Dark Waters(8)

Mam touched his arm. ‘Sssh, Mungo. Leave the boy be, he’s been through enough.’

‘I know. I was st-stupid.’ Col stuttered out the words, hurt at his brother’s attitude.

‘You don’t go near that loch again. Hear me!’ Mungo came close to him. Said again, fiercely, ‘Hear me! I don’t want you anywhere near that loch.’

Col nodded.

‘Mungo was worried about you as well, Col,’ Mam said softly.

Of course he was, Col thought. But why so angry? The answer, it seemed, came with Mungo’s next words. ‘Do you think these people would have done the same for you?’

Cleo came in then, still smiling. ‘Feel better now your mum’s here, Col?’

Mam clutched at his hand. ‘A boy always needs his mother.’

Cleo came and fussed around him. ‘Just got to give you your medicine. Won’t be a minute.’

She wasn’t. She even made the medicine taste good. Col smiled. Before she left she offered his mother a cup of tea. His mother nodded.

Nurse Cleo turned to Mungo then. ‘And what about you, Mr McCann? Tea for you as well?’

‘That would be lovely, darlin’.’ He winked at her. ‘Unless you’ve got anything stronger.’

When she’d gone Mungo turned to Col. ‘Got to be nice to them sometimes, eh? At least they make good nurses.’

Col was suddenly embarrassed by his brother. He hoped he would never talk like that in front of Cleo. He’d never want her to be hurt.

Yet, he was surprised at himself too. Not too long ago he would have said exactly the same thing.

He was glad it wasn’t Cleo who brought in the tea. Instead, it was a nursing assistant. A man he’d never seen before.

In his wake, came more visitors. The Sampson family.

Dominic burst into the room with an excited shout of welcome. ‘Col, I’ve brought my mum and dad. They’ve been dying to meet you.’

He was dragging in a woman, her strawberry-blonde hair cut into a soft bob. She was wearing a rich-looking camel-hair coat. Close behind her was Dominic’s father. He was well dressed too. Dark-blue overcoat, long scarf, his hair tinged with grey. Col thought he looked a bit like Sean Connery.

Dominic dived on to the bed. ‘This is Col,’ he said proudly, as if Col was an exhibit in a museum. Col noticed that Mungo had taken a step back, was almost ignoring them. And because of that Mam kept her eyes glued to the floor.

Mrs Sampson stepped towards him. A faint waft of flowery perfume drifted about her. ‘I don’t know how to thank you, Col. If it hadn’t been for you we would have lost the most precious thing we have.’

Dominic bounced again. ‘That’s me.’

‘Because of your stupidity, Dominic, Col might not be alive. Do you realise that?’ His mother’s angry tone made Dominic’s smile disappear. ‘Because you never obey rules, because you were stupid enough to go out on to that ice an innocent boy could have died.’ She looked now directly at Mam. Mam had no choice but to look up at her. ‘I think you must resent us, Mrs McCann. I know how I’d feel.’

Mam nodded. ‘I’m glad you realise that, Mrs Sampson. If I’d lost my boy …’ She let the words trail off, and tightened her grip on Col’s hand.

‘I know. I know. I’m sorry we’re interrupting your visit. But I … we wanted to come in and thank you personally.’

For the first time Mr Sampson spoke. ‘If there’s anything you need, Col. Just let us know.’

Mungo butted in. ‘If Col needs anything, I can supply it.’

Mr Sampson looked at Mungo, and Col could see that Dominic’s dad, his whole family, knew all about the McCanns and their reputation – especially Mungo’s.

‘Of course. I’m sorry.’ Mr Sampson’s voice was soft when he answered. ‘But we are so grateful, we feel there must be something we could do to thank Col.’

There was an awkward silence until Mrs Sampson took Dominic by the hand and pulled him off the bed. ‘I think we should leave Col with his family now.’

‘Can’t I stay?’ Dominic’s eyes pleaded with Col, but his mother was having none of it.

‘No, you cannot. I think you’ve given Col quite enough trouble.’

As Dominic was dragged out he called back, ‘I’ll come in and see you later. OK?’ He didn’t wait for an answer. He seemed sure this was something Col would look forward to. ‘I’m only down the corridor if you need me.’

Mr Sampson backed out behind him. ‘I’m afraid he means it, Col. But if he’s being any bother, just let me know.’

‘They seem like a nice family,’ Mam said when they’d gone.