Lessons in Love (15 page)

Emily’s mobile phone rang as she drove from university to work, and she pulled over to answer it, startled by the insistent ringing. Few people had her mobile number, as she generally used the phone for emergencies only, so a call was usually something serious. She pulled out of traffic and found a parking space by the side of the road. The number showing on the screen was unfamiliar, and a cold ring of dread settled around her heart. If it wasn’t Mark calling about some emergency in the office…

‘Hello,’ she said. ‘Emily Peterson speaking.’

‘Hello Miss Peterson. It’s Janice Evans here. Veronica’s had an accident.’ Emily’s heart almost stopped beating. Janice Evans, Principal of Veronica’s and Steven’s school, certainly didn’t mince words.

‘A…an accident? Is she all right?’ she asked slightly breathlessly.

‘She should be fine. I’ve been trying to call you for some time now. The hospital reports that she’s doing well.’ Emily was immediately swamped by guilt, wishing she hadn’t kept her phone switched off during class.

‘The…the hospital?’ she stammered. Most accidents that occurred at the school were so minor that the child was usually left in the sick bay until a parent or guardian could turn up to take them home. She’d never before had to worry about either of her siblings being hurt badly enough to have to go to hospital. ‘What happened?’

‘That’s what we’re trying to determine. Somehow one of the doors to the gymnasium wasn’t locked during lunch hour as it usually is.’

‘I thought the kids were allowed into the gym,’ Emily said, remembering her own time at school.

‘Not the games area, but the room with the gymnastic equipment. Veronica and her friends were practising their gymnastics on the beam and uneven parallel bars. Apparently Veronica was attempting some manoeuvre she hadn’t managed to perfect in her gymnastics classes and fell awkwardly, banging her head on the lower bar and landing heavily on her arm. When she was found she was unconscious, but woke up soon afterwards. She has a severe concussion and a badly broken arm, I’m afraid.’ Emily was stunned. Why had Veronica and her friends been so foolish? Surely her sister should have known never to try such feats without competent adult supervision, but when she remembered herself at the age of twelve she understood.

‘Thank you for telling me Mrs Evans. I’ll go straight to the hospital. And, um, I’m sorry that Veronica was playing where she shouldn’t have been. I’ll give her a good talking to.’

‘Really, Miss Peterson. There’s no need. I’m sure Veronica and her friends have learned their lesson, and whoever left the room unlocked will be reprimanded.’ Emily gave the Principal a shaky goodbye and rang off. What if her sister had been really badly hurt? What if she had suffered worse than concussion? She turned the key in the ignition and drove to the hospital, almost having two accidents on the way because she couldn’t keep her mind on the simple act of driving.

Her heart thudded painfully in her chest as Emily realised the implications of what could have happened to her sister. And more than that, she began to wonder how she’d be as a parent. Would she go crazy every time her child took a fall?

She took a deep breath to calm herself as she pulled into the hospital parking lot.

She already knew the way to the children’s ward, having had to visit there a number of times with her brother and sister. ‘I’m here to see Veronica Peterson,’ she said to the nurse on duty at the desk.

‘Ah yes, she’s just through that door there, room forty-eight. She’s sleeping at the moment.’

‘How is she? No one has told me yet how serious her injury was.’

‘She’s fine,’ the nurse said with a smile. ‘You’re her sister, I take it? I was told that she was under the guardianship of an older sister.’

‘Yes,’ Emily replied. ‘I’m just sorry I couldn’t have arrived earlier. I was in the middle of a lecture and my phone was turned off.’

‘I wouldn’t worry about it. Veronica is going to be just fine. She does have a badly broken ulna, but that’s been set and she’s been given analgesics for the pain. Her head has been X-rayed and there are no signs of any skull fractures, but she has had a nasty bump, enough to have rendered her unconscious for a couple of minutes, so we’d like to keep her under observation for a few days. She also needed a couple of stitches on her scalp, so she looks a bit of a mess, I’m afraid. But it’s not as bad as it looks, believe me. She was awake and watching TV for awhile, but the pain killers have a sedative effect, which she’s no doubt sleeping off now. It’ll probably be a few hours before she wakes again.’

‘Good, I’m so relieved she’s OK.’ Emily shook her head. ‘The things kids get up to, huh?’ she said wryly as she walked across the corridor to the room where her sister slept.

As she quietly opened the door and stepped into the room, Emily nearly gasped out loud at the sight of Veronica lying there, pale and wan, with her head bandaged and her arm firmly plastered right up from the hand to just below the arm pit. She really did look dreadful! Emily was glad the nurse had warned her about Veronica’s appearance.

‘Hi Verri,’ Emily said softly, sitting down in a chair beside her sister’s bed. The young girl stirred a little, but didn’t open her eyes, and Emily decided it was best to leave her sleep. She looked at her watch, and realised it was almost three o’clock, the time she’d promised to be at work. She was momentarily torn between sitting at her sister’s bedside and getting in to work on time. She wanted to be there for Veronica when she woke, but knew that for the while her sister was fine, and wouldn’t be awake to see her for another few hours. ‘I’d love to stick around Sis, but I’ve got work to do. I’ll be back at five-thirty or so,’ she finally said, knowing the girl was too far asleep to hear. She leaned over and gently kissed her sister on the forehead.

‘I’ll be back later,’ she said to the nurse at reception. ‘I’ve got to get to work. If she wakes up, tell her I’ve been in to see her, OK?’

‘Not a problem. We’ll see you later,’ the nurse replied with a smile. Emily returned the gesture and walked out of the ward. She phoned Mark the instant she was back in the car, knowing that he’d be wondering where she was.

‘Hello Mark,’ she said as he answered, but was completely unready for his response.

‘Emily! Where on earth have you been? I expected you here five minutes ago! You’ve never been so irresponsible before. I know you had class but that’s no excuse for not being here on time!’ he yelled at her. It seemed that Emily was now the unfortunate employee to provoke his ire, but it was definitely the wrong time for her to deal with it.

‘Hang on a moment, Mark!’ Emily responded angrily. ‘I know you’re stressed and have worries, but I’ve never let you down before. For your information, my sister was in an accident and I had to go and see her in hospital. Thankfully she’s fine. I’ll be at work in ten minutes,’ she finished, before pressing the end button angrily, wishing she had a receiver she could slam down, because pressing a button simply did not have enough emphasis. How dare he speak to her like that! He hadn’t even given her the chance to explain why she was late. He may have been having problems in his life, but she was suffering from her fair share as well, and he’d gone too far.

She gripped the steering wheel tightly in her hands as she drove to the office, furious thoughts swarming through her mind, and they all had their genesis with one person: Nicholas Cavanaugh! It was his fault Mark was in his current situation, and it was his fault that Emily was almost to breaking point. If only she’d never met him!

She stormed into the office, flung her bag down on her desk, and was immediately confronted by a pile of work waiting in her ‘in’ box. Well, work she would. She was not a slacker, and she wouldn’t be accused of letting anyone down again. She turned on her computer, and began typing, not even bothering to alert Mark to the fact that she’d arrived. However, five minutes after starting on a proposal, Mark came into her office with a sheepish expression on his face.

‘Hi Emily,’ he said softly.

‘Hello Mark,’ she said brusquely, not looking at him, and not yet prepared to forgive him.

‘I’m sorry,’ he continued. ‘If that’s enough. I know I shouldn’t have blasted you, it’s just that I’ve been so tense lately and so close to the edge! I’ve let my temper get the better of me far too often these past few weeks.’

‘I’ve noticed,’ she said in agreement, but stopped typing and turned to face him. ‘I understand the pressure you’re under Mark, I really do. But given the stress I’ve gone through already today and in recent weeks, I thought you went a bit far. Perhaps if you’d bothered to listen to my explanation…’

‘I know…I know. Oh Emily, what am I going to do? Things have just gone right over my head, and I feel like I’m stuck in the middle of the ocean with no life raft. I’m slowly but surely running out of energy, and before you know it, bye bye, I’m going under. So that’s it. I’ve decided what I’m going to do.’ He looked down at his hands, and Emily knew she wouldn’t like what he had to say next. ‘I’ve arranged a meeting for tomorrow with Nicholas Cavanaugh…’

‘No!’ Emily interjected desperately, all her anger at him evaporating in that instant.

‘Yes, Emily. It’s for the best. He’s promised that Overington Industries will go on operating. He’s also assured me that I’ll still have a job here, as will everyone else. The debts will be paid off, and I should still get a decent sized payout from the sale of the business. Not enough to retire on, mind, but enough to put away for Lisa’s and my future, as well as for the little one. That, and with the job, we’ll be fine.’ Emily shook her head sadly.

‘But you’ve worked so long and so hard to build Overington Industries into a successful business. You won’t be happy working for someone else, no matter what you get paid, and you know it. Maybe I should speak to him again…’

‘Emily, I know you mean well, but I don’t need you jeopardising my chances of getting the best deal possible. Besides, I’d like for you to keep your job here, at least until you have your degree and can move on and up in the world.’

‘Thanks Mark, but I don’t think that me speaking to Nicholas will affect any of that. Well, maybe my job, but that’s not what’s important now. I can always get another. There are plenty of opportunities for good secretaries. Or I could start my own typing business from home,’ she said with a shrug of her shoulders, the impending baby having temporarily vanished from her thought processes. ‘Don’t worry about me. Worry about you. Now, I’ll finish this work, then I’ve got to get back to the hospital to see Veronica, but after that I’ll be having my own meeting with Nicholas Cavanaugh.’ Mark nodded in resignation, and returned to his office. ‘And God help him!’ Emily muttered out of her boss’s hearing. She would make Nicholas feel well and truly sorry for what he was doing! He’d made her feel less than a worm on Saturday morning, and she’d ensure that by the time today was out, he’d feel less than the bacteria that lived in the worm’s intestines!

‘Good bye, Mark,’ she said softly, as she poked her head in his office on the way out.

‘Bye, Emily,’ he replied, not even looking her way. She shook her head sadly. It just wasn’t fair what Nicholas was doing! He was wealthy enough and successful enough to help Mark through this rough patch, but he only seemed to want to buy out another company to make more money for himself. That was not the sort of man Emily would marry. She couldn’t live with herself if she did!

She began driving straight for the hospital, before remembering Steven at home waiting for her. He’d undoubtedly have heard about Veronica, but that was no excuse for her forgetting him. She pulled a quick U-turn and drove home in exasperation.

‘Hi Steve,’ she said as she opened the front door to see him waiting anxiously in the hall.

‘Hi Em, what’s been keeping you?’ he asked. ‘Have you heard about Verri?’

‘I most certainly have. How do you feel about coming with me to the hospital. We’ll pick up some McDonald’s on the way.’

‘Sounds great!’ he replied enthusiastically.

‘Hey Steve! Remember your sister’s in hospital. There’s nothing to get excited about.’ Steve tried to look apologetic, but failed miserably. She smiled ruefully at him, thinking how much easier things had been at thirteen.

‘What about homework? I’ve only got about a quarter of it done.’

‘We’ll see,’ replied Emily. ‘If you’re very good, I’ll write you a note. But just this once. Now get out to the car. She’ll be awake by now and will be wondering where we are.’ She opened the front door, and heard the unmistakable sound of a car pulling up in the driveway.

‘Great. What now?’ she muttered. Hopefully it was something she could deal with quickly. Not bothering to wait for whoever it was to reach the door, Emily walked outside and almost smashed headlong into the almighty form of Nicholas Cavanaugh.

‘Oh what do you want?’ she snapped. ‘I’ve had enough stress from you lately without this intrusion. My sister’s in hospital.’

‘I’ve heard. I was coming to see how you were,’ he said, sounding almost hurt by her curt dismissal. She sighed and ran a hurried hand through her hair.

‘Thanks for your concern. But if you don’t mind we have to leave.’ Steven watched the exchange with more than a little interest on his face, and she glared at him.

‘We need to talk, Emily. You know it and so do I.’

‘Fine. I’ll concede that point, but first I’m going to see Veronica. If you want to meet with me, drop around later, at nine or so. By that time Steven should be in bed.’ Steven looked disgruntled by the news, but didn’t bother voicing a complaint. He knew when to push Emily, and he knew when not to.