Jill arrived home to the sound of laughter coming from the kitchen she put her coat and bag away and shouted "hello".
Katie popped her head around the kitchen door "Hi mum" said Katie,
"Hello, are you alright" said Jill making her way to the kitchen
"Yeah we're fine" replied Katie.
Ash was still sat at the table "Hi mum" said Ash. Jill made her way over to her and placed a hand on top of her head
"And how are you doing" Jill asked
"Yeah I'm fine" replied Ash
"Where's dad" asked Katie
"He's just gone shopping he won't be long" replied Jill.
"Mum about before I'm sorry" said Ash
"I'm sorry too" replied Jill.
Jill and Katie then set about getting dinner ready "Can I help?" asked Ash
"No I think we've got everything covered" replied Jill
"Katie can you lay the table please" said Jill
"I can help" said Ash
"No you stay there your still suppose to be resting" said Jill
"That doesn't mean I still can't help, I've been resting all day" replied Ash
"It does when I say so" said Jill sternly
"I'm sorry it's just so boring" replied Ash.
"That's alright I'll find some things you can do for me tomorrow how does that sound" replied Jill. She knew what Ash was going through she had been exactly the same when she had been told to rest all she wanted to do was to get back to work.
"Yeah" said Ash excitedly. There was a knock at the door
"I'll get it" shouted Katie from the dining room making her way to the front door
"I wonder who that can be we're not expecting anyone" said Jill. It was sister Brigid she had come to see Ash as she hadn't been able to see her apart from the time Ash had pushed her away and she wanted to talk to her to make sure everything was fine between them, she still didn't believe what matron had said to her that day in her eyes she had done nothing wrong.
Katie opened the door "Hello, Katie how are you" said sister Brigid
"Hi" said Katie then she turned and shouted "Mum".
Jill popped her head around the kitchen door "Yes" before she could say anything else she saw who it was at the door making her way out the kitchen and shutting the door behind her
"Ahh, hello sister, how can we help you, Katie can you go and check on the potatoes please" said Jill giving Katie's arm a gentle squeeze as she said it.
"Yes of course" replied Katie who then made her way to the kitchen, Jill turned back to sister Brigid
"I've come to see Aisling" replied sister Brigid to Jill's first question
"Well I'm afraid she's not up for visits" replied Jill
"Yes well I'm not just anyone I'm family" replied sister Brigid trying to make her way in Jill stood firm in the way
"Well like I said no visits" replied Jill she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Gordon's car pulling in the drive. Gordon got out the car leaving the shopping and walked to the two people in the doorway
"Hello Sister what can we do for you" said Gordon
"I've come to see Aisling, but Jill won't let me in" said Sister,
Gordon didn't have time to reply as Jill said "Like I said Ash is not up for visits"
"Well if Jill has said she's not up for visits, she's not I'm afraid maybe the weekend" suggested Gordon
"Well o.k. doctor if you think it's best" replied sister Brigid "Tell her I popped around will you and I'll see her at the weekend" she added
"Will do" said Gordon.
Jill and Gordon watched sister Brigid ride down the drive "Right I'll help you with the bags" said Jill they made their way with arms full of bags into the kitchen which was now empty the back door wide open Jill and Gordon dumped the bags where they could and ran out the door they didn't have to go far.
Ash had decided she couldn't face sister Brigid and had gone out the back gate and was leaning against the wall staring out to sea chatting to Katie
"Don't you ever do that again" said Gordon slightly out of breath
"You scared us both" added Jill taking both girls into a hug
"I'm sorry it's my fault, I just can't face her yet" said Ash
"Right no harm done but we've got to get the shopping put away" said Gordon making his way back towards the house followed by Katie.
Jill walked with Ash who was slightly slower seeing as she still was using crutches they got to the garden table "Ash sit down here with me I need to talk to you" said Jill concern in her voice.
Meanwhile Gordon and Katie were packing the shopping away "Dad, she will be alright won't she" asked Katie
"Yes she'll be fine, as soon as we can get her to talk to us we're have a better understanding" replied Gordon
"Is it sister Brigid" asked Katie
"We know she's part of it, we've all just got to be there for her" said Gordon
"O.k. dad" replied Katie
"Jill and I will fill you in on the situation tonight once she's in bed, we'll do the same with the boy's when they arrive, but if she tells you anything no matter how small you must tell us" said Gordon stressing the last part
"Yeah will do dad" replied Katie.
Jill and Ash were sat at the table "Ash, sweetheart you can't keep running away" said Jill
"I know but I don't want to leave with her" replied Ash
"I want to stay here with you" she added
"Ash you're not going anywhere I promise we won't allow it" replied Jill she then added "Come here, my beautiful baby girl"
"Mum" whinged Ash
"I know, now I've got to get dinner dished up, do you want to give me a hand" Jill asked
"Yes please" replied Ash eager to help they made their way back in as they we're dishing up "Mum, can we have a talk just us tomorrow" Ash asked all of a sudden Jill was taken aback
"Yes of course we can" Jill replied
"Thanks" smiled Ash
"Anytime" replied Jill.
They sat down to dinner to hear stories of what Katie had been doing at university when it was over Katie and Jill went to do the dishes, Gordon had gone through to the study to do some paperwork instead of doing it tomorrow. Ash was sat watching the television, she was starting to nod off so decided to go on up to bed. She said goodnight to Gordon first then went and said goodnight to Jill and Katie after Jill had checked she was alright and told her she would be up in a minute she made her way upstairs.
She got a pad and paper and put it on the bedside table for later, she then got ready for bed she had just finished getting ready when Jill came up to make sure everything was o.k. and to give her, her medication. Jill then tucked her in, kissed her goodnight then left like the night before leaving the door slightly ajar.
Ash then waited as she heard Jill make her way downstairs, she then heard them start talking only then did she switch on her bedside lamp, she then took the notepad and pen and started to make points about what she was going to say tomorrow. She thought this was the best way to get everything out and also help to make it clear in her own mind, Ash hadn't realised how the time had gone it was only when she heard her parents coming up the stairs she quickly dumped her pad and pen on the side and picked up a book, Jill poked her head around the door
"Ash is everything alright" Jill asked concerned
"Yes, I couldn't get to sleep so thought I would read for a bit" replied Ash
"Right well not too much longer then" replied Jill she then made her way out shutting the door behind her.
Ash put the book back and carried on making notes it didn't take that much longer to finish she just wished this would make everything clearer, she switched off the light and went to sleep she only woke up when Gordon was shouting at her that breakfast was ready she made her way down, she would need Jill's help with her clothes again
"Morning" Ash said sleepily as she walked into the kitchen
"Good morning" replied Gordon before turning to Jill and saying "I'll see you at work"
"Yes I'll be there in a bit" replied Jill.
Gordon then went and said goodbye to Katie who was sat in the front room he then left.
Jill asked "How are you?"
"I'm fine, just tired" replied Ash
"Well maybe this list wasn't such a good idea then" replied Jill
"No I want to do something, it's so boring otherwise, please I promise I won't do too much, please" begged Ash,
"Well if you're sure" replied Jill
"Yes" replied Ash. Jill then went up and laid out some clothes then double checked everything and everyone was fine then she left.
Ash sat there for a while she didn't have the energy today to get up and start moving about she looked at the list that Jill had left her most of it looked easy enough, Katie came through
"Hi, what are you up to" asked Katie
"Not much mum's left a list of things she wants me to do" replied Ash
"Let's have a look then" replied Katie. Ash passed the list over
"Do you want a hand" asked Katie but before Ash could respond she added "We could do it like the old days turn the music up really loud and we'd have it done in next to no time then you can do whatever you like"
Ash thought about it for a while she knew why Katie wanted to help so they could keep a close eye on her but she knew she wouldn't get half of it done today with the way she was feeling
"Yeah sounds good to me, just let me get dressed" said Ash
"O.k. give us a shout when you're ready" replied Katie.
Half an hour later Ash called for Katie she was finally ready Katie came into her room carrying her radio, which she tuned into the local radio station and turned the volume up. They started by tidying up their bedrooms even though Katie's room wasn't on the list they then went downstairs and tidied the front room and dining room that only left the kitchen and putting the washing out, Katie put the washing out while Ash started on the dishes, she dropped the tea towel and as she bent down to pick it up the pain became unbearable just at that moment Katie came in through the back door
"Ash what's wrong" she asked panicked
"I'm fine I just dropped the tea towel that's all" lied Ash
"Well sit down, I'll call mum" replied Katie
"No, I'm fine really" said Ash carrying on with the dishes.
They finished cleaning the kitchen Ash could feel Katie watching her every move
"Well that's all the jobs done what are you going to do now" said Katie
"I'm going to go and do some drawing in my room, what about you" replied Ash
"I was thinking about meeting some friends in town after lunch if you're alright" said Katie
Before Ash could reply the phone rang Katie went to answer it was Jill to say they wouldn't make it back for lunch today unless they really needed them, Katie was just about to say something when Ash took the phone from her and told Jill everything was fine and that they would see them later she then put the phone down.
"What did you do that for" asked Katie clearly annoyed
"Because there's nothing wrong, that's why" replied Ash
"Well I'll just phone her back then and we're see what she has to say shall we" replied Katie with one hand on the phone
"O.k. call her back but your be wasting her time there's nothing wrong" bluffed Ash she then turned away and went upstairs to her room and got her sketch pad out, she could hear Katie on the phone five minutes later Katie knocked on her door
"Come in" said Ash
"Mum's on her way and she's not happy with you" said Katie
"Well she'll be even angrier with you when she finds out you've wasted her time" retorted Ash
"Why are you being like this" asked Katie
"I'm not the one poking their nose in" said Ash.
Katie could tell this was going nowhere and decided to leave her alone until Jill got there. Ash was really angry that no-one seemed to listen to her anymore, she hated Katie for telling Jill and she hated the fact that she couldn't go very far without someone being with her or knowing exactly where she was, she wasn't in the mood to draw anymore but she left it out so she could pretend that was what she had been doing before being rudely interrupted, she laid on her bed staring at the ceiling hating the fact that she had just had an argument with Katie for no reason she was only doing what Mum and Dad had asked she hadn't asked for this either.
Ash was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Katie opening the front door and quickly explaining everything that had happened that morning as they were coming up the stairs,
"O.k. thanks Katie go and wait downstairs I call you if I need any help" said Jill outside of Ash's room she then knocked on the door she didn't wait for a reply she just walked in
"Right young lady what's been going on and I want the truth" said Jill to Ash who was now sat at her desk with her sketch pad open
"Mum" said Ash while shutting her sketch pad quickly Jill sat on the bed and motioned for Ash to join her
"Well I'm waiting" said Jill as Ash made her way over
"I'm fine really" lied Ash
"Well Katie doesn't seem to think so" said Jill
"I told her she was wasting your time but she wouldn't listen" said Ash
"Well from what she's told me it's you that's wasting my time" replied Jill
"I'm fine really I would just like to be left alone now" replied Ash getting up and returning to her desk
"I'm not going anywhere until I get the truth" said Jill
"Well I've told you the truth" lied Ash
"Well I'll be downstairs when you decide to tell the truth" said Jill getting up and going to the door.
Jill couldn't understand what was going on she thought she had got somewhere with Ash yesterday Ash was even asking to talk to her maybe they were both telling the truth she knew she couldn't stay that much longer she had to go back for evening surgery. Jill went back down and started talking to Katie trying to get as much of the picture as possible
"Mum I know she dropped the tea towel but she was clearly in pain when she tried to pick it up, but she wouldn't let me phone you and then when you phoned she snatched the phone from me when I was going to tell you, I promise you" said Katie for the third time
"I know sweetheart, but she's not telling me anything" replied Jill clearly worried she looked at the clock "I've got to get going soon, will you be alright" asked Jill
"Yeah we'll be fine but what if she's in pain again" asked Katie
"Just phone and one of us will get here, who knows maybe your Dad will have more luck" replied Jill
"I doubt it very much, they don't have a great track record" replied Katie
"That's true" replied Jill getting up
"Ash, I'll see you later call if you need anything" Jill shouted up the stairs
"Bye" shouted Ash
"See you later, and thank you" said Jill to Katie
"Yeah see you later" replied Katie shutting the door behind her.
Jill got into the car frustrated wait until Gordon hears about this she thought she knew who he would believe maybe that's why she was hoping it wasn't as bad as it seemed they didn't need any more arguments at the moment especially as Ash was still so vulnerable she couldn't bear the thought of Ash running away again or even worse just shutting them out completely. Jill arrived at the hospital Gordon was outside to greet her
"So what was it then" asked Gordon
"I don't know I couldn't get to the bottom of it they both say their telling the truth and I didn't have time to keep going round in circles" replied Jill
"Right well we'll sit down and talk it out over dinner" replied Gordon
"What good cop, bad cop" replied Jill
"Yes if we have to" replied Gordon they made their way in he could tell this was eating Jill up but they couldn't do anything now.
Evening surgery was uneventful much to Gordon and Jill's luck which meant they actually got to do their ward rounds on time for once, it didn't happen very often but when it did they made the most of it. Jill finished her ward round first and went to finish her paperwork at least she wouldn't have to do any over the weekend, Gordon knocked on her door when he was done
"Are you ready" he asked
"One minute" replied Jill making the last few notes and returning the lid to her fountain pen
"Yes all done" she said.
"It's alright for some" joked Gordon he then added "You could always help with mine"
"You should be so lucky" replied Jill with a giggle they both got up and made their way home.