Birds of a Feather, page 19
“Sounds like they were wonderful people.”
“They were.”
“What happened after Rita died?”
“I was thirteen by then and Burt couldn’t look after me. He was older than Rita and had been showing signs of dementia even before her cancer diagnosis.”
“Oh dear.”
“Burt cried when I left. Both our hearts were broken all over again.” Lucy ached now with the memory of their parting. She’d been determined not to break down for Burt’s sake. “I went to another family in another town. They were nice enough but it was a busy household and they could only have me short-term. I had a succession of foster homes until I was old enough to start nursing.” She’d made sure she never relied on anyone ever again. Until she met Alec. His quirky sense of humour had attracted her first, then she’d discovered his intuitive, thoughtful side and finally his love had gradually crumbled the wall she’d built to protect herself from heartache.
“And Burt?”
“Mrs Redmond organised a few visits for me but he went downhill fast after Rita died.” Lucy pursed her lips and inhaled deeply. “He didn’t know who I was.”
“Oh, Lucy, I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. My birth parents were druggies who both died young. I never knew them. Rita and Burt loved and cared for me and for that I’ll always be grateful.”
“And their influence has remained with you, obviously. No wonder you’re such a good nurse.”
Was she? So far it was working out with Eve but she was determined this was a temporary thing.
“Can we stop?”
Lucy glanced across. Eve was squirming in her seat. “Are you in pain?”
“Not my shoulder. I need the toilet.”
“Right.” Lucy peered ahead. It was dark outside now but they weren’t far from the next town. “Won’t be long.”
Lucy’s arms ached from gripping the wheel and her eyes were heavy by the time she pulled up outside Eve’s house. It was dark but the verandah light was on and Julia hurried out as soon as they arrived. She tugged open the door, filling the car with light. Eve had been dozing for the last twenty minutes or so and blinked unsteadily in the sudden brightness.
“Are we home?” she croaked.
“Yes.” Julia’s voice was loud. “I’ve been watching out for you for the last hour.”
“The traffic was heavy when we left Adelaide,” Lucy said. “And we stopped a couple of times for the toilet.”
“They’ve filled me so full of fluids I pee every five minutes,” Eve grumbled. “I have to go again now.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Bloody hunky-dory, what do you think?”
Lucy gave Julia an encouraging smile over Eve’s head. “I’ll come round and help you out.”
“Julia’s right here.”
Julia was looking like she’d rather be anywhere but right here.
Lucy took a deep breath. “Let me show her how to best support you.”
“I just want the bathroom then bed,” Eve said as Lucy eased her from the car.
“What about dinner?” Julia asked.
“I’m not hungry.”
“You should try to eat something,” Lucy said. “It’s time for your next lot of meds.”
“They’re not helping.”
Once again Lucy met Julia’s worried look over Eve’s shoulder. “I think you’d be feeling much worse without them. I’ll get you an ice pack as well.”
Lucy walked Eve inside and up to the bathroom beside her bedroom. “Will you be okay?”
“Of course.” Eve stepped into the bathroom then stopped. “What the hell’s this for?”
“It’s a toilet chair.”
“I know what it is, but why is it here?”
“So you’ve got something to hang on to with your good arm.”
“I’m not a bloody invalid. Did you get this, Julia?”
“I ordered it and Julia picked it up,” Lucy said. “Luckily you have a removable shower head down in your other bathroom so the shower chair’s in there. It will make life easier while you recover.”
“Bloody hell, Eve, don’t be so obnoxious,” Julia snapped. “Lucy’s trying to help you.”
Eve shut the door on them.
“Hell, she’s grumpy. Should she have come home?”
“I can hear you,” Eve called.
Lucy moved out to the passage and kept her voice low. “The next few days will be tough but she’s doing well so far.”
“You’re sure?” Julia gave her a sceptical look. “What did the doctors say?”
“They were happy to discharge her.”
Julia snorted. “Get her out so the bed’s ready for the next victim, more likely.”
“Eve will be fine.” Lucy kept her tone neutral. “You wait here. In case she needs help. I’ll get her things from the car.”
“Leave me to face the music alone, you mean.”
Lucy simply walked away. She was paid to look after Eve but that didn’t include putting up with Julia.
Alec opened his arms to her as soon as Lucy let herself inside. She held up her hand. “I’m showering first. Goodness knows what I’ve been in contact with in the hospital.”
Ten minutes later she stepped into the kitchen, fresh from the shower, dressed in her pjs and dressing gown. Alec wrapped her in a hug. It was almost her undoing. She was so weary. The last two days had been long and busy. She’d spent a bit of time in the shops while Eve had been in theatre but other than that she’d been with Eve or in the little hotel room nearby. So much for some time to herself. It had been a long drive home and then Eve had been difficult to settle. She was in bed and dozing when Lucy finally left her to Julia’s care.
“It’s your last night and I’m so tired,” she moaned into his chest.
“Have you eaten?”
She shook her head.
“Mum made a chicken casserole and there’s plenty left.”
“I thought you were cooking sausages.”
Alec held her at arm’s length. “You can have them tomorrow night.”
Lucy reached for him again before he could see the tears brimming in her eyes. She didn’t want him to go but she could never let him see it. Putting extra pressure on him was not fair when they’d agreed together he should do this work. “The kids okay?” she asked, steeling herself against her rising melancholy.
“Poppy’s fine but Noah said he wasn’t feeling well.”
Lucy lurched back. “Again? When?”
“At bedtime so I reckon it was put on.”
“You always say that. Did you check his temperature?”
“He’s fine, Lou.”
Lucy shrugged him off and let herself into the children’s bedroom. She felt Poppy’s head and kissed her cheek then did the same with Noah. No abnormal heat radiated from either nor did they stir at her touch.
Alec was at the stove when she came out.
“They seem okay.”
“I told you. Come and sit down.” He put a plate of steaming casserole in front of her and her stomach gurgled in anticipation. She’d been so busy with Eve she’d hardly eaten since her very early breakfast.
“Eve okay?”
“The op went well but it was more work than the surgeon had first thought.” Lucy had called Alec several times while she’d been away. Each time she’d reported on Eve’s progress but not in great detail. “She’s off her food a bit though.”
“She’ll be fine now she’s home.”
“I tried to coax her to eat tonight before I left but she didn’t have much. She used all her energy getting to the lounge. Reckoned she wanted to watch TV but then was too miserable. Julia and I had to put her to bed after that.”
“Your own bed’s the best place. I’m an expert on that.”
“I just hope she sleeps.”
“You said it was a pretty painful procedure.”
“These first few days are tough.”
“Eve’s tough.”
“Hmmm.”
“But?”
“It’s early days but I’m a bit worried she’s not coping mentally. I’m glad Julia’s there. At least Eve has someone when I’m not with her.”
“Stop worrying and eat your dinner.” Alec grinned. “There’s honey ice cream for dessert if you’re a good girl.”
Lucy groaned. She was always a sucker for honey ice cream.
twenty
Lucy startled as Eve’s back door flung open before she even reached for the handle.
“Thank God you’re here,” Julia hissed. Her eyes blazed and the tight auburn curls she normally pulled back in a ponytail frizzed out around her face, giving her a rather mad, dishevelled look. “There’s something wrong with Eve.”
“What’s happened?” Lucy stepped inside, peering ahead along the gloomy passage. It was eight o’clock but the cloudy day meant little light reached the central part of the house.
“She didn’t sleep. Moaned and groaned all night and now she won’t eat or drink.”
“Does she have a temperature?”
“How the hell would I know?”
“Has she been taking her meds?”
“Yes. I gave her the last lot an hour ago. At least when she swallows them I get a bit of water into her.”
Lucy strode forward but Julia put a restraining hand on her arm. “She’s just dozed off. Perhaps we should let her sleep.”
Lucy ignored Julia, set down the bags she’d been carrying and went into the bathroom to wash her hands. The face she saw in the mirror didn’t look much better than Julia’s. At least her hair was tidy, but the grey smudges under her eyes highlighted her lack of sleep. In spite of Alec saying your own bed was best, she’d lain awake long after his breathing had fallen into the steady rhythm of sleep. The kids had woken them early and Alec had cooked crumpets. They’d eaten them in bed. She’d overlooked the sticky fingers and the crumbs, savouring the enjoyment of their last family time together for who knew how long?
Lucy glanced at her watch. Soon Alec’s parents would come to collect them. The kids would be dropped at school and the adults would leave for Adelaide. Alec would begin the long journey to his new job. She wasn’t usually quite so bothered by his trips away, but this time it was the added factor of not knowing exactly how long he’d be gone. Last year the pandemic had prevented him from coming home for almost five months. Now each time he left she felt anxious, worrying they’d be trapped in separate states again. She gripped the hand basin, took a deep breath, then walked past Julia, who’d been hovering outside the door, and into Eve’s bedroom.
Eve was rolled slightly to one side, the pillows that supported her shoulder an extra bulk below the doona. She was snoring gently, her face pale but relaxed. She looked peaceful. There were no outward signs of fever. Lucy held her digital thermometer over Eve’s forehead. Her temp was up a bit but Lucy decided to let her sleep.
She left the room and almost bumped into Julia who was still outside the door.
“I think she’s okay.”
“You think!”
“Let’s get some food ready for when she wakes up.” Lucy collected the bags and made for the kitchen.
“You’ve brought a lot of stuff,” Julia said as Lucy placed the bags on the bench.
“I’ve got the ingredients for my special chicken soup and I bought some lemonade Icy Poles.”
“Kid food!”
“You never know what might tempt a finicky tummy. I also got more of those frog cakes while we were in Adelaide.” Lucy placed the little white box on the benchtop.
“You bought a box full?”
“They’re the small ones and there’re two missing. I left them home. My kids will need a treat tonight. The first night their dad’s gone is always a tough one.”
Julia eyed the box. “I guess it’s a bit early to eat cake.” Her tone softened. “Would you like a coffee?”
Lucy took it as an olive branch. “Thanks.”
Julia flicked on the kettle and slumped onto one of the stools on the other side of the bench. She put her elbows on the shiny wooden top and dropped her head to her hands. “Eve didn’t get much sleep and neither did I.”
Lucy took pity on her. “You should go back to bed now, while I’m here.”
“I wouldn’t sleep.” Julia sighed. “But maybe later before you go I’ll have a doze … thanks.”
The kettle flicked off and Lucy made them coffee. Julia’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen then took her coffee and phone to the lounge. Lucy could hear the tone of her conversation but not the words. She sounded annoyed. Lucy plugged in her phone and turned on the radio. She pitied the person on the other end of Julia’s phone.
By the time Julia returned, Lucy had the soup simmering and bread sitting in the toaster ready to go.
“It smells good in here.” Julia dropped her phone to the bench and swept her hair back into a ponytail, twisting a band around it to hold it in place.
“Would you like something?”
“It’s okay. I can make myself some toast.” She did a double take at the bread in the toaster. “Hell, who eats white bread any more?”
“My kids. I brought it from home. I didn’t know if there’d be any bread left here.”
Julia rounded the bench and opened a cupboard. “I bought some rye at the bakery yesterday.”
Lucy thought that meant simply swapping brown cardboard for white but she said nothing. Instead, she slipped the slices of white bread back in the plastic bag and went to check on Eve.
A groan came from beyond the bedroom door then muttered swearing. Lucy stuck her head in just in time to see Eve struggling to get up.
“Hang on, I’ll help you.”
“Lucy, at last. I need to go to the toilet and I can’t get up. I called out but no-one came.”
“You should have rung the bell.”
“What bell?”
Lucy looked around for the brass bell Julia had taken from the shelf in Eve’s kitchen. Evidently it was a Buddhist prayer bell Eve had brought home from one of her trips overseas. It was lying on the floor beside a box of tissues that had also toppled from the small table beside Eve’s bed.
Lucy picked it up and it tinkled softly. “We put it by your bed last night. It must have fallen.”
Eve groaned again as she lay back on the pillows.
“Roll to your left side.” Lucy eased back the covers. “Hang onto my arm and sit yourself up.”
Once more Eve groaned.
“The pain’s bad, I take it.”
“Only when I move,” Eve said through gritted teeth.
Lucy checked her bandage. “That all looks tidy. I can give you some extra pain medication and we can try the ice pack again. That helped yesterday.”
Eve swung her feet to the floor. “Just get me to the toilet.”
“You’re awake.” Julia strode to the other side of the bed.
“So it appears,” Eve snapped.
“Should she be getting up?”
“She needs to use the bathroom.”
“I can take her.”
“Thunderation, if you two don’t stop talking and get me to the toilet you’ll be cleaning up a mess.”
Lucy took Eve’s good arm and Julia hovered behind as they shuffled with her to the bathroom.
“I can take it from here,” Eve said and shut the door on them.
Julia blew out a breath. “She hasn’t woken up any happier.”
“I’ll wait for her,” Lucy said. “Can you take some pillows into the kitchen and crank the heat up in there? It’s cold in the house today.”
Julia went off without her usual debate. Lucy made the bed while she waited. When Eve eventually opened the door it was to say she wanted to have a shower.
“Okay, but we’ll need to use the other bathroom. You can sit in the chair and direct the shower head with your good arm.”
“Is that really necessary?”
“Unless you want Julia or I to stand in the shower with you, yes.”
Eve glared at her but said no more. Everything took a long time; finding her slippers, selecting the clothes she wanted to wear, helping her down to the other bathroom, getting the water to the right temperature. And then when Eve eventually came out of the shower her dressing was wet and Lucy had to replace it. Then she managed to get Eve to do a few simple arm movements before she refused to do another thing. With every mutter from Eve, Lucy reminded herself that the older woman wasn’t feeling her best.
By the time they settled her in a chair with cushions, it was morning tea time.
“You must be starving, Eve,” Julia said.
“No.”
“A cup of tea might help.” Lucy put a small mug in front of her. Julia watched from across the table.
“Damn it, do you both have to stare at me as if I’m about to grow another head.”
“Perhaps a second head would be more civil,” Julia said. “I’m going to have a shower.” She turned on her heel and marched out of the room.
Lucy closed the door she’d left ajar and checked the soup. It was ready except for the lemon juice she would add just before she served it. From the corner of her eye she saw Eve take a sip of the tea.
“Would you like something to eat with that? A small piece of toast perhaps?”
“Thank you, Lucy. With marmalade please.”
Lucy used the rye bread Julia had left out. Just one piece and cut in half. Sometimes the amount of food could be off-putting when a stomach was being fussy.
“What the hell is that?” Eve said when Lucy set the plate in front of her.
“Toast and marmalade. It’s from the jar you said you liked.”
“I mean what’s it spread on.”
“Oh. That’s Julia’s rye bread. I assumed you liked it.”
“Don’t we have any ordinary bread?”
“I have some white sandwich bread.”
“That will do.”
By the time Lucy had made the swap, Eve had drunk most of her tea. She took a bite of the toast and screwed up her nose. “I don’t feel like it now.”
Lucy counted to five. There was no point in losing her cool but she was tired and Eve was testing her patience.
