The Night the Angels Came by Glass Cathy

Author:Glass, Cathy [Glass, Cathy]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harper Collins, Inc.
Published: 2011-09-14T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Hospital

I returned the receiver to its cradle, overwhelmed and hardly daring to believe. Patrick, who a few minutes ago I thought might never regain consciousness, was now awake and well enough to phone me. With my heart pounding and choking back emotion I immediately picked up the receiver again and dialled Nora’s number. It was engaged. I pressed 5 for ringback so that as soon as she’d finished on the phone it would reconnect to me. Perching on the sofa, I kept an eye on Paula in the garden while I waited for the phone to ring. Patrick was awake: I could scarcely believe it. I couldn’t wait to tell Michael! The first thing Michael always asked when I collected him from school was: ‘How’s Dad?’ And now I could say, ‘He phoned, and you are going to see him tonight.’ I could picture his little face, so happy and relieved.

I jumped as the phone gave two rings, signalling ringback, and picked it up.

‘Nora, it’s Cathy.’

‘Oh, Cathy, Pat’s just phoned me. He said he’d spoken to you. Isn’t it wonderful? I was so surprised. Wait until I tell Jack.’

‘Yes, it’s incredible,’ I said. Pat’s asked me to take Michael to the hospital this evening.’

‘I know: he said. So I think Jack and I, and Colleen and Eamon, will wait until seven to visit. It will give Michael a chance to spend time with his dad. Did Pat say anything else to you?’

‘No, only to bring Michael. He sounded quite weak.’

‘Yes. I think he just wanted to let us to know that he was awake and recovering. He asked me to phone Colleen and tell her.’

I smiled. ‘I can’t wait to tell Michael.’

‘No. Bless him. See you later, then. I’m off to find Jack. He’s pottering in the garden and didn’t hear the phone ring.’

We said goodbye and I hung up.

For the same reason that Nora had decided that she, Jack, Eamon and Colleen would delay visiting Pat until 7.00 p.m. – so Michael could spend time with his father – I decided not to take Adrian and Paula to the hospital that evening. Also, I wanted to make sure Patrick felt well enough to have lots of visitors; children can be very tiring for an adult who’s not feeling well. If Pat felt well enough I could take Adrian and Paula with me when I took Michael at the weekend. I assumed that as Pat had made the decision for Michael to see him in hospital, he would want me to take Michael every day.

Aware it was short notice and that I was asking a big favour, I picked up the phone again and dialled Jenny’s number. She had children of her own, so whether or not she could babysit for me that evening would depend on Ben, her husband, being home to look after their boys. Jenny didn’t know Pat was in hospital again and when I briefly explained what had happened, she was more than happy to sit for me and said she’d phone Ben to make sure he was home from the office by 5.

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