rory got me here as quick as he could,” she added, in an obvious effort to change the topic.
“Thank you lad, you were always a decent lad.”
Rory shrugged it off, but it meant a lot to him.
They spent the rest of afternoon visiting time with Nan, then said their goodbyes and took their leave. As they left the ward, Rory noticed Sky was still shaky. He expected her to be happier, relieved that things weren’t worse than they could have been.
“Weather looks grim. We might have to break the journey.”
She nodded vaguely, staring down the corridor.
He followed her gaze. She was watching a woman in a wheelchair being pushed along by a porter in uniform. The woman was fearful looking and had a drip attached to a wheelchair. She scratched her skin nervously and didn’t appear to know where she was.
Sky turned away. “I’ve got to get out of here.”
With that, she took off like a bird in flight.
Astonished, it took Rory a moment to realize what was happening.
He didn’t catch up with her until she was at the bike stand.
She put out her hand for the helmet.
“Wait, talk to me.”
She shook her head.
Thunder rumbled overhead, black clouds scuttling in from the Irish Sea.
If they started their return journey now they might be able to stay ahead of it. He handed over the helmet. “We’ll get on our way. We can talk when we take a break.”
Sky didn’t answer. Instead she pulled the helmet on and snapped the visor closed.
Instinct told him to let it go. For now.