I groaned inwardly when my phone began to vibrate again almost immediately. I couldn’t ignore him forever, and he didn’t deserve to be ignored. He just wanted to make sure I was okay, I was sure, but his protective nature could sometimes feel smothering. Looking around, I saw a recess in the wall at the end of the waiting area and moved over there to answer.
Hi, I signed, trying to rearrange my face into a smile.
Hi, he replied, a mixture of emotions battling for dominance on his face – relief that I’d picked up and I was okay seemed to win.
I’m so sorry, I told him.
Where are you?
I moved my phone so he could see parts of the waiting room. The hospital. It was a house fire. They pulled Lukas out, and he’s being seen by the doctors at the moment.
Shit, Max replied, rubbing his face with one hand. Are you okay?
I nodded. I’m fine. Well, I breathed in some smoke but it’s not too bad.
Was anyone else hurt?
I felt tears fill my eyes. His wife. She died.
Max hung his head. I’m so sorry, Paige.
Sniffing, I tried to smile again. Thanks. I didn’t know her very well, but still. It was a shock.
I understand. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have called, he said.
No, it’s fine, I insisted. I know you wanted to make sure I was okay. And that I hadn’t just run out on you for no reason.
I could tell by the look on his face that he’d been considering this, but he shook his head. It’s okay. That conversation can wait. He paused. Unless you want to give me an answer now? he asked, with a hopeful twitch of his eyebrows.
Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly, then had to suppress a coughing fit. When I’d finished I looked back at him. As you say, it can wait.
He drooped slightly. I’m sorry, he signed again. Terrible timing.
Yeah. I glanced behind me to see a doctor talking to the two PCs. I have to go, I told Max. I’ll text you when I’m home, okay?
I put my phone away and turned to look at the doctor who was now approaching me.
‘Are you the interpreter?’ she asked.
I held out a hand for her to shake. ‘Paige Northwood. Do you need me?’ I suppressed another cough.
‘Yes, please. We need to explain to Mr Nowak the condition he’s in, and the treatment we’re administering.’
I nodded. ‘How is he doing?’
She sighed. ‘He’s doing well, considering. Physically, he should heal without too many problems. Emotionally, I’m less sure. He’s been cooperative, but he’s in shock and hasn’t tried to communicate with us. I’m told his wife died in the fire.’
Part of me had hoped there’d been a mistake, that Nadia had actually been unconscious and had survived. I couldn’t imagine what Lukas was going through.
When we entered his room, there was a flicker of recognition in his eyes, but he didn’t smile at me. I instinctively went to touch his shoulder, to give him some reassurance, but then pulled back – I didn’t want to risk touching his burns and causing him more pain.
As I looked at him, I realised that the burns weren’t his only injuries. I hadn’t had a chance to look at him in decent light until now, and beneath the ash staining his skin it was clear that Lukas had numerous bruises on his face and arms. There was a gash underneath one eye that had been closed with a couple of steri-strips, and he appeared to be missing a tooth. Had this all happened to him in the fire? But how, unless he’d fallen down the stairs or something like that?
I thought back to his phone call. I had been watching his hand, the one that hadn’t been holding his phone, trying to make sure I understood what he was signing to me. I’d barely paid attention to his face.
Bringing myself back to the task at hand, I interpreted as the doctor explained the situation to Lukas, but the only acknowledgement he gave that he’d understood was the occasional nod. One of his hands was burned, so signing could have been painful, I told myself. Really, I knew that Lukas couldn’t bring himself to communicate. He was a shell of the man I’d met before, and Nadia’s death would leave him desolate.
The doctor glanced at me, then back at Lukas. ‘Mr Nowak, we noticed you have a lot of bruising on your face and chest. Can you tell me how that happened?’
Lukas watched me as I signed, but didn’t respond, only turned to look towards the curtained window next to his bed. I attracted his attention and signed the question again; he shrugged, but didn’t offer any explanation.
When the doctor had finished, she left the two of us alone and I sat in the chair at the side of his bed. He didn’t seem to care if I stayed or not, but I didn’t like the idea of leaving him there alone.
Lukas, is there anything I can bring you? Or any family or friends you want me to call? I hoped that by asking him questions I might bring him out of himself a little, but he just shook his head.
What about Mariusz? I pressed. Have you told him what has happened? In the panic over Nadia’s body being found, I had forgotten about Mariusz’s text. I hadn’t replied to him, and I didn’t know if Lukas had either.
He’ll be worried about you, I gently pointed out to him.
Lukas’s eyes widened and he focused on me properly for the first time, but he didn’t make
