Christmas Eve, 2010
Melinda Matthews’ blood ran as cold as the weather as soon as she saw them, walking towards the group, covered as they were in snow flakes. She was on a first name basis with one of them, DI Larry Meadows. But that made no difference. The look on their faces told her that all was not well.
“Mrs. Matthews?”
A knife sliced through her heart … especially as she saw that Larry could not bring himself to look at her. He seemed content to let his colleague do all the talking; and in all honesty, looked like he would rather be somewhere else.
“Yes?” she swallowed.
“I’m DCI Scott,” he began formally, flashing his identity shield, “And this is DI Meadows.”
“I know who he is. What’s the matter?”
“There’s been an accident,” the DCI said.
Tears sprung to her eyes and stung her.
“I’m really sorry, Melinda,” Larry apologized.
“Lucas?” she asked, swallowing the lump in her throat.
“It’s Miss Watrugwu.” Even though Nadine’s divorce had not yet come through, she had reverted to her maiden name as quickly as possible.
“What?!” Melinda was still confused. The fact that her husband was not the one involved in the mentioned accident did not make it any easier to bear. She had just assumed it was her husband because Stella and Ben had already arrived at the restaurant with some friends, including Eugenia and Stephen, at the private party they had thrown for Nadine. She had not even imagined the possibility of Nadine being involved in an accident. She had spoken to her two hours ago and she had been completely fine. Melinda’s husband, Lucas Matthews on the other hand, was …
“Mel?”
She blinked.
“I’m really sorry but you’ve got to come with us,” Larry said, looking more down in the mouth than she had ever seen him.
She shook her head. “How bad is it?”
They looked at each other … and she wanted to scream. For crying out loud, it was part of their job to deliver bad news. They did this all the time. Why did the rules have to change just because one of them knew her personally? Why were they acting like amateurs now?
“I’ll get my coat.”
“Where’s Stella?” Larry asked.
“Is it that bad?” The irrational part of her mind was working like clockwork. It somehow skipped her mind that regardless, Stella – who was in the bathroom with Eugenia - would want to know.
“You really should get Stella.”
“Mum?”
She turned to see Stella with a mobile phone.
“I’ve been trying to reach Nadine but … what’s the matter?” she asked, seeing the look on her mother’s face.
Melinda swallowed. “Em … there’s been an accident.”
Tears filled Stella’s eyes immediately.
“Is it dad?” Ben asked.
Melinda shook her head and directed her gaze at Stella. Her daughter flipped her mobile phone shut slowly, as her heart dropped into her stomach.
“It’s Nadine.”
“What happened?” she whispered.
Melinda shook her head. “I don’t know. They just said there’d been an accident and Nadine was involved.”
“Is she …?”
“I don’t know yet. I didn’t ask,” Melinda replied, looking confused.
“Is anything the matter?” Eugenia asked, walking back in, from the bathroom. She stopped in her tracks when she saw the looks on their faces.
“Where is she?” asked Stephen, a tremor in his voice.
“St. Anthony’s,” Lucas Matthews said, as he walked into the restaurant with a grim look on his face. He put his arms about his wife, as she began to cry.
Looking at each other, there was no question in anyone’s mind. These people here, and some of those in the living room who loved Nadine, would be in any sort of partying mood for the rest of the night. They would keep vigil at the hospital tonight and some of them would be there all day tomorrow.
Stella wiped a tear from her face and sniffed. This was so unfair. Nadine had been through so much and the last thing she needed was to spend even a second of the Christmas holiday in hospital.
“Cut her some slack, God, give her a break,” Stella prayed for a Christmas miracle before she covered her face with her hands and wept.