Francesca, page 46
My eyes filled up, and panic gripped my chest. ‘Why can’t I go to the hospital, Julie? Does Elle know?’
Julie informed me that Elle had been there all night. ‘Let me work on Jake, Fran. He’s upset and tired at the moment. I will explain more when I see you.’
So that was why I hadn’t heard from Elle. I had been in total ignorance all morning. I turned up the volume on the television, and there it was. The motorway was covered with fire engines and police. There were parts of cars scattered along the road. Then I heard the unthinkable. ‘Tony Lambrianu, famous nightclub owner and playboy, was in the accident. His condition has been reported as critical.’ It was official. Tears fell down my face. I didn’t know what to do.
Suddenly, a strange thought occurred to me. Tony had had a heart attack around four this morning? That was around the time I was woken up with a start. I wasn’t a great believer in superstition, but the time coincided with when I had heard my name. No, that was ridiculous, wasn’t it? Had Tony said my name this morning?
I carried on in autopilot mode. Although I tried keeping busy, I couldn’t concentrate on anything. I waited all day for a telephone call from Julie, but there was nothing. When I picked Bobby up from school, it was obvious everyone had seen the news or read the newspapers. Tony’s accident was hot gossip and I had known nothing about it. I knew. They were all looking at me sympathetically and the boards outside the newsagents were displaying today’s headlines (which of course were about Tony and the crash).
When Ralph and Julie got back to the hospital, it was late afternoon. Tony was in a side ward in intensive care. Jake, Elle, and Sharon were at his bedside. The mood was sombre. Everyone had run out of conversation. Ralph handed Elle the holdall of clothing. He had also had some sandwiches and flasks made up for them all.
Tony was sedated. Elle informed them that he seemed to be breathing for himself now but was still under observation. Both his arms were in plaster casts, and you could see the dressing over the incision they had made in to his chest to drain it.
They ate the sandwiches, although none of them were really hungry.
‘When we’re able to move him,’ said Ralph, taking charge, ‘I’ll organise for him to be taken to a private hospital in London, which will be closer for everyone.’
Everyone nodded. It was Sharon who spoke up and thanked Ralph, not knowing what else to say.
Julie stuck her chin out, and Ralph knew that meant trouble. ‘I have told Francesca about Tony. She didn’t know. She wants to see him. Is that okay?’
She waited and saw Jake’s face flush red. ‘No, it bloody isn’t. She has no right to come here. She’s not family,’ Jake barked. He was angry Julie had gone against him and told Fran.
Now Julie was angry. She couldn’t help herself. She felt Jake was wrong for blaming Fran for all of this. Everyone’s nerves were fraught.
‘So, if that is the case, Jake’—Julie pointed at Sharon— ‘she is not family either. What the hell is she doing here then?’
‘Stop it, Julie,’ Ralph butted in. ‘You’re making things worse than they are, and we don’t need any more upset.’ Ralph was trying to ease the situation, but he could see Julie wasn’t going to give up.
‘No, I won’t,’ Julie snapped. ‘What is this, the ex-wives’ club, and Francesca’s not invited?’ She waved her finger at Sharon. ‘Shouldn’t you be at home cooking your boyfriend’s dinner, sweetheart? No, you’re not. And we all know why, don’t we?’
Sharon looked at the floor. She was embarrassed and hurt.
Jake flew to her aid. ‘I rang her, and she was good enough to come and support me. She has known Tony a very long time. Keep out of it, Julie, will you? Ralph, keep her under control, will you?’
Everyone started arguing.
But Julie would not give up. She obviously knew something. ‘Don’t shout at me, Jake,’ Julie snapped at him, ‘because I know her new boyfriend has left her and gone to live in America. I also know he doesn’t have a clue about that.’ Julie pointed to Sharon’s stomach.
Everyone turned around and looked at Sharon. This was a revelation indeed. Jake looked at Sharon. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Did Julie Gold make it her business to know everything about everyone?
Sharon nodded her head. She wiped a tear from her face and nodded at Julie, and then she turned to Jake. ‘She’s right. You all know Julie is never wrong. He got offered a job in America, and I didn’t want to go with him. It was for the best that we parted. And yes, I’m pregnant. How did you know, Julie?’ Sharon paused and waited.
Suddenly, Tony had gone to the back of everyone’s minds. This was a revelation indeed.
‘Well,’ Julie started with a smug satisfied grin on her face. She had certainly thrown the cat amongst the pigeons. ‘For a woman who likes her champagne, you haven’t touched a drop in weeks. And considering you have just been dumped, I would have thought that was a good reason to have a drink, wouldn’t you? Let’s say it takes one to know one. And don’t ever underestimate me. I make it my business to know who ralph is dealing with.’
Sharon was looking at Julie, not knowing what to say. Her secret was out. This was not the way she had planned it. She had thought about going away somewhere to have her baby. That way, no one would be any the wiser.
Jake took hold of Sharon’s hand and squeezed it. ‘Did he leave you when he found out you were pregnant, Sharon?’ His tone was softer, and he had calmed down a lot.
Sharon shook her head. Now was the time for the truth. ‘No, Jake. He doesn’t know. That would complicate things. It seems he didn’t like the hours I worked, and I was never there. He worked nine to five, and so things started going wrong between us. Then he got this job offer. I declined. I felt he asked me to go with him out of loyalty. Telling him I was pregnant seemed pointless. So there you are.’ Sharon let out a sigh.
Elle went towards her and gave her a hug.
‘Jake,’ said Elle, ‘I don’t want you to regret not letting Francesca come and see Tony. He seems to be over the worst of it now. Don’t let this come between you. As much as Tony would object, he would let Sharon come and see you, wouldn’t he?’
Jake knew Elle was right. After all, Tony had known all along that he and Sharon were divorcing, and yet he had still treated her with respect for his sake.
Jake didn’t know what to do for the best. What if Tony would be angry that he had let Fran come and visit him?
‘Shush,’ said Elle. ‘Tony’s waking. What did he say? He’s mumbling something. What is it, Jake?’
Elle and Jake both bent down as close to Tony’s mouth as they could to hear what he was mumbling in his delirium.
‘Francesca.’ The word slowly whispered out of Tony’s mouth made the decision.
Elle and Jake looked up at each other. Tony had heard them arguing, and this was a sign. Now he knew what to do. Jake stood up and turned to Ralph. ‘Is your car still here?’
Ralph nodded.
‘Send a car for Francesca. I want her here now—no excuses.’
Julie breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God Tony had had the last word. She waited while Ralph telephoned his driver to fetch Francesca.
‘Don’t be too hard on Jake, Julie,’ Elle said while Ralph was sorting out a car and Jake and Sharon had gone to get a doctor. ‘Jake’s parents were killed in a car crash when he was a young boy. That’s why he is so distraught. He can’t lose everyone he loves in a car crash, Julie.’
Julie was going to tell her that she knew, but then the doctors came in to check on Tony. Apparently he was still unconscious, just delirious. They would consider having to put him in an induced coma. But, they explained, it happened all of the time. People talking in their subconscious state because they could still hear you.
Jake pulled Sharon outside into the corridor. ‘You’re pregnant, and he’s done a runner. Why didn’t you tell me, Sharon?’ Jake couldn’t believe that, all the time they had been taking their breaks together at the bar and talking in the mornings, she had never said a word. Now it all made sense. She’d told him he could stay at her house if he had wanted to escape Tony’s orgy. He’d thought that odd at the time but not now. Her boyfriend wasn’t there. He was long gone.
Sharon was trying to keep composed. All these revelations and hormones didn’t help, and now having to confess this to Jake made it worse. ‘I told you. He didn’t do a runner. We just came to the end of the line. You used to make me feel taken for granted, and we hardly saw each other, apart from work. Now, I understand, because I did the same to him. It seems 24/7 didn’t suit us. He had an opportunity, and I told him to take it. I didn’t want to tell you, Jake. You would have laughed in my face. I got my just desserts. We were halfway through a divorce. There was nothing more to say.’
With that, Sharon turned and walked off towards the ladies’ toilets.
Jake had a lot to think about. It was ironic really, but he and Tony were in the same boat. Each of them was divorced from the woman he loved. Still, it looked like Tony was going to make it. And the sooner he woke up and smiled that famous smile of his through his swollen face, the better Jake would feel.
There was a knock at my door. I hoped it would be Julie. I ran downstairs and opened it. Standing before me was one of Ralph’s drivers. I recognised him from when he had driven them to the charity events. I presumed he had come to give me some bad news about Tony. His face showed no emotion.
‘Mrs Lambrianu, Mr Gold has sent me for you.’ That was all he said, and then he walked to the car and opened the back door for me.
What was I going to do? It was late, and I had no one to look after Bobby. Elle was at the hospital. I was just about to tell the driver I couldn’t go when Minnie, Elle’s friend, came walking down the drive way.
‘Fran, love, Elle has sent me to look after Bobby for you. It seems I came in the nick of time, doesn’t it?’ She asked how I was and then busied herself past me and started asking where Bobby was and whether he had eaten.
‘I don’t know how long I’m going to be, Minnie. Are you okay with that?’ I asked her.
But she was deaf to my question. She was already settling herself on the sofa and turning the television on. Bobby had heard her voice and came down to see her. I told him I would have to go out for a while.
‘Take as long as you need, Fran, love,’ Minnie called. ‘I’ll look after Bobby and see that he gets to school in the morning. Go on. I’m staying the night now.’
Bobby didn’t seemed too upset that I was going out, especially as he knew Minnie would spoil him and let him watch all of his favourite movies until way past bedtime.
The drive was long. It took forever getting there, but at last we arrived.
The driver rang Ralph when we arrived, and Julie came out to meet me. She gave me a big hug. ‘Thank God you’re here, Fran. He’s asking for you,’ said Julie.
I stopped. ‘Tony’s awake? He’s okay then. What about Jake?’ I asked as I started to follow her through the main hospital doors.
‘No, Fran, just in and out of consciousness. But he said your name. In fact, he’s said it twice now. That’s why Jake had no choice but to let you come. Tony wants you there. Be prepared to face the firing squad. Jake hates you because you hurt Tony. Oh and Sharon’s new bloke has dumped her, and she’s pregnant.’ Julie was full of gossip as usual, but this time my head was spinning. Sharon was pregnant?
‘Here, Fran.’ Julie took her lipstick out of her bag and put some on me. It was bright red and didn’t suit, but I was past caring. ‘Do you have any perfume, Fran? Here take some of mine.’ Julie put her hand in her bag.
‘No, Julie, I said. ‘I have my Chanel Tony bought me. He will know I’m here when he smells this.’
Jake was standing outside the hospital room waiting for me. ‘One sarcastic remark out of you, or if you upset him, and I will strangle you with my bare hands. And I’m prepared to go to prison for it. Have you got that?’ His look was enough to let me know he meant it. He opened the door for me and let me go in alone. He knew Julie would have updated me.
I walked in and saw what I presumed was Tony lying in a hospital bed. I could hardly recognise him. He was being monitored. His face was black and blue. And his arms and leg were in plaster casts. Walking over, I bent over him and planted a kiss on his lips. Then I sat on a chair at his bedside. I looked on in shock. There was nothing of him to resemble my Tony.
‘Antonias,’ I whispered. ‘Please don’t leave me. I’m sorry for everything.’ Tears streamed down my face. I took his hand and held it. Then I felt that wasn’t good enough, I needed to be closer to him. I had nearly lost him. Nothing else mattered now. I knew how I felt about him.
I took off my shoes and then carefully, so as not to disturb anything, lay beside him, lying my arm across his stomach. Careful not to touch any of the tubes keeping him alive, I lay on my side looking at his bruised and battered body. I could hear his breathing. It felt comforting, and I hoped he could sense me too. There was a dim light on in the room. For a moment, it felt like there was just me and him in the whole world.
Jake was watching through the window of the room. He couldn’t take his eyes off Francesca. He could see her lying on the bed with Tony.
‘Leave it, Jake,’ Julie whispered in his ear. ‘Not all medicines come in a bottle, you know. This will give him the will to live. She has come. She does care. And he knows she’s here. Time to sort yourself out, Jake, love.’ Julie held his hand, but he didn’t avert his eyes from the glass. ‘You too have a woman you’re still in love with, and she has a baby on the way with no father. She too has come to you without a second thought. Think about it, Jake. The rest is up to you.’
She walked away and sat beside Ralph, who was snoring in a chair. She had given Jake a lot to think about. Julie knew, at times like this, nothing else mattered. Silly arguments were trivial when it came to life and death. It brought reality home.
I lay there talking to Tony about the very first time I had seen him at that Christmas party. It seemed like a lifetime ago. I must have dozed off because I heard a noise. When I looked up, it was the nurse who had come to check on his drips and take his blood pressure. I apologised for lying on the bed, but she shook her head at me, smiled, and told me not to worry about it.
I must have been there a few hours, and so I decided to get up and see where the others were. When I opened the door, I saw they were all sitting awkwardly in chairs, asleep.
Julie opened her eyes. ‘Everything okay, Fran?’ She blinked, trying to wake herself properly. ‘We need some of that rubbish coffee from that machine. Come on.’
‘You need to go home, Julie. You’re pregnant, and you need your rest,’ I said.
Tony had some good friends. Each and every one of them had stayed by his side.
‘I wouldn’t sleep anyway, would I? Anyway, you need someone to keep Jake at bay and from biting your head off, don’t you?’ She made an attempt to laugh, but it was too early. ‘Anyway’—she winked at me— ‘I had to stay for Tony’s sake, what with you creeping in bed with him when he’s unconscious.’ She smiled at me and stood up.
She was never going to let me forget that, was she?
When we got back with a lot of coffees, the others were waking up. I thanked Elle for sending Minnie over and went back into Tony’s room to see how he was. The medical team had put Tony into an induced coma for a few days. It seemed the swelling on his brain was still there, and they wanted to keep him as still as possible. It was a frightening time. What if he didn’t wake up?
Days passed into weeks. Tony had woken up and was now full of painkiller. He couldn’t speak through his swollen lips, but he was going to be okay. Ralph and Jake had organised for Tony to be moved to a local private hospital in London when it had been safe enough. Being closer, I visited as often as possible but left time for Jake and Elle to be alone with him.
The last thing Tony remembered was his driver talking to him about a lorry coming towards them and driving erratically. That was all he knew. He had been very lucky and vowed never to travel again on a motorway without a steel-plated car. It had saved his life. When the story eventually unfolded, we got more information. People had been thrown from their cars and killed. The lorry driver was dead. It was suspected that he had been drinking the night before, and the alcohol was still in his system. Then he was speeding to try and make the time up for his delivery.
Tony was sorry he had missed the funeral of his loyal driver and friend, John, who he had known for years. He felt John’s death was his fault. But everyone reassured him that John had driven down the motorway a million times in the past; it could have happened anywhere. Even John’s grieving wife came to see Tony and told him it wasn’t his fault. There were crazy drivers who didn’t pay attention to the rules and took risks everywhere. There was no blame, not even on the driver. He had paid with his life.
Tony had wanted to talk to John’s widow in private. He knew her well. He wanted to express his sorrow. And although she wasn’t without money because Tony had always paid John well, Tony insisted on paying for the funeral and making sure she was suitably well off financially for the future. She had refused, but he had insisted—for old times’ sake or for guilt. He didn’t know. But he felt better once she had agreed. Jake was to sort everything out for him.
Julie and Ralph visited regularly but not as much now Tony was getting better. They were still getting their new house and their army of builders sorted. Julie had got Albert to fix up the vicar’s cottage, which oddly enough, she was enjoying. He had his own army of men, and they were doing their very best. He felt he had a point to prove. He may not be the big company Ralph had hired for the house, but he could do just as good a job as them.
I usually went to feed Tony his dinner. It was still soft baby food because he could hardly swallow with his sore throat from the tubes. He couldn’t feed himself with two broken arms.
