A Christmas Wish on Arran (Scottish Romances #4)

Chapter Fifty-Two

After a few days in the hospital’s cardiac ward, Barry was allowed to return home. Beth had stayed by his side throughout, going back to his flat every night before returning to the hospital, where she liaised with doctors and nurses to find out what the next steps would be. Fortunately there hadn’t been too much damage to his heart muscle, and after assessing him they were satisfied that he was well enough to go home. They had both sighed in relief. Barry was desperate to get home, and Beth thought if she never saw inside a multi-storey car park again she would be very happy. She wouldn’t miss the daily hunt for a parking space when all she wanted to do was abandon the car and see her dad. Despite the tinsel and glitzy decorations in the hospital it didn’t feel at all like Christmas. The big day was just a week away, and Beth insisted that she would stay with him for as long as he needed her, until she was happy that he could be left alone. She knew that he was surrounded by good neighbours and friends, but she wanted to do this for her dad. To let him know that she was there for him and that he wasn’t alone. Someone had spoken to him about cardiac rehabilitation, letting him know about specialist exercise classes and walking groups he could join in his area. He seemed genuinely keen to do so — Beth was relieved. She’d been so worried about him, and whether or not he’d have lost his confidence after the heart attack. Several of the pensioners in the complex had popped get-well cards through his door, and Beth and Margaret were policing the number of visitors, claiming they didn’t want to tire him out.

‘I’m fine. Stop fussing,’ said Barry that afternoon. Margaret had just arrived with another pot of scotch broth. ‘There’s only so much soup a man can take.’

‘Aye, well, you can just stop your moaning Barry. Beth will agree with me that it’s lots of fibre and vegetables you need right now for your heart. The days of bacon rolls are over. You need to look after that ticker of yours.’ She’d ladled up a bowl of soup for him. He’d silently tucked into it.

Beth chuckled. Despite his protests she thought her dad was actually quite enjoying the attention. Especially from Margaret. Barry had been home for a few days now and Beth was starting to feel like a bit of a spare part. Margaret seemed to have everything under control. She had also insisted that Barry get out for a short walk every day. ‘Some fresh air will do you the world of good. And that’s the snow melted now so you can’t use that as an excuse either. Now come on. Let’s get going.’

Beth was amused that Barry didn’t try and object. Whereas when she’d suggested it, he had been less than keen. However, Margaret, with her steely glare, really wasn’t the sort of woman to take no for an answer.

As she waited for Barry to pull on his shoes and coat, Margaret had taken Beth aside. ‘Look love, if you want to head back to Arran for a few days then please do that. I think your dad will be okay, and I promise I’ll call you if anything changes or he doesn’t do as he’s told.’ She smiled. ‘Aside from anything else, I’m sure you want to get back over to see that fella of yours.’

Beth felt her cheeks flush. Callum had been texting her every day, checking in with her about her dad, but also asking how she was. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t looking forward to seeing him. But she was torn — she didn’t want to leave her dad until she knew he felt less vulnerable. Though now, as she watched him waiting patiently by the door, he looked the picture of health. It was hard to believe he was the same man who lay in a hospital bed a few days ago.

‘Your dad would want you to get on with things,’ Margaret whispered. ‘And you have a life over there. And a possible love.’ She winked.

Beth shook her head. She was used to Margaret’s ways now — she was more like a mischievous teenager than a woman in her seventies. There was nothing elderly about her. In fact, Beth felt like the adult in the house at times. Fortunately, Jim had been brilliant about her having to abandon the office and be at the hospital. It was a far cry from her early reporting days when you would be sacked if you took a sick day — HR wasn’t a big deal back then — as your job always came before your family. No matter what. She now realised why so many marriages had failed in the world of journalism. She’d still managed to do some bits and pieces remotely, but she was keen to get back to her life on Arran, even for a night or two before Christmas. What Margaret said also rang true. She was desperate to see Callum in person. Especially as he’d been a tower of strength to her this past week.

‘Okay,’ she said slowly. ‘Let’s see how he is in a couple of days and take it from there.’

‘Okay love.’ Margaret paused longer on the “O” and sang the rest of the word out. ‘You can still be back for Christmas. I checked the weather, it looks like it’s going to be fair, so you don’t need to worry about the ferries being cancelled either. This is one year that I hope we don’t have a white Christmas.’

When she took her dad through his cup of tea the following morning, he announced that he wanted to try and get on with things himself. ‘The longer you’re here, the less I feel able to get on my own two feet.’

He added quickly, ‘I have loved you being here Beth. But I’m worried I’ll get too dependent on you and become one of these old guys who can’t do anything for himself, because he gets so used to everyone else doing it for him . . .’ He shrugged. ‘I mean, I would love to have everyone else doing stuff for me all the time. But then it’s a slippery slope, and I won’t want you to end up one of those women who’s seventy and who’s been stuck living at home with her dad and no life of her own.’

The thought made her shudder. Her dad laughed when he saw the expression on her face.

‘See,’ he said. ‘You’d become the feature of a magazine article. Like those ones that Margaret reads.’

Beth didn’t know whether to be pleased or insulted. She’d seen the variety of magazines on Margaret’s coffee table, which ranged from Hello to Woman and Home to Take a Break . She had everything covered.

‘Okay Dad, let me have a think about what to do and I’ll chat with Margaret. I might pop back for a couple of nights, but then I’ll be back for Christmas, as planned.’ She patted his hand, left him to drink his tea and went back to her room, checking the ferry times and making a plan to return to the island.