Unveiled

‘Oh, he’ll agree,’ she replies, too confidently, her hands resting in her lap. Then silence falls and her navy eyes travel between me and William a few times, curiosity rife on her round face. ‘How are you two?’

‘Very well.’

‘Fine.’ My answer clashes with William’s, and we both look out the corner of our eye at each other.

‘Where’s Miller?’ she goes on, pulling our attention back to her demanding presence.

I keep silent now, thinking William will answer again, but he remains quiet, leaving me to speak up. There’s a tension between us, and Nan’s clearly picking up on it. We’re not helping matters in the slightest. I don’t want her to worry about anything other than getting well. ‘He’s at work.’ I start faffing with the water jug on the cabinet beside her bed, anything to instigate a conversation change. ‘Shall I get you some fresh water?’

‘The nurse did it before you arrived.’ She’s speedy with her reply, leaving me redirecting my attention to the plastic beaker sitting next to it.

‘Clean cup?’ I sound hopeful.

‘Done.’

I deflate and confront her curious face. ‘Do you need any clean clothes or underwear? Toiletries?’

‘William saw to that yesterday morning.’

‘He did?’ I throw a surprised look at William and get flat-out ignored. ‘That was thoughtful.’

The strapping man rises from the bed and dips to kiss my grandmother’s cheek, and she accepts on a fond smile, lifting her hand and patting William’s arm. ‘Do you still have plenty of credit?’ he asks.

‘Oh yes!’ Nan scoops up a remote control and points it at the television. It springs to life and Nan settles back in her chair. ‘Marvellous piece of equipment! Did you know I can watch any episode of EastEnders from the last month at the touch of a button?’

‘Incredible,’ William agrees, flicking his smile to me.

I’m stunned into silence as I watch Nan and her daughter’s ex-pimp converse like family. William Anderson, the lord of the underworld, doesn’t look like he’s shaking in his boots right now. And Nan doesn’t look like her spunk is about to be unleashed on the man who sent her daughter away. What does she know? Or what has William told her? They don’t look like there has ever been any animosity or bad feelings between them. They look comfortable and cosy. I’m confused.

‘I’d best be off now.’ William’s soft announcement breaks into my conflicting thoughts and puts me back in the stifling hospital ward. ‘Be good, Josephine.’

‘Yes, yes,’ Nan huffs, waving him away with a flap of her hand. ‘If they set me free tomorrow, I’ll be an angel.’

William laughs, his liquid grey eyes sparkling affectionately at my beloved grandmother. ‘Your freedom banks on it. I’ll pop in later.’ His tall body turns to me and his smile widens at my evident bemusement. ‘Ted will be back to collect you once he’s dropped me at the Society. He’ll drive you home.’

The mention of William’s establishment halts my instinct to refuse as flashbacks of the opulent club start to creep to the front of my mind, making me clench my eyes shut in an attempt to halt them. ‘Fine,’ I mutter, standing and plumping the redundant pillow on the bed so I don’t have to confront the stern look that’s pointed at me for any longer than I have to. The chime of my iPhone is timed perfectly, allowing me to re-focus my attention on seeking out my mobile once I’m done toying with the pillow.

It’s polite to answer someone when they ask you a question.

I should just go home and escape to the sanctuary of my bed, where no one can find me or aggravate me. ‘Olivia, sweetheart, are you OK?’ Nan’s concerned question leaves me no option but to force a smile.

‘I’m fine, Nan.’ Dropping my phone carelessly without replying, I disregard the further reprimands my ignorance will likely spike and make myself comfortable on the bed again. ‘So, home tomorrow or Friday, then?’

Relief floods me when Nan’s concern slips away instantly before she launches into a rundown of why she can’t wait to escape this ‘hellhole’. I endure a whole hour of it until George arrives and I leave Nan filling him in on her grievances after I’ve had a recap of them myself. I’m not certain of many things at this point in my life, but I know for sure I wouldn’t want to be a nurse on Cedar Ward right now.

Just before leaving Nan and George, I receive a text message from an unknown number, advising me that my car awaits when I’m ready to go home. But I’m not ready to go home, and I also know that Ted will have had strict orders from William to take me nowhere else. I also know that no amount of sweet talk or smiles will convince William’s driver to do otherwise.

‘Baby girl!’

I swivel on my Converse and virtually squeal when I see Gregory jogging towards me, the familiarity of my best friend in his grubby combats and tight T-shirt eliminating every tortured thought currently plaguing my mind.

He seizes me and swings me around, prompting another high-pitched squeal. ‘God, it’s so good to see you.’

‘And you.’ I cling to him tightly and let him squeeze me happy. ‘Are you going to see Nan?’

‘Yeah, have you been?’

‘I left her with George. She might be allowed home tomorrow.’

Gregory detaches me from his body and holds me in place by the tops of my arms. Then he narrows guarded eyes on me. I don’t know why. I haven’t said or done anything to be suspicious of. ‘What’s up?’ he asks.