Blame?
Adrian led Amber back into the family room as a young doctor and nurse stepped into the room behind them. Freddie and Jack were on their feet.
"Are you all with Joseph Boswell?" The doctor watched as Nellie nodded.
"We are. I am his mother. These are his brothers and sisters and that is his father." Nellie watched Freddie role his eyes. He knew there was no way Nellie, for all her reportedly Christian ways she would never forgive and forget when it came to his infidelity. He sighed, knowing he would have to accept things the way they were.
"How is he?" Billy asked as the doctor sat down.
"And you are?"
"Billy. His brother. How is he? God, he's not dead is he?"
"Billy!" Jack snapped.
"No, he isn't dead." The doctor smiled as Nellie and Aveline crossed themselves. Amber stayed near Adrian, more worried about Jack than the rest of the family. She had seen his reaction when they found the lifeless body of his older brother. She felt Adrian squeeze her hand as the doctor explained how sick Joey had been when he arrived at the Casualty.
"How is he? We all call him Joey."
"Joey has multiple injuries." He sighed. "One of which was a collapsed lung."
"Is that why his breathing was so bad?" Amber asked. Nellie frowned.
"Yes." The young doctor nodded. "He has a chest drain in. He's had a lot of xrays done. We know he has some broken bones, his left ankle and lower leg is badly injured. When he is more stable the orthopaedic team are going to operate in it." He looked directly at Nellie, knowing that she was devastated. "His heart stopped for a time."
"Oh my God." Jack whispered. Billy started crying. Nellie held the Doctor's gaze.
"You said he isn't dead."
"No, he is alive. We are preparing him to go to the Intensive Care Unit. The nurses are stabilising him now for transfer. I must warn you, there is a chance that when he wakes up he might not be the Joey you remember,"
"How do you mean?" Grandad barged in. "I was waiting outside. I'm Joey;'s granddad. Now I know e's had seven shades of whatsit kicked out of him but are you saying they've knocked his faculties out of him? That he's brain damaged."
"Oh dear God." Freddie looked over at his own father. The Doctor nodded.
"We can't say for certain. He's young, he's strong." The Doctor explained. "When his heart stopped his brain was starved of oxygen. We really don't know what or of he's had any brain injury since the cardiac arrest." Granddad nodded as he looked over to where Amber was holding onto Adrian's hand in a vice grip.
"Look at the lot of you." Grandad shook his head. "That boy is the gel that holds this family together. Ever since he was a young lad. If he wasn't getting in trouble at school to keep the others out of trouble he was making sure the school bullies knew to steer clear of the Boswell kids. When you and that woman took off he became the man of the house. He became more of a dad to Aveline and the boys than you ever were." He shook his head as tears sprang to Freddie's eyes. The doctor looked awkward as he stepped out of the room. The silence in the room.
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Martina sat at her desk looking out over the waiting area. It was Wednesday - which meant one or more of the Boswells were likely to turn up with some tall tale. She took a deep breath, knowing that she would have to keep a straight face, ignoring Shifty's charms and trying not to show Joey how much she liked him. She knew he was a charmer, his posh car, leather jacket and Mr Smooth routine did nothing to fool her. She knew he was a con man, but she couldn't help but like the blonde man. He was what her mum would call a 'loveable rouge.' She frowned as she realised there was no sign of any of the Boswell clan.
"You ok?" Sarah asked as she took her seat beside her. "Not going to jump in and get that Mr Boswell to talk to you instead of me?"
"No." Martina frowned. "Something is wrong."
"What?"
"Its Wednesday." She arched an eyebrow as she looked over the waiting area. "No Boswell sat over there waiting to lie to me face again."
"So? Perhaps they've got jobs."
"Yeah." She nodded. "And perhaps I'm Marilyn Monroe." She shook her head. "The only one who legitimately works in that family is the Vicar." She scowled as a young woman with long black hair approached her desk. "Do you have an appointment?"
"No, but this wont take long." The London accent caught her attention.
"You need an appointment."
"Just wanted to tell you. Watch your back. Shifty has gone too far this time. We can't get our money back so we are debt collecting in different ways. Shame, you seem nice. But then so did Joey."
"I have no idea what you are talking about." She glared at her. She had broken off her relationship with the Irishman months earlier. The woman who still refused to give her name smirked.
"Oh I think you do. Joey Boswell wont be making his appointment today. Or ever again." She got up. "I doubt you'll be working here much longer anyway. Watch your back," She got up and quietly left the room as Martina felt her stomach turn. Something had happened to Joey and she had just been threatened. She got to her feet, explaining she felt too unwell to work and grabbed her coat before anyone could stop her.
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