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Nancy lay on her hospital bed after taking her final breath. Her illness had apparently been short, so it came as even more of a blow to her friend and the hospital staff when she passed away so suddenly.
The ward doctor spoke to Nicola. ‘I am so sorry for your loss. We did everything we could.’
Nicola wiped at a tear as it trickled over her cheek. ‘I know you did. I’m just so...shocked. Her family are going to be devastated. Will she need a post-mortem?’
Smiling with sympathy, the doctor said, ‘Yes, she will, to determine the cause of death. Although pancreatic cancer always has a bleak outlook, I can’t say right now what ended her life. Would you like a few moments with her before she is taken to the mortuary?’
‘Yes, please. Can her kids see her too?’
The doctor shook her head. ‘No, not yet. When she is released to the undertaker, they’ll be able to see her then if they wish. Excuse me, I have to be somewhere.’
With her heart in her throat and a sickening knot in her stomach, Nicola walked towards Nancy’s bed.
She brushed her friend’s hair away from her pale face. ‘I have to make sure you look alright. What happened to you? I didn’t think you were going to die today when I brought you into the hospital. God, I can’t believe it. I’ll have to tell Marcus and Hope; I can’t leave that to a stranger. I love you, Nancy Lennon.’
A pair of porters appeared at the end of the bed, a silent cue that it was time for Nancy to be taken away. Nicola looked up at them, suddenly realising why grieving visitors always carried a pair of sunglasses—to hide behind. Trying not to seem too upset, she said, ‘Have you come to take her to the mortuary?’
The older of the two men nodded. ‘Yes. I am sorry for your loss. Are you family?’
‘As good as. Her husband died a few years ago.’ A wave of anguish stirred deep in her soul. I feel like I’ve lost a partner.
‘I’m sure she’ll be grateful that you were there for her at the end.’
Nicola could only nod as words choked behind a dam of tears. She couldn’t bear to see Nancy being taken away, but she kissed her on the forehead and left the ward in a daze.
The drive to Nancy’s house might as well have been done while she was asleep. Remembering nothing from the journey, she turned off the ignition and looked through tear-stained eyes at the home’s front door.
The mirror on the sun visor showed Nicola to be the perfect picture of nothing but a distraught mess. They are going to know. Come on, Nicola...better pull on my big girl pants.
Nicola stepped out of the car on shaky legs, closed the door, locked the vehicle and forced herself to look back at the house. It’s just a house, Nicola. Yes, I know that, but it might as well have a moat and portcullis; that would be an easier threshold to cross than this.
The walk to the front door seemed to take forever. Oh, God, I hope they are in. Maybe I should have called.
Hearing tapping coming from the inside of the front window, she looked up to see Hope waving with glee as ‘Aunty Nicola’ made her way down the path.
There was no need to knock; the house was as good as a home to her. She let herself in, and Hope ran over to her and jumped into her arms. ‘Hi, Aunty Nicola!’
‘Hi, Hope, how are you? Where is Marcus?’
‘I’m okay, thank you. Marcus is in the kitchen making a drink.’
The young man appeared, right on cue, with a hot drink in each hand. ‘I saw you pull up outside. I thought you’d both like a brew after being in the hospital so long.’ He frowned. ‘Where’s Mum?’
Nicola subconsciously swept her hair behind her ear and ran a hand over her face. She forced herself to lift her gaze from the floor to meet Marcus’ eyes.
She tried to smile. ‘I’m so sorry to have to tell you this.’ As Hope looked up at the older woman with wide eyes, Marcus froze, the colour draining from his face. ‘Your mum was seriously ill, as you know. I’m very sorry to have to tell you this, but she...she didn’t make it. She died today.’
Time ground to a complete standstill. Marcus’ jaw flopped open. He leaned forward and placed the two hot drinks on the table, both landing with a rattle as he fought to steady his trembling limbs.
‘Is Mummy with the angels now?’ the young girl asked, a look of innocence and confusion painted across her face.
‘Yes, darling, she is.’ Nicola scooped the young girl into her arms and hugged her tight. ‘She has always, and will always, love you and your brother very much.’
Marcus fell back into the sofa, his eyes not focussing on anything. ‘What does this mean now? Actually, no, I can’t believe it. Is this some sort of sick prank, Nicola?’ His haunted eyes begged for his mum’s friend to crack a smile, to admit defeat that she’d been busted.
‘No, Marcus, I wish it was, I really do. I am so sorry.’
‘Were you there? Did she suffer?’
‘She passed away peacefully.’ A tear ran down her face. With the dam breached, she dropped her head in her hands and sobbed.
‘I’m sorry too, Nicola. You’ve lost a really good friend. Will you still come and see us?’
‘Yes, of course I will. I’ll be here as much as you need me to be.’
‘Thank you.’ Marcus wiped his sleeves down his cheeks and squared his shoulders. ‘I guess I need to step up to the plate now. I need to be like a surrogate father for Hope.’
‘I know your mum and dad would be very proud of you, Marcus. No one would’ve blamed you for going off the rails with everything you’ve been through, but you’re solid as a rock.’
Marcus sniffed and attempted a smile. ‘I do try my best, but it’s going to be hard as hell over the next few weeks. I’m going to have to tell the curator at the museum about this. I just hope I can stay on the degree course. Shit, I’m not old enough for any of this.’
Hope looked up at her big brother. ‘Are you going to make me be adopted, Marcus?’
‘No, never in a month of Sundays would I do that to you. It’s me and you now, kiddo. If mum and dad can’t be here to bring us up, then I’m going to have to step into those shoes. I’m sure it’ll be fine.’ He looked at Nicola with sorrow pouring from his eyes. ‘It will, won’t it?’
She nodded with kindness, in spite of her heart breaking for them. ‘Yes, you two will make it through. It’s going to be tough, but I think you are even tougher.’