chapter 35

The next hour or so was spent in silence in the hospital room, questions were running around Kris’s parents and siblings head about the conversation between Kris and his Nan, but none of them were willing to start a civil conversation with him, so decided to leave their questions unanswered, and continue to ignore him. That was until Kris looked at his watch for the third time in 20 minutes

“Got somewhere better to be?” Malachy snapped accusingly
“No, I haven’t besides its none of your bloody business” Kris snapped back
“They will be here soon,” his Aunt whispered to him reassuringly.
“Shame, as you don’t belong here” Kris’ dad joined in, “your not family as far as we are concerned”
“THAT’S IT OUT SIDE NOW, ALL OF YOU!” Kris great aunt demanded, they all looked at her in shock, but could tell by the look in her eyes she meant every word, so grudgingly they all filed out of the hospital in line.
“I will not have this, you should be ashamed of yourselves, my sister is dying in there, and all you can think about is this pathetic feud. Margaret, John, you have an amazing, loving, kind son, and if you cant accept him for who he is, you are the ones missing out, not him, as for you Malachy and Laura, he is your brother, I don’t get it, you all used to be so close growing up, what happened??”
“He is not my brother, I don’t know who he is” Malachy shouted
The family started shouting and arguing amongst themselves in the hospital corridor, all except Kris, who was silently watching this with tears streaming down his face, he decided to walk out towards the hospital entrance to get some fresh air, and get away from them.

chapter 36

Kris had been sitting on the bench, with his head in his hands for 15 minutes when a taxi pulled up. The young woman and child exited the taxi and got the bags from the boot, and almost walked past the lone figure on the bench, it took a minute for him to register that it was Jess and Katie, but when he did his heart surged with relief.
“Jess, over here”
She turned towards him, and could see his tear stained faced, and assumed the worse
“I am sorry Kris, I am too late aren’t I,” she asked whilst hugging Kris as hard as it was possible, with a sleeping child also in her arms.
“No, its not that, its…” Kris started crying again and through his tears, he told Jess what had been happening with his family, during this time the three of them returned to the bench he was previously occupying, Jess had placed Katie on Kris’ lap, and held them tight to her in her arms, all the while stroking Kris’ back to try and calm him. They then walked towards his great aunts’ car, as he still had her keys from earlier and put Katie’s and Jess’s bags along side his in the boot. The three of them walked towards the hospital, Kris carrying Katie with one arm, and the other around Jess, who was leaning her head on his shoulder. He realised in that very instant, that his Nuns words were true, he was not alone, he had a family of his own, and no matter what he would make it through for their sake.

Just before they walked into the room his grandmother was in, Jess held Kris back, and turned him to look directly into her eyes, “Just remember I am here, your not on your own in this” Kris gave Jess a small smile, and they two gently embraced in a kiss before they went in, both taking a deep breath in.

The three of them entered the room, at first none of Kris family looked in Kris direction, so they were not aware of Jess and Katie’s presence in the room, the only person who looked towards them was his Great Aunt Helen, who gave them both a gentle smile, and got out of her seat, Helen hugged Jess, and as she did so, whispered in her ear “I am so glad you are here, he really needs you here, even if he doesn’t admit it” as the hug ended, Jess nodded at Helen in recognition to what she had said, whilst this had been going on Kris has sat down in his previous position, but this time Katie was in his arms sitting on his lap.

“Do you want a drink Jess?” Helen asked, at this question Kris’s parents and siblings heads all shot up, suddenly becoming aware of the stranger in the room, “yes please Helen, do you want me to help?” “Yes please, Kris do you want another coffee?” “Please” Helen took a drinks order for the rest of Kris’ family, as she was doing so, Jess knelt down by Kris chair and laid her hand on his knee “You going to be alright here? I won’t be long” Kris looked directly into her eyes and nodded his head, “Don’t worry, they will behave,” she stated looking directly at her niece, nephew in law and great niece and nephew, what Kris did not know, was that after he had gone outside for some air, Helen had threatened each and every member of the family, that if any of them dared start another argument over her sisters death bed, she would have the hospital ban them and would disown them all herself, and that they should be ashamed that they were not allowing a dying woman peace in her last hours. They had decided to do what Helen told them, knowing that she was not a person to be messed with, knowing that it was not a threat, but a promise.

Jess gently rose from her crouching position, kissed Kris on the forehead and walked out of the room with Helen.