CHAPTER 12
‘Sid, is there a problem? I’ve been that worried since I got Kirsten’s call. It was all I could do to wait ’til two o’clock.’
Sidonie could hear the worry in her voice. As it had worked out she’d gotten to the apartment earlier than expected and had also found it hard to wait out the time. After too much coffee, a track had been paced in the carpet and even the tennis had failed to distract her.
‘Relax, Honey,’ she soothed, ‘there’s nothing wrong.’ She tucked her legs up more comfortably. ‘Gee, it’s good to hear you. How’ve you been?’ Her deep voice made Tenille ache inside.
‘Missing you terribly. Sid, I’m hating being here. There’s so much tension in this house. Dad’s been great, but he’s at work all day … and mom and I … well, we just can’t get along.’
‘Yeah … I know Babe. It’s tough when someone important in your life can’t understand where you’re coming from,’ she commiserated. ‘But listen, I think I’ve got good news.’
‘Sid, you’ve found somewhere,’ Tenille guessed.
‘Darling, I hope.’ She drew a deep breath and did her best to describe the situation. ‘It’s not the greatest, but the best news is … we can move in as soon as we like. I’m sorry about the stairs though. They are quite steep.’
‘Oh Sid, this is wonderful.’ Her heart raced with excitement. ‘The stairs are nothing. My love,’ she rushed on: ‘I don’t care if it’s not perfect. If we can be together, then it is perfect for me.’
‘OK, OK.’ Sid laughed. Goddess Sophia. It was so good to be in contact again. ‘We have to be sensible too,’ she reminded her soberly. ‘Can we afford $400:00 a month? Do you have savings to carry you through until you’re working again?’ She changed her position, rolling onto her back and stretching her legs over the end of the arm. ‘I make good money at the track, but if I get into Guelph I’ll only be on a student’s stipend.’
‘Oh yes Sid, you’re right, we wouldn’t want to get in over our heads. I’ll be fine once I’m earning again. I could carry that rent myself, so if you can take the lion’s share now and help with a percentage later, we’ll be cooking.’ Ten thought some more. She hesitated. ‘Until I’m back though, I don’t have much put by. The doctor said I should be partial weight-bearing by the beginning of next month, so come September, work should be on the cards.’ She wondered if Phyllis might object to a staff member on crutches – in a shoe store?
‘Talk to her, see what she has to say. You never know. Do you get along with her? Do you think you can get her on side?’
‘We rub along, I guess, but I’m not sure how co-operative she’ll be.’ A tentative demur.
‘Well Honey …’ Sid tried to get back on track, ‘ …do you think we should wait ’til you speak to her before deciding on the apartment?’ Tenille noticed the let down in her voice, she must be really keen. ‘I’ll call her, then I’ll call you back,’ she suggested.
‘Cool. I’ll keep my fingers crossed,’ she promised.
‘You’d really like to move into this place?’ She pressed for confirmation.
‘I guess now I’ve gotten this far along, I’m ready to go all the way, as they say.’ She threw her head back, laughing at the double entendre. The sound was so infectious, Tenille found herself joining in. She knew they would be each other’s inspiration. ‘We’ll do that too, in our new home,’ Sid delivered through happy breaths.
‘Let me go now and I’ll call you back.’
‘Right-oh, talk to you soon.’
Sid didn’t know what to do with herself whilst she waited, but settled for looking through the CD collection and playing some old favorites. She found a Linda Rhonstadt ‘Best Of’ and listened to HEARTBEAT ACCELERATING. How she loved that voice, and the lyrics simply melted her. Lost in reverie, the phone’s chirruping gave her a start..
‘Good news,’ Tenille’s voice came down the line. ‘Phyllis is prepared to have me whenever I’m ready. Next month is the start of the store’s busy period.’ There was joy in her words. ‘So yes, go visit Moira and Rani and see what you can arrange.’
‘Oh Honey,’ she let out a deep sigh of relief: ‘I’m that happy right now, I could leap over the moon. I can hardly believe it.’ She jumped up. ‘I’ll stop by this evening. I’m sure you’ll like them. They seem to be your sort.’
‘What do you mean, ‘my sort’?’ She asked in a teasing voice.
‘Oh you know, professional, well educated, softly spoken. Ten, you know what I mean. Stop being a shit ass.’ Ebullience flowed from her as she hung up, a smile playing on her lips. A quick flick to the wrist for a time check – half past three. Too keyed up to hang about in the apartment, she headed off to the gym located in the basement level of the building grabbing her grip on the way. She need only sign herself in under Reine’s number. It was deserted.
Feeling good to be going through her workout regime, she realized how mixed up everything had gotten lately. Now things were about to change again. “Oh well …“ she thought philosophically, “ …that’s life. We don’t just stand still, if there’s one thing we can be sure of, it’s the fact of change itself.” She moved onto the cable crossover and began with shoulders, proceeded downward and finished on the hip abductors and adductors. Finally it was the long crossbar for preacher curls.
Unobserved by Sidonie, a resident had slipped in and started working. He looked middle aged, but fit, his body well toned. He had noticed the quality of Sidonie’s movements and the amount of her weights and been impressed. As she began her final stretchings on the mat, he strolled over to her and began to make conversation. She was not pleased. She had been enjoying her privacy, her own thoughts and this guy seemed to think she’d like his attention. Well, she didn’t. Instead of responding to his questions she got up and simply looked at him squarely for a moment, then said, curtly: ‘I’m off.’ She left him looking after her, dumbstruck, wandering what the hell he’d done. Such a cut. He’d always fancied himself as a sharp mover.
‘Well, who the fuck does she think she is, anyway?’ he grumbled, moving over to the treadmill.
Sidonie regained her composure in the pool where she put in some heavy laps, six sets of time trials, going all out. The afterglow did wonders for her mood. She checked her watch again. Time had flown; back to the apartment to make the call. She was in luck. Moira answered and she identified herself.
‘I’ve spoken to my friend and she’s definitely interested. Er..r I wonder,’ she paused, unsure of the best way to proceed, ‘ …if you’re home tonight, could I drop by?’ She suddenly had a chilling thought. ‘The apartment is still available, isn’t it?’
It seemed like a long wait before the reply came. ‘Yes, yes … it is.’ Moira stopped then started again. ‘We would have liked to meet the other possible tenant before making any final decisions. It would be best, don’t you agree?’ She spoke as though there would be no dissension. Hardly a question at all. Sidonie’s heart sank. Obviously, not certain enough about her.
‘Well, that’s difficult,’ she temporised. ‘She’s currently staying at her parents’ in Lindsay. If this play for the apartment went through then I was going up there to collect her. If not, then of course there’d be no reason for her to come down to Toronto.’ She was beginning to feel a little annoyed. How much did these women expect? The apartment wasn’t that fantastic … and they wouldn’t be running off with that furniture, it was only Crippled Civilians stuff, anyway. “Calm down,” she told herself. “Of course they want to be sure they’re not landing themselves with a busload of headaches.”
‘Well, come round. We’ll get a little more information on both sides.’ She was just replacing the receiver as Thea let herself in, giving her a big hug and asking: ‘How’s tricks?’
She held out her hand, palm down and a quick shake.
‘I’m just about to plug in the kettle,’ Thea told her. ‘Want one or do you have already?’
‘Thanks, Thea, but I’ve got to go see t
he people again.’
‘Anything wrong?’ sensing some of her dejection.
‘Not really … I hope. It’s just they’d like to meet Tenille. It’s a tricky one. If I collect her and bring her down and we don’t get the apartment, then she’ll have made the trek for nothing and I’ll have to take her back.’ She sighed. ‘She’s not happy up there, so if this doesn’t work out … her having to return to her parents’ place would really be the pits.’
‘Yes, I can see,’ Thea said slowly. She began moving about the kitchen, putting away her shopping. She thought on the problem while the girl stood, staring wistfully out the window seeing, but not seeing, the dynamic skyline. Such an engaging city, but its attractiveness was lost to her just now.
‘Sid, how much is Ten getting around?’ she joined her at the balcony. ‘I’m thinking, if this apartment were not to work out, well, she could still stay at her bachelor pad. We can help with shopping and the like. You finish work about mid-day, so you’d be able to give a hand.’
Sidonie’s face cleared. This reminded her of the original plan. Even on the phone she’d said how independent she was now. She put her arms round her friend and gave her a loving squeeze. Thea had that rotund figure which invited hugs. Best of all, she could be demonstrative with her and never have to fear the warmth of her affections would be misconstrued.
‘You genius woman. That’s it. If we don’t make it then we have your plan, PLAN B, to fall back on.’
Thea laughed. This was more like her Sunbeam. ‘After your appointment come for dinner and you can fill us in on what eventuates,’ she suggested, encouragingly.
Rani was also home when Sidonie arrived. They offered coffee, but she refused. The upshot of the meeting was that Sidonie would return on the weekend with her friend. A decision would be made then.
Deciding not to take Thea up on her offer she made for the track and an early night. She could be in for a lot of driving tomorrow if everything went according to plan, but they were both invited, Saturday.
* * *
Sidonie got away on her coffee break at about nine-thirty and went to the public phone, located off to one side of the backstretch canteen. At that time of day it was jumping. Men on early break were leaving just as those on late arrived, all catching up on the daily racing news. They regularly placed bets, not necessarily on the horses in their stable but, just like ordinary punters, on their favorites. Inside the kiosk it was still noisy with the men’s shouts and laughter. This was her call to Kirsten, at home with Shania. Could she deliver a message to Tenille?
Once having committed herself, Sidonie was impatient with everything. Any extra chore only added to her tension. She wanted the time to fly. It was a long way to Lindsay, but she wouldn’t notice the distance. Not with Tenille at it’s end.
Quitting time finally arrived and although she’d had to muck out two stalls today, not usually part of her duties, she’d been able to get done with time to spare. Jogging back to her room, she thought how wonderful it will be when there’s no more need to make arrangements like this; being forced to watch the clock with such exactness. Living at the Residence was really getting to her. It had been acceptable in the beginning, but life had been different then.
Twelve-thirty, Tenille was spot on time.
‘Hi darling,’ were the first words she heard. Tenille’s voice, light and clear with that touch of excited expectation, had a slightly breathy sound. ‘How are you?’
‘All the better for hearing you,’ she responded brightly, her body tingling. ‘Listen Sugar …’ she rushed on, ‘ …can you be packed and ready to leave by say … at what, three o’clock? The owners of this apartment want to meet you before they’ll give the final OK. I know it’s a lot to ask at short notice …’ her voice trailed away.
‘Sid, it’s fine,’ she assured her. ‘I don’t have that much here. It will be more the shock to my parents that will be the difficulty.’ She paused, but Sidonie did not interject. ‘More warning would probably have been easier, but I think harder on me having to live through the days of my mother’s reproachful looks. At least this way it will be like a surgical strike, as they say. I can call them later; that will give them time to calm down. Sid …’ Tenille stopped abruptly, ‘ …what if it doesn’t work out?’ Doubt audibly clouded her voice.
‘It’s OK Ten, Thea thought of that too. You can manage stairs now, so if you return to #226, I can look after you and she’s offered to help with shopping, etc. What do you say to that?’ She was willing her to find this alternative acceptable. She so wanted her back in Toronto.
‘Oh, yes,’ came the reply down the wire. ‘I’m heaps better.’
‘That’s my girl,’ she approved. ‘I’ll get organized and see you about three.’
She had to get active; begin the steps that would bring her toward her goal. “Get moving,” she admonished herself. “You should be on your way by one.” She showered and changed into her ‘What Part Of NO’ T-shirt, wanting to be comfortable and packed a collarless blue denim long sleeved shirt with patch pockets, to change into before meeting Moira and Rani. Blue jeans and clean joggers, not the old grungy pair. Thinking ahead, she should fill up with gas at the Rexdale Petrocan. They were usually quick and checked the oil too.
With a light, bright heart and a feeling of happy anticipation, she was on her way, even taking time to enjoy the beauty of the sky which was of the palest blue and white, ensuring a fine, hot day. Swirling wind gusts were whipping the silvered clouds into a dancing millrace across the vast canopy above the dales, exactly suiting her mood.
The pastures were enchanting; the crops ripening to fall colors, the trees still lush and green after all the months of waiting as bare skeletons. She pondered on what the cattle beasts thought, as their eyes followed the passing car. Did they ever wonder about the strange animal, always whizzing by, never stopping to graze?
She actually made Lindsay in under the ninety minutes. With time to kill it was necessary to decide between going straight there, or stopping for a coffee and doughnut at Tim Horton’s. She didn’t want to risk turning up too soon; confronting Mrs. Fenech. She opted to wait, but took her refreshment over to the park, biding her time observing the little kids playing Frisbee. So much energy; running and jumping everywhere. Those chubby legs just growing and getting stronger by the day. Of course, they also sleep long hours too, she reminded herself.
When next she checked her watch, it was just on three o’clock. Now she was going to be late. Damn. As she pulled up opposite the front walkway, the door opened and Mr. Fenech came out with Tenille’s suitcase, followed by her. Sidonie’s heart missed a beat and her hands were suddenly clammy on the steering wheel. Tenille descended the steps expertly, her smile radiant with eagerness. She thought her face looked a little thinner and she was pallid, but there was no mistaking her happiness. Sidonie resolved that at the first opportunity she would pull over. With heart pounding erratically, body movements jerky, she accepted the luggage from Mr. Fenech.
‘Hello Sidonie,’ he called out to her.
‘Hi there.’
On the exchange he declared: ‘Tennie told me the plan. I think it’s best for all concerned.’
‘Thank you, Mr. Fenech.’ Her words were brief but heart-felt. ‘I’m sure Tenille will let you know how it works out,’ she added. She went to the passenger side to open the door for her. All she said was: ‘Hidy,’ her throat too constricted for more.
Tenille, for her part simply looked at her, drinking in every detail of face and form, as one parched before a well. She neatly swapped the crutches over to her right hand and reached down to the seat with her left, to lower herself between the two and easily swung her legs up into the car. Sidonie set the crutches into the back.
Alex came round to say goodbye. ‘Take care of yourself won’t you, Tennie,’ he cautioned.
‘I’ll call you as soon as we’re settled, Dad. And don’t worry, I’ll be fine.’ She had wanted to add: “Now that I have Si
d to care for me,” but thought better of it. She didn’t want to appear to be casting aspersions on her parents’ abilities, although her dad probably wouldn’t take it that way.
Sidonie returned to her side of the car and thought fleetingly: “Like my side of the bed.” Since this got her hot and flustered, she reckoned she should concentrate on the driving and give her body time to get itself under control.
Easing out into the flow of traffic on Kent Street, she headed south towards Highway #115. So acutely aware of each other, they became tongue-tied. It wasn’t until the 401, that Tenille broke the silence by asking if they were going straight to the apartment.
“So much for my stopping,” Sidonie laughed to herself, still feeling that sweet, sweet longing as she looked at the woman beside her. ‘Yes,’ she acknowledged. ‘I thought it best you get to meet each other … so we’d know where we stand. Is that OK with you?’ She didn’t turn to look, her body was doing all sorts of crazy things today and she didn’t want the uncontrollable shaking to start.
‘Afterwards we’re invited to Thea’s for dinner, but we can stop at Mrs. Sandrelli’s too, if you want to see her.’
‘Yes, that would be nice. I’d like that,’ she replied briefly as her eyes feasted on the rippling muscles of her arms as she drove, weaving in and out the traffic fast, but always safe. Would they be able to be together tonight? she wondered. How her longing consumed her. She lived for this girl. She would never tell her; it could be burdensome. Every waking moment had been filled with thoughts of her; remembered times together, even those innocent days at the gym. Now they were side by side and they hardly spoke, but the electricity was there. It would take only one touch to open the floodgate. There was so much to make up for; then they would talk.
Outing of the Heart Page 64