Page 87 - Homestead By Ann Newhouse
P. 87

“It’s not good. The stroke has damaged the part of his brain that controls his movements. This means he may be paralysed from the waist down. They say he’ll never walk again,” Sofie tried to be professional, being a nurse, but it was her father she was speaking about. She couldn’t help letting out a pent-up sob and tears crept down her cheeks.
Josh went to her and gave her a long sisterly hug. “Come on, Sis. . . let’s have a break and something to eat and then we can talk further about what we can do.” Sofie welcomed the excuse to leave the team in charge, asking them to fetch her the minute her father woke up. I forgot my own concerns and concentrated on Sofie and Josh’s. Everyone was tense during the meal, so we ate in silence.
After the Doctors gave Sofie instructions on her father’s care for the foreseeable future, we sat down to work out a plan. As John Tirrell will be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his days, Sofie and Josh had to agree to either get full time care at the house or arrange for him to go into a home for the disabled. Then there was the running of the Homestead. Josh reluctantly agreed to come home and stay in the big house, but on his terms. They included, if Liz agreed, to her coming with him as his wife. His father had to agree to signing over the Homestead to him. Sofie said she would help with the running of the place, if I agreed to come back and work with her to make the business successful and create a decent place for everyone to live. Reluctantly, I could not agree as I wanted to make my own life in Truth in the hotel. I knew if I agreed to stay at the Homestead, my life would not be my own, even if I was working for Sofie. I wanted to be my own man, and Sofie to be my wife. We would have to make some serious decisions.
Johanna called to see how John had taken the news when he had woken up. John Tirrell had no choice in the matter, he was devastated at the outcome of his stroke. Although very weak he had thanked Josh and Sofie for their concern and had reluctantly agreed to whatever conditions they decided upon, for him to stay in the big house. Johanna promised to help out by sitting with John whenever she could, to give everyone a break. Josh went back to Truth to speak to Mr. & Mrs. Tully and Liz to explain about his father’s sudden illness and tell them what he proposed for his and Liz’s future, if she agreed. Sofie and I wished him luck.
Things had progressed in Truth. The outcome of Josh’s meeting with Liz’s parents had been favourable. Liz had agreed to become Josh’s wife and live in the Homestead. Mitch had started to visit Shelley Tully on a regular basis. Johanna had moved into the hospital accommodation, and together with Mitch, they were saving for their future. I had been left alone with Margarete and Mr. Choo to run the hotel. Our first season had gone well, but as the fall had come in with a burst of


































































































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