The Stone House Read Online Free

make it easier for the patients.’
    â€˜Mammy! Mammy!’ she whispered. ‘It’s Kate.’
    There was no response. She watched her mother’s face: closed, her effort now concentrated on breathing, the machine making a slow whooshing sound beside her. It scared her. She had never seen her mother like this.
    â€˜She just looks like she is asleep. How long will she stay like that?’
    â€˜We’ll know better tomorrow, be able to judge. For the moment she’s best left quiet, totally still. The brain is delicate, there’s still swelling.’
    â€˜How much?’
    â€˜We’re not sure of the extent of it yet.’
    Kate looked at her mother and wondered how she could have taken her life so much for granted. Her mother was never sick. Everyone in Rossmore knew that. Maeve Dillon was a woman with a fine constitution who kept herself healthy and fit with walking and cycling and swimming all year round. She didn’t smoke, didn’t overeat and only drank the odd glass of wine or pint of beer. She’d always looked after herself and following their father’s death had kept occupied with the Vincent de Paul work as well as playing bridge and helping with the local meals on wheels. Kate struggled to compose herself.
    â€˜Can I stay with her?’
    â€˜You can sit with her for a few minutes if you like, but as you see the nurses and doctors need to be able to get easy access to patients here quickly so there aren’tthe same facilities for visitors as in another ward. There is a special waiting room just outside the door with coffee and tea and a place to put your feet up. Your mother is being totally monitored and if there’s even the slightest change in her condition you’ll be informed.’
    The nurse left her for a few minutes. It felt unreal balanced on the narrow stool waiting for her mother to wake up. When Kate was small she would grab at her mother and shake her and roll on top of her to wake her when she needed her, and her mother would reach and pull her daughter into her arms even when she was asleep or having a nap, the two of them laughing.
    â€˜Mammy, I’m here with you. You’re in the hospital but you’re going to get better. I promise.’
    All around silence, except for the machines. She wanted to scream and shake her mother. Rouse her.
    â€˜Mammy, please wake up.’
    Nurse Kelly appeared silently at her shoulder, suggesting it would be better if Kate wait outside for the moment. She followed the nurse out, hanging the gown on a hook.
    â€˜Did you contact Maeve’s other children?’ the nurse asked.
    â€˜Yes, I left a message for my sister in London and I spoke to Romy in New York.’
    â€˜They realize the seriousness of your mother’s condition!’
    â€˜I told them what my aunt said. I’ll phone Moya again.’
    â€˜I’m sure you’ve done your best,’ smiled the tall dark-haired nurse. ‘You go and have a seat in the waiting room with your aunt and I promise to get you if you’re needed. You’ll be tired after the drive.’
    â€˜I’m bunched,’ she admitted, feeling that every ounce of energy had drained out of her.
    â€˜A cup of tea’d do no harm. Your mother is in the best of hands.’
    Aunt Vonnie sat pretending to read an old copy of
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magazine in the magnolia-painted room.
    â€˜Well what’d you think, Kate?’
    â€˜I don’t know,’ she admitted honestly. ‘I just don’t know. Do they think she’s going to die?’
    Her aunt’s pale blue eyes welled with tears.
    â€˜I hope not,’ she said firmly. ‘Maeve’s a fighter. She won’t give up easily.’
    â€˜But they were saying about swelling in her brain, what does that mean?’
    Her aunt shook her head. ‘We must pray for her. Prayer is what’s needed now. We must ask the Lord to spare her.’
    Kate didn’t know