Chapter Fifteen

"So you met my granddaughter earlier?"

Nina looked up from her position under the desk trying to sort out the plugs for all the electrical items that were knotted in the corner of the room, "great-granddaughter you mean surely?"

Mansell laughed, "isn't she amazing?"

Nodding she extricated herself from her almost hidden position, her body more than glad to be extended back to full height, "she tells me she had a sleep over."

He nodded lowering himself to an armchair, "yep. Best night's fun I've had in ages, kids...guaranteed to keep your feet on the ground."

Nina wouldn't know anything about that, she had no experience with kids really, none of her friends had kids, there were a few small ones in her French family, but she didn't spend enough time there to feel confident with them, not really.

"Sounds like fun."

He nodded, "I'm planning on going back to France."

That caught her attention, "you are?"

He nodded, "Helene...I speak to her several times, a day. Neither of is getting any younger...we want to spend time together."

"And with your grandchildren?"

He shrugged, "I don't want my boys here to be put out, but I really need to spend what little time I have left getting to know them. Do you get that?"

She nodded, perching against the desk and facing him, "I do, but I imagine that people here will feel a little put out about it. They may feel like you're making a choice." She didn't want to add to his woes, but as someone who perceived that they had been ostracised she was keen to not let him fall foul to that trap too.

Sighing he closed his eyes for a moment, "that's what I was fearing."

Standing again, she moved to place a hand in his shoulder, "you have to do what you feel is right, not anyone else. Don't be bullied by guilt, but be aware that there are others who will appreciate phone calls and contact. Ok?"

He smiled sadly at her, "Daniel, Theo's half brother is back from the States; I'm hoping he'll take me, as really he's not met anyone yet... and there isn't much time. For any of us."

She hated the fact that she was intrigued to know that Theo was only half related to his brother, she knew so little about him, but had sworn that she wasn't interested, yet as time went on she seemed to learn more and more. "I'm sure he's more stable and reliable than his brother."

That made Mansell chortle loudly, "do you think? I've never worked that out, but then they're both very different...but Theo is family orientated...not that Daniel isn't..."

Suddenly she didn't want to hear about the intricacies of his family, hear any more about Theo.

"So when are you leaving?"

He looked up in surprise at her abruptness, "Daniel is coming this afternoon, I'm hoping he'll book me a flight. Claudine will pick me up at the airport. It's all sorted really. I want to leave in a couple of days."

Nina smiled, "you'll have an amazing time."

Nina didn't see Daniel, she avoided meeting anymore of Mansell's family, but Mansell did leave. And she missed him, whenever she visited the home he always sought her out, they had meaningful and often intellectual conversations, talked about life. The other residents were fun, but it wasn't the same. Still she had half a dozen commissions to work on, so she was busy, distracted for the next ten days. The time she spent in the home was her sanctuary, her sanity away from the dark and hot basement workshop that she seemed glued to at the moment.

She emerged on Wednesday, ten days after speaking to Mansell to find Lilah in the kitchen, "you've had three calls from your brother, and the Oakdale called a few minutes ago."

Nina rolled her eyes, not wanting to deal with either of the calls. "I've been locked in a cellar for the last three days, I don't need either!"

Lilah laughed pouring her a glass of wine, "but neither goes away."

Nina reached for the phone and nodded, "you're right." Placing the phone to her ear, she waited for the manager at Oakdale to answer the phone.

"Cinema? Really?"

Theo looked down at Melody's smiling face and knew that a torturous trip to see some pink frosted cheesy film was on the horizon. But he could never say no...She was going to be an extremely spoilt little girl if he wasn't careful. But after arriving at his ex wife's home to collect her, he'd had to break the door down, finally everything coming to a head. Sadie was un-wake able on the sofa in the lounge; Melody sat cross legged on the floor at her feet singing loudly to Frozen which he could only imagine was on a permanent loop since she'd woken that morning. It was nine am, he had no idea how long she'd been sat there alone.

He'd called an ambulance, and the police. This is what he'd been dreading, if Melody had opened the front door she could have wandered anywhere, and if he hadn't been collecting her, then who knew how long his daughter would have sat there. It still made him shudder at the thought. He'd removed her from the room, took her upstairs to pack some bags as Sadie's sister arrived; the last thing he wanted was his daughter to see her mother being medically treated. At the moment she thought she was asleep.

They were joined a few minutes later by a police officer, and Theo had spoken quietly and calmly as she gathered her things ready for a sleep over.

"I have been asking for help with this situation for months, it seemed that this disaster HAD to happen...I am taking my daughter to my home."

"The Child Welfare Officer will have to speak to you..."

He nodded, "here's my address, I don't want my daughter to witness what's happening downstairs, ok?"

He hadn't waited for a response, taking his daughter's things; he'd marched out the door.

An hour later the Welfare Officer had come, there was talk of Social Workers, protective orders, but he batted most of them away, and now, they were stood outside the cinema picking a film to distract from the trauma of the day.

As Melody skipped from foot to foot, disappointed at the poor choice, his phone rang. Glancing at it, he saw his brother's name and he groaned.

"Daniel?"

He heard his brother groan and immediately felt worried, "it's Mansell."

Nina wasn't sure if the family would welcome her at the hospital, but since the manager at the Oakdale home told her that Mansell Gershwin had had a stroke, she'd needed to come, needed to see the man. She loved him like her own grandparent, and whilst she expected animosity from his family, she wanted to see him, just check he was ok, give him her support. She'd happily leave after that. She just needed to see him.

Her feet felt like lead as she followed the directions to his bed. A tall blonde man was pacing the doorway that corresponded with the directions she'd been given. As she approached he glanced up at her.

"Is this Mansell Gershwin's room?"

The man nodded, "yes. Who are you?"

She smiled apologetically, "I work at the care home, I just wanted to see how he was."

The man ran a hand through his hair, "he's stable..."

"That's good. Can I just say hello?"

Shrugging he stepped out of her way.

Mansell was as pale as the sheets he lay against, his grey hair unkempt, and it was that that seemed to upset her the most. He was normally so pristine.

"Hey old man," Nina placed a hand over his and saw his eyelashes flicker at the contact. "You making everyone worry about you? I mean I was sat minding my own business, having an average Friday afternoon. Trust you to disturb that!"

She tried to make light of the situation, but it was a challenge. "The lengths some people will go to avoid family crises, hey Mansell?" She stroked his hand then smiled as she saw his eyes flutter open. "I just wanted to come and let you know that we're thinking of you, everyone in Oakdale, but me especially, as your friend. Ok?"

He didn't speak, but a groan emerged from his throat and she knew he was appreciating her concern. "I'll let everyone know how you are, ok? All the girls are missing you particularly." She reached down to kiss his forehead. She'd only wanted to see him, to check he was ok, as it was she was stunned, scared and terrified for him.

She made it outside the room and leaned against the wall panting, the confusion of the man she'd been beside, the sadness and fear on his behalf merged with the deep seated guilt she still felt about the fact that her father was ill and then died alone. As she took a few deep breaths she spotted the same blonde man approach. As he opened his mouth to speak, another voice called out.

"Daniel...I got here as quickly as I could." Both heads turned to see Theo almost running along the corridor, the child Nina recognised as Melody in his arms. Daniel rushed to him and the two hugged. Nina watched as she tried to process all that was happening, this was THAT Daniel, Theo's brother, hating that she was in the middle of another crisis, another family moment she knew she had to get away. Back pedalling she tried to put distance between them as the two men talked.

"How is he?"

Daniel shrugged, "not great. Hey Melody, how are you?" She beamed at her uncle then Daniel looked at Theo.

"Sadie's in hospital," he mouthed.

Nina made to slide away when Theo's eyes landed on her and he scowled for a moment.

"I heard..." He gave an abrupt nod, then lowered himself to Melody's level. "Darling, you sit out here...I just need to go and see Grampy, ok?"

Nina looked at the little girl, "I can take her for a little while..." Theo's eyes flew angrily to Nina's. "This is no place for a little girl. We could go to the beach..." She couldn't believe she'd said that, she was trying to escape all contact with that annoying man, this put her straight back in the spotlight. But this was no place for a little girl. She should be having fun, not staying this close to death...because that's what this hospital ward was.

"Can we Daddy? Can we please?" Melody's smile was her reward.

But she could see Theo was torn; Daniel's hand was on his shoulder, "you know this person?" When Theo nodded, he added, "it's not the best place for Melody. The doctor is on his way to discuss the options. She's better off having fun."

Nina held out her hand, "we can have fun, can't we Melody?"

The little girl nodded and took it, Theo had a split moment to resist it, but he couldn't, they were both right. It was no place for his daughter.

"We'll be about an hour," Nina assured him, then led the little girl out of the hospital.

Brighton Beach in the sun was fun, especially if you were a four year old little girl or in the company of one. Nina led Melody down on to the sand, and bought them both a huge ice-cream, then they sat beside each other and ate them in silence.

"You like ice cream?"

Nina's question was a little sarcastic as she'd never seen such a small person consume a cone of ice-cream so quickly. Melody nodded enthusiastically, "we were going to have some at the cinema, but we came here."

Nina looked down at her, "you were supposed to be in the cinema?" When Melody nodded, she asked, "couldn't your mother take you?"

Melody shook her head, "she's ill."

Nina had no idea what to make of that, "I'm sure she'll be better soon." She grimaced as she said it because she had no clue and hoped she wasn't saying things that weren't true. Was her mother terminal? Suddenly she felt pity for Theo, who knew what he had to deal with. She glanced down at Melody, and she beamed back up at her with huge innocent eyes.

"No. Daddy said she can't change so I'm moving to live with him."

So Theo and her mother were separated? She nodded slowly as she digested that, not that she was interested, she convinced herself she was interested in making conversation with this little girl, that was all.

But Melody wasn't finished, "and now Granddad is ill too. Will he die?"

Nina grimaced again, she hoped he wouldn't, but who knew? And why did such a small child know about death and illness? Her heart surged sympathetically, "I'm not sure darling, but he's got the best doctors looking after him. He's a strong man, so I'm sure he'll be fine."

She nodded, "like Mr Parker?"

"Mr Parker?"

Nodding again she smiled, "my goldfish. One day he was sick. But when I came home he was well again. Just like Granddad will be."

Nina smiled, obviously a rather loving parent had replaced a dead fish with a new one, and an innocent had been protected from the reality of death and loss for a little longer, despite the conversation they were having.

"Shall we go shopping? I mean there are some fun shops up there." Like most British coastal resorts Brighton had its fair share of games arcades and souvenir shops, all were bright and well lit and a real attraction to a small child.

They laughed as they tried on hats and sunglasses, then bought some sweets, before Nina glanced at her watch and realised almost ninety minutes had passed since they'd left. The hospital was more than two miles away, so Nina immediately flagged down a cab. As the car took them back to the hospital, she called the ward; desperate to get a message to Theo, but there was no answer for her half a dozen attempts.

He was stood in the doorway to the hospital almost puce with anger when the cab stopped. She wasn't sure what she expected, but she could only watch as he opened the car door and retrieved Melody rather abruptly, then with her in his arms walked a few metres away, leaving Nina to pay the fare. Once she climbed out of the car, watched it drive off into the distance, she turned in his direction.

"Sorry we're late, we got carried away shopping. Apparently this is a girl thing. I should have taken someone's number." But not yours. Despite his scowl, she couldn't hide the smile that broke out on her face; they'd had so much fun.

Theo couldn't release his grip on Melody. Every second beyond the hour she said they were going to be had felt like an hour. As if the stress of his very ill grandfather wasn't enough to contend with, the fear and worry that had built over the last few months had made him SO hyper alert to her absence. He heard Nina speak, but the words meant nothing to him.

"Shopping? That's it?" He managed an almost snarl.

Shaking his head he tried his best to contain his anger, but it was too difficult. Instead, he spun around and walked away from her, back into the bowels of the hospital and the hell that waited there.

Daniel was still at their grandfather's bedside, and when he saw his niece bouncing along the corridor he stooped to scoop her up into a hug. In the time she'd been away Theo had brought him up to speed with all that had happened with Sadie, and despite prompting had avoided explaining who Nina was. Though now that she'd almost abducted his daughter he wanted to slate her to anyone who'd listen.

"You ok brother?"

He glared at his brother, "what you reckon?" Then taking a deep breath he started his rant.