As he tried to relax with his eyes closed, he took a deep breath, willing sleep to come. Out of nowhere, he felt a tender caress on his cheek and shot up to sit on the bed, his eyes wide open in the semi-darkness. A moment later, a dim light materialised on the opposite wall. He pinned his eyes on it, his breath catching in his throat. The light expanded, and then he saw Sofia before him. But it wasn’t really Sofia, and whatever it was, it was a mere vision. The woman before him was dressed in black, the spitting image of the woman he loved. Christ! Is this The Lady of the Pier? What is she doing in my room?
“Christian,” the spirit said, “Don’t be afraid. Tonight is where it all ends, my love. My overlong strife to find you again and guide you to me, is almost over. But before it ends, one last thing must be done. Be strong, my darling.”
“What . . . what do you mean?” stammered Danny. The vision called him Christian which, if anything, confirmed who she was. Of course, it wasn’t logical; part of him wondered if perhaps he was still sleeping.
“Hush. I am here . . . I’ll never leave you,” said The Lady, peeling herself off the wall. With her naked feet hovering above the floorboards, she was beside Danny in a flash, throwing pale, transparent arms around him that felt like a cold breeze that chilled his blood. “It’ll be all right, I promise.”
“What do you want from me?” he said, his teeth chattering.
“Just this . . . let me show you,” she said, placing a hand on his forehead. The moment she did, a multitude of images flashed in his mind. They were memories he didn’t recognise as his own, yet they felt remotely familiar, like a torrent of déjà vus swarming into his mind. Danny winced and cowered, then brought both hands to his head. All the memories were of him and Sofia, but he acknowledged their different identities in those. When Charles’s menacing face flashed before his mind’s eye, Danny gritted his teeth with rage.
“Willard, you bastard!” he cried despite himself, in a voice he didn’t even recognise. And then, he saw Charles and Laura in Lakeview, and in the house they occupied as a married couple. He saw a little boy too, and The Lady whispered that the boy was Ricky, the man he met recently. Back then, his name was Freddie. Danny saw the old woman, Maggie, as a young girl, and he saw himself too, wearing that rusty brown scarf before it was destined to be stained by his own blood. Year after year, the whole lives of Christian and Laura played before his eyes like a movie, including Christian’s bleak experiences at war, and the nurturing, later years in Devon on the farm where he found joy and serenity again.
When it was over, Danny looked up, his eyes unable to focus from the shock of it all. He looked around in panic and found The Lady had gone. He knew then without a shadow of a doubt that it was her, just like Sofia said. But that wasn’t all. He knew everything now and, most of all, what Sofia was to him. He remembered that old promise he gave Laura when he was Christian still, when his blood pooled on the ground underneath him, and their child watched, a breath away.
It was the child that had found them again, as a grown man, to bring them together. Far from this being a blessing, Ricky had brought into their lives the greatest threat imaginable. The Lady had just shown him everything he needed to know.
Danny gasped and darted his eyes to the clock on the wall. Six a.m. “Sofia! I have to talk to her now! I have to warn her!” Danny changed quickly into a sweater and jeans, slipped on his sneakers and pulled his jacket over him, then rushed outside to his car. When he neared it, he noticed the front tyre was flat.
“Shit!” Thinking on his feet, Danny didn’t waste any time. He turned about face and rushed to the garage to take out his old mountain bike. He fastened the helmet strap under his chin and rode away in the chill of the early morning without wasting a single moment.
He pedalled as fast as he could, and it was hard, seeing that he was out of practice. When he reached the centre of Brighton, he found a bit of traffic. Many commuters were out at this hour so he slowed down to ride on the side of the road with caution. He was near Grand Parade and expected they wouldn’t allow him to get in and visit his girl as early as that, but he was determined to try, saying it was a family emergency. Ironically, this was not too far from the truth.
He was pedalling behind a large delivery van that didn’t allow him to see much of the road ahead, when he saw The Lady again. Like a cloud floating before his eyes, her ghostly face materialised before him. It looked more like a mist forming a face, than being a face itself. When she opened her mouth to speak, her voice boomed inside his head.
“It’s time, my love. We’re nearly home now. Be brave!”
Danny didn’t have enough time to process this, nor did he get to see the spilled motor oil on the ground. He skidded and hit an oncoming car, then landed hard on the ground beside the delivery van he was following up till then, his head missing its wheels by a hair’s breadth.
The impact was tremendous when he hit the tarmac. As he lay on the ground, his body numb and screaming with pain, Danny heard voices but they sounded distant. In his mouth, he felt the metallic taste of blood, and as the world started to spin, then fade sweetly away, giving itself to darkness, to a sweet oblivion, Danny spared a thought for the scarf around his neck, the one that Sofia gave him. He wondered if that too was stained with blood now and if, tragically, this was the end.
Chapter 47
Sofia had her breakfast with Annika at the cafeteria but instead of following her to the dorm afterwards, she went to the phone booth to call Danny. She dialled the number to find there was no answer, and she thought that was strange. The previous day, Danny had said he was going to have a lie in and spend the morning at home before leaving for work at lunchtime. Sofia swung her room door open, about to tell Annika, but then saw her face and froze at the doorway. Her roommate’s eyes were intense, brimming over with upset. “Annika, what’s wrong?”
Annika twisted her lips, then gave a laboured sigh. “Sofia, I don’t know how to tell you this. I’ve just received an urgent message for you from the Secretary . . . It’s about Danny.”
Sofia gave a deep frown, her heart racing. “What about him? What happened?”
“Sue called . . . from the hospital. He’s had an accident. It’s serious.”
***
Sofia went through the hospital doors on her own. Annika had offered to come along but Sofia insisted she go to class, saying she’d phone and leave a message to keep her updated.
In a haze of panic, Sofia asked for directions at the information desk and bolted into the elevator. She came out on the top floor, her eyes pooled with fresh tears. She was about to head for the corridor and look for the room number she was given when Sue called her from the far side of the lobby. Sofia rushed to her and held her by the arms. “Sue! How’s Danny? What happened?” She sounded breathless.
“Calm down, Sofia. He’s in good hands . . .” Sue directed her to sit with her on the chairs and rubbed her back. When Sofia’s angst subsided somewhat, Sue told her Danny left the house early in the morning on a mountain bike. The hospital called the house having found the details from his driver’s licence in his wallet.
“Where did he get the bike from? And where was he going so early in the morning anyway?”
Sue shook her head. “It’s his own bike, but he hadn’t used it in years. I’ve no idea where he was going. But it must have been pressing. I saw his car on my way out of the house and its front tyre was completely flat. He must have been in a big hurry to leave so he took the bike instead.”
“How did he hurt himself? What happened, Sue?”
“From what we know, he skidded and hit an oncoming car. He was propelled forward for quite a few feet, then hit the ground hard . . .”
“Is he badly hurt? Can I see him now?”
“He’s receiving treatment at the moment. He broke a leg and a couple of ribs. Dad is waiting outside the surgery on another floor. I only stayed here to wait for you. They’re bringing him here on this floor afterwards. We can go and wait downsta
irs with Dad, if you want.”
“Oh, thank God!” Sofia gave an easy sigh. “My mind’s been racing since I heard. I dreaded I’d hear something more serious than that.”
Sue squeezed Sofia’s hand, her lips pressed together for a few moments before she spoke. “That’s not all, Sofia . . . He has kidney failure, too. Both his kidneys no longer function. He needs a transplant.”
Sofia gasped. “What?”
“The impact was too violent. But he’s been lucky, in a way. The driver of the car who hit him has astounded us all, including the doctors. He arrived here in the ambulance with Danny and asked persistently to be kept informed. When the doctors told him Danny needs a kidney, he offered to donate immediately! Didn’t even give us a chance to come forward!”
“What? He is willing to do that for a total stranger? Just like that?”
“Yes. Dad and I still can't believe it. He was adamant this was what he wanted to do. We were told he sat on the tarmac with Danny and wouldn’t leave his side until the ambulance came, even though he has also suffered an injury.”
“Has he?”
“Yes, but it’s only concussion and a minor wound on his forehead. He hit the windshield hard during the impact. Apparently, he forgot to put on his seat belt.”
“But why does he want to help Danny? Does he know him?”
“No, of course not. All I know about him is he drove a big, fancy car. Haven’t even met the man yet!”
“Oh, Sue! Can we see him now and thank him?”
“He’s downstairs too, being tested. So far, the doctors say he meets all the criteria to donate a kidney, but they’re doing more tests to be perfectly sure.” Her eyes lit up. “I can't wait to meet him either, and to thank him for saving my brother. He must be an angel of a man . . .”
“I thought only family members can donate kidneys. Sorry, I don’t know much about this.”
“Don’t apologise, Sofia . . . Dad and I didn’t know much either until today. I guess no one thinks about organs until the time comes to actually need one.”
Sofia shook her head. “That’s true.”
“And yes, strangers can also donate, as long as they’re deemed compatible. They have to check the blood, antibodies and all sorts of things. It’s a bit of a miracle this man volunteered and seems to be a good match! Come on, let’s go and wait with Dad downstairs. It shouldn’t be too long till they’ve finished treating Danny.”
***
The doctors came out and told Sofia, Sue and Bill that everything was going fine. Danny’s leg was in a cast and his ribs would heal on their own. He had suffered no serious head trauma but had multiple bruises on his body. The doctors were doing some tests to check his compatibility with the kidney donor and then Danny would be sent up to his room. The girls and Bill were thankful for the update and went upstairs to wait for Danny in his room.
While they waited, Sofia went to the nearest telephone booth to leave a message for Annika as promised. When she returned to the ward, she saw Maggie and Ricky coming from the opposite direction along the corridor. They’d just exited a room near Danny’s.
“Maggie? Ricky? What are you doing here?”
“Sofia! We were about to look for you!” said Ricky.
“You knew I was here?”
“Yes. We phoned the campus to let you know, but they said you were already on your way here,” said Maggie.
Sofia knitted her brows. “How did you know about the accident? Who told you?”
“We were notified. And, of course, we came immediately to see Danny and Lee,” said Ricky.
“Lee? Who’s Lee?”
“He’s my chauffeur! You mean, you don’t know?”
“Know, what?”
“Sofia, Lee is the driver who hit Danny today. It was my car he was driving. I had an associate arriving from London on the early train, and I sent Lee to pick him up from the train station. Poor soul, he didn’t even get there.”
“Your driver hit Danny? He is the man willing to donate his kidney?”
“Yes. Oh, he’s a sweetheart, Sofia. Ricky and I are not surprised in the least,” said Maggie with a shake of her head.
“I don’t think I’ve met him,” said Sofia, then turning to Ricky, “I didn’t even realise you had a chauffeur!”
“Yes, I do, although I drive the car too from time to time, like that crazy day we first met.” Ricky gave a titter. “But, of course you’ve met Lee! He’s my assistant at the office. He also helps at home and is indispensable to me, really. I’ve had him for so long in my employment that he’s more like family to me by now.”
“Oh I see!” said Sofia, remembering the polite moon-faced man from the office. “Well, for him to do something like that for a total stranger, he must be a saint, to say the least.”
“Quite,” said Maggie.
Sofia gazed back at them both for a few moments, allowing the amazing developments to sink in. “Is he in there?” she asked, pointing to the room they had just emerged from. When they nodded happily and turned about face, she followed them inside, eager to thank the man who was willing to save Danny’s life.
***
When two male nurses brought Danny up to his room on a wheeled stretcher, Sofia sighed with relief. He didn’t look half as bad as she expected, despite the distressing sight of the tubes he was attached to. Numb, but relieved beyond words, she approached his bed to kiss his cheek, too timid to kiss him otherwise in the presence of his father and sister. Of course, Danny had another view on things. He raised a weak hand and cupped Sofia’s cheek, then pulled her softly to him to kiss her on the lips.
A dim smile curled the corners of his mouth. “Sofia, my love . . .” he said, then his sister and father approached to greet him. In the hour that followed, Sofia sat beside him holding his hand, the other two sitting close by, making sure Danny was as comfortable as possible.
The doctors had given Danny heavy medication to deal with the pain, and his head was fuzzy at first. As soon as he felt more lucid, Danny asked his sister and father if they could leave the room for a while, as he had something private to tell Sofia. His family members obeyed happily, thinking it was nothing but his wish to have a kiss and a cuddle in privacy for a minute. They both knew how much these two loved each other.
As soon as they were alone, Danny issued Sofia with a faint smile, the adoration in his eyes making them sparkle. “Sofia, my love,” he whispered.
Sofia smiled back and left a peck on his lips, then rested her forehead softly against his.
“I remember, everything . . . The Lady showed me . . .” he whispered.
Sofia pulled back, wide-eyed. Right then, she saw in his laughing eyes what she’d been dreaming of for so long. At last, he was hers, hers to keep forever.
Sofia cleared her throat and was about to tell him she knew Lee, the stranger who seemed determined to save his life, when Danny’s expression changed. She saw dread in his eyes and worried. “What’s the matter, Danny? What’s wrong?”
Danny squeezed Sofia’s hand in his, his expression urgent. What he said then, made Sofia gasp in shock. It was the one thing The Lady had told him that had panicked him. It had caused him to dress in a hurry and set off to visit her at once.
Sofia was astounded to hear it, but then, to Danny’s surprise, she laughed it off. She then told him what she knew. Within seconds, Danny was chuckling, his face ablaze with amazement.
Chapter 48
Four months later
Sofia and Danny visited Lakeview on a glorious spring morning. Sofia brought Annika and Sylvia along, and as for Danny, he came with his whole family, including his mother. Maggie was there too, and even her daughter Sandra, who lived in West Sussex and came to join the party with her family. It was a grand celebration for Ricky’s business. Not only was it a commemoration of ten years since Ricky had founded Rocking Horse Publishing, but also, he had just landed a major deal with a London publisher. The deal would expand his business further, bringing in new profi
ts and granting his books new venues among all the major London bookstores. One of these books was Rocking Horse Publishing’s latest release: The Lady of Brighton, a collection of Sofia’s poems.
The large group of family and friends enjoyed a picnic by the lake in an enchanting setting of serenity and glorious spring colours. The grass was strewn with daffodils, the sky was a perfect blue, and the water reflected fluffy, cotton clouds, the wind too weak for them to move or disperse. Danny and Sofia lay on their backs on a blanket side by side, as the excited squeals of children laughing and chasing each other reached their ears.
Their hands were locked together, eyes gazing up to the clouds, twinkling with mirth, as they tried to guess what the shape of each cloud resembled. Danny kept coming up with rude shapes, much to Sofia’s bemusement, making her laugh.
In the evening, after a hearty meal in the drawing room, Ricky and Lee showed everyone to their rooms early in the night, seeing that the celebrations would continue the next day with another picnic, this time on the seashore.
Sofia and Danny stood at the threshold of the room Lee led them to. It was the Blue Room. Sofia and Danny loved it. Behind its closed doors, alone and blissful, they lay in bed to make love, their whole lives ahead of them, their hearts full, their lives unthinkable without each other.
***
Lee settled in his favourite armchair across from Ricky in the grand library. All the guests had retired to bed but the two old friends were in the habit of staying up till late, playing a long game of chess while enjoying a cigar and a last glass of whisky.
As they set out to play, Ricky congratulated Lee for his idea to take Sofia and Danny to the Blue Room.
“Yes, I thought it was the perfect choice. The colour on the wall matches the one of her dress.”
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