I look at the text.All ready for tonight? Do you think our parents will have a collective heart attack and end up at the hospital?
I blink in shock before remembering that he has no idea what’s happened today.
I text back.Not funny. I'm at the hospital right now with my mum.
His reply comes back almost instantly.I'm so sorry! What happened?
I’m typing a reply when the phone rings.
‘Annie?’ he says, and I promptly burst into tears. He waits patiently while I get myself together.
‘Sorry,’ I say at last. ‘I'm fine.’
His voice is sharp with anxiety. ‘What’s happened?’
‘Mum’s broken her leg. I'm sorry if I panicked you. She fell down the stairs this afternoon. Dad isn't there, so I had to get her to the hospital by myself.’
‘Why didn't you ask me?’ he asks.
‘It didn't occur to me. I was so busy getting her out to the car. She’ll be fine, but she has a multiple fracture, and she's going to need surgery. I think she's going in around seven. I was about to text you and let you know.’
‘Should I come to the hospital?’
‘I don't think so. I'd love to see you, but now probably isn't the time. Let's get this operation over with, and we can tell them then.’
‘I wasn't planning to tell them anything,’ he says. ‘I just wanted to offer you some support.’
‘I know, and I’m very grateful. But Dad and I are here, and it would probably be easier to keep it that way.’
‘I'll let my parents know,’ he says. ‘I’m sure they'll be concerned. I suppose that means you won't be at the party tonight.’
I bite my lip. ‘I may be able to get there later. I want to stay here until Mum's through the operation. But I can probably come for an hour or two after that.’
‘The party ends at eleven,’ he says.
‘Really?’
‘No, not really,’ he says with a hint of a laugh in his voice. ‘It's a New Year's Eve party, remember? I was trying to lighten the mood. Sorry, it's probably not the best time.’
‘Not really,’ I say. ‘But I appreciate the thought.’
‘What a thing to happen right before you go to Paris,’ he says.
‘If I go to Paris. I have no idea what I'm going to do tomorrow.’
‘Of course. But if your mum's anything like mine, she'll insist you go regardless.’
‘She won't be able to do much about it,’ I say. ‘She’ll be in bed with a broken leg.’
He laughs. ‘Don't you believe it. She’ll still be running the show from hospital. Just you see. Please let me know how it goes. And don't feel you have to come to the party if you don't feel like it. I'll see you before you go, even if I have to get up at three in the morning and camp outside your house.’
I give a reluctant smile. ‘Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. I should probably go now.’
‘Of course,’ he says. ‘Take care of yourself. I hope it all goes well. I … I’ll see you soon.’
He rings off, and I stare at the screen, wondering what he meant to say. Surely not, ‘I love you’? Of course not! I must be more tired than I realised.
I find Dad standing outside the ward.