by Caragh Bell
Marianne shook her head. ‘I think you should put it out of your head, honey. It’s just a coincidence. Someone probably just left a bunch of flowers to say congratulations. Maybe they were too intimidated by the big star, Aurora Sinclair, to face you.’ She rubbed her arm. ‘Forget it, sweetie. You look troubled.’
Aurora nodded. ‘You’re quite right.’ She got to her feet. ‘Now, back to Mrs. Granger’s arrangement.’
William groaned when his alarm went off. He was sick of this Groundhog Day scenario. He got up, went for a run, showered, ate some muesli and went to work. It had been five days since the play: five days since he had seen or heard from Ella. He kept willing his phone to buzz, signalling a message. He just wished that she would make a move. He was tired of being the one who chased her.
She had said to keep in touch. She had suggested meeting for lunch again someday. Maybe he should just ring her up and ask her out. Again.
He turned over and closed his eyes. He was no fool. She just wasn’t interested.
The second alarm programmed on his phone rang and he pulled the pillow over his head. He wasn’t in the mood today.
Half an hour later he was dressed for the hospital. Grabbing his woollen coat, he buttoned it up. It still had a faint trace of her perfume since the day she had worn it.
Blimey, he was turning into a sap. Laura would scoff at him. Enough was enough.
The streets were empty as it was plummeting with rain. His large umbrella protected his top half from the incessant downpour but by the time he got to the hospital, his pants were soaked.
Bugger,he thought as he entered the foyer. Maybe he had a spare pair in the break room. It was unlikely but he could check. Otherwise he would have to wear blue scrubs and endure the jokes from his colleagues.
‘Morning, Adrienne,’ he called at the receptionist on the main desk. ‘Dreadful outside.’
‘Morning,’ she called back, smiling warmly. ‘Got tickets for your sister’s play. Can’t wait to see it!’
He gave her a thumbs-up and kept walking.
Mary, the ward nurse, was waiting for him. ‘We had two admissions last night. One leukaemia and one febrile. Here are the notes.’
He took the clipboard from her outstretched hand and forgot about his wet knees. The hospital was busy and there were children to be cared for.
‘Coming for lunch, Dr. Dixon?’ called Myra, a nurse on the same floor. ‘We’re heading to the pub.’
‘I’ll follow you,’ he answered, filling in details of a patient he had just seen. ‘Get a seat by the fire.’
He frowned and checked his watch. All the stats and results had been accounted for so all he had left to do was sign off. He scribbled his name and the time. Now he could take a well-deserved break. He had no appointments in the afternoon and was toying with taking a half day. Gloria had mentioned that she wanted help moving a bed in the guest room. Henry simply wasn’t up to it.
The main foyer was quiet when he got there. It could be either way: one minute it was full of parents and grandparents visiting their loved ones. Other times it was empty, just like today.
‘Enjoy!’ called Adrienne, waving madly. She adored William. Such a nice boy. He always brought her a cake from the French pastry shop on the corner.
He walked out into the dreary weather to find Ella Taylor outside, smoking a cigarette. She was soaked to the skin and shivering.
‘Hey, Will,’ she said, blowing a large cloud of smoke into the air. ‘You free for lunch?’
He rushed to her side and wrapped his coat around her shoulders. ‘Why do you wear that stupid anorak?’ he asked. ‘It’s bloody useless in the rain.’
She smiled wanly. ‘I keep my red coat for special occasions.’
‘Why do women suffer for fashion?’ He led her away down the street, his heart thumping in his chest
‘God knows.’
‘Where would you like to go?’ He paused at the traffic lights.
‘I don’t mind.’
‘There’s nice Italian on the corner.’
‘Perfect.’
The owner was Sicilian and ushered them inside out of the rain with large hand gestures and rapid Italian. Soon they were seated in a secluded corner with a small table and a candle stuffed into a wine bottle. Andrea Bocelli sang in the background and the small room was warm and cosy.
‘Wine?’ William asked.
She shook her head. ‘Not for me.’ She nibbled on some grissini and took small sips of water. He noticed that her hands were bright red from the cold so he took them in his and started to caress them gently. She closed her eyes and let him massage the pain away. Within minutes, they had regained their normal colour and didn’t sting any more.
‘The play was fantastic – thank you for taking me.’
He shrugged. ‘I got two free tickets so –’
‘Oh, charming.’ She laughed.
‘What I mean is, I could think of no one better to go with,’ he said seriously.
She shrank back at the intensity of his gaze. ‘Will?’ she said slowly.
‘Hmmm?’
‘Do you fancy me, Will?’
He reddened and took a frantic sip of water. ‘What do you mean?’
Ella gave him a pointed look.
‘What would you say if I did?’ His blue eyes met hers steadily.
For a moment, she said nothing, her hand still in his. He felt his hopes rise as she stroked his finger. Then she spoke.
‘I would be flattered,’ she began. ‘You’re a great guy and any woman would be lucky to have you . . .’
He pulled back. This was not what he wanted to hear. There was an enormous ‘but’ on the way.
‘But,’ she went on, ‘I’m not in a good place at the moment. You would be miserable with me, Will. There are far better girls out there for you.’
‘You don’t get to decide that,’ he protested hotly.
‘I know. It’s just I’m not the one.’
‘How do you know that?’
‘Oh, I know.’ Her tone was bitter. ‘I know.’
The waiter arrived with his pen poised.
‘Just give us a minute,’ said William abruptly.
The waiter backed away immediately.
‘Ella, I don’t want to pressurise you in any way.’ He took her hand once more. ‘But please give us a chance. Give me a chance. I think we’d be great together.’
She looked at him wistfully before answering. ‘Let’s be friends,’ she said genuinely. ‘I love having you in my life. Friendship is all I can offer.’ Her eyes shone with tears.
He frowned, weighing up his options. If he made a big deal of it, she might bolt forever. If they were friends, he could work on convincing her otherwise.
‘Fine. Friends it is.’ He smiled and beckoned to the waiter to come back over. Best to be normal. ‘Now, you should try the gnocchi. I love it here.’
She insisted on paying, despite his protests. ‘You always get the bill,’ she argued. ‘It’s my turn.’
He insisted that she take his coat. ‘It’s a five-minute walk to the tube,’ he said. ‘You’ll get soaked.’
‘Oh, I’ll get a taxi on the main street,’ she said airily as she got up. ‘I’ve told you before, I hate public transport.’ She bent down and kissed his cheek. ‘See you soon, Will.’
Then she left.
The waiter came to clear the plates. ‘She no like?’ he asked, pointing to Ella’s untouched plate.
William shook his head. ‘She’s not feeling the best,’ he lied. ‘Here, just a small tip.’ He handed him a five-pound note.
‘Grazie,’ said the man, smiling broadly.
William took his wallet and walked towards the main door of the restaurant. Suddenly the waiter yelled at him to stop. ‘Signor! The lady, she forget her telephone.’ He had Ella’s iPhone in his hand.
William took it and thanked him for his honesty. He ran out onto the street. She had mentioned getting a taxi on the main street so he started to
run in that direction. Just in time, he saw her small frame turn the corner.
‘Ella!’ he called. ‘Ella! Wait!’
She didn’t hear him so he ran on. Turning onto the main street, he could see a line of taxis parked at a rank. However, Ella had walked past them all and was scurrying down the street. She paused to cross the road and then took off again in the direction of the city centre.
Something told him to follow her. He knew how attached she was to her phone. He crossed the road.
‘Ella!’ he called but she kept walking. It was only when she passed another taxi rank that something didn’t feel right. She had specifically said that she was going home to Chelsea by taxi yet she was walking in the opposite direction entirely. He slowed down and kept a safe distance behind.
On and on they walked until they were in the East End, passing market traders and rundown buildings. He had given Adrienne a ring, telling her that he wouldn’t be back in until tomorrow.
Suddenly, Ella stopped outside a tall dilapidated block of flats. She raised her head and walked towards the main entrance. There was graffiti on the walls and two windows were smashed in. William hid behind a van and watched as a large woman with bright-red hair emerged and started shaking her fist at Ella, screaming about rent. Then she spat on the ground and stalked back inside, leaving Ella visibly upset.
Then Ella disappeared into the building and closed the door.
Without a second thought, he strode up to the door and knocked. The woman with the red hair popped her head out and barked, ‘Wot you want, sunshine?’
William straightened his shoulders. ‘I would like to see Ella Taylor, please,’ he said in his clipped accent.
‘And wot you want ’er for?’ She put her hands on her hips. ‘If that little whore is turning tricks then she’s got to get out.’ Her face reddened with rage. ‘I run a respectable building ’ere. I don’t want no prostitute tarnishing my name.’
William felt his hackles rise and he glared at her contemptuously. ‘I can assure you that my intentions are entirely honourable,’ he said coldly. ‘Now, where is she?’
‘I asked wot you want,’ she retorted nastily. ‘You ain’t goin’ in wivout tellin’ me wot you want wiv ’er.’
‘It’s none of your business,’ he said angrily. ‘Now let me in!’
‘Get out of my sight,’ she sneered. ‘You ain’t going nowhere.’ She slammed the door.
William didn’t wait. Using all his strength, he kicked the door again and again until it opened and he fell into a long dark corridor.
The woman reappeared, shouting in anger. ‘What the bloody ’ell you doin’?’ she screamed. ‘Look at my door! I’m calling a bobby right now!’
William ignored her and started banging on doors. ‘Ella!’ he called. ‘Ella, where are you?’
A little girl opened the third door he knocked on. ‘The blonde lady? She’s upstairs.’ She smiled brightly. ‘She gives me sweets sometimes.’
He didn’t wait. Taking two steps at a time, he bounded up to the first storey and started banging on doors once more, calling her name.
An old man, dressed in a white vest, appeared. ‘You lookin’ for the posh girl?’
William nodded.
‘She’s in 14.’ He pointed down the hall.
William ran down and banged on the door. No one answered so he banged again. Still nothing. He had seen her come in, right? She had to be inside.
Using all his weight, he kicked in the door. Mercifully, it buckled quite easily and he stumbled into the room. There was a narrow bed with a brass frame, an ancient old dresser and a wooden chair. In horror, he stared at the damp walls and the holes in the carpet. The air smelt musty and the windows were grimy.
A toilet flushed behind a wooden door in the corner. It opened and a white-faced Ella walked out, wiping her mouth. She gasped when she saw him. ‘Will?’ she said in horror. ‘Why are you here?’ She fell backwards against the wall, hitting her head with a crack.
He was by her side in an instant. ‘I should ask you why you’re here,’ he answered grimly. ‘What the fuck is going on, Ella? Why are you living in this hellhole?’
He picked her up easily and carried her to the bed.
Tears rolled down her cheeks. ‘How did you find me?’ she asked in a hoarse whisper.
‘You forgot your phone.’ He placed it on the dresser. ‘I followed you back here.’
She closed her eyes. ‘Oh, Will. I’m in such a mess.’
He rubbed her back. ‘Tell me what’s wrong and I’ll help you.’
‘You can’t. No one can.’
‘Tell me,’ he said gently.
She inhaled sharply. ‘I left Toronto before Christmas.’
‘What? Laura said you only arrived a few weeks ago.’
She shook her head. ‘I didn’t tell her. I lied and pretended that everything was okay.’
‘Why?’ he stroked her cheek. ‘Why did you leave?’
‘I had a great job with a cutting-edge advertising company. I was so good at it, you know? I loved the pressure and the unpredictable hours. My boss was so good to me. He was gorgeous and so attentive. We started messaging each other and so on. Soon we were sleeping together. I thought I was in love. He was the whole package: rich, successful and handsome. I was on cloud nine.’
‘So what happened?’
She sighed. ‘He was also married. I knew it but I did it anyway. He told me all the usual crap: how he was miserable with her and was planning to leave. I fell for it like a fool. Then, my period was late. I did a test and discovered that I was pregnant.’
William rubbed her back compassionately. ‘Go on,’ he urged.
‘Oh, I was so happy. Josh loved me and now we had the perfect excuse to be together. I ran to his office with the news.’ She started to sob. ‘He was so calm, Will. He told me that this had happened before and that he knew a great clinic downtown. He had sent girls there before and they were so efficient.’ She rubbed her nose. ‘He wrote me a cheque for ten thousand dollars and said to keep the change.’
‘Oh, Ella.’
‘That’s not all. He fired me too. Oh, it was no longer appropriate for us to work together apparently. He sent me an email advising me to leave without a fuss.’
‘What did you do?’
‘I went to the clinic. I met a nurse who explained everything. I was about to make an appointment when I freaked out. When it came to it, I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t do it.’
‘Did you tell anyone?’
‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘My father would disown me for a start. I was a difficult teenager to put it mildly. He has it up to here with my antics. Father is quite old-fashioned and an illegitimate grandchild might drive him over the edge.’
‘Your mother?’
‘Even worse.’ She laughed bitterly.
‘So why did you come here?’
‘I had nowhere to go. I cashed the ten thousand and decided to come back home. I foolishly thought that I would pick up a job in a few days. So, I booked a ticket to London and stayed in a hotel. Two weeks went by and no work. My money started to run out. I moved to a smaller hotel but that only lasted a few days. Then, I ended up here.’ She coughed and her small frame hunched over. ‘I’ve been so sick, Will. I’m so sorry about all that food you paid for. It was such a waste.’
‘Don’t even worry about that,’ he said kindly. ‘I feel terrible for letting you pay today.’
‘I pawned my gold necklace,’ she said simply. ‘I wanted to see you but I had to appear normal.’
‘You did what? Where?’ He ran his fingers through his hair. ‘That’s just awful.’
‘Doesn’t matter,’ she said. ‘It was worth it.’ She coughed again. ‘I don’t need to buy food at the moment as I can’t keep it down. I know I look emaciated, but I can’t help it. The vomiting is incessant.’
‘Does Laura know?’
‘Gosh, no. I arranged to meet her that day in order to ask for help regarding w
ork. Maybe I would’ve told her the truth but then you turned up. I couldn’t say anything so I kept the façade going.’
‘You should have told me,’ he said. ‘I could have helped you.’
‘No one can help me,’ she said miserably. ‘My money is almost gone and that witch downstairs is threatening to kick me out. I’ll have to ring up my father.’ She laughed sardonically. ‘The only problem is that my phone has had no credit for weeks. I can only receive calls.’
‘Is that why you didn’t respond to my texts?’
She nodded. ‘I was so glad when you rang, Will. I’m so sorry if I seemed rude.’
With a shaking hand, she took out a cigarette and fumbled with a lighter. William whipped it from her mouth and frowned. ‘No more of this, Ella.’
‘But I need –’
‘Don’t smoke.’ He stroked her cheek. ‘Please.’ He threw the lighter onto the floor.
‘I can’t afford them anyway,’ she said bitterly.
He got to his feet, his face set in a determined line. ‘Right, get your bag. You’re coming with me.’
‘What? Where?’
‘You’re coming home with me.’
‘Are you crazy? I’m not your problem.’
‘Don’t argue. Just pack your belongings and we’ll leave.’
Her blues eyes stared at him for a moment and she exhaled slowly. He wanted to look after her. It had been so hard for so long, and maybe he would save her. Maybe this all happened for a reason.
She obeyed his command. Pulling out her bag, she stuffed it with clothes and books, some make-up and her toothbrush. Anything she could find at short notice.
He helped her put on her red coat. ‘Right, off we go.’ He held out his hand and she inserted her small one into his grasp.
The little girl who had answered the door earlier waved as they walked past. When they got to the front door, the red-haired owner was waiting, blocking their exit.
‘Wot’s goin’ on ’ere, then? You off wivout payment?’
Ella shrank back and William pulled out three twenty-pound notes, which was all the cash he had on him.
‘Take that and get out of my way!’ he roared. ‘Charging people for sub-standard accommodation like this? I’ll report you!’