Caroline explained to the nurse what had happened.
The nurse re-assured the two worried women. "She'll be brought here to the Accident and Emergency Unit. I'll take care of Helena if you want to go there. I can get a colleague to show you the way."
Caroline held a sobbing Kate in her arms, cradling her head on her shoulder. "Kate. Come on we can go to see your mum. They're bringing her here to Harrogate."
Kate pulled away from Caroline, wiping her tear streaked face with the sleeve of her cardigan. "I'm sorry. I've spoilt your jacket."
"Don't be silly. It doesn't matter."
The two women found Lawrence in the waiting room of the Accident and Emergency Department, pacing back and forth. "Mum, Kate! I'm sorry she just fell in the supermarket. I didn't know what to do." Lawrence burst into tears and Caroline held him, stroking his hair.
"It's okay Lawrence. At least she wasn't on her own and she had you with her." Caroline soothed his tears whilst Kate went to the desk to ask about her mother.
Kate came back a short time later. "They said she's really poorly and she needs an operation to clear a blockage. She's had two heart attacks but she's holding on. Oh Caroline. I can't lose her now."
Caroline and Lawrence both took Kate into their arms and the three stood in the waiting room holding on to one another for support. A family with a past divided by differences, divorces and separation now holding on to one another for dear life.
Lawrence broke the silence. "I'm sorry Kate. I didn't know what to do. She just fell in the isle. She was standing right next to me. We were going to make dinner together for you both. She was talking about Acapulco Chicken? She said it was your favourite when you were young."
Kate smiled between her tears. "Yes Lawrence. It was…..it is my favourite." Kate smiled at her lover's son. "You did really well Lawrence. The Paramedic said you helped with her chest compressions and they said she wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."
Lawrence smiled weakly not really feeling any better at the ambulance crews assessment of what he had done. He just wanted Grace to be better and to be home again making mischief in Kate's kitchen and playing Mario Kart.
The group took a seat in the waiting room and Caroline explained she was going outside to update Celia about Grace. Celia and Grace had become good friends and her mum would want to know. Caroline came back a short time later to find Kate missing and Lawrence on his own in the waiting room. He explained the Doctor had come to find her and they had walked off. Caroline took her son into a sideways hug on the plastic seats they shared. It was the same chairs she had used when Alan had been rushed to the hospital after his heart attack.
"Do you want a drink Lawrence? I think I passed the vending machines in the corridor." Lawrence shook his head in response not wanting his mum to leave him. The fledgling young man, showing his fragile side, leaning on his mother and not wanting to let go. Alone in the supermarket with Grace was frightening and he didn't want to go there again. He mumbled. "Love you mum."
Caroline pulled her son in closer. "I love you too Lawrence. You're very brave." She kissed him on the head.
Lawrence's voice was timid and quiet. "Is Grace going to die mum?"
Caroline took a deep breath. "I honestly don't know Lawrence. She's in the best place though. We just have to wait and pray for her."
There was silence for a time before Lawrence blurted out. "She beat me again you know… at Mario Kart. She really whooped my arse mum!"
They both laughed together at Lawrence's use of colourful language. "Sorry mum. How is Helena? Did you and Kate get to hold her again?"
Caroline smiled when she thought about Helena and then felt guilty at her own joy. "She's doing really well and they think she'll be fit enough to come home tomorrow night."
The two felt silent again before Lawrence verbalising his thoughts. "I hope Grace can be there to see Helena come home."
Caroline said nothing, preferring to keep her real thoughts to herself. She wanted to hold Kate and make everything okay but this was one problem she had no control over. She dealt with upset parents, struggling kids, stressed out staff, demanding Governors but she couldn't help the one person she loved the most, her girlfriend.
Caroline couldn't say how much time had gone passed before Celia arrived. It felt like hours but may only have been half. Celia took the seat next to Caroline.
"How is she, love?"
"I don't know mum. I haven't heard anything. Kate has gone off with the Consultant and I haven't seen her."
Caroline felt Lawrence become heavy in her arms. The stress of the day had caught up with him and he was falling asleep. Caroline turned to Celia and whispered. "Can you take him home? He's been through a lot today."
Celia nodded. "Of course love."
Lawrence woke and protested asking to stay but Caroline and Celia persuaded him to go home. He made his mum promise to contact him the minute she knew anything by texting. Caroline made a promise, knowing deep down that she may not be able to keep it if the worst happened.
Caroline saw her son and mother off down the corridor of the A&E department before returning to the reception desk. She asked where Grace had been taken and whether she could join her girlfriend. The receptionist told her to wait and she would make some enquiries for her. A short time later Kate came out from the Intensive Care Unit and into the waiting room of the Emergency Department.
Kate took one look at Caroline and burst into tears. "Oh Caroline. She looks so fragile and so poorly with all the wires." Caroline took Kate in a loving embrace giving her girlfriend soothing kisses.
"It's okay. She's in the best place. Besides she won't want to miss Helena coming home will she!"
Kate smiled. "No. she wouldn't miss it for the world."
The two women walked hand in hand across the A&E waiting room without so much as a glance from anyone. Spectators too wrapped up on their own drama's not caring for anyone else. As they entered the ICU Caroline nearly gasped out loud at the sight of Grace. She looked to have aged ten years since she last saw her. She managed to hold on for Kate's sake. They took the two seats next to the bed holding the fragile life and started the long vigil of the night, holding on to one another's hand.