The Christmas Vigil by Chris Taylor

Author:Chris Taylor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chris Taylor
Published: 2014-11-30T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Brandon

Grafton, New South Wales

Brandon strode out of the hospital and headed toward a garden on the edge of the entrance to the car park. Clayton’s continued anger at their father upset him. The fact that Clay had fair reason to be angry made Brandon even sadder. He didn’t want to believe his father was a cheat, but neither could he ignore what the evidence suggested.

What he wanted was to talk to his dad and have him allay his fears, like he always had in the past, but his dad was in a coma and no one knew when he’d wake; or even if he’d wake…

Brandon missed Alex, too and the thought that she could go into labor any minute constantly played on his mind. He pulled out his phone and dialed his home number, needing to hear her voice.

In contrast to his heavy mood, the warm summer morning bathed him in its heat and the light breeze carried the heavy scent of jacarandas. The trees were famous for their thick clumps of purple bell-like flowers and there were several large specimens in the hospital grounds, their branches generously laden. He’d always loved the sight and the smell of them—an integral part of his childhood.

The huge trees lined many of the streets of Grafton and this time of year, the delicate, frondlike leaves were a bright, almost lime green, providing a stunning contrast to the spectacular purple display. The trees also clung to the banks of the wide Clarence River that ran along one side of the city and provided a haven for the millions of bats that called the jacarandas home.

Brandon remembered watching with awe as a kid while the evening sky filled with the black shadows of bats. By the thousands, they’d fly from somewhere upriver and settle among the dark branches. It was a nightly event he could almost set his watch by.

The phone was finally answered and Brandon swallowed a sigh of relief. If Alex was home, she wasn’t in a labor ward and for that, he was inordinately grateful.

“Hi, sweetheart. It’s me. I just thought I’d call you and see how you were doing.”

“Brandon, how are you? How’s your dad?”

“He-he’s about the same, I think. I haven’t been in to see him, yet. We got in too late last night and I just arrived at the hospital. Clayton’s in with him now.”

“I’m sure he’ll be fine. You’ll see. He’s not going to give up easily. Where do you think you got your fighting spirit from?”

Brandon smiled at her compliment and hoped like hell she was right. “How are you doing? And the baby? No signs that it’s on its way?”

“No, darling, I promise. My due date’s still two days away and I’ll probably go over, like the last time. If anything happens, I’ll call you.”

“Promise?”

Alex sighed. “I promise. Now, go and say hello to your father. You need to make sure he’s all right.”

“Thanks, babe. It’s good to talk to you.” He paused and then added in a voice thick with emotion, “I miss you.

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