Heaven Sent

Written for https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/category/what-do-you-see/

I chose this picture because it relates to the dad going to heaven.

PROLOGUE – Orvieto

Alessandra leant over the reception desk. Her long auburn hair waved past her shoulders. She positioned the handle of her handbag back on her shoulder before she addressed the ward sister at reception.

‘Hi, I’m Allesandra. I’m visiting my dad, Jack Walters.’

A white, square computer with a grey screen held all the data folders used in many brown folders. She pushed the relevant buttons with her short, clean nails. Every so often she glanced up. An expert in authority, her word ruled this ward.

‘It’s lovely to put a face to a name. He’s been talking of nothing else. Don’t worry, he’s had a good night.’

What did that mean anyway? He slept through the night. No complications? Attended a party? Nurses always spoke in tongues nobody else could understand.

‘Can I just say, I’ve never seen a couple so in love.’

‘Thank you.’

What else could she say? The sister was right. Her parents were unlike any other couple she knew. They rarely argued. When they did, an apology was never far away. This was the most time they had spent apart since their first meeting in Orvieto.

‘What room is he in?’

‘Two, he’ll be pleased to see you. Been talking of nothing else all morning. He is so proud. Must be interesting studying to be a teacher.’

‘Yes … Is it okay now? I know it is not visiting hours, but Mum said it would be okay.’

‘No worries, he wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s just along there.’

Allesandra paced through the quiet ward. Men attached to heart monitors either sat on chairs or on top of the bed. Some slept under covers. Some assembled in the television room, with tea and biscuits on tap. She gripped the door handle, held her back straight, and walked into his sterile room.

‘Half pint! Thought you didn’t finish your university course till next week, love.’

His smile spread across the room. Grey hair swept back, nothing was out of place. A crossword book rested on the clean cotton bedsheet before he transferred it to the bedside cabinet.

‘It finished early.’

A bunch of grapes, along with some browning bananas, assembled on the side of the cabinet. She retrieved Lucozade and chocolate raisins from her small Tesco carrier bag. Carefully, she positioned them behind a water jug filled with diluted orange squash.

‘Sit down, love, you don’t have to fuss. I have your mum for that.’ His smile caught at the corners, and she lowered into the plastic chair. The plastic stuck to her skin almost straight away.

‘Do you want to eat some of these grapes?’

‘No thanks, love, I’m stuffed from the hospital grub, but you take em, save em going off.’

‘You might be hungry later.’

His steady breaths paused, and his frame looked small against the cotton sheets.

Allesandra took off her jacket and hung it over the plastic chair. She kissed her dad on the forehead.

‘How are you feeling today?’ She said, positioning herself on the uncomfortable chair.

‘Good … How is university? Your teacher training going well?’

‘I went on my first placement last week at my old infant school.’  

‘Bet that felt weird?’

‘A little, still remember Miss Bobbett making me write an essay again because it was too messy. I hated her.’

‘Called her a name as I recall.’ His grin spread across pale cheeks.

Allesandra blushed. ‘Maybe, thought she deserved it.’

‘You complained for weeks, and that is not a nice way to describe your teacher.’

‘Probably not,’ Allesandra laughed.

‘So, where’s your first placement?’

 ‘I’m at your old school next week. Woodside. Although it’s called Wexham now. They merged with Orchard.’

‘Blimey, we were rivals in the old days.’

A familiar grin spread across his face and brought some colour to his pale cheeks.

‘George said there were a lot of fights over the years.’

‘That’s an understatement, love, probably one of the lads …’ His breaths slowed as he adjusted the tubes supplying his oxygen.

Allesandra poured a glass of Lucozade, and passed it to her dad. He drank half before he passed it back. She grew up with his hacking cough, but this felt different, as if all his strength had vanished into those tubes.

‘You okay, Dad? Do you want me to get a nurse?’

‘No, I’ll be fine, girl. You tell me about yourself. It’s been ages since we’ve had a natter.’

She kept her focus on his face and returned to her seat.

‘I am there next month, my first class.’

‘You’ll be great love, I am so proud. Always remember that … both you and George. Please, whatever happens, don’t fight. Life is too short.’

‘I won’t, he knows I’m the boss, and I’m always right. Anyway, you’ll be here to keep us straight. You’ll have lots of grandchildren to keep you on your toes.’

‘Sorry, can I ask you something? I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important.’

‘What is it?’

‘Do you remember our last trip to Italy?’

‘Vaguely, we flew to Italy. Grandmama held these black beads in her hand, and I thought they were pretty. There were some annoying boys, kept pulling my pigtails.’ Allesandra said.  

‘Your mum’s sister lives in Orvieto. She painted the painting her gave you when you first moved into your flat. The one thing she took back when she last visited. Your grandmother’s last wish.’

Alessandra held his thin fingers, yet they still found the strength to support her. His once strong body weakened by his third heart attack.

‘Dad, you need your rest.’

‘No, this must be done. I have a letter in my bedside drawer. Please, could you send it?’

‘You could send it yourself, Dad, when you get out of hospital.’

‘This can’t wait. I cannot allow this madness to continue. Your mum needs her family, and even if they don’t know it, they need her too. But don’t say nothin, not unless there is an answer.’

Allesandra opened the drawer, and the airmail envelope already had stamps on the top right corner. She traced over his cursive handwriting. She posted it after she left the ward, not knowing it would be the last time she saw her dad alive.

With no reply, Allesandra kept her promise not to tell.