Page 97 of Tears of Ink

Jeez, are we in a pissing contest?

This isn’t the time. I glare at them both and stalk back out the door. At the moment, Al is more important than the rest of the world. They can all go to hell. With a deep breath that stretches my lungs, I pull on big girl panties I didn’t even know I owned and go to face the worst scenario I could ever consider—saying goodbye to one of my best friends.

The hospice is down and along the sea front. If you’ve gotta go, and we all do in the end, then the sea view is a nice plus.

Al looks awful: grey, ashen and barely conscious.

I kiss his head and grip his hand tight in mine.

I’m aware of Eli moving around. “Faith, I’ll wait outside.”

“No.” I look at him with fright. “Please don’t leave me.”

A frown flickers across his face, but he sits down in the seat positioned in the corner of the room.

“Hey, Uncle Al.” I wipe his hair back from his head. It’s fine and a little greasy.

I’m surprised when his eyes flutter open.

“I must be dying if you’ve come home.”

“Don’t exaggerate, old man. I came back just the other week, remember?”

Al looks at me blankly and I know he doesn’t remember my visit the other Sunday.

“I was thinking of my next tattoo.” I settle a hip on the bed and stroke his hand with mine.

He shakes his head but then winces and coughs. “No more.”

“Say what?” I laugh and notice Eli’s eyes on my face.

“No more. Tell me what you’re making.” He coughs again, and it makes me want to cry. I won’t though. Not now. Tears can well later.

Eli steps up from the chair in the corner. “She’s making a jolly fine mess at the moment, Sir.” He smiles that handsome flash of white teeth at Al. “I’m Elijah.” He squeezes Al’s hand.

Fuck, I am going to cry.

Bollocks.

Al wheezes. “I see why you took the job.”

I roll my eyes and chuckle. “He’s a pain in the arse for a boss.” I smirk at Eli.

“Worse than me?” Al asks.

“Hell yeah, makes you look like a little old lady in a sweet shop.”

Eli pulls up his chair and I sit squarer on the bed and we fill the air with chit chat and inane conversation as the afternoon slowly ticks away.

When the door opens, it’s getting late. We’ve been there for hours watching and talking as Al slowly drifts in and out of sleep. I’ll never be able to thank Eli enough for bringing me down here and spending his time here like this with me.

I want the afternoon to last forever.

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t realise there was someone here.”

The voice makes my blood chill. “What?” I slide off the bed and turn for the door. There’s my dad. In all his bastard glory. “GET OUT,” I screech.

My skin crawls at the sight of him. My stomach lurches until I could bring up that last cup of tea.