Once Kelly had given Ashleigh a quick rundown of events, she finally exited the hospital hand in hand with Lucy. Gone was the excitement the day had begun with. Rather than end on a happy note, it had been one of the longest, emotionally draining days of Kelly’s life.

“How are you holding up?” Kelly asked Lucy as she turned into Knowles Street. Home sweet home.

“I don’t know.” Lucy shifted down a gear. “I haven’t had time to stop and think.”

Kelly hadn’t wanted to see Paula, and didn’t think it was a good idea for Lucy to either, but Lucy had insisted on escorting Colette to Paula’s bedside.

“How was she?”

“A few broken ribs, punctured lung. It’ll be slow going for a while, but she’s expected to make a full recovery. Good thing she’s not a smoker.” Lucy chuckled but the sound lacked any humour.

“I meant how was she with you?”

Kelly hadn’t heard any raised voices through the standard issue green curtain, but then again how much could someone with a punctured lung holler?

“Tearful, happy to be alive. Rambling, probably due to the morphine. She said she was no better than you, whatever that meant. She doesn’t hate either of us, and that I don’t have to move out in a hurry.”

Well fuck, so much for silver linings. Kelly’s heart sunk. Whether Paula accepted their relationship or not, she couldn’t bear to see her ex and lover in the same room.

Lucy pulled up outside Kelly’s block of flats. After shutting off the engine, she turned to Kelly, her expression unreadable.

“I thanked her for all she’s done for me, which she interpreted as giving me a roof over my head. I told her I’d be moving anyway.”

Daring to ask the question, Kelly sucked in a breath, her chest expanding. “What, exactly, did you mean by what she’s done for you?”

“If Paula hadn’t let me move in, I never would have met you, Kelly. At least not in the way I did. So, for that I am thankful. I could hardly rub that in her face, though.” She gave Kelly a wry smile. “Her and Colette seem smitten and I can’t begrudge them that.”

Still fixated on the words, “for that I am thankful,” Kelly’s hopes soared. “Move in with me.”

Lucy opened her mouth and Kelly pressed a finger to her lips. “Please, just think about it.”

“Tell me this, Kelly.” Lucy’s penetrating gaze held Kelly captive. “Would’ve you asked me the same question if today hadn’t gone to shit in a handbasket?”

“No,” Kelly said. “But I’ve…”

Lucy cut her off. “I didn’t think so, and I don’t want to be your charity case.”