“I’ve called the nurse.”
“Did the police get those fuckin’ thieves?”
“They did. The lad took off, but he was known to them and they picked him up. The other guy couldn’t move fast because I got to him first. Knocked him out.” He flexed his hand. His knuckles were sore. The only thing that stopped him from beating the guy to a pulp was that George needed an ambulance.
A semblance of a smile passed over George’s mouth. He tried to move, glancing at the drip in his arm as if surprised by its presence.
“Take it easy.”
George opened his eyes wider, fixed Rory with a stare. “Promise me you’ll keep the workshop going.”
Rory was relieved. George was showing good signs of recovery. “Of course I will. I’ll keep it ticking over until you get back.”
“Promise me you’ll keep my good reputation going.”
“I will, George.” The knot in his chest tightened.
“You’re the only one who ever could. They came and went, apprentices, there wasn’t anyone ever had the knack the way ..you...” His voice drifted off.
Something began to beep on the machinery on the other side of the bed.
Rory shouted for help.
A nurse appeared, then a second.
Panicked, Rory looked at one of them for guidance.
“Take a seat in the corridor,” the nurse said.
Reluctantly, he did as instructed.
Within moments of him sitting down he saw a doctor and another nurse head to George’s room, fast.
He had a bad feeling.
Watching the door for any clue what was happening, it dawned on him how much George meant to him.
He heard shouts from inside the room.
Dropping his head into his hands, he prayed.
It was several long minutes before anyone appeared. The doctor left first. Then the nurse who’d asked him to leave came out and approached.
He stood up, willing it to be good news.
“Are you the next of kin?”
His gut knotted. “He has a daughter, Kate, but she lives in Australia. I’m his employee.”
“Will you be able to reach his daughter for us?”
Rory nodded. He couldn’t speak. He knew what was coming.
“I’m sorry to inform you, your employer has passed on.”
Rory closed his eyes, but not before his world went dark.
Pushing his face into his hands, he hunched over and wept.