Zoe made her way to reception. Surely Max would be available to share lunch with her even though Connie was otherwise engaged.
She stopped once she reached the reception desk, porters milled about wheeling patients to various places. Both Louise and Noel were busy. She stood, twisting her wedding ring.
No sign.
She pulled her phone from her jacket pocket and dialled his number, holding it up to her ear as it began to ring. She listened with her other ear, half expecting it to begin ringing somewhere nearby in the hospital.
Instead it continued to ring and eventually went to answer phone.
She glanced to reception.
"You haven't seen Max anywhere have you?"
She asked Louise as she placed the phone back on the hook. She shook her head.
"Not since this morning."
She said, and reached for a pen.
Zoe looked again to her phone screen, before pushing it back into her pocket.
She made her way to Max's porters cubby hole and pushed open the door, remembering, as she always did when she entered the little room, how many times in the distant past she had sneaked into that room to meet him.
The room was empty. There was a locker in the corner where he kept his things, the door hung open, the locker was empty of his coat, phone, wallet...
She frowned, he usually told her when he went off site.
She retrieved her phone again and pressed call, holding it to her ear.
Answer phone.
She glanced about the room for a sign, anything...there was a half drunk cup of tea on the coffee table, but when she touched her fingers to it, it felt cold. She sighed, and the knot that seemed to be forming so slowly began to twist within her stomach.
The door opened behind her and Tess popped her head in.
"Oh!"
She cast an eye about the small room.
"I was looking for Max."
She said and Zoe smiled slowly.
"Me too."
She murmured.
"He's not back yet?"
Tess asked, looking taken aback.
"Back from where?"
Zoe asked and Tess began to look even more confused.
"I saw him pop out about an hour and a half ago, I assumed he was taking his break."
She said.
"Was he wearing his coat?"
Zoe asked and Tess nodded.
"Right..."
She murmured.
"Well, I'm sorry I have no idea where he is."
She said and Tess tilted her head to one side, concern replacing her confusion.
"He didn't mention anything..."
She began, but Zoe shook her head.
"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about."
Tess said as Zoe moved with her, leaving the porters 'office', closing the door firmly behind them.
"I'm sure you're right."
Zoe murmured, but her words did little to quell the violent sinking feeling that embedded itself in the pit of her stomach and sent bile rising to the back of her throat.
"Zoe!"
There was a shout from behind her and as she turned she saw Connie hastily making her way towards her, her cheeks flushed and her heels clattering loudly against the tiled flooring.
"Zoe."
She exhaled as she came to a halt before her, pressing a hand to her chest to steady her breathing.
"I've been looking for you."
She said, and swallowed, glanced to Tess.
"Is everything ok?"
Zoe asked, though she knew full well that something wasn't...
"I've just had a message from upstairs, I'm afraid your father has just passed away."
She placed a hand on Zoe's arm as she spoke, though she barely felt it, and she heard Tess say something though the words seemed muffled.
She swallowed.
"Zoe?"
Connie's grip on her tightened but she shook her off.
"Where's Max?"
She whispered...
More very soon! xxx