Chapter Five Hundred and Twenty Seven
Ross was very unwell. His cough had just been the beginning of a serious infection and things had got worse very quickly. Charlie, Joey, Morag and Ruby had been at the hospital round the clock until finally, they had broken the news to them that there was nothing more they could do. Joey had stayed up with Charlie all night while she cried. She had known the end would come at some point but she wasn't ready for it to be now. He had requested to come home, not wanting to die in hospital. The staff and family had been reluctant but he had begged them to let him be somewhere he felt safe.
So now, they and a daily team of nurses were caring for him at home. It was hard but they were doing their best. And their friends, Angelo, Leah, Romeo, Claire, Colleen, Marilyn, Watson and Kerri were offering never ending support.
"How's your Dad?" Romeo asked when Ruby appeared at the restaurant.
Each day, they either ordered food from the restaurant or Leah dropped some food round for them. Nobody was up for cooking.
Ruby sighed and shrugged.
"The same really," she said. "It's just… watching him slowly fade away. I feel like my heart… it's just breaking."
Romeo reached out and held her hand.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Please let me know if there's anything I can do."
Images of him holding her and making her feel safe and loved rushed through her mind. Then she felt guilty for thinking of a boy when she was grief stricken over her father. She smiled weakly and drew her hand away, thanking him.
"I've got your food order," he said. "I'll go get it."
He disappeared into the kitchen.
Nicole was sat on the beach alone. She had planned to talk to Joey about her pregnancy. Joey was the person she had always been able to turn to in times of trouble. She had never let her down. However, since her decision, Ross had become unwell and now Nicole didn't think she could put any extra pressure on her. So once again, she was alone with her problem.
"Hello there," said a kind voice.
She looked up to see Marilyn coming to sit beside her. She smiled.
"I'm pregnant," she blurted out.
Joey stood in the doorway to Ross's room, holding a cup of coffee. She watched with a lump in her throat as Charlie sat in the dimness, beside her father's bed, holding his hand. Sometimes, he was awake but mostly he slept. Her heart was broken by the grief her family were suffering.
"Hey," she said softly.
Charlie turned, wiping the tears from her eyes. She smiled and accepted the drink her partner offered.
"Thanks."
Joey came to sit beside her. She held her free hand.
Marilyn held tightly to Nicole who had been sobbing on her shoulder for a full fifteen minutes. It was as if she had been holding her fear and grief in for weeks and she was finally unburdening herself and now she couldn't stop.
"Oh darling," she said softly. "Why didn't you tell someone sooner?"
"I didn't know who to tell or what to do," Nicole sobbed.
Marilyn looked at her seriously. Nicole wiped her eyes.
"What… what are you going to do?" Marilyn asked.
"I don't know," Nicole said. "I never thought I would be someone who could just discard a baby because it wasn't part of my plan but… it's Penn Graham's baby, Marilyn. Penn Graham. You know what that man was. You know what he did to me and to Alf. What's he's continuing to do. It makes me sick just thinking about him. I can't… I don't even know if I could love a child that was half him. I just… I don't know what to do."
She burst into tears again.
Irene stood between the kitchen and the lounge watching the familiar figure of Will slumped on the sofa in front of the television. She hated her life right now. She felt uncomfortable at work where she had to face people who judged her for looking out for a man she thought of as a son but felt she didn't really know anymore. And now she was starting to feel alienated in her own home. Will was becoming more and more of a stranger to her. And the more that happened, the more she was beginning to wonder if she had been wrong about him and that scared her more than anything.
Ruby walked back to her house with Claire who she had been clinging to throughout this latest trauma with her father. She honestly didn't know what she would have done without her. Or Romeo. He had been very supportive too.
"Has there been any change?" Claire asked.
"No," Ruby said. "He's just slowly fading away. It's… horrible."
"Charlie?"
Charlie was startled. Her father hadn't spoken in hours.
"Dad?" she said urgently. "Dad, are you okay?"
"In my suitcase," he said.
She furrowed her brow in confusion.
"In my suitcase," he said. "In the pocket. Your mother's engagement ring."
"Mum's ring?" Charlie said, still confused.
"I brought it so that… when the time is right, you can… you can propose to Joey," Ross said. "You… you have a keeper."
Charlie felt the first smile in days creep over her face. She opened his suitcase and found the familiar ring her mother had often let her wear as a child, but only for a few minutes at a time as it was so precious.
"Dad, thank you," she managed, a lump aching in her throat.
"I'm sorry I won't be here to see your wedding," he said. "But I have left you money you can put towards it."
"Dad…"
"I just want you to be happy, Charlie," Dad said. "I love you."
"I love you too," Charlie said.
"Marry Joey."
"I will."
"And I don't need to advise you on Ruby," he said. "Because you're already doing so well."
Tears fell openly down Charlie's cheeks. She closed her eyes and held her father's hand. All she had ever wanted was her father's love and approval. Now she finally had it, it was drawing close to the time to say goodbye.
Marilyn was on the computer when Sid arrived home.
"What are you up to?" he asked.
He had had a long day at the hospital, followed by his usual home visit to Ross and his family. He believed it was a matter of days now.
"Um… I'm booking a few days away," his girlfriend said.
Her voice was slightly more high pitched than normal. He was suspicious.
"A few days away?"
"Yes," she said. "Um… for myself and Nicole."
"Nicole?"
"I saw her on the beach today and she was so stressed out," Marilyn explained. "I think she's very anxious about starting Uni. So I suggested she have a break for a while and she asked me to come along with her."
She hated being deceitful to the man she loved but this was Nicole's secret and she had to respect it.
"That's very kind of you," Sid said.
"Will you be okay without me?" Marilyn asked.
"Well, I'll miss you," he said, leaning down and kissing her. "But I'll cope. And I think you're doing a very kind thing for a vulnerable girl. She's been through a hell of a lot this year."
"She has," Marilyn agreed.
Charlie had tucked the engagement ring into the back of her bedside table drawer. Part of her just wanted to propose to Joey right there and then. However, she wanted to make sure the proposal came at the right time and place. She wanted it to be special and not caught up with the tragic memories she knew they were about to face in the coming days.
That evening, she, Joey, Morag and Ruby were all sat round Ross's bed. They stayed with him all night. It was the early hours of the morning when he took his last breath.
Next time… Charlie, Joey and Ruby are surrounded by their loved ones as they attempt to plan Ross's funeral…
