And the Bride Wore Red

‘It’s all right,’ she said kindly. ‘She’s still alive.’

Alive, but only just. Olivia approached the bed slowly, horrified at the sight of the old woman lying as still as death attached to a multitude of tubes.

‘Norah,’ Olivia said urgently, hurrying to the side of the bed. ‘It’s me. Can you hear me?’

The nurse produced a chair for her, saying, ‘I’m afraid she’s been like that since she was brought in.’

‘But she will come round soon, surely?’ Olivia pleaded.

‘We must hope so,’ the nurse said gently.

Olivia leaned close to Norah. It was hard to see her face through the tubes attached to aid her breathing, but the deathly pallor of her skin was frighteningly clear. She seemed thinner than before, more fragile and lined. How could she have gone away from Norah knowing that she was so frail?

But she hadn’t known, because Norah had been determined to prevent her knowing. During their talks she’d laughed and chatted, apparently without a care in the world, because to her nothing had mattered but that Olivia should be free to go out and explore.

Now she was dying, perhaps without regaining consciousness, and she might never know that the person she’d loved most had returned to her.

‘I’m sorry,’ Olivia said huskily. ‘I shouldn’t have stayed away so long. Oh, darling, you did so much for me and I wasn’t there for you.’

Norah’s hands were lying still on the sheet. Olivia took hold of one between both of hers, hoping by this means to get through to her, but there was no reaction. Nothing. Norah didn’t know she was there, and might never know.

‘Please,’ Olivia begged. ‘Don’t die without talking to me. Please!’

But Norah lay so still that she might already have been dead, and the only sound was the steady rhythm of the machines

Olivia laid her head down on the bed in an attitude of despair.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

SHE must have lain there for an hour, holding Norah’s hand and praying desperately for a miracle.

When it finally came it was the tiniest, most fragile of miracles, just a faint squeeze, but it was enough to make Olivia weep. Somehow, through the dark mists, Norah had sensed her. She must believe that. She must-she must.

She awoke to the feeling of someone shaking her shoulder.

‘I’m sorry,’ she mumbled. ‘I didn’t mean to go to sleep, but jet lag…’

‘I know,’ the nurse said sympathetically. ‘Do you mind waiting outside while we attend to her?’

Olivia almost sleepwalked into the corridor and sat down, leaning back against the wall, exhausted. Inside her head there was a howling wilderness of grief, desolation and confusion. It felt as though that was all there would ever be again.

She forced herself to think clearly. She should call her mother.

Melisande answered at once. As briefly as possible, Olivia explained what had happened and that she was at the hospital.

‘Norah could die at any moment. How long will it take you to get here?’

‘Get there? Oh, darling, I don’t think-Besides, she’s got you. Since you went to China she’s talked about nothing else. You’re the one she wants. Keep in touch.’

She hung up quickly.

Well, what else did I expect? Olivia asked herself bitterly.

The nurse appeared, signalling for her to come back in.

‘She’s opened her eyes,’ she said. ‘She’ll be glad to see you.’

Norah’s eyes were just half-open, but they lit up at the sight of Olivia.

‘You came,’ she whispered.

‘Of course I came.’

Norah closed her eyes again, seemingly content. Olivia sat there, holding her hand for another hour until the nurse touched her on the shoulder.

‘You should go home and get some rest. She’s stable now. Give me your number and I’ll call you if anything changes.’

Norah’s apartment was dark and chilly. Olivia stared at her suitcases which Jack had left there for her. She knew that she should make an effort to unpack, but it was too much.

With all her heart she yearned for Lang, yearned for his voice, his comforting presence, the feel of his body close to hers. He was so far away-not just in miles but in everything that counted. Suddenly it seemed impossible that she would ever see him again.

She began to wander aimlessly around the apartment, trying to understand the depths of her isolation. Less than twenty-four hours ago she’d been the happiest woman on earth. Now the ugly silence sang in her ears, perhaps for ever.

He’d promised love eternal, but what was in his mind now-her or the all-important interview for the job? She was suddenly convinced that he must have forgotten her as soon as they’d parted, drawn back to his ‘real’ life.

She should call him, but what was he doing at this moment? With her mind fuzzy, she couldn’t work out the time difference. He might be talking to somebody vital to his career and resent her interrupting.

She took out her mobile phone and sat staring at it, feeling stupid. After a while she put it away again.

Then it shrilled at her.

‘Where have you been?’ came Lang’s frantic voice. ‘I’ve been waiting and waiting, thinking you’d call me as soon as you had news. When you didn’t, I nearly went crazy. I started checking the flights to see if anything had happened to your plane.’

‘Oh, heavens!’ She wept.

‘Darling, what is it? Is she dead? Tell me.’

‘No, she’s alive and holding on.’

She told him about her journey-her arrival and the moment when Norah had seemed to become aware of her. She hardly knew what she said. She was almost hysterical with relief that he’d reached out to her.

‘So it’s good news,’ Lang said. ‘If she’s survived the first twenty-four hours, then her chances are fine. She’ll be well in no time.’

‘What’s been happening to you?’ she asked.

‘I’m back in Beijing.’

‘Have you done anything about the job?’

‘No, it’s still only dawn here. When the day starts properly I’ll get to work. Then I’m going to get myself a video link so that we can talk face to face.’

‘You can call me on Norah’s. I’m living there for the moment.’

‘Go and get some sleep now. You must be in need of it. I love you.’

‘I love you,’ she said wistfully.

She hung up and tumbled into bed, trying to tell herself that Norah would soon be well; Lang had seemed sure. After all, he was a doctor. But she knew in her heart that he was being too optimistic too soon. If Norah made only a partial recovery they would be faced with huge problems and she guessed that he didn’t want to think about them just yet.

She went to the hospital early next day. Norah was still unconscious, but after an hour she opened her eyes. Her smile as she beheld Olivia was full of happiness.

‘I thought I’d only dreamed that you were here,’ she murmured.

‘No, I’m here, and I’m staying to look after you until you’re all right.’

‘What about Lang?’

‘He’s fine. I’ve talked to him.’