Chapter 9

9

The last week had flown by in a blur of work and parenting. Beau had gone off on a school trip for a few days and come back in better spirits and Hudson, with less tension in the house and a somewhat easier routine with the daughter who was young enough to view him as a faultless human being, found himself feeling more relaxed as a result.

Kate, critical care paramedic with the blue team, came into the office as Hudson was finishing a follow-up on Bruce Carey, the patient they’d airlifted to hospital almost a month ago and who had finally been able to go home. Bruce had suffered a stroke and was paralysed down one side of his body, making his job working in a factory no longer an option. The family faced a period of renovations in their home to allow for his disability, financial strain and adjustment, and all of it was hard to navigate, but that’s what Hudson was there for – to give them access to the resources they’d need on their journey. It was one of the reasons this job was so rewarding.

‘Four hours to go.’ Kate tried to jolly Hudson up. His focus meant he didn’t really take in much else until he was done, but now he was, he turned around from the computer monitor.

‘Looking forward to it.’ And he was, especially since he knew Nadia was going to be at tonight’s dinner dance, their main annual fundraiser for the air ambulance charity. ‘Are you excited, by any chance? You’re as fidgety as Carys when Peppa Pig comes on the television.’

‘I’m very excited! Four hours until I get to lose these unflattering trousers and clumpy shoes and put on high heels and a dress.’

Brad, the other critical care paramedic in the same crew as Kate, came in. ‘I’m just as excited as she is, apart from the wearing of a dress and high heels, that is.’

‘Hey, whatever you’re into,’ Kate teased before she flitted off in the direction of the kitchen.

Spirits were high with tonight to look forward to. Hudson was even staying over at the venue along with plenty of the rest of the team. It was half term at the moment and he’d hoped Lucinda would offer to take the kids away for the week, but two days was all she could get off work, she’d said. She’d taken Carys and Beau to visit her parents in Cardiff where they’d stay until tomorrow and the kids always loved it up there. He wondered whether Beau particularly enjoyed it because it was getting away from the norm, the familiarity and locality of his hometown. Perhaps he felt like he could finally be himself in another place without any pressure placed on him, because he always seemed happy when he came home.

In February, Beau had gone to visit Lucinda’s parents on his own – his grandad had taken him to see the rugby, and his gran, by the sounds of it, had fussed over him with all his favourite foods. Hudson wouldn’t mind betting they hadn’t made him do a jot of homework either. Lucinda had two brothers and all three of them had excelled academically, they’d all found top jobs and earned a hefty salary each, and sometimes, Hudson wondered whether Lucinda’s parents ever regretted pushing their kids too much. Or maybe the years had softened them and they had different priorities now their three had flown the nest. Lucky for Hudson, Lucinda’s parents had always approved of him – they’d seen him as a good match for their daughter and he knew that was partly down to his different drive when it came to work. It wasn’t that Hudson hadn’t done well, but it had soon become apparent how much of a family man he was, and her parents had warmed to him instantly. At least he liked to think so and that was the feeling he still got. He missed them since Lucinda left and although he called them on the phone to say hello, he didn’t visit; it wouldn’t feel right. He wasn’t sure how much Lucinda had told them about their relationship breakdown but whatever it was had left them open to being friendly with him and that made it easier all round.

When Beau came home in February extolling the virtues of Cardiff and the open spaces at his grandparents’ place, Hudson had asked whether one day, he wanted to relocate there.

‘To be near Granny and Grandad?’ Beau had asked.

‘No, but for the place. You seem to like it a lot.’

Beau shrugged. ‘It’s different. I have time to myself. But I like it here too.’ He’d exchanged a look with his dad, a look that said he didn’t want Hudson to think he wanted to get away from him even though Hudson was pretty sure he’d thrown those words at his dad more than once in a fit of rage if things weren’t going his way.

Nestled in a valley in Dorset, Whistlestop River wasn’t somewhere Hudson wanted to leave any time soon either. The town was a good size but hadn’t lost its personality, people were friendly, the scenery amazing with the river meandering its way along and surrounded by miles upon miles of rolling countryside. The Whistlestop River Air Ambulance base was a major part of what Hudson loved too and he couldn’t imagine working anywhere else.

At shift changeover time, the airbase became busier with the red crew taking over from the blue, who’d only just returned from a job they’d thought might be a hoax at first.

‘I really thought it was prank.’ Kate put her helmet back on the shelf in the hangar when the crew came in from the helicopter.

‘What happened?’ Hudson asked.

Apparently, they’d arrived on scene at a derelict farmhouse next to a pond and couldn’t see a victim anywhere nor anyone waving to them to signify their help was desperately needed. The crew had been told a five-year-old boy had fallen into the pond and hit his head.

While The Skylarks didn’t get many hoax calls, they did happen occasionally like the one they’d had last summer.

‘We saw the pond, but no sign of anyone next to it or nearby,’ said Kate. ‘Vik hovered overhead and he managed to spot a second, smaller pond in the distance. He flew us closer and we found the patient. We took the little boy to the hospital and from what I can tell, he should make a full recovery.’

‘That’s good news,’ said Hudson.

‘I’ll say.’ Noah had just come on shift with the red team and was picking up his helmet because the crew already had a job.

All of them felt strongly about the crime of hoax calls but Noah had more reason than any of them. His late sister Cassie had required an air ambulance when she’d had an accident that cost her her life, but the air ambulance had been dispatched elsewhere already, to a prank call by someone who thought it was all a joke.

Hudson finished his day before the crew returned and Nadia held the door open for him at the front of the building.

‘Escaping early to get ready?’ he asked.

‘Something like that. Kate has already gone; she couldn’t get out of here fast enough.’ She locked the door behind them seeing as the crew was out and only Frank, their engineer, was in the back finishing up a report before he too got ready for tonight’s event.

He watched Nadia put the keys into her bag and look at the closed door to the airbase. ‘You’re thinking about Lena.’

‘Am I that obvious?’

‘Yes.’

‘I’m being silly. I know nobody is going to leave a baby here again – although they could.’

‘Unlikely though. Come on, let’s think about how Lena is safe and well and let’s have a good time tonight.’

‘Still no word on the mother or a guardian?’ She rummaged for her car keys in her bag.

‘Not yet. Hopefully, we’ll hear something soon. In the meantime, let’s enjoy ourselves and raise a ton of money.’

‘I like the way you think. I’d better get going, get organised before Dorothy turns up to give me a lift and sees that I am in no way ready.’

‘I take it she’ll be bringing you both in her car rather than on the back of her motorcycle.’

Nadia laughed. ‘I didn’t think to check but let’s hope so. I’ll see you tonight.’

‘Look forward to it.’

Why was it that when you started having feelings for someone beyond the usual boundaries, it turned you into a rambling wreck? He sounded overly enthusiastic, over-excited like a kid rather than a grown man.

But still, he’d meant it. He was looking forward to tonight. And if he was lucky, maybe Nadia would even save a dance for him.

Hudson wasn’t used to feeling this free. Without his kids at the house, he’d taken his time to shower, packed his things, collected his hired tuxedo from where it was hanging on the hook behind the door, and relaxed as anything he’d packed up the car and picked up Brad en route.

After the satnav took them the wrong way at first – to a dead end in the depths of Dorset – they doubled back and, with a bit of navigating from Brad, approached the venue down a narrow, windy but incredibly pretty road surrounded by rolling countryside.

And now they were here, the hassle of the drive was well worth it because the venue was jaw-dropping. They’d seen it in the photographs, of course, but those pictures hadn’t done the eighteenth-century house with panoramic views of the Jurassic Coast justice.

‘Check this place out!’ Brad, sunglasses on, rolled down the passenger side window as they pulled in out front of what looked more like a castle than a country house.

‘It sure is something.’

‘I wouldn’t mind a whole week here.’ Brad whistled as he got out of the car.

‘Me too but I think I’d need a pay rise for that.’ The rooms they’d booked had been heavily discounted, but still not cheap. ‘I’ve got a couple of extra mouths to feed, remember, although feels more like feeding a whole football team on some days with Beau.’

‘You wouldn’t have it any other way.’

Hudson pressed his remote and the car boot obediently opened up so they could lift out their tuxedos encased in the special carriers and their overnight bags. They couldn’t stand gawping at the house the whole time, even though Hudson wouldn’t mind doing a lap of the building to see it from all angles, appreciate the salty tang of the sea beyond as the waves crashed in the distance. It seemed such a shame not to but hopefully, they’d have time for that later.

Tonight’s ticketed dinner dance would bring together crew, staff, friends and family of The Skylarks and anyone else who worked for the air ambulance, their supporters, ambassadors, nurses and doctors and anyone from the general public who wanted to attend and support the charity. They’d picked a good evening for it too. The sun was shining; the clouds and the rain that had been forecast had been scared away.

The interior of the country house was as elegant as expected. In the foyer, tables ran along one wall housing items for the silent auction and, eager to get involved straight away, Hudson bid on the wellness hamper as well as the cooking class in London. There were some great items to go for as well as those – a flight in Hilda, a gardening hamper, a holiday for two in Jersey, a brand-new smartphone, a bottle of champagne, a golf lesson. Local and county businesses had been generous in their donations this year, which was a good sign.

Hudson and Brad checked in to their respective rooms and regrouped downstairs before heading into the main reception room where everyone else was mingling. Most were standing; some had taken seats on the fine upholstery. A fireplace on one wall would host a wonderful winter fire when the time came and beyond the doors leading to the rear lawn stood a big marquee which would be where the main dinner dance would be held. Even from here, Hudson could see the company responsible for the décor had done a brilliant job; it looked fantastic. White linen hung suspended from the marquee’s roof, the elegantly decorated tables were ready for the guests, and there was a stage lit up at the very end where speakers would take their turn to talk about the charity and the whole purpose of coming here this evening.

Hudson adjusted his collar again. ‘Not used to wearing a tux,’ he told Brad as they moved over to stand beside the enormous Georgian windows looking out to the side of the house with uninterrupted views of the sea. He was also keeping an eye out for Nadia, but there was no sign of her yet. He only hoped the fact he kept looking around wasn’t obvious to anyone else.

‘I last wore a suit to my mate’s wedding two years ago; apart from that, I don’t think I’ve had any occasion to get rid of my Skylarks uniform or my usual attire of jeans – shorts if it’s warm enough.’

Waitresses floated around the room, some with silver trays lined with flutes of prosecco, others with bottles of beer or soft drinks.

Kate arrived in a knock-out red dress on the arm of her father, William, one of the Whistlestop River Air Ambulance’s ambassadors. Hudson had had plenty of dealings with Kate’s father, a man who only had to smile to tell you he came with the best sense of humour.

‘William, good to see you.’

‘Good to be here. And this place is impressive; I’ve already told Kate I might have to come back sometime for a mini break, a little holiday.’

Kate dismissed the notion. ‘He doesn’t know the meaning of the word holiday; he works too hard.’

A chef who owned his own restaurant, William had held more than a few fundraisers himself, and Kate was probably right because as far as Hudson could tell, the man rarely ever took time off.

Hudson caught up with William for a while – he always asked after the kids as well as talking shop. He’d managed to arrange for a couple of items at the silent auction later – dinner for two at his restaurant, a night for two at a nearby hotel he’d got through a friend of his.

Vik, pilot with the blue team, found Hudson at the bar set up in one corner. The trays of prosecco were plentiful but beers seemed to have done a bunk.

‘Beer?’ Hudson checked.

‘Please. I arrived late so I need to de-stress. I got lost… twice…’

‘Dead end?’

‘Yup.’ Vik took his beer from the barman and clinked his bottle against Hudson’s.

Rita, one of the air ambulance’s Freewheelers, appeared from behind a group chatting. ‘You both should’ve followed the postcode for the campsite. Brings you right here.’

‘I’m not even going to ask,’ Hudson said discreetly to Vik while Rita plucked a bottle of beer from the barman’s outstretched arm; she’d obviously been up here already.

The atmosphere was lively, crowded; there were so many people Hudson knew and some he didn’t.

By the time he looked up again, the next guest to come into the room took his breath away.

He watched Nadia as she kissed a lady on the cheek, gave someone else a hug, chatted to another person. His collar felt uncomfortable again; he tried to stay engaged in conversation with Rita.

Nadia was stunning. Her blonde hair was curled more tightly in ringlets rather than her usual waves. Instead of the usual business attire, she wore a v-neckline, sleeveless, black and gold, sequinned dress that flared flatteringly from her hips and showed her slender legs.

He couldn’t take his eyes off her. But he should or it would be obvious to her and everyone else how he felt.

And he was, in the eyes of everyone else, still married.

She spotted him watching her. Hudson tried to gather himself, act as though she was just another member of the team or one of their supporters. But he wasn’t sure he was doing a very good job. His racing pulse certainly said otherwise.

Vik and Rita had already moved away to talk to an older couple on their right, both long-term supporters of the air ambulance keen to catch up with some of the crew. The Skylarks were all happy to talk about their job, what it involved, make a bit out of their heroic efforts in this kind of setting when they knew it would help raise the air ambulance’s profile.

And now Nadia was at his side. He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, a cheek that took on a delicate pink tinge at his scrutiny. She didn’t normally react that way; she was used to public appearances, people watching her, addressing a crowd. Out of the office, this felt completely different and perhaps it felt that way for her too.

‘You look beautiful.’ Hudson was sure his knees might buckle at any second, especially as the alluring aroma of a fruity, perhaps lavender-like perfume ignited his senses.

Hudson had vowed not to get involved with another woman until his kids were older and making their own way in the world. He’d thought it wouldn’t be worth the hassle, the fallout, the stress it might cause the kids, particularly Beau. But the more time went on, the more he realised he couldn’t control the way he felt. Nadia was fast becoming so much more than a colleague, a friend.

But would he ruin everything if he told her how he felt?