Christmas at the Gin Shack. Catherine Miller
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she’d been the only person aware there was a problem. It wasn’t until they had him in the ambulance – barely alive – that the sense of fear had started, and it hadn’t let up yet. And being eighty-four, having something concern her enough to age her was always going to take its toll.
Tony had needed emergency surgery as soon as he’d arrived at the hospital. It had been a massive heart attack and a triple emergency bypass had been required to get everything working as it should again. The hours of waiting to find out how he was were the longest Olive had ever experienced. They took the decision not to open the Gin Shack that evening, and instead, while Esme and the boys were up at the hospital, the rest of them sat in the snug area of the bar at a loss as to what to do.
It had been a strange period of time, with little said, and Olive had spent most of it cuddled in a blanket with Lucas, Skylar’s boy, appreciating what a blessing it was that he was happy to snuggle with her. Admittedly, he was mostly agreeable over it because his mum was letting him play on his tablet, giving him unprecedented screen time, but even this young boy was feeling the effects of what had happened. And as she had the biggest soft spot for him, she was glad to be distracted by making sure he was okay, even if she was useless at helping with the game he was playing.
And, quite frankly, even though she’d been hiding it well, Olive had also been terrified. Tony was one of her closest friends. She’d watched his family grow. Together they’d somehow taken an idea of Olive’s and turned it into so much more, and the Gin Shack was thriving under his guidance. Olive couldn’t imagine life without him. She’d never wanted for another husband after losing John, but Tony had become her work husband, for want of a better term. He was the one she chatted to enthusiastically about new limited-edition varieties of gins coming out. She was the one he grumbled to about the quotes he’d been given for upgrading the bathrooms. They’d become more than friends. They were a work team. They shared a passion and were making it into something so much more. She couldn’t imagine life without him.
So, it was no surprise to find she was shaking as Olive entered the lift with Richard on their way to the High Dependency Unit.
‘Are you okay, Mum?’ Richard asked.
The lift was empty apart from them. Olive was able to answer sincerely. ‘I’m just worried about how Tony’s going to be.’
‘He’s alive. That’s the important part. And he wants to see you.’
Considering how Tony had appeared when they last saw him, Richard was right. Anything would be an improvement. But it didn’t take away the worry that had been with her since she’d heard that ominous sound and realised it was coming from her friend.
Olive took a deep breath and prepared herself for the state Tony would be in.
As it stood, her concerns were eased the moment she saw him.
Rather than being half-comatose in bed like she’d imagined, he was sitting up in a chair. If he hadn’t been topless, with a fresh surgical scar along his sternum and various tubes coming from various places, he wouldn’t have looked so different from when he was chilling in his deckchair.
‘Here she is! The hero of the hour.’ Tony beamed when he spotted Olive.
There was nothing more reviving than hearing Tony’s voice when it had been so close to extinction.
‘You could have just asked if you wanted a snog. It really is despicable to go to such lengths to grab my attention.’ Feeling sturdy again for the first time since it happened, Olive let go of Richard’s arm and went to give Tony a peck on the cheek.
‘Olive Turner, you are not allowed to make me laugh at the moment. It bloody hurts.’ Tony held a towel against his chest as if the act of laughing might split him in two.
Olive could quite imagine it would hurt given the surgery he’d undergone. ‘Sorry. I’m just glad you’re okay.’ It was horrible to think how close they’d come to an entirely different scenario.
‘And all thanks to you two. Esme has filled me in on what happened. It would seem you two are my guardian angels. I don’t know how I can ever thank you enough.’
‘By getting better. That’s the only thanks necessary.’ Olive didn’t need any more scares like that at her age.
‘Yes, getting better is definitely on the agenda. That was the other reason I wanted to talk to you, other than thanking you for the kiss of life. I’m not sure what to do about the Gin Shack while I get back on my feet. With what the doctors are saying, I won’t be up to full-time work this side of Christmas. We’ll need someone to be in charge while I’m away.’
‘Don’t be worrying about the Gin Shack. You and Esme need to concentrate on you.’ All Olive had done for the past couple of days was worry about Tony. Of course that was all her brain would consider when he’d been carted off in an ambulance with one foot in the grave. Trust Tony to not only be up and smiling, but also worrying about the business already.
‘Mum’s right. This heart attack has been your body’s way of saying you need to slow down. Take things easy for a while and allow yourself to recover your strength gradually. You shouldn’t be here, barely two days post-op, worrying about the bar.’ Richard was talking sense. He always did, but for once Olive was agreeing with his sensible side.
A nurse came to check on Tony, carrying out observations and filling out a form with all the correct information. She did it discreetly so as not to disrupt the conversation, and it was clear she was keeping a close eye on her patient. Watching her, it was clear that, however chipper Tony seemed, he wasn’t out of the woods yet. There were chest drains doing their job, a catheter bag making up for the fact he wasn’t up and about yet, and various monitors beeping in therapeutic harmony. It was amazing how hearing the rhythm of a heartbeat in the background was a comfort in itself.
‘I know I need to recover. It’ll be six weeks minimum before I can get back to work.’
‘No running before you can walk, Tony,’ the cheerful nurse said. ‘The physios will be here shortly to help you with that when visiting is over.’ Seemingly satisfied with her checks, the nurse returned to the nearby desk.
‘Honestly, you’ve got to not worry about work.’ Richard was being far sterner than Olive could ever hope to be.
‘It’s just…’ The smile on Tony’s face ebbed away and his voice lowered to more of a whisper. ‘…With being self-employed these days, I don’t have the same perks as my old job. I’m worried about how we’ll get by if we don’t keep the Gin Shack going, especially with Christmas coming up.’
Olive hadn’t really thought about the incredible financial strain it would put on the Salter family if the Gin Shack was out of action. She was only involved with it for pleasure and to support the Salter family in their new venture. Just because Tony couldn’t be at the helm for a while didn’t mean it should stop running. There had to be a way. She just wasn’t sure how a bunch of OAPs would manage it and, for now, Esme and the boys, who were heavily involved with working at the bar, should be allowed the opportunity to spend time with Tony, given the scare they’d all had. ‘You’re not to worry about it. We’ll sort something. As soon as I get back we’ll have a meeting with everyone and come up with a plan.’ She had no idea what that plan would be, but with Tony worrying it paid to sound confident even if she wasn’t.
‘Mum’s right. There’ll be some way to get through the coming months without closing the Gin Shack. We’ll work out a way. You concentrate on getting better. Leave the rest to us.’
A monitor started beeping and it was quite a contrast to the rhythmical sounds Olive had been enjoying. Alarm pricked through her like she was going to have to start the kiss of life for a second time that week, when once in a lifetime had been quite enough.
The nurse came over and adjusted one of the leads attached to Tony’s chest. Thankfully the beeping stopped. ‘Time we sorted getting you back into bed, Tony. I’m afraid you’ll have to say goodbye to your visitors.’
It