The call came at nine o’clock the next morning. Disoriented, Christa groped on the bedside table until her fingers closed over the telephone receiver. “Hello?” she mumbled, pushing the hair out of her face as she sat up in bed. “Christa Shaw?”
At the official, measured sound of the male voice on the other end of the phone, she straightened. Alarm coursed through her. Something was wrong.
“Yes? What is it?” she asked as she tried to get her bearings. Dominic’s plane had landed early this morning. Corfu, as near as she could recall after sharing the better part of a bottle of ouzo with Dominic last night…
“This is Dr Benjamin Abrams at the Royal London Hospital. I’m sorry to inform you that your mother was admitted last night with a gunshot wound to the hip. She’s out of surgery now.”
As he told her that he was cautiously optimistic that her mother would regain at least limited use of her hip, Christa twisted the phone cord round and round her finger. The feel of the cord twined so tightly around her finger was reassuring, somehow.
“Ms. Shaw?” he said when she didn’t respond. “Are you there? Did you hear me?”
“Yes. I’m here.” She slid her legs, bare except for a pair of knickers, over the edge of the bed to the floor and walked to the window. She pulled the drapes aside to peer out; the blinding glare of sun and sea and shingle made her wince.
“Who did this?” Christa asked shakily as she let the drapes fall back into place, returning the room to shadowy darkness. “Why would anyone want to shoot my mother? Why?”
“We don’t know,” he said, his words guarded. “At this point, all the police have told us is that she was walking towards a local cash and carry when it was robbed. Two men ran past her, fleeing the scene. They must’ve panicked, thought she was a potential witness, and shot her.”
“I don’t believe this,” Christa lashed out, her legs unsteady as she grabbed her dressing-gown. “I spoke to mum only the other day. She was fine. Fine!”
“I wish I was mistaken, Ms. Shaw. Your mother was admitted in a serious condition but I’ve just updated her status to stable. She came through the surgery with flying colours, and her prognosis is excellent.”
She choked back a sob as tears welled in her eyes. “I’m so glad. Thank you for calling, Dr Abrams.” She wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “I want to see her.”
“Of course. She’s in recovery now. She’s asked for you.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can. I want to see her,” she said again, her words fierce. “I want to see my mum.”
On Monday, after waiting alone at a table at Prêt for twenty minutes, Gemma took out her mobile phone. “Dad? Where are you? Are you on your way? I only have the half hour left for lunch…”
“I know, and I’m sorry, love. I was just about to ring you. One of my boys got injured on the job, and I’m taking him to A&E right now.”
“Oh… that’s awful. I never knew unstopping a clogged sink could be dangerous. I hope he’s okay?”
“He’s fine, no worries. Plumbing isn’t normally a dangerous trade, mind you, but accidents do happen. He cut himself on a jagged bit of pipe. A couple of stitches and a tetanus shot and he’ll be right as rain.” Milo paused. “What’s wrong, pet? You sound a bit down.”
She sighed. “It’s Dominic, Dad, same as ever. He’s running around with a pop star named Christa, so I’ve left him. Or should I say,” she amended grimly, “he’s left me.”
“What? But – you two were just married! I thought everything was fine.”
“I thought so, too.” Gemma sighed. “I can’t go into it now,” she said as she edged past the people lined up in the queue. “Why don’t you stop by mine for dinner tonight? I’ll make us spag bol.”
There was an infinitesimal pause. “You know I’d love that, Gem,” Milo said regretfully, “but as a matter of fact, I can’t. I’m, well, I’ve got a date tonight.”
“A date?” Gemma held her mobile out and stared at it. “Who with?”
“Well, with a woman, obviously. Your mum.”
Gemma blinked. “You’re going on a date…with Mum?”
“Yes. You remember, she came to your wedding with me, didn’t she?”
“Yes, but I thought that was just a one off.”
“No. We’ve gone out a few times since then. I’m hoping, given time, she’ll take me back. Like you did.”
“Aw, Dad, that’s…” Gemma’s voice trailed off. “That’s nice. I hope it works out for you. For both of you,” she added.
“Thanks, love. I know I did you and your mum wrong, and I want to make it up to her… to both of you. Listen, we just got to A&E, so I have to go. Talk soon.”
“Bye.” Gemma rang off and made her way slowly through the throng to the door. Well… so much for having a bit of company at dinner tonight, then; her husband Dominic was off chasing a new skirt, and even her old dad had a better social life on offer than she did lately.
She’d no sooner put her mobile away when it rang again. Irritated, she dug it back out of her handbag and snapped, “Hello?”
“Gemma! It’s me, babes.”
“Dominic,” she said in frigid tones, “what do you want?” There was a wounded silence. “That’s no way to talk to your husband, is it?”
“At the rate you’re going, Dom, you’ll be my ex-husband soon enough. And for good reason, I might add. What is it you want?”
“Well…I just got back to London last night. I want to see you, babes,” he cajoled. “I want a chance to explain.”
“I just bet you do.”
“Listen,” he lowered his voice “I can’t go into it over the phone, but Christa’s boyfriend is mixed up in some really bad stuff. I had to get her out of there, Gemma. I had to get her away from him.”
“Why?” she asked, and frowned. “Why is she your responsibility?”
“I told you, I can’t talk about it over the phone. Meet me for dinner somewhere tomorrow? I’ll tell you everything then. Please, babes?”
Gemma wavered. “If this is another one of your bullshit stories, Dom, and I find out you’ve been cheating on me…”
“I haven’t cheated on you, babes, I swear it!”
“So you say.” She stepped out of the way as the door swung open. “No promises, Dominic. I’ll think about it.”
“Okay. If you decide to show up, I’ll be waiting in our favourite booth at Vindaloo Vin’s at six o’clock. I’ll see you then?”
She sniffed. “No promises,” she said again, firmly.
Before he could respond, she rang off and thrust her mobile back in her handbag, and turned to go.
“Gemma?”
She froze with her hand on the door and looked up, startled…straight into Jack Hawkins’ unforgettable blue eyes.