New Directions (19)

A black phone on a cluttered desk started to ring in a friendly warbling tone. I reached out to pick up the handset and woke up relieved I wasn't Robert De Niro ratting out his mates. A pain galloped across my body starting on the left side of my chest and terminated at the end of the arm I’d stretched out to collect my smartphone. I must change that bloody ringtone.  Fumbling for the green accept icon I let out a long, ‘Aaawwwar,’ as I found it

‘Terry! Are you alright, Chuck?’ The sound of Karen’s voice seemed unreal, ‘What was that noise?’

‘Morning, K. I just woke up, must have slept awkward.’

‘It’s half eleven, T love. What’s been going on? I’ve been dead worried. Why haven’t you been replying to my messages?’

‘You won’t believe it. I’ve had one of the weirdest two days. I’ll tell you about it on Friday.’

‘Why was your phone switched off all evening? I was beginning to think you didn’t want me to come down.’

‘Karen, the thing I need the most right now is you here, I was in hosp—,’ it slipped out. I’d wanted to keep schtum. I knew it would send her into a panic. Maybe it was a subconscious call for help.’

‘Did you say hospital?’ The frequency of her voice increased several thousand Hertz.

‘Just a few bruises and a bang on my nut. I’m arigh-oouwch.’ I said as I sat up in bed.’

‘You don’t bloody sound alright, matey. I’m gonna tell Jonah I’m leaving early.  I’ll see you tonight about six, I’ll bring an Indian.’ My protests were pretty weak – partly because I knew she wouldn’t listen – partly on account of the map of Europe painted in blue and red across the left side of my body terminating in Italy down my thigh.

‘Ok thanks. . . . Um, can you make that a Chinese, K?’ I ended the call smiling, remembering how our childish habit of calling each other by the first letter of our names came about after watching the boxed set of “The Prisoner” and deciding we’d rather be a letter than a number.

After heaving myself out of bed I made the painful journey down to the kitchen. Negotiating the stairs felt like descending Kilimanjaro. I actually made tea in a sitting position. It wasn’t until I felt cold I remembered I was naked.

A long hot bath eased the pain. The doc. wasn’t joking when he said I’d be sore in the morning. Drying myself in front of the mirror looking at my piebald body and the line of stitched cord over a black eye I thought about calling Karen to put off coming until the weekend, but I knew it would be pointless.

After getting dressed in lounge-abouts I returned to the kitchen and discovered a message waiting to be read on the phone. Dev had the OK from the hospital to visit Celia in the afternoon. He invited me to join him. Although worried about my appearance I knew I had to go. I swallowed a couple of paracetamols and called Dev.

We met in the hospital reception. Dev stared at my face, ‘You didn’t have to come, Terence you look as though you need to rest.’

‘I’ve had a lot worse. I hope my banged up mug won’t scare Miss Bow.’

I didn’t need to worry that. A nurse led us into a single room, the shutter on the window pulled down. The dimmed light and regular soft beeps from a monitor gave the atmosphere a relaxing feel. Celia didn’t seem to be aware of our arrival, which was hardly surprising. Her face was so swollen she was unrecognisable, both her eyes were puffed closed. ‘Miss Harrington-Bow, there are two visitors here to see you.’

Celia turned her head slightly, ‘Just Bow.’ She whispered with clearly considerable effort.

The nurse faced Dev and me, ‘I don’t think you should stay too long. Sorry. Her injuries are stable, but she is still in a bad way. The doctors say it will be several days until we know how well she will cope in the future. At least since she has private insurance being in a single room will help.’

‘How did you know she has personal insurance?’ Dev asked.

‘She’s registered with us. It’s in her dossier.’ The nurse said as she left the room.

Myself and Dev sat by the bed. To our surprise Celia seemed to know who we were. ‘How is my house, Dev,’ she asked in a weak voice.

We told her not to worry and explained the police were still in the cottage looking for evidence of who the burglars were. Dev promised we would clean and tidy the house before she returned, volunteering me to join him. After about fifteen minutes the nurse returned, thanked us for our kind concern, and very gently kicked us out.