He knocks on the door of cabin 27. This is a much better idea, after last night’s setback.
The cop insisted on escorting him back down to the main reception on the ground floor. Jim was on the front desk. Luckily, he remembered they’d brought in a man who’d had a heart attack during the week so he told Jim he wanted to check in on a patient, but had been given the wrong ward name. When the police officer realized he was a paramedic – a member of the bluelight family – he couldn’t do enough for him, falling over himself to apologize, he was. He accepted the idiot’s apology, of course, told him he understood he was only doing his job.
The CSI opens the door, towel-drying her hair. She’s so like Danielle, it takes all his resolve not to start at the sight of her.
‘Simon, hello, er, is everything all right?’
Through his uniform, his heart is pounding.
‘Yes, sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I said to the other paramedics I’d drop by and ask how Megan is. We’re all very worried about your daughter, but I didn’t like to disturb you on the ward. One of the nurses said you’d gone home.’
She relaxes.
‘Oh, I see. Yes, I just came back to shower and change. I’m heading back to the hospital now.’
‘We heard she was still in a coma. We’re all praying for her to recover.’
‘That’s very kind of you. Thank you and please pass my thanks on to your colleagues.’
‘We bought this for you. It’s not much, but we wanted you to know that we’re thinking of you.’ He holds out a card. She stares down at it. ‘It’s affected us all really badly, if I’m honest. I can’t get the image of Megan out of my head.’
She smiles and steps to one side.
‘Why don’t you come in for a moment?’
They enter the living room with a small kitchenette to one side. There’s a pile of unopened cards on the kitchen bar so he tucks his in among them. He’s rather proud of it. It wasn’t cheap either.
She directs him to a large, lumpy sofa facing a huge mural of a Caribbean beach that has been spoiled with childish drawings of boats and people swimming.
Those full lips of hers are still smiling.
‘I never thanked you and Trisha properly for what you did. Megan wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for your actions.’
‘I’m just glad we got there in time. How is she?’
‘Actually, she’s beginning to respond.’
No. That can’t be.
‘That’s fantastic news. Did she say anything?’
‘No, it’s much too soon for that. When I say respond, her eyelids flickered to the sound of my friend singing.’
‘So she’s not awake?’
‘No. Not yet.’
‘But you’re still expecting her to wake up?’
She frowns at him.
‘Yes, of course.’
He pulls back.
‘We know so little about the brain, don’t we? You hear of people waking up after months of being in a coma as if nothing has happened to them.’
‘Yes, that’s true.’
‘Although I guess she won’t remember anything of the attack.’
‘No, the doctor says she’s very unlikely to have any memory of that day, but maybe that’s a good thing. I’m not sure I want her to remember any of this.’
‘I can understand that.’ Of course, she won’t remember! He knows that. He’s a paramedic.
The CSI stands up, signalling their conversation is over.
‘Anyway, it was very thoughtful of you to drop by and thank you for the card, but I ought to get back to the hospital.’
She moves towards the door, but he hangs back. He doesn’t want their conversation to end.
‘Are you OK?’ she asks.
‘I’m fine. Just a bit upset about everything, that’s all.’
‘I know. I understand.’
‘I can’t imagine how you felt when you found out.’
‘Yes, it was terrible.’
‘You’re a CSI. You’ve seen lots of terrible things, but it’s different when it’s your own flesh and blood. The paramedics with kids always say their worst nightmare would be to attend an incident and discover it’s their own child.’
‘Yes. I can understand that.’
‘How do you even begin to come to terms with that?’
‘We’re just taking things day by day. Look, I’m sorry to rush you, but I really need to go.’
She walks towards the front door and holds it open for him, signalling for him to leave, but he isn’t finished.
‘Your daughter spoke before she lost consciousness.’
It isn’t true, of course, but she closes the door. The hospital and her daughter can wait, after all. Satisfaction fires his insides.
‘Megan spoke?’
‘As I held her in my arms.’
Her body stiffens as if she’s trying to absorb an electric shock that’s passed through her.
‘What did she say?’ Her dark brown eyes trawl his for the answer. He couldn’t look away even if he wanted. She’s bewitched him. She moves so close to him he could almost reach out and touch her. ‘Simon, what did she say?’
‘I think she thought I was you. She just said, “Mum, I’m sorry.”’
Her lips part to take a tiny breath and her face pinches like the oxygen in her lungs has been replaced with poisonous gas.
‘I see.’ She exhales the words.
‘I thought it might help to know she was thinking of you before she lost consciousness.’
She smiles.
‘It has. Thank you, Simon.’