The Know by Martina Cole Page B

completely delusional. But still perhaps his number one bird. His main squeeze.
     
    She smiled at the thought now. Once it had seemed possible, anything had. There was something she wanted to tell him but now, after all these years, she wondered if she should. It might make him stay around, see more of her, but it could also make him walk away from her for good.
     
    But no. She had missed her chance years ago. She had to accept that, just take what she could from this man asleep beside her. Savour whatever crumbs he threw her way. Her trouble was she knew her own worth down to the last insult.
     
    She hugged him to her once more and kissed the soft skin of his forehead, grateful for this time because in truth she had never thought to feel him this close ever again. She heard the kids come in, and heard their respective doors shut. Now she could try and sleep herself.
     
    It was funny, but even though the kids lived their own lives and she was useless in her efforts to help them any more, she still couldn’t sleep until they were all in. Safe and sound. That was how she liked to think of them, tucked up in their little beds. Safe and sound. And so was she tonight, safe in the arms of the man she had loved since she’d first clapped eyes on him all those years ago.
     
    She savoured every memory of them together, enjoying the bittersweet recollections even though some of them made her want to cry.
     
    Finally, after what seemed like hours, she slept.
     

Chapter Six
     
    Karen Copes was still shouting when the hospital staff asked her to leave at five-thirty in the morning. She had been creating since they had reached the A & E unit, and her shouting, swearing and crying was wearing a bit thin now. She had so far threatened two nurses, a doctor and the hospital receptionist with physical harm. Even though everything possible was being done for her son, she didn’t feel they were bothering enough. Finally it was decided she had to go and Karen declared she was not going without a fight.
     
    The fact that it was her own son who had requested her removal only made her more angry. Her foul language could be heard all over the unit. It took three doctors, a security guard, and eventually her own son’s wrath to finally remove her from the premises.
     
    She only went home because she needed to get a drink inside her, even though she would never admit that out loud. Her drinking was getting to such a level even she was noticing it. Mornings were the worst; trying to get a quick snifter in when she was being watched like a hawk was difficult. She still argued that she was only a social drinker, but that argument was sounding hollow even to herself.
     
    Now, with Jasper’s injuries, she was convinced no one could say a bad word about her having a few drinks to take the edge off her concern for him. But she was still disgruntled about being made to leave. It rankled that her own son wanted nothing to do with her, and she was shrewd enough to know that he would have that calf-eyed child there before he would have her.
     
    Still, now that her son had started the great fight, wouldn’t she enjoy seeing it through to the finish? It never occurred to her that Jasper might have died, that he was now grievously ill after his body had taken a serious battering. She was more interested in the implications of it all. The fact that it had happened and now there’d be repercussions. In her heart of hearts she even felt he was being a bit of a nancy over it all, though she would never have said that. Once her son was back on his feet it would all be resolved. So he was pissing blood? Big deal! Been there, done that! Anyone would think he was the first person to get a good hiding. They had it too easy these days, that was the problem.
     
    The mini-cab driver had to open the windows of the car because Karen smelled like a brewer’s dray. She didn’t take offence. She needed the fresh air herself.
     
     
Jasper was relieved to see