Well its been 4 months (which I really can't believe - time obviously flies when you're not having that much fun too) but finally here is an update - not sure it will be worth the wait but hopefully you will enjoy it anyway...
Saturday 25th July 2016
11.02am
Craig put down his phone on the bedside locker smiling, pleased that he had won that argument, he would have hated for what had happened to him to cause more stress and upheaval than it already had. He looked around the room for something to do, suddenly wishing that he wasn't in a side room (even though he knew he really should be grateful) because at least if he was on the main ward he'd have someone else to talk to. He contemplated, just for a moment, pressing the call button but dismissed the thought almost as soon as he'd had it – the nurses were far too busy to spend time with him just because he was bored. So instead he picked up his phone again, wondering if the hospital's Wi-Fi would be fast enough to watch something on NetFlix, or whether he'd do better just sticking to Facebook and Twitter where he could, yet again, reassure all his friends in Dublin and beyond that he really was OK. However, before he'd even opened the internet there was a soft knock at the door. He looked up expectantly and smiled broadly when John-Paul popped his head round the door.
"Is it OK to come in?" he asked.
"Yeah, yes of course," Craig replied, shifting up the bed a little bit, wincing slightly at the pulling sensation the movement caused around the wound site.
"Are you OK?" John-Paul asked, concerned, as he came in to the room
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Honestly!" he added, noticing the scepticism on John-Paul's face.
"You're sure you're not in any pain?" he persisted.
"No, no, no pain," Craig answered honestly, "it just feels a bit, I don't know…weird at the moment. And anyway, if I ever do get pain then this little baby," he said, holding up a small cylinder with a button at one end "will sort it out in no time. They've given me a morphine-driver so I can control my pain myself, well, up to a point anyway. But it's really not been too bad today at all."
"That's good then."
"Yeah, yeah it is." Craig agreed. "Mind you I still was only just able to persuade Ro and Sinead that there was no need for them to fly back from Corfu to see me. They only arrived yesterday and they're meant to be there for ten days. Oh, that reminds me – is it OK if I give everyone your new mobile number? I know they'd all love to get in touch but I didn't want to assume, so I haven't yet."
"Yeah, yes of course it is," John-Paul replied.
"Oh great, they'll be made up," Craig said grinning, "but I warn you, you should expect a barrage of texts and phone calls. They've all missed you so much."
"Mmm," John-Paul said, non-committally, and swiftly changed the subject by saying, "I got you some magazines and a book of those Code Word puzzles you like doing," pulling them out of the plastic bag by his chair. "I didn't have enough cash on me to get you a Sudoku book, but I'll get you one of them when I've been to the cash-point."
"Oh thanks," Craig said, taking them from John-Paul, "but you really didn't have to."
"I know, but I wanted to. I know how easily you get bored and, if I'm honest, I'm trying to assuage some of my guilt too."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, because I can't stay long this morning. Carmel's just taken Matthew and Kathleen-Angel to 'Rhythm Time' at the library but, because of the cuts, that's only half an hour now. And they will be choosing some new books but I know she's got stuff to do with Sonny today and I really don't want to impose on her good-nature too much by foisting Matthew on her all the time."
"No, no of course not," Craig said, "I understand its fine really. But you could always have…" he stopped shaking his head gently. "Erm, I mean I'd like to…" he trailed away again before, seeing the puzzled expression on John-Paul's face started again. "No, what I mean is… if it's OK with you, you could always bring Matthew in to see me. I'd really like to meet him properly, but only if you don't mind," he hurriedly added.
"Erm… yes, I guess," John-Paul said hesitantly. "Are you sure though? He can be quite a handful when he puts his mind to it. You sure you're up to it?"
"If I can handle Myra on the warpath and a drunken Mercedes with a sprained ankle" he replied, catching John-Paul's eye and smiling at the memory, "then I think I can handle anything," he continued definitely. "And anyway I keep telling everyone I'm feeling fine, well considering."
"OK then," John-Paul said, shrugging his shoulders, "if you're sure you're sure." Before, seeing Craig nod, suddenly thinking of something. "Wait, are children even allowed on the ward to visit?"
"Oh yeah, yeah they are," Craig assured him. "Yesterday evening, after you'd gone, one bloke on the main ward had his wife come in with their new born. Well almost, apparently she was five weeks old – Mum got talking to her," he explained, answering the questioning look on John-Paul's face. "And Chris reckons that things are even more relaxed at the weekend."
"Chris?" John-Paul queried.
"Yeah, one of the nurses. He reckons that because there's less support staff in – you know like physios and all the big bosses are off they tend to relax the rules a bit."
"Oh right, well Matthew's got a birthday party this afternoon, and a play-date with Amelie from nursery tomorrow afternoon, and I don't think it's a good idea if you meet him for the first time when he's on a sugar high, cos he can give Mercy a run for her money on the mischief stakes then. So, how about I ask Frankie if we can visit this time tomorrow and stay till lunch."
"Oh yeah, that'd be great," Craig replied. "And I reckon that will suit her too – Nancy and Darren are meant to be going out with the boys tomorrow, so if you're here then that'll mean she can help Jack set up for the lunchtime rush and then come in here when it's died down."
"OK," John-Paul said, "that sounds like a plan but don't say I didn't warn you about what you're letting yourself in for."
Apologies again for the wait - I promise it won't be another 4 months till the next chapter is posted. Please do feel free to leave a review if you have a few moments to spare - I really do love to hear what people think...
