The Darkest Hour by Katherine Howell Read Free Book Online Page A

the bed.
    The Italian family were getting louder. Franco and Netta exchanged glances again. Ella sighed. The argument was about nothing more exciting than somebody’s school report. Talks too much and could do better.
Show me a kid whose report doesn’t say that.
    She turned her mobile on. No messages. She turned it off again. What was wrong with the people of this city that they were continually failing to murder one another? And what about the shooting report committee – did they want her to die of suspense?
    ‘The doctor said I can start to walk tomorrow without that thing,’ Netta said, nodding at the walker. ‘I might be home by the end of the week.’
    ‘I thought you had to go to rehab once you’re out of this ward,’ Adelina said.
    ‘I can rehab at home.’
    ‘Says who?’ Ella said.
    ‘It’s just taking it easy,’ Netta said. ‘Some little exercises, and be careful. Nothing to it.’
    ‘What if you get stuck in the bath?’ Adelina said. ‘Franco’s too weak to help you.’
    ‘Hey,’ Franco said.
    ‘I can go to Ella’s.’
    ‘No, you can’t,’ Ella said. ‘I’m not home enough.’
    ‘I can’t eat the food here.’
    Adelina laughed. ‘You think you’ll get better there?’
    ‘I can teach her,’ Netta said. ‘It’ll be fun.’
    ‘It’s not that I can’t cook, it’s just that I don’t like to,’ Ella said.
    ‘Maybe you could take some holiday time,’ Adelina said.
    Take leave now, when she’d just got her foot in the door? When a big case could come along at any second? No way in the world. Ella felt in her bag for her phone and switched it on again. ‘I thought the doctor said at least a week in rehab.’
    ‘Maybe after that then,’ Adelina said.
    They were all looking at her. Ella knew it would be a package deal – her dad would come too, as they hated being apart, and Adelina didn’t like to make the drive up from Sutherland more than a couple of times a week.
    ‘My house isn’t really suited–’ she began.
    ‘You can come home, stay with us,’ Netta said.
    ‘Just like old times,’ Franco said.
    I have a home
. The room was getting smaller and more stuffy.
Ring, phone, ring!
    Her mother grasped her arm. Her palm was cool. Ella looked down at the IV taped in the back of her hand, the sun-spotted skin, the tendons visible across her knuckles. An old lady’s hand. When had this happened?
    ‘It’s okay if you don’t want to,’ Netta said.
    Ella remembered coming home from school to find her mother in the kitchen, fitting a knife deftly into the joints of a chicken, those hands smelling of onion, and how she’d duck away from their touch.
    ‘Maybe you could just ask if you can take time?’ Franco said. ‘See what they say?’
    ‘Can’t hurt,’ Adelina put in.
    Ella heard the meal trolley coming and got to her feet. ‘Lunch is here. Time for us to go.’
    Her mother made a face.
    ‘They shouldn’t end visiting hours until after lunch,’ Adelina said. ‘Why can’t we stay while you eat?’
    ‘They don’t want you to see how bad the food is,’ Netta said darkly. She still had hold of Ella’s arm. ‘Will you at least ask about getting time off?’
    This was another reason she wished she had a brother. Or sister. Anyone would do. Share the focus. The limelight. ‘I’ll ask.’
    Netta pulled her down for an embrace. ‘Thank you.’ Up close she smelled of hospital soap and talc. Her hair was knotty and needed brushing, and her lips were soft on Ella’s cheek. ‘Come tomorrow?’
    ‘Or I’ll ring,’ Ella said. ‘It depends on work.’
    Franco was waiting behind her to hug his wife. Ella stood near the Italian family, listening to their goodbyes, then walked from the ward with her father and aunt.
    They said goodbye at the lift. With Franco’s disabled tag Adelina could park in the hospital grounds. ‘Have a safe drive,’ Ella said.
    Franco let go of his walker long enough to hug her tight. ‘Ciao, carina. Stai bene.’
    ‘Si, papa, e