‘Charles? It’s Agnes Donlan here. I’ve just been to see your mother. Have you spoken to the hospital today? That’s right, bleeding in the brain and the operation is to clear it up. Was it Mr Simcock you spoke to? Yes, and what did he say? Good, and what about the Alzheimer’s? Really? Oh dear. When did they tell you about the fall? Well, I wish you’d let me know. I had no idea until I went to see her at the Marion Unit and she’d gone. It was an awful shock…Yes, I realise that but I really wouldn’t have minded. You can ring me at any time, I want you to…Pardon? Consent, what for? Oh, I see. Well, I suppose they have to check…She was fast asleep but the nurse said she was doing as well as could be expected. Are you planning to come up? I see.’
Agnes wasn’t best pleased by his answer. She looked over at me and raised her eyes to heaven. ‘Well, please let me know what you find out,’ Agnes was saying. ‘It’s hard for me to get any decent information and I would like to be kept informed. I’ll be going to see her again tomorrow.’ She said her goodbyes and put the phone down.
She sighed with exasperation. ‘They rang him about the fall as soon as she was admitted but he didn’t like to ring me late at night. Honestly!’ She shook her head impatiently. ‘When I’ve made it plain all along that I want to be told what’s happening. I’m the only friend she has left.’ She took a deliberate breath. ‘He says Mr Simcock said the operation had gone very well. She isn’t out of the woods yet but he said they were hopeful. But the scans confirmed she has Alzheimer’s and he said it was pretty advanced.’ She sighed again, massaged her temples with her fingers. She looked drained.
‘He’s planning to come up at the weekend and keep in touch with the hospital by phone.’
‘What was that about consent?’
‘Oh,’ she pulled a face, ‘they had to make sure Charles knew that Lily was an organ donor and see if he had any objections to her wishes.’
‘You’re joking!’
‘No, a precaution apparently, but as the doctor pointed out to him Lily is getting on in years and it’s better to think about it now than at the time of death. Lily always said she wanted to help others if she could. She gave blood for years.’ She stood up. ‘It’s so frustrating having to hear everything second-hand from Charles, when he’s miles away.’ She tutted. ‘Would you like some tea?’
‘No, I’d better be getting back. I’d like to know why Goulden was at the hospital with Mr Simcock today. I could do a bit of digging.’
‘Yes,’ said Agnes, ‘I’d like you to. And the tablets?’