It was the following morning both Gordon and Jill had fallen asleep in the early hours of the morning they only woke when there was a knock at the door "come in" Jill said sleepily in walked Katie "Sorry did I wake you, is there any change"
"That's alright sweetheart, no there's no change" Jill replied.
Gordon made to get up so Katie could sit down "That's alright dad I can stand" said Katie to which Gordon replied "No you sit I'm a little stiff to tell the truth I could do with a stretch. I'll go and make us some drinks. Is that your bag?"
"Yes, I didn't know how long so I bought a few things" Replied Katie
"I'll put it in the car" stated Gordon while walking out the door. Katie sat beside Jill and placed her head on Jill's shoulder like she use to when she wanted to feel closer to her. Jill responded by putting her arm around and placing a kiss on her forehead. "Why did she go" asked Katie
"We don't know yet for sure, she hasn't regain consciousness, it's got something to do with sister Brigid" there was a brief pause before she added "It's my fault if I hadn't of left her" tears were welling up in her eyes as she said this Katie didn't like it when Jill cried none of the children did.
"It's not your fault" replied Katie then quickly added "She knows we all love her very much" then seeing how much Jill was worried she said "Ash will be alright won't she"
"Of course she will she's an Ormerod" Replied Gordon from the doorway with a tray of tea. Katie made to get up "You stay there I'm going to go home now that your here I have to get some things do you want anything darling" he asked to which Jill responded "A change of clothes would be nice"
"O.k. won't be long" he made his way to the door "Oh Gordon we have to make sure the kids beds are made up, please don't be long" Jill said over her shoulder "Yes I'll be as quick as possible" replied Gordon.
Jill and Katie sat in silenced for a while staring at their drinks. Katie didn't know what to say she didn't want to upset Jill any more than she was so she said "Jill do you remember the time we were on holiday and we were at the beach Tom and I had gone for a swim and Ash had followed us"
"Yes I remember" replied Jill "That was the year she'd just started walking your dad was supposed to be building sandcastles with Jonathon and Ash and I was watching you two. I had to run after you as she was following you in to the sea"
"Yeah dad never lived that one down all holiday" replied Katie
"No he didn't" Said Jill then added "She always wanted to be like her big sister"
"What about the time she wanted to be like you" retorted Katie
"What the time she wanted to be a doctor or when she wanted to come to the hospital ball"
"The hospital ball" replied Katie giggling just remembering it. At that moment Gordon walked in they hadn't noticed that two hours had already passed. "Look who I found loitering in the hallway" Gordon said and with that playfully pulled both his sons in. "Tom, Jonathon" gasped Jill
Gordon was just thinking how Jill looked a little bit calmer he was about to ask what they were giggling at but as always Katie was quick to fill them in
"We were just remembering when Ash followed Tom and I in to the sea on holiday and then we remembered when she got all dressed up in her party frock and had some of mums makeup on and her shoes"
"Because she was a big girl and wanted to go to the hospital ball" Gordon, Tom and Jonathon all butted in, in unison. Then all five of them were laughing.
They carried on for the rest of the day relieving memories. It was now half eight at night Jill let out a yawn and after some persuasion was going to go home for a proper nights rest, so was Gordon. She had kissed them all goodnight twice "Any problems call us" she said while being pushed out the door
"For the third time yes mum, now go or your be no good when she does wake up" Replied Jonathon
"Well if you're sure" said Jill
"They're be fine" Gordon said while taking her arm and walking to the car
Back at home and Jill went straight upstairs, while Gordon went and sat in the living room with a glass of scotch. Half an hour later Gordon made his way upstairs he got to their bedroom to find it empty so was their bathroom "Jill" he said slightly panicked walking back along the hallway to find Jill sat on their daughters bed silently sobbing and hugging the teddy bear they had got her for her first Christmas .
He sat down beside her she leaned her head on his shoulder they stayed like that for another hour before they went to bed. Gordon knew she blamed herself and no matter what he said he could not get her to forgive herself.
They fell asleep rather quickly it wasn't surprising really they had only had a couple of hours at the most in the last couple of days. They both woke early but both felt wide awake and refreshed they made their way downstairs as quickly as possible had a quick breakfast then Jill went about making lunch for the others she knew all too well the mess she would come into otherwise. Then they were out the door the sooner they got there the better as there would be less traffic when Gordon bought the kids back.
Fifteen minutes later they arrived at the hospital walking up to the room they heard laughing.
Inside they were talking about how they had fooled their parents and got away with it or so they had thought only to be found out or caught as soon as the door opened the laughing stopped "Good morning" Jill and Gordon said together "Morning" replied the Ormerod children. Jill moved towards the chart at the end of the bed whilst saying "I hope you're not giving your sister ideas" she then winked at them.
"Right time to get going" said Gordon "Let's give your mum some time alone"