Sixteen

"Flora?"

Flora jerks upright at the sandpaper voice that rasps forlornly against the air. She blinks for a second, her blurry eyes coming into focus, and then the colour hazel meets her own coffee-brown, and she starts to cry. "Charlie, you're…you're awake!"

"I know," he croaks. "Can you…water?"

"Of course, of course!" she takes the plastic cup she's been drinking out of, brings the cool, smooth rim to his lips, supporting the back of his head. When he's done, she's about to press the call button for the nurse when his hand reaches out to catch her wrist.

"Don't. Not yet."

"Why?"

"I have to know…I have to – was it a dream?"

"Was what a dream, Charlie?"

"I thought…I thought I couldn't feel my legs. I can't now – are they just numb are they…Flora, what's the matter?"

Fresh tears have welled up in her eyes like a mountain spring and she brings her hand to her mouth. "I'm sorry, Charlie. I'm so, so sorry."

He doesn't understand, for a second, and she has to watch as the heartbreaking truth slowly dawns across the surface of his face.

"No," he says. "No."

"I'm sorry," Flora repeats, clasping his hand. What else can she say?

...

"So, next Thursday, you've got the FDR," Rosalie says as Kitty settles herself into the chair across from Rosalie's desk.

"Okay. That's the financial one, isn't it?"

"Yes, that's right. Before then, we've got to sort out all the offers his solicitor has been sending me and decide whether any of them are any good."

Kitty grips her handbag. "Okay. What are they?"

Rosalie sighs. "I've had two. The first is that he'll pay a small settlement and leave you in peace."

"And the second is unconditional surrender."

"How did you guess?"

"I lived with him for years, Rosalie, I know what he's like."

"So we're saying that neither of the offers are suitable. Okay."

"You don't sound sure."

"It's going to be a challenge. Mr Mulloy is much more experienced than me and a good deal more ruthless."

"So…"

"I'll manage it, Kitty, don't worry. It's my job to fight your corner," Rosalie smiles, then, the sun appearing from behind clouds. "We'll get it all sorted."

...

"What do you mean he doesn't want to see me?"

"You heard me," Nancy's voice wobbles, slightly, and she's clasped her hands together so tightly that Flora can see the tension straining under her skin. "He just doesn't."

"But why?"

Nancy doesn't answer, just stands awkwardly in the doorway to Flora's kitchen.

"Nancy," Flora says. "Nancy, please, I'm the mother of his baby! I have a right to know!"

She exhales stiffly. "He said that he'll give you money to look after the child."

"I don't want money! I want him!"

"Flora, you're being unreasonable."

"I'm not! I love him and I demand to know why he's shutting me out like this!" She rakes a hand through her loose, unwashed hair.

Nancy avoids her eyes. "It's because…"

"Because what?"

"His exact words were that he doesn't want to have you tied to a cripple for the rest of your life."

"But he wouldn't be a cripple, they have artificial legs and everything, Nancy. He's an idiot to think that I don't love him anymore because he has no legs!"

"I've tried, Flora, I've tried to change his mind but you know how stubborn he is. He won't be moved."

"Please let me see him."

"Flora, I'm sorry. My first duty is to him…"

"And what about your grandchild? Would you have them grow up without a father like Charlie did?"

"No, but…"

"There aren't any buts. Let me see him."

"I'm sorry, Flora. I can't."

Then Nancy turns and goes, and Flora reaches up unconsciously to wipe the tears that are running down her cheeks like rain.

...

Somehow, the next day after a night of tossing and turning and sobbing, she makes it over to Kitty's, wrapped in a coat and bending her head against the un-spring-like winds that bustle down the streets. She stands in front of her friend's door, and knocks. There's the murmur of voices and then footsteps. Thomas opens it.

"Hi, Flora," he says, managing a curt smile. They've never really had much time for each other. "Were you looking for Kitty?"

"Yes, if that's okay."

"Of course it is. Come on in."

She steps over the threshold and silently follows Thomas into the kitchen where Kitty is absently singing along to the radio and kneading streaks of colour into an already very ginger icing. "Hi!" she enthuses, coming over to give Flora a hug. "Don't touch my hands, I'll get orange all over you."

There's a cake on the counter, a table, with a few icing-people sitting behind it, a bride, a groom and several guests. What looks to be the chief bridesmaid is sprawled out at the front with a bottle of champagne in her hand. "I'm just making the best man," Kitty explains. "It's for someone's wedding, I can't remember who…"

"My cousin Rosie," Thomas reminds her, and she beams up at him. Flora wants to start crying again."

"Flora? What's wrong?"

It's all she can to keep from breaking down. "He doesn't want to see me. He doesn't want to talk to me. Nancy says that it's because he doesn't want to tie me to him for the rest of my life, but I'm in love with him, I love him..."

Kitty and Thomas exchange a glance, and Kitty sits down next to Flora, wraps an arm around her shoulders. "I'm sorry, Flora, that's awful."

Flora hiccups. "I don't know what to do. Do I barge in and whack some sense into him or just acquiesce and never see him again?"

Thomas clears his throat awkwardly. "Sometimes, people who've suffered trauma have to have some space to adjust to it, and often they don't want to be with their loved ones because they don't want to feel weak in front of them. You could give him a few weeks and then try and talk to him."

Flora gives him a watery smile. "Thank you, Thomas."

"My pleasure." He kisses the top of Kitty's head. "In actual fact, I've got to be off. Meeting with Purbright about my case load. I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you," Kitty says. "Come on then, how about you help me with this cake?"

A/N I am a horrendous person. I know. I am so, so sorry. You all owe a huge thank you to TofuQueen00 for giving me a kick up the arse and getting me writing again, and I promise I will get this story finished. Thank you to my guest reviewer and to Harry and George - I can't PM you for some reason, but I'm really pleased you liked it. N xxx