He nodded. ‘Thanks,’ he said, blowing out a sigh. ‘Sorry. I guess Mum’s appointment at the hospital this afternoon is rattling me more than I thought.’
‘Are you going with her to get the results?’ asked Amber.
Josh shook his head. ‘She always says it’s better if she goes on her own.’ He looked at her, his blue eyes filled with sadness. ‘She never got over losing dad so fast. And then we never had time to grieve because we went straight from that into the cancer treatment. It’s been hard for her.’
Stuck in the crowded, almost claustrophobic shop probably didn’t help her mood either, thought Amber.
‘Maybe she could get away at some point,’ she said. ‘Take a break away from everything.’
‘Pete says he’s invited her to Singapore for a holiday, but she refuses to leave.’
‘Maybe I can have a word,’ said Amber.
‘I’m not sure how far you’ll get, but thanks,’ said Josh, smiling gratefully at her.
At that moment, a courier arrived with both of Amber’s suitcases. Amber was so relieved to see them that she didn’t even mind that the delivery driver had managed to knock over stacks of boxes and goods when he had dragged them inside.
‘I’ll take them upstairs,’ said Josh, grabbing one suitcase. ‘I’d better do one at a time, otherwise the whole shop will end up on the floor.’
Amber giggled, just pleased to finally have all her clothes and possessions back.
‘What’s this?’ asked Cathy, who had just returned from visiting Tilly.
‘My suitcases have finally arrived,’ Amber told her, beaming.
‘About time!’ said Cathy. ‘That is good news.’
She seemed to wait until Josh had disappeared upstairs with the first suitcase.
‘Perhaps it’ll be a good-news day for all of us,’ she added, almost to herself.
She looked so frightened suddenly that Amber found herself hurtling across to give her a hug.
‘Thank you, love,’ said Cathy, leaning on her for a moment before straightening up once more. ‘I needed that.’
‘Perhaps I could come to the hospital with you?’ Amber suggested. ‘For a bit of company.’
‘You don’t want to do that,’ said Cathy, shaking her head.
‘I wouldn’t have offered otherwise,’ Amber told her. ‘And I’ve got nothing else to do today.’
Cathy squeezed her arm. ‘That’s kind of you, but I don’t want to upset Josh.’
‘Upset me how?’
They both jumped at the male voice behind them and turned around to find Josh standing there.
‘I was offering to go with your mum this afternoon,’ Amber told him, getting her words in before Cathy could speak.
‘I think that’s a good idea,’ he said quickly.
‘You do?’ Cathy looked amazed.
‘Of course,’ he told his mum.
Cathy looked at Amber. ‘Are you sure? The idea was for you to come for a bit of a break. Not work on windows and go to miserable hospital appointments.’
‘I’ll be fine,’ said Amber.
If anything, Cathy was even more nervous on the way to the hospital. So Amber found herself chatting more than she had ever done before to fill the silence. She talked about New York, her clothes and the work she had displayed in the windows.
Thankfully she was only just running out of things to say when they arrived for Cathy’s appointment.
Amber respected Cathy’s wishes to be left alone and therefore sat on the chairs outside the consultant’s room whilst she met with the doctor. She kept everything crossed as she waited for Cathy to reappear.
In the meantime, she saw many patients in the Oncology wing who weren’t looking half as healthy as Cathy. It was hard to see so many people who were so obviously unwell. For the first time, Amber thought how difficult it must have been for Josh to go through that as a son, as well as Cathy herself.
Finally, after what felt like a very long time, Cathy left the consultant’s room. To Amber’s horror, her aunt’s face was shiny with tears.
She was just thinking of something, anything, to say, when Cathy broke into a wide smile. ‘It’s OK,’ she said, laughing and crying at the same time. ‘They’re happy tears. The consultant doesn’t want to see me for a whole year.’
Then they were both laughing and crying with relief as they hugged each other.
‘I’ll ring Josh and then shall we have a cup of tea in the café before we head home?’ said Cathy. ‘And a piece of cake to celebrate. I don’t want to go back yet.’
Once they had bought their lemon drizzle cake and tea, they sat down on the edge of the busy café in the hospital.
‘Cheers,’ said Amber, holding up her cup to chink it against Cathy’s.
‘Thank you,’ said Cathy, still beaming from ear to ear. ‘I think I’m in shock. I’ve worried about this appointment for weeks.’
‘Well, now you can relax and not worry about it for a whole twelve months,’ said Amber.
‘They said they’ll sign me off for good after that,’ said Cathy, leaning back in her chair and sighing with relief. ‘It’s felt like my whole life has been on hold for so long.’
Amber nodded as she glanced around the café. ‘Me too,’ she found herself blurting out. Being in the hospital and seeing so many ill people had made her realise that she ought to be making the most of her life and not just let it slip by.
Cathy was startled. ‘You too?’
‘It doesn’t matter,’ said Amber, instantly regretting her words. ‘Today is all about you. Not me.’
‘Tell me,’ urged Cathy.
Amber took a deep breath. ‘My whole life seems to have stagnated. I really wasn’t that happy in London or New York, to be honest.’
‘A lot of people find a city overwhelming. Especially if they’re a little shy.’
Amber nodded. ‘I just don’t know what to do next.’
Cathy leant forward to take a bite of cake. ‘So why don’t you stay in Cranbridge until you work out what it is you want?’ she said, wiping the icing from her lips.
Amber smiled at her godmother. ‘I think Mum might have something to say about that.’
‘Well, I’ve been thinking about her as well,’ said Cathy with a sheepish grin. ‘Maybe I can offer your mum an alternative.’
‘A different daughter?’ said Amber, laughing.
‘A different visitor,’ said Cathy with a gleam in her eyes. ‘Me.’
Amber was stunned as she remembered Josh’s words from earlier. ‘You want to go and see Mum?’
‘I miss her so much. And Pete too. I thought I could go to Singapore and then on to New Zealand. What do you think? I feel the need to spread my wings a bit.’
Amber found herself nodding enthusiastically. ‘I think it’s a great idea,’ she said. ‘I’m sure Josh can cope in your absence in the shop and keep an eye on Tilly as well. He’ll be pleased that you’ll be having a break. And mum’s going to be thrilled to see you.’
‘I did have one more idea,’ said Cathy, reaching across the table to hold Amber’s hand. ‘It’s a huge favour to ask. Could you help out in the shop whilst I’m away? It would only be for a month, I think.’