Eleven.  Elly

Lying in bed, a fresh dressing on her cheek and a mug of steaming cocoa sitting on her bedside table; Elly found it hard to believe that this afternoon had actually happened. It had taken on a dream-like quality from the minute she had met Nick until she had come round to find herself lying in his lap, staring up into his face.

There’d been someone else there too, she was sure of it, but she couldn’t really remember what they looked like. She reached over and picked up the mug of cocoa, she sipped the hot, brown liquid and felt its warmth wash over her. She drained the last mouthful and replaced the mug and turned off the lamp. Settling back on her pillows she allowed sleep to claim her.

                                                   *
Elly woke to see her mum standing by the side of her bed, she looked tired and dishevelled but her face broke into a huge smile when she saw that Elly was awake.
“Mum, you’re home.” And then they hugged, Elly wincing because her arm was still sore, but it didn’t matter – her mum was back home and she could put up with more than a sore arm for that.

“The lad who brought you home,” Mum gave Elly an enquiring look, “something I need to know about?”
“No, he’s just someone from school.”
“Oh, Nan told me about him, he was in quite a state she said, dead worried about you. She had to practically throw him out of the house; he didn’t want to leave until he knew you were going to be all right. Those other two boys though, Nan wasn’t sure what to do, you know how helpful the police are round here! But the one who brought you home…”
“Nick, his name’s Nick.” said Elly.
“Well, Nick said to Nan last night that he was going to deal with them, and get your phone back as well.” Mum gave Elly a thoughtful look, “he’s quite the hero isn’t he, this Nick?”

Elly didn’t know what to say, so she changed the subject. “I feel fine, I’ve had enough rest. Anyway, when did you get home?” she said.
“Just now, they’ve dropped the charges. Apparently all the witnesses have retracted their statements, just after I signed Clifford’s papers – amazing isn’t it?”

Nan bustled into the room, a glass of yellow liquid in her hand. “Come on you two, Rita you need a shower and some sleep and Elly, you need to drink this tonic I’ve made you.” She pushed the glass into Elly’s hand, Elly looked at it dubiously; she knew Nan’s tonics were good for you, but they always tasted foul.

“Nan, I’m fine, it doesn’t even hurt any more,” she touched the dressing on her cheek; “whatever you put on this last night is brilliant,”
“I didn’t need to do much, someone got there before me. And a nice job they did too.”
“There was someone else there, in the forest; but it’s all fuzzy, I can’t really remember.”
“Well, thank goodness they were there,” that’s all I can say. Now come on drink up, and Rita…”
“Yes Mum, I’m going. It’s so nice to be home and be able to do what I want!”

                                                       *

As Elly sat in the kitchen eating a bowl of home-made tomato soup for lunch, there was a knock at the front door. Elly opened it to find her dad standing there, he looked tired and distracted. “Dad, are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine; but I’ve just spent the night at the hospital, Suzanne’s had the baby.”
“What! Are they OK?”
“She had a boy, we’ve called him Ryan; but he’s not doing very well… Two months early and smaller than he should be. They’re not sure he’s going to make it.”
“Oh Dad, I’m so sorry. Can I see him?”
“Not at the moment, parents only; to reduce the risk of infection. Anyway I didn’t think you cared about the baby, you always acted like you resented him.”
“Dad, I didn’t…”

“It doesn’t matter now, what have you done to your face by the way?” he asked, looking at her properly for the first time.

“It’s just a cut.” Elly didn’t want to go into details just now; he had enough to worry about.
“Well, I just wanted to let you know about Ryan, is anyone else at home?”
“Mum’s asleep and Nan’s in town, do you want me to wake Mum?”
“The police have let her go then have they?”
“Yes, they’ve dropped the charges. Do you want to see her?”
“No, it’s OK; I’d better get back to the hospital, Suzanne’s in a bit of a state.”

He leant over and kissed the top of her head. “Bye, love. I’ll be in touch,” he hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a Polaroid photo, “here, they took some photos at the hospital. You can keep this one if you want.”

Elly took the photo, a tiny baby, wearing just an over-sized nappy, was lying in an incubator; his hands were curled into little fists and tubes and wires connected him to the machines that were keeping him alive. She felt tears prickle her eyes, he looked so fragile; how could she ever have wished he didn’t exist. Elly realised that she didn’t feel jealous, in fact she felt quite the opposite. 

She looked up and smiled. “Bye Dad, tell Suzanne I’m thinking about her and Ryan. I’m sure he’s going to be all right. And Dad, I’m sorry about the way I behaved the other night; I acted like a brat.”
Dad smiled, “Well, you always were a bit of a drama queen, Suzanne really wants the two of you to get on you know. Perhaps you could try a bit harder; you know your Mum and Nan don’t blame her for what happened. If there’s anyone you should be mad at it’s me.”
“I don’t think I’m mad at anyone now,” she held up the photo. “Seeing this makes me realize how selfish I’ve been.”
“I’m glad, I wasn’t looking forward to coming here; wasn’t sure how you’d react.”
“Was I really so bad?”
“You had your moments; you’ve inherited your mother’s stubbornness, that’s for sure.”
“Dad! Look you’d better get going, Suzanne will be worried.”
 
Elly waved as her dad got into his car and drove off. She was about to go back inside when she saw Nick walking up the path, he was grinning broadly.
“Hey, how are you feeling,” he asked.
“Much better, thanks to you.”
“I only bought you home; it’s Tink you need to thank for patching you up.”
“Tink, who’s that?” asked Elly.
“Can I explain on the way? We’ve got to go to the forest; you won’t believe what’s happened.”
                                                      *