CHAPTER 5

SPRING

Caro dropped heavily onto the leather sofa next to the desk where Louise was working on accounts.

“I’ve just dropped Bella and Pat back at their cottage and helped settle Bella into bed,” she said despondently.

“How did she go today?” Louise asked.

“Well, she looks as if a puff of wind could blow her over, and I’m not sure how much more of this either of them can take. I think Pat’s about ready to break.”

Despite all that the nursing staff at the hospital tried to do for her, this last course of chemotherapy was making Bella incredibly ill. Louise, as owner and manager of OWL’s Haven, was in regular contact with Bella’s doctors to ensure that whatever she needed was available for her at home.

Louise put her pen down and studied her partner. Caro’s distress was evident, and Louise rose to join her on the sofa. Caro sighed, resting her head on Louise’s shoulder and taking her hand.

“I spoke to the nursing staff while Pat was getting Bella into the car. They think it would be a good idea for her to be admitted as a patient until she finishes the course. They’re quite worried that she’s having such a bad reaction this time round.”

“There’s no way Pat will let Bella go into hospital by herself, and I don’t see the hospital letting Pat stay each time she has a treatment,” Louise said softly. “How did Pat react to the suggestion?”

Caro grimaced. “They haven’t mentioned it to either of them yet. I guess they didn’t want to add more stress to an already really shitty day.”

Louise sat thinking, an idea germinating in her mind. “There may be a way…”

“What are you thinking?” Caro asked, sitting up.

Louise stood. “Let’s think outside the square.” She started pacing, her default action when she was trying to think. “The hospital wants Bella there so that they can monitor her more closely and look after her, right?”

She turned to Caro for confirmation.

“Yeah, pretty much.”

Louise resumed her pacing, “…and we don’t want Bella and Pat to be apart any more than they do, right?”

“Right.”

Louise smiled and sat down on the arm of the sofa, running her fingers through Caro’s hair. “So the solution is simple. We hire a trained nurse to look after Bella here. That way, she gets twenty-four-hour care, they don’t have to be apart, Bella will be in her own home and both of them will have support from the residents and staff here.”

Caro smiled and closed her eyes, relaxing as Louise’s fingers gently massaged her head. “You are a genius. You know that don’t you?” Opening her eyes, she hesitated as a thought hit her. “I hate to bring it up, but it might be pretty expensive. I don’t know that Bella and Pat can afford it; you know how proud they both are.”

Louise squeezed Caro’s shoulder and stood to walk back to her desk. “I’ll speak to the board and our insurers. There may be a way of offering a long-term payment plan at a slightly reduced rate. These women are family, and if we present the option properly, I think they will be happy to accept the extra help.”

Caro stood and stretched, trying to roll the tension out of her shoulders. “Well, I think it’s a brilliant idea. Let’s hope they agree.”

“I’ll go and talk to them both later this afternoon,” Louise replied, looking for her planner and trying to ignore the paperwork strewn across her desk.

Caro frowned. “You look tired, honey. Why don’t you give yourself an early mark and come home so I can look after you? Take some breathing space before you go and see Pat and Bella. We could even see if Naomi can give us both a massage. Heaven knows I could use one; my back feels like a plank of wood.”

Louise let out a long breath. There wasn’t anything on her desk that couldn’t wait until tomorrow and the thought of a massage and a few quiet hours with Caro sounded wonderful.

“That might just be the best offer I’ve had all day. You, me and a heavenly massage.”

“With warmed scented oil, in a dimly lit room,” added Caro in a sultry voice.

Louise rose and walked into her partner’s arms. “I suggest you stop talking and we start moving now, or I’ll turn around and lock this door and neither of us will be going anywhere for quite some time.”