Читать книгу The Last Family in England - Matt Haig - Страница 25

gravity

Adam went to get it, shutting the kitchen door behind him. His voice was muffled, but Kate could tell something was wrong. She opened the door as Adam put the phone down.

‘He’s –’

She looked at him, desperately scanning his face for some sign that the news she had been dreading for weeks hadn’t finally arrived. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Your father. He’s –’

‘No.’

‘Kate, I’m sorry.’

‘No.’

‘It was the nurse, from the High Dependency Unit. She said she didn’t have time to phone, you know, before –’

‘No.’

‘It happened quickly, she said. Painless.’

‘No, it can’t –’

‘Darling, I’m so sorry.’ He stepped forward. ‘I’m so . . . sorry.’

Her head fell onto his shoulder, her hands clutched his shirt. Charlotte was standing in the kitchen doorway. Then Hal, behind her.

‘What’s happened?’ they asked, together. Or maybe it was just Charlotte. I can’t remember.

‘It’s Grandpa,’ Adam explained. ‘He –’ The word which couldn’t be said filled the whole house and gave gravity extra force.

Charlotte and Kate were both struggling to stay standing. Hal and Adam were both struggling to support them.

I just stood there, beside the kitchen table, not knowing what to do. Not knowing what this all meant, for the Family.