Loose Connections Read Online Free Page B

flushed with anger. ‘And you’re turning into a bloody boy racer!’ he yelled at her.
    Gran didn’t seem that shocked. She just looked straight ahead. Then she started to laugh and, after a moment, Jake joined in.
    They got out of the car still shaking with laughter.
    What do I do with her? Part of her is still there; part of her is still my feisty, funny old Gran.
    They walked slowly towards the hospital entrance. Gran reached for Jake’s hand and held it tight. ‘I hate hospitals,’ she said fiercely.
    ‘Because of Grandad?’ asked Jake. Jake’s grandad had died in hospital after a long illness.
    She looked at him and frowned, her face all vague again. ‘Who?’
    Jake stared at her. This was getting really bad. He knew he had to tell
someone.
But not Mum. What had Dad said just before he left for America?
    “Try not to worry Mum about anything Jake. The medics say she mustn’t have any stress, so if you or Gran have any problems, tell me – don ‘t bother Mum.”
    ‘OK, but we’ll be fine. There won’t be any problems.’ He’d said it so confidently.
    But if I tell Dad, he’s sure to come home early. I can’t ask him to leave the training course halfway through.
     
    ***
     
    They took the lift to the fourth floor. There were lots of people and it was a tight fit. Some were clutching bunches of flowers, some were loaded down with bags. Some talked
and laughed with one another and others stood silently, eyes cast down. Jake had bought some magazines and chocolates for Mum from the supermarket and stuffed them into a big plastic bag full of
her clean clothes. Last week Mum had given the clothes to Gran to wash, but she’d forgotten, so Jake had put them through the machine. He’d hated doing it – felt embarrassed
handling his mum’s things – but he knew she’d ask questions if her clothes weren’t washed.
    As they came into the ward, Jake gave the plastic bag to Gran.
    ‘What’s this?’
    ‘Mum’s clothes,’ he muttered. ‘The ones she gave us to wash.’
    Gran frowned. ‘Did we wash them?’
    Jake nodded. ‘Yep. They’ll all done.’
    Gran’s face relaxed.
    Mum was sitting in a chair beside her bed, busy working on her laptop on a table in front of her.
    She’s keeping the family afloat. Will she stop working so hard once Dad starts the new job?
    Her head was bent and she didn’t hear them approach, so Jake was able to watch her for a few seconds before she saw them. She looked really well. Her long dark hair was glossy and her face
had more colour in it now.
    Surely this time it will be OK?
    Twice before, Mum had had a miscarriage. The first time, he’d been too young to understand what was going on. But the second time – three years ago – he remembered Mum being
rushed into hospital and coming back home looking miserable, pale and quiet with all the sparkle gone out of her eyes.
    She glanced up and saw them, and her face lit up. She pushed the table away and held out her arms.
    ‘Jake!’
    Jake stumbled forward into her arms and hugged her fiercely.
    She laughed and pushed him away, but kept holding one of his hands. ‘Careful, love, you’ll squash the baby.’
    He looked down at her swollen tummy.
    ‘Is everything OK?’
    She nodded. ‘Yes. Everything’s fine. They’re really pleased with me.’
    Jake twisted round. ‘Gran’s got your washing for you.’
    His mum put out her free hand and took the bag from Gran.
    ‘Thanks for doing all that,’ she said. ‘How are you both?’
    ‘We’re fine, aren’t we, Gran?’
    Please recognise Mum. Please don’t say anything stupid.
    He watched Gran’s face.
    She’s trying so hard to remember.
    Then Gran smiled. She bent forward and dropped a kiss on Mum’s head and patted her tummy.
    ‘Is the baby kicking?’
    Mum put her hands across her belly. ‘Kicks all the time. I think we’ve got another footie player in here, Jake.’
    Jake grinned. ‘I’ll teach him when he’s big enough.’
    ‘Who says it’s going