She saw Carlo glance up at the window, to where a young man stood, signalling to him.
‘Sol,’ he explained.
‘You two have become friends?’ Ruggiero demanded sceptically.
‘Not quite that, but we’re managing to work together. He’s not so bad.’ He rose and kissed her cheek. ‘Thank you, Mamma, for everything.’
‘Give Della my love.’
He found Sol in the corridor, agitated.
‘Now we’re in the soup,’ he said. ‘Why did you tell that doctor that you were her husband?’
‘What’s happened?’
‘He told her about it, didn’t he? Only she didn’t know, and she asked me a lot of questions, and now she’s all worked up and I don’t know what to do.’
‘But I do. Stay here, and don’t come in.’
He found the doctor beside Della’s bed, trying to soothe her.
‘Please leave,’ Carlo said.
‘Signore, I don’t know who you are, but I cannot allow-’
‘I am her husband and I tell you to leave.’
The doctor departed quickly. There was something about Carlo that he didn’t want to argue with.
Carlo paid him no attention. He’d heard Della’s horrified gasp and he dropped down beside the bed, taking her hands in his and kissing them.
‘No, don’t struggle,’ he said. ‘Or we’ll both get tangled up in your machines. Hush, be still.’
Either his voice or the feel of his hands seemed to get through to her, and at last she lay quiet.
‘Is it you?’ she whispered.
‘Who else should it be? Della, my love-my love-’
She grew still, knowing she should fight this, but also knowing that she had no strength left to fight. She had come to the end, and he was there, waiting for her.
Then she felt the sensation that had haunted her dreams: the gentle pressure of his head against her, so that her hands moved instinctively to enfold and caress him possessively. It wasn’t what she’d meant to do, but the choice was no longer hers. As her fingers clasped him she felt him move a little closer, as though seeking a long- lost refuge.
‘Do you think you could keep me away?’ he whispered. ‘You never could and you never will. Don’t try to leave me again, my darling. I couldn’t bear it.’
‘But look at me,’ she said huskily. ‘I’m crippled and half blind-or maybe completely blind-’
He raised his head, looking down at what he could see of her wan face, half covered in bandages.
‘It doesn’t matter,’ he said, ‘as long as we love each other.’
‘But-’
‘No.’ He laid a gentle finger over her lips. ‘No more words. They only get in the way.’
This time they held each other in silence for a long time.
‘You told them you were my husband?’ she said after a while.
‘Yes, because I am. I won’t let anyone deny me-not even you. Only tell me this. Why did you come back?’
‘To find you. I should never have gone away, and I wanted to tell you that. Even if you didn’t want me any more-’
‘Hush,’ he said, silencing her mouth tenderly with his own. ‘I could never stop wanting you. If you knew how hard I’ve hoped that you came back for me. When I saw the pictures I dared to let myself believe, but I needed to hear you say it.’
‘Even now that I’m like this?’
‘I see no difference in you,’ he said simply. ‘Except that you are hurt, and need me at last.’
Before such total commitment there was nothing for her to say. She began to weep, the tears pouring out from under the bandages until he kissed them away.
From then they had to be patient as Della progressed by slow inches. Painful life returned to her leg, the bandages were removed from her head, although not from her eyes, and her hair began to grow again.
‘It isn’t grey, is it?’ she asked Carlo anxiously.
‘No, it’s not grey,’ he said, laughing. ‘It’s fair and soft, in little tight curls, like a shorn lamb. You’ll start a new fashion.’
‘I can’t bear not knowing what I look like. How long before they remove these bandages?’
‘Be patient until-Hey what are you doing?’
He moved to stop her, but Della was too fast, taking the edge of the bandage, lifting it just a little, then dropping it at once.
‘What is it?’ he asked, full of dread. ‘My darling, don’t panic-’
‘I think I can see,’ she said breathlessly. ‘My right eye is fuzzy, but I can make out shapes and colours. I’m going to see.’
They flung themselves into each other’s arms and stayed that way for a while, unable to speak. Then Della, inspired by sudden determination, raised her hands to her head. But Carlo caught them.
‘No, cara. We’ll ask the doctor before we do anything rash.’
‘But he’ll just tell me to be patient, and I’m tired of that.’
‘One step at a time.’
‘I’m sorry,’ she said grumpily, resting her head on his shoulder. ‘But I’m fed up. I’m fed up with being here, with not being able to move properly, with not knowing what’s happening. I’m fed up.’
He laughed, caressing her.
‘I can see you’re going to be a handful to look after.’
‘You won’t have to look after me.’
‘Yes, I will. As soon as you can leave here I’m taking you home, to nurse you until you’re well enough for us to be married.’
A noise outside made them pull apart. It was the doctor.
‘I can see,’ Della told him at once. ‘Just out of one eye, but I can.’
‘In that case, let’s have a look.’
They held their breath as he removed the bandages. Della blinked rapidly.
‘I’ve got the right one back,’ she said joyfully. ‘It’s getting clearer all the time.’
‘And the left?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Well, we may be able to do something about that later.’
‘Just one eye makes all the difference,’ she said fervently.
The doctor asked some more questions, and went away looking pleased.
‘It’s so good to see you again,’ she said, meaning it. ‘I thought I never would.’ She blinked again. ‘It’s getting better all the time. I’ll be able to work again.’
‘Will you wait until the rest of you has recovered?’ He was almost tearing his hair.
‘Sorry. I can’t help it.’
Seeing that she was on a high of delight, he gave up trying to calm her down and joined in her pleasure. His own heart was rejoicing at her happiness, content to forget the future in the first good news they’d had.
Sol arrived, already exulting.
‘I met the doctor on the way in,’ he said, producing a bottle of champagne, ‘and turned back to get this.’
They drank it out of paper cups, toasting each other cheerfully, until Della said, ‘Darling, it’s wonderful that you’re here, but now I’m so much better I want you to go home. Your exams must be coming up soon.’
He nodded. ‘And I really must pass them this time,’ he said. ‘I’ve got to get a job and start sending Gina money. Her grandmother says I can visit them as soon as the baby’s born.’
‘You’ve been in touch?’
‘I found Mrs Burton’s phone number in your things, and-well, I thought I should do something. It’s my kid, after all.’
‘Good for you,’ Carlo said.
Next day he drove Sol to the airport. Now on easy terms, they had a coffee while they waited for the flight to
