It was a pleasure to be invited over to fellow Swanwick Writer, Val Penny’s, blog today to discuss Why I Write Fiction.
Why not pop over HERE and read the article?
Why I Write Fiction
Guest Feature – Dawne Archer
It gives me great pleasure today to welcome author, Dawne Archer, over to Patricia’s Pen to chat about her book, Trekker Girl Morocco Bound, and help raise awareness of thrombosis. Without further ado, it’s over to Dawne.
My Writing
Trekking the Sahara Desert
Dawne Archer
I wrote Trekker Girl Morocco Bound for a number of reasons, including commemorating the Sahara Trek which is something I will never forget. Despite the practical difficulties, it is an awe inspiring environment, starkly beautiful, exciting and dramatic.
I also wanted to raise awareness of thrombosis and as a kind of memorial to my Dad who died of a blood clot in his lung.
The trek was a big deal for me. I was in my early 50s and reasonably fit but it was a real challenge, taxing me emotionally and physically in ways I had never expected. I actually walked slowly and painfully, wearing a back brace and using two hiking poles to drag myself up the sand dunes, munching high doses of painkillers. You’ll have to read the book to find out why I was in such a state though, as that would be giving too much away!
In addition to this, I have inherited a clotting disorder which makes me prone to blood clots in certain situations. For instance, we are all at risk of a clot after an operation due to being immobile. I am 88 times more at risk so it is something I have learned to live with.
It was hard to relive my blood clot journey which was dramatic and emotional. Then I talk about losing my Dad and you can imagine how hard that was. Yet I felt it was essential to bring home to readers the reality of thrombosis and how it can affect anyone’s life, often without warning. Awareness is key to saving lives.
There is an underlying theme in my book which is that of an important friendship, renewed in later life and now deeply cherished. My friend Sarah and I jointly decided on this trek and the book tells you about meeting up again and our decision to do something important together. I can honestly say that it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Why do I support Thrombosis UK? This is what they have to say:
Our priority is for everyone to KNOW the Risks Signs & Symptoms of VTE and to support research to extend UNDERSTANDING into the PREVENTION and BEST MANAGEMENT of VTE. (VTE is Venous Thrombo Embolism, essentially blood clots in the veins such as DVT in the leg or a Pulmonary Embolism in the lung.)
Thrombosis UK is a registered charity in England (1090540) and I donate royalties to them.
Statistics on the subject are frightening. Did you know that 1 in 4 deaths worldwide are thrombosis related? Or that one person dies every 6 seconds from thrombosis around the world? I could go on but, as writers tend to be sedentary creatures, perhaps I should leave you with the thought that we lose 50% of the blood flow in our legs after sitting for only 90 minutes. I keep an alarm clock on my desk which rings every hour to remind me to get up and move around, grab a glass of water to keep well hydrated, anything to keep that lifeblood flowing.
~~~
Thank you, Dawne, for such an informative blog. You are an inspiration and what a wonderful tribute to your dad.
About Dawne Archer
Dawne is lucky to be alive, having survived blood clots in her leg and lung aged 26. She vowed to live life to the full and has indulged her curious nature in travel as well as interviewing interesting people on the radio. Often roles are reversed and she becomes the interviewee in her quest to raise awareness of thrombosis.
Trekking the Sahara Desert may have been a step too far in her fundraising for Thrombosis UK but it was just the start.
Dawne tried her hand at writing and her first book Trekker Girl Morocco Bound is the result.
~~~
Happy May Day – Beltane Blessings to All
I thought I would share a poem with you for this special day. Divine Marriage is published in Taxus Baccata published by The Hedgehog Poetry Press 2020.
When reading the poem I hope you can imagine the images and become part of it.
If you like what you read and fancy a signed copy or pdf version then visit my online shop.
Taxus Baccata is half price at the moment at £3.99 plus p&p or ONLY 0.99p for the pdf version.
Order safely via PayPal HERE.
Guest Feature – Valerie Poore
It gives me great pleasure today to invite author, Valerie Poore, over to Patricia’s Pen to discuss her non fiction writing. Without further ado, it’s over to Valerie.
Writing Memoir
Valerie Poore
Anyone can write a memoir.
That’s a bold statement, isn’t it?
Even so, I think it’s true – although most people I speak to are convinced their life hasn’t been interesting enough to write about. I’d actually challenge that though. In my encounters with the great variety of individuals I meet in my job as a freelance teacher, I’ve learned that nearly everyone has some kind of interesting story to tell. And if that’s the case, then in theory everyone has the potential to write a memoir. I have to say I love reading them too, which in turn means that I also enjoy writing them.
But what was it that inspired me to write my own memoirs and why did I do it?
My first book, African Ways, was inspired by Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence. I read it in 2005 after I’d been living in the Netherlands for a few years and as I read, I was reminded of the wonderful rural people I’d known and loved while living in South Africa during the 1980s and 1990s.
It occurred to me that rural people are similar wherever you go, whether in France, England, Spain or Africa. I knew I’d had a special introduction to South Africa on a farm in what is now KwaZulu Natal. So, when I finished Peter Mayle’s book, I realised I wanted to write about the people I’d known there and what it was like to move from the mod-cons of 1980s UK to a somewhat primitive rural environment.
This idea was my prompt to start writing, and since African Ways, I’ve written two other memoirs about my life in South Africa and five about living and travelling on a barge in northern Europe. Each of these books covers a specific period but none of them is a complete autobiography so I’ve been able to focus on different aspects of where I’ve lived and what I do.
I can’t say I set out to lead the life I have as I’m something of an accidental traveller. I also didn’t actually intend to write so many memoirs. But what I’ve noticed is that people are interested in other people’s experiences if they’re different from their own, so transferring from a remote African farm to Johannesburg, South Africa’s biggest, baddest city was another adventure to share. And then moving back across the world to land up (or water up) on an old barge in the Netherlands was added fuel for my writing hobby.
My destinations have at least been unusual and because I adored South Africa, I could write about it with immense affection. The same goes for my watery world. Restoring an old and decrepit Dutch barge and converting it to a home was a huge learning curve, but I loved and still love it. In fact, my latest boating travelogue about our pre-Covid travels to France is just about to be launched and I write about our boating life regularly on my blog.
~~~
About Valerie Poore
Val Poore was born and raised in England but at the end of 1981, she moved to South Africa where she and her family lived for nearly twenty years. She adored South Africa, but had to return to Europe in 2001. Since then, she’s been working as a freelance ESL writing skills teacher in the Netherlands. Val shares her time between a 120-year-old barge in Rotterdam and a cottage in Zeeland, both of which seem to take an inordinate amount of time to maintain. As a distraction from teaching, she writes and has written a total of eleven books.
~~~
Links to Social Media
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA 
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA 
Review for Taxus Baccata
Guest Feature – Matt Duggan
It delights me to feature poet, Matt Duggan, today on Patricia’s Pen. Matt has come along to chat about his poetry so without further ado, it’s over to him.
Thank you for inviting me to talk with you today, I suppose I’ve been writing on and off for over twenty years now, and I like to class myself as a working-class imagist poet who writes about themes that matter in the world, about social issues like politics, climate change, history, identity, but also, I like to write on the emotive side of human nature and a world to travel, my work can be surreal, political, personal, and imagist, yet I’d like to say relatable and I’m very pleased with what I’ve produced over the last ten years or so, with two full length collections and four pamphlets under my belt, with another collection and pamphlet nearly ready to submit.
I started submitting poems back when I was eighteen with very little success at all, with several rejections from journals but continued to write and improve on my writing by reading more and more poetry, and involving myself in writing groups and night classes until I believed that I had found my voice, and the way I like to approach my writing. It was after watching ’V’ film poem by Tony Harrison that turned me on to writing political poetry I then started to get poems accepted and thought I would try and enter a couple of competitions and ended up winning the erbacce prize for poetry in 2015 from over 5,000 entries with my first collection Dystopia 38.10, and also winning the Into the Void Poetry Prize in 2017. I always believed that as a writer we must keep changing, shedding skins and faces with each book, improving our poems as we need to keep reinventing and playing with form, I strongly believe that as a writer we need to live a life before we can write about our experiences. I also work for erbacce press where I read entries for their annual competition, and I also interview poets for their journal, which has introduced me to many new up and coming poets. My influences over the years have changed as has my taste for poetry, favourite poets range from Weldon Kee’s, Tony Harrison, Charles Bukowski, Kent Johnson, Jeremy Reed, Brendan Kennelly, Frank O’Hara, and Penny Rimbaud.
My work has been accepted in various journals such as Ambit, The Poetry Salzburg Review, Osiris, The Potomac Review, The Lit Quarterly, Here Comes Everybody, The Journal, Into the Void, Ink, Sweat, and Tears, and The High Window, and I’m currently working on two new poetry projects my third collection ‘Everyone is Waiting for Tomorrow’ (with a possible 2021 release) and a new pamphlet titled ‘Kindness in an Age of Pestilence.
~~~
I’m sure you’ll all agree that Matt has a very impressive portfolio. Below you can find out more about Matt and how to purchase a copy of one of his books.
About Matt Duggan
Matt was born in Bristol U.K. 1971 and now lives in Newport, Wales with his partner Kelly and their cat ‘Pablo’. Matt regards himself as a working-class poet and activist with left leaning political views, he is the editor of The Angry Manifesto zine, his poems have appeared in many journals including Ambit, Into the Void, The Poetry Salzburg Review, The Chiron Review, The Potomac Review, Dreich, 14 Magazine, Here Comes Everyone, Oxford Magazine, The Seventh Quarry, Osiris Poetry Journal, The Poetry Village, The Journal, The High Window, The Ghost City Review, L’Ephemere Review, Marble and Polarity. In 2015 Matt won the Erbacce Prize for Poetry with his first full length collection of poems Dystopia 38.10 (erbacce-press) and won the Into the Void Poetry Prize in 2017 with his poem ‘Elegy for Magdalene’, and was highly commended in the ‘Road to Clevedon Pier Competition’ with his poem ‘Walking with Coleridge’, he has previously published four chapbooks: One Million Tiny Cuts (Clare Song Birds Publishing House) A Season in Another World (Thirty West Publishing House) The Kingdom (Maytree Press) and Ten Truths from Wonderland ( Hedgehog Poetry Press) a bilingual collaboration with Spanish Poet Maria Castro Dominguez. His second full length collection Woodworm (Hedgehog Poetry Press) was published in July 2019. He has read his work across the U.K. including Greece, the U.S.A and has appeared at various festivals such as Poetry on the Lake Festival in Orta, Italy, A Casa Dos Poetas in Portugal and also the Cheltenham Poetry Festival. Everyone is Waiting for Tomorrow is Matt’s third full length collection of poems.
One Million Tiny Cuts (Clare Song Birds Publishing House) (SOLD OUT)
A Season in Another World (Thirty West Publishing House) (SOLD OUT)
If you would like to purchase any of Matt Duggan’s books – Please go HERE
You can find Matt on Twitter
All Author Cover of the Month contest
The Granville Legacy : A Family Saga, has been picked to be one of the contenders in the All Author Cover of the Month contest – April 2021.
If you like the cover, please consider popping over to All Author and voting HERE
Guest Feature – Lynne Shelby
My guest today is, Lynne Shelby, author of women’s fiction and contemporary romance novels. Lynne has come along to ‘Patricia’s Pen’ to chat about her writing. Without further ado, let’s go over to Lynne.
My Writing
Lynne Shelby
The question I get asked more than any other as an author is: where do I get my ideas? There are all sorts of ways a writer can generate story ideas, such as rolling a dice to determine what their characters do next or looking at paintings or photos and asking a series of questions – who are the people in this picture, and what are they doing? – to kickstart their plot. I’ve also heard of writers who base their novels on news items – with the characters heavily disguised, of course. But for me, ideas are often sparked by something I see or hear quite by chance.
Some years ago, me and my family were travelling back from Paris on the Eurostar. There was a young Frenchman sitting across the aisle who spent the whole journey telephoning his English friends, telling them he, François, was coming to England, and suggesting they meet up, but unfortunately none of his friends wanted to meet him. By the time we got to St Pancras, I felt very sorry for poor François, but I had the idea for a story about a Frenchman who comes to London where he is very much welcomed by an English girl. This became my debut novel, French Kissing. Conversations overheard on trains, on buses or in restaurants are a great source of inspiration – I always carry a notebook to jot down any gems.
The plot of the first novel in my Theatreland series, came to me out of the blue when I was in a shop in London’s Piccadilly Circus and spotted a famous Hollywood actor travelling down an escalator – he was appearing in a West End show at the time – his progress marked by excited members of the public taking his photo on their phones. He appeared unperturbed – presumably he was used to fans and paparazzi recording his shopping expeditions for posterity – but it seemed to me that it must be very strange to be the focus of such unrelenting attention. From this incident came the plot of The One That I Want, about a girl who is suddenly thrust into the public eye when she dates an A-List film star.
I had the idea for my latest novel, The Summer of Taking Chances, while I was watching an amateur drama society perform in a small local theatre. The actors were very talented, and it occurred to me to wonder why they hadn’t chosen to pursue a professional acting career. What if one of them had wanted to go to drama school but something had prevented her…? By the time the curtain came down, I had the outline of a plot. A visit to a seaside village where I used to spend summer holidays as a child gave me the book’s location, and the characters that form the close-knit community that lives there.
I find that stories can be inspired by absolutely anything and at any time – usually when I least expect it.
Blurb for The Summer of Taking Chances
When Jake left the seaside village where they both grew up, he took Emma’s dreams with him. Now, ten years later, he’s back for the summer…
Does first love deserve a second chance?
About Lynne Shelby
Lynne Shelby writes contemporary women’s fiction/romance. She has done a variety of jobs from stable girl to child actor’s chaperone to legal administrator, but now writes full time. When not writing or reading, Lynne can usually be found at the theatre or exploring a foreign city – Paris, New York, Rome, Copenhagen, Seattle, Reykjavik – writer’s notebook, camera and sketchbook in hand. She lives in London with her husband and has three adult children who live nearby.
~~~
Links to social media and website
Links to buy Lynne Selby’s other novels
Prize Winners at The Granville Legacy Book Launch Party – 17th March 2021
A wonderful evening was had by all at The Granville Legacy online Facebook launch party on 17th March 2021. I am truly grateful to my co host, author and pet artist, Anna Maria Shenton and to my guest author Val Penny for all their support. I’d also like to thank all authors who generously donated prizes and of course to everyone who made it to the party.
We had lots of fun and prizes throughout the event and I’m pleased to announce the winners below.
Prize Draw 1
To win a copy of Margaret Royall’s, Where Flora Sings.
Name any Shakespeare play.
The Prize Winner drawn was Suzi Bamblett
Find out more about Margaret Royall’s lovely poetry book and her other works here
Prize Draw 2
To win a signed copy of House of Grace or The Coal Miner’s Son. Runner up – a surprise giveaway from author Joy Wood
What type of mill did Katy’s dad own in Bolton?
Answer: Cotton mill.
The Prize Winner drawn was Tania Crosse who chose a signed copy of House of Grace
Runner up was Sally Freytag who won a signed copy of Joy Wood’s novel, Who’s Smiling Now.
Find out more about Joy Wood’s books here
Prize Draw 3
To win an Ebook of one of Kellie Butler’s, Laurelhurst Chronicles.
What’s your favourite song? There was no right or wrong answer.
The Prize Winner was Jayne Curtis who chose an Ebook of Book 1.
Find out more about Kellie Butler’s books here
Prize Draw 4
To win a signed copy of The Montefiore Bride. Runner up to win an Ebook of A Stranger’s Kiss by Rosemary A Smith.
What colour are Mandy’s eyes?
Answer: Green
The Prize Winner drawn was Maggie Cobbett
Maggie Cobbett won a signed copy of The Montefiore Bride.
Runner up was Katrina Maire Hart who won an book of Rosemary A Smith’s A Stranger’s Kiss.
Find out more about Rosemary A Smith’s books here
Prize Draw 5
A chance to win one of four prizes – so four winners!
A signed copy of my debut poetry pamphlet Taxus Baccata
A signed copy of one of Colin Ward’s books.
A signed copy of Kit Domino’s White Stones
An Ebook of Elizabeth Ducie’s Counterfeit or Business of Writing Book 4
Choice of Questions – Answer any one to be eligible for the prize draw.
- What is the name of the barmaid?
Kathleen Meadows
- Describe the barmaid’s hair.
Long blonde
- What is the name of the pub?
Woodcroft
Prize Draw Winners
Martin Lott won a signed copy of Taxus Baccata
Glenda O’Sullivan chose a signed copy of Colin Ward’s To Die For
Find out more about Colin Ward’s books here
Zowie Sweetland won a signed copy of Kit Domino’s White Stones.
Find out more about Kit Domino’s books and paintings here.
Katrina Maire Hart chose an Ebook of The Business of Writing Book 4
Find out more about Elizabeth Ducie and her books here
Throughout the evening Anna Maria Shenton helped me keep the fun going. During this time she ran her own competitions.
Prize Winners
Rosy Smith won a signed copy of Anna Shenton’s Silver Street
Elaine Fearnly won a signed copy of Anna Shenton’s Seduced by Mind Tricks
Find out more about Anna Shenton’s books and pet portraits here.
Val Penny my guest author also did her own competition and the prize winner from that was Katrina Maire Hart who won an Ebook of Hunter’s Secret.
Find out more about Val Penny and her books here.
Congratulations to all the winners and once again my thanks to Anna Maria Shenton, Val Penny and all the authors who donated books.
If you haven’t downloaded a copy of The Granville Legacy yet – you can do that here
And you can now download all three books on Amazon with one click – here
All three books are FREE with Kindle Unlimited
All books also available in paperback – Release date for The Granville Legacy 25th March 2021
Publication Day has arrived…
And the day has finally arrived. The Granville Legacy has made its entrance into the world and completes the House of Grace trilogy. The trilogy runs from the 1950s to late 1980s and the story covers romance, family conflict, fashion and tragedy.
Taster – Opening Chapter of The Granville Legacy – The formatting has been a little messed up on here – but don’t worry, it isn’t in the book.
Chapter 1
George
20th December 1980
I put my hands over my ears to drown out the girls screaming as they raced around me. Annalise might’ve only been five but she made an awful lot of noise. She and her sister, Lori, were fighting over the last Christmas bauble.
Vikki clapped her hands. ‘Stop it. Both of you.’ She turned to me shaking her head. ‘You have to be firmer with them, Uncle George.’
I laughed at the little madam. Vikki, at ten, could be precocious at times, but she was right, I wasn’t strict enough with the girls. They knew they could behave like little monkeys with me and get away with it.
Granville Hall’s tradition was to have people in to decorate the Christmas tree but I’d insisted it was my job and foolishly had allowed my young sisters and niece to assist. I was fast regretting that decision. ‘In that case’ – I held the golden bauble up in the air – ‘I think it’s time Vikki had a turn.’
‘No. It’s not fair. Please, George, let me.’ Annalise gave me her pleading smile.
‘Not this time, young lady. You and Lori have done enough.’
Lori folded her arms. ‘George is right. It’s only fair Vikki has a turn.’
Vikki took the glass ball from my hand and hung it from an empty branch on the tree. ‘There.’ She twirled around. ‘Doesn’t that look pretty? Can we carry on playing our game now, please? Hurry up, Annalise, it’s your go.’
I picked up Tinkerbell. Although a bit tatty, and showing her age, she meant more to me than any of the shiny baubles. The lone survivor from my childhood Christmases at our two-up two-down terraced house in Wintermore. I was overwhelmed last year when Grace presented the wrapped fairy to me a week before Christmas Eve. It was like having a piece of Da with me. I could still see him placing Tinkerbell on the top of the tree. Afterwards, Mam, Alice and I would clap. Although I was only nine when he died, that memory was precious. My Da the coal miner. Now here I was, Lord of the Hall, not that I wanted the title. George Gilmore suited me fine.
Annalise jumped up off the floor. ‘Tinkerbell. Hurray. Lift me up so I can put her on the top.’
‘No, Annalise,’ I said firmly. ‘Go back to your game.’
She wiped her hand across her eyes. ‘But I want to put Tinkerbell on the tree.’
Lori pushed her sister out of the way. ‘Well, you can’t. If anyone’s doing it, then it’s me. I’m the eldest and I’d like to put the fairy on the tree, please, George.’
‘You’re only two years older than me.’ Annalise smacked Lori across the arm.
Lori screamed and slapped her sister back.
‘Stop fighting.’ I looked to Vikki who smiled her approval. ‘Neither of you are doing it because I’m waiting for Grace.’
‘How come you call Mummy, Grace?’ Lori asked.
‘I just do.’
‘But why?’
‘I’ll tell you one day when you’re older. Now go and play.’
Lori grabbed Vikki’s hand. ‘Let’s finish our game.’
Snow was lighting on the window, a deep curtain forming, and it was covering the ground. I willed Grace and Adriéne to arrive soon. They were due back an hour ago.
‘George, Lori’s being mean.’ Annalise was crying again. Grace would say it was excitement.
I sighed. ‘Play nicely.’ Hurry up, Grace. Whatever possessed me to offer to look after these three? And where was Alice? My sister was being a pain. She’d been gone ages. ‘Let her play with you,’ I said firmly to Lori and Vikki.
‘We are but she’s throwing a tantrum because she got knocked off. Look.’ Vikki pointed towards the fireplace. ‘She chucked her blue counter across the room.’
‘Annalise.’ I rolled my eyes.
Annalise screamed and threw herself on the floor, kicking her legs. As soon as Alice came back in, I’d get her to call Annie to watch them, I was worn out. Too bad Vikki’s nanny had the day off when Elizabeth and Simon, Vikki’s mother and father, had gone down to cousin Victoria’s. With Grace and Adriéne joining them, Alice had volunteered us to watch over the girls but where was Alice?
Sniffling, Annalise stood up and tugged on my shirt. ‘Please let me do Tinkerbell, George, then I’ll be good. I promise.’
‘No, I told you. I promised Grace we’d wait.’
Annalise’s mouth dropped and she started crying again.
Alice charged into the room. ‘George, quick.’
I rushed over to the doorway. Alice’s face had paled. ‘What is it?’
‘It’s Mum.’ She sobbed.
Lori was up off the floor and standing next to me. ‘What about Mum? And what’s wrong with Alice?’
‘Nothing for you to worry about,’ I said. ‘Vikki, be a big girl and watch Annalise and Lori for me, while I speak to Alice.’
She nodded and became a little mother. ‘Come on, let’s go and play house.’ She took both Lori and Annalise’s hands and they skipped across the room.
‘Her and Adriéne…’
‘Whatever it is, Alice, take your time. Tell me what’s happened.’
She breathed quickly. ‘… a car crash.’
‘Are they both okay?’
‘I don’t know. They’ve taken them to Golden Oak Hospital. Oh, George, what happens if she dies?’
‘Let’s not think like that.’ I put my arms around my sister. ‘Listen, can you find Annie or Joan and ask one of them to come and watch the girls so we can get to the hospital?’
‘I’ll try.’ She sobbed, shaking.
In next to no time both Annie and Joan were in the room. ‘You get off George,’ Joan said, ‘Annie and I can manage the children between us.’
‘Thank you, Joan. I’ll ring from the hospital as soon as we know what’s going on.’
‘Girls,’ I called, ‘we’ve got to pop out to buy some more presents to go under the tree. Joan and Annie are going to look after you.’
‘Hurray.’ Lori jumped up and down.
‘Be good. All of you.’ I kissed the girls on the cheek, one by one. Taking a deep breath to calm my banging chest, I left the room.
*
The chauffeur pulled up outside Accident and Emergency. Alice and I stepped out of the Rolls.
‘Would you like me to wait, Sir?’ he asked.
‘Yes please, Eric. Why not park up and pop inside for a hot drink? It’s too cold to sit out here.’ The snow had stopped but it was still bitter.
‘Thank you, Sir.’
Alice and I rushed through the entrance. A receptionist looked up as I approached the desk. ‘Excuse me,’ I said, ‘our mother, Grace Gilmore and her husband have been brought in following a car crash. Where will we find them?’
‘Let me check.’ She ran her finger down a ledger. ‘Grace Gilmore you say?’
‘She may be down as Grace Ardant,’ I added.
‘Ah, yes. We have an Adriéne and Grace Ardant. I’ll get someone to show you where to go.’ She called to a porter, ‘Matt, can you show Mr and Mrs Ardant’s family to the relatives’ room please?’
‘Certainly.’ He whipped across to where we were standing. ‘Come this way.’ We followed him along the corridor and through a set of swing doors. He pushed another door open. ‘If you’d like to wait in here the doctor will come and tell you what’s going on.’
‘Thank you,’ I said. Alice said nothing.
The hospital had tried to make the place homely. A red poinsettia brightened up the windowsill and a stack of magazines lay on the small coffee table.
‘Would you like a cup of tea?’ I asked Alice, signalling to the buzzing vending machine lighting up a small corner of the room.
She shook her head and paced up and down. ‘I just want to know what’s happened to Mum.’
I flicked through the magazines. ‘Here, Alice, there’s a Look-in. Something about Paul McCartney. Sit down and have a browse. I’m sure Grace and Adriéne will be fine.’
Alice snatched the magazine out of my hand sending it flying. ‘I’m not interested in the bloody magazine. What’s the matter with you? Aren’t you worried?’
‘Of course I’m worried.’ I picked the pages off the floor. ‘But one of us has to hold it together. Look at you, you’re no good to anyone like that. Grace isn’t going to want to see you in that state.’
The door creaked open.
‘Why don’t you both sit down?’ The doctor led us to the couch and chairs, not meeting our eyes. With a serious expression he fiddled with the chart.
‘Are they okay?’ Alice asked.
‘Sit down please, Miss…’
‘Gilmore,’ I said.
‘I’ll get a nurse to get you some tea. But first…’
‘Please just tell us,’ I said.
‘I’m afraid…’
Alice gripped my hand. ‘Please let them be okay.’
‘I’m sorry to have to tell you that Mr Ardant died at the scene.’
‘Oh my God.’ I turned to Alice.
She screamed. ‘No. Not Adriéne. George…’
Shaking, I looked up at the doctor. ‘And Grace?’
‘Your mother suffered a head injury but she’s conscious. We’ve sent her to X-ray as a precaution and we’ll know more once the results are back. From the police reports I’m surprised that she got out alive. Someone will come and let you know when she’s back on the ward.’ He patted Alice’s arm. ‘I’m sorry for your loss.’ The doctor left us alone.
‘Poor Adriéne,’ I said, ‘he was such a good man.’ I thought back to that Christmas Eve when he’d asked my permission to marry Grace before proposing. A kind man who made her happy and a great stepfather to me and Alice. How would Grace cope without him?
Alice blew her nose. ‘Do you think Mum will be okay?’
I hugged my sister. ‘I hope so.’
*
After what seemed an age a nurse came through the door. ‘Mrs Ardant’s relatives?’
‘Yes, I’m her son.’
‘Your mother’s back on the ward. You can come and see her now.’
‘Thank you.’ Alice gripped my sleeve jacket.
We followed the nurse down the corridor and into a side room.
‘Mum.’ Alice rushed over to Grace.
‘Grace.’ I kissed her grazed, bruised cheek making her wince. ‘Do you remember what happened?’
‘The car skidded. Adriéne clung on to the wheel trying to keep control. A lorry. I remember a lorry. There was so much blood, on me, but worse for Adriéne. Blood was running down from his head.’ Grace sobbed into her handkerchief.
I squeezed her hand. ‘I’m so sorry, Grace.’
The doctor came into the room. ‘Mrs Ardant, I’m pleased to say the x-ray shows no sign of a bleed on the brain but we’d like to keep you in overnight to check for concussion.’ He turned to me. ‘I think you and your sister should allow your mother to rest. If all is well she can be discharged tomorrow.’
‘Thank you.’ I let go of Grace’s hand. ‘We need to go now but we’ll see you tomorrow.’ I brushed my lips gently against her forehead.
‘Bye, Mum,’ Alice said. ‘Don’t worry about the girls. George and I can cope and Elizabeth will be back shortly.’ She kissed Grace lightly on her cheek.
*
Grace was sitting up in bed staring into space when I arrived at the hospital the next day.
‘Have they discharged you yet?’ I asked.
‘I’m still waiting for the doctor. Who’s with the girls?’
‘Annie and Alice. Alice wanted to come but I said it didn’t take two of us.’
Grace pressed her temples.
‘Are you in pain?’
‘A bit.’
‘Have they given you any painkillers?’
‘They offered but I didn’t want anything.’
‘But if it helps… Oh look, here’s the doctor now.’
It was a different doctor today. This one was older. He looked over his spectacles at Grace’s chart. ‘How are you feeling today, Mrs Ardant?’
‘As well as can be expected.’
‘I’m sorry to hear about your husband.’
‘Thank you.’
‘How do you feel about going home?’
‘I’d rather be there than here.’
‘Good because I’m about to discharge you.’
‘Is there any follow up required?’ I asked.
‘Just watch out for any signs of vomiting, dizziness or memory loss.’
‘She said she’s in pain. Should she be taking anything?’
‘Don’t fuss, George.’
‘I can see you’re looking out for your mother. Paracetamol if she needs something.’
‘Thank you,’ I answered.
The doctor signed the paperwork. ‘Once the nurse arrives, Mrs Ardant, you’re free to go.’ He shook Grace’s hand.
A nurse pushed a wheelchair into the room.
‘Ah, here she is now. Nurse will escort you to your car. Good day.’ The doctor left.
‘Did you bring some clothes for your mother?’ the nurse asked.
I lifted a canvas backpack from the floor. ‘Everything’s in here.’
‘If you’d like to wait outside while she gets dressed.’
‘Certainly. I’ll pop out and make sure the driver’s ready.’ I walked out of the room, along the corridor, downstairs, and towards the main entrance. Eric was standing outside by the Rolls, smoking. I gave him a thumbs up. He raised his hand to confirm he’d seen me and stubbed out his cigarette. Checking my watch, I rushed back to Grace just as the nurse was pushing her out of the ward in a wheelchair.
Grace protested. ‘I said I can walk.’
‘Hospital policy I’m afraid.’
‘Don’t give the nurse grief, Grace. Let her do her job and we’ll be home in time for lunch.’
I walked alongside the nurse as she wheeled Grace along the corridor, into a lift and through the exit to where Eric was waiting by the car with the rear door open. He helped Grace into the back seat.
‘Take care, Mrs Ardant.’ The nurse looked at me pointedly.
‘Don’t worry,’ I said. ‘I’ll take good care of her.’ I climbed in next to Grace.
‘Why do these awful things keep happening to me, George? As soon as I find happiness it’s stolen away. What have I done to deserve it?’ She cried on my shoulder as the driver pulled away and drove us home.
~~~
Want to read more? Download a copy of The Granville Legacy
All books may be downloaded FREE with Kindle Unlimited
If you’d like to celebrate the launch of The Granville Legacy with me – pop along to an online launch party on Facebook. It’s FREE and there will be lots of prizes. Online Launch Party
Paperback release 25th March 2021
Patricia M Osborne 