Lavender Lane by Christina Jones

Author:Christina Jones [Jones, Christina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783754755
Publisher: Accent Press
Published: 2014-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Doctor’s Orders!

Six days later, Bob was released from hospital. Amy, driving carefully on the frozen roads, brought him quietly back to Lavender Lane.

‘Where’s the welcoming committee?’ He grinned across at her as they pulled up outside the bungalow. ‘I expected banners, a band, and a troupe of dancing girls at least.’

‘Peace and quiet,’ Amy said firmly. ‘That’s what the doctor said, and that, Bob Phillips, is just what you’re going to get.’

Taking his arm, she helped him inside. Though she was delighted to have him home, her heart was still heavy.

Matt, Megan, and Mitch had been wonderful. They had promised to do whatever they could, had visited the hospital full of cheering stories and run Lavender Cabs with a zeal that couldn’t be faulted. But Amy hadn’t been fooled.

Ever since Megan had returned from Warwick, she’d had a bright-eyed look and had refused all phone calls from Peter.

Matt and Sally, full of contrition over the sale of their shares, seemed to be acting a part in a play.

And Cicely, who never behaved as anyone expected, while naturally extremely concerned about her son’s illness, seemed almost distracted.

Mitch was the only one behaving normally. He had thrown himself into showing Dean and Debbie the ways of the garage and the taxi business, and had also dealt very firmly with Paul and Judith, organising their driving shifts and keeping them away from Amy at all times. She had been very glad of his support.

‘It’s great to be home.’ Bob stretched his legs out in front of the roaring fire. ‘But I don’t want to be a nuisance.’

‘You won’t be.’ Amy perched on the arm of his chair. ‘You can spend your recuperation doing something we’ve both neglected for some time!’

‘Don’t tell me.’ Bob groaned. ‘You want me to update the photo albums for the last twenty years. Or worse – sit here and polish all those little brass ornaments the kids used to buy us.’

‘Nothing so mundane!’ Amy laughed, hugging him. ‘Although, come to think of it, that’s not a bad idea. No, what you can do while you’re languishing in luxury is become a proper father.’

‘But I’ve always considered myself a perfect father!’ he protested.

‘We’ve been very lenient and easy-going parents.’ Amy smoothed his hair away from his forehead. ‘After all, that’s our nature. And I think we’ve done a great job. The kids are our friends, and they really haven’t given us any trouble. But that business with Matt and the shares brought it home to me that we haven’t spent much time with them since they’ve grown up. We never really have time to stop and talk and listen, do we? The business has always had to come first. But now you’re going to have oodles of time …’

‘Don’t I know it!’ Bob sighed. ‘I’ll be screaming with boredom after the first week.’

‘Not a chance!’ Amy smiled. ‘The kids know they’ve got a captive audience. You’ll probably have to keep an appointment book!

‘Seriously, Bob, Lavender will run as it’s always done.

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