by Naomi Davies
“Knock knock.” Her boss, Carla, had joined her and interrupted her dream.
“Hi Carla, sorry, I’m miles away.” Anne’s ham roll was still on her plate, untouched and her coffee was cold. She ordered a new one from the counter.
“You have got to sort yourself out girl. I’ve never seen you like this.” Carla was genuinely concerned.
“I know. I’ll sort it out. Don’t worry.” Anne didn’t really know how to sort it out. Suddenly she started pouring her heart out to Carla about Ed. She told her about their first meeting and how wonderful she felt when they played music together. Then she told Carla about Ed liking her and her difficulties with that. Anne started talking about Ed, and his mental problems dealing with his new life and then Anne realised that this was her boss Carla she was talking to.
“You won’t say any of this to anyone, will you, Carla? Especially Jayne.” Anne suddenly became very fearful.
“I can see you are in trouble Anne. I will not say a word to anyone, promise. Thank you for trusting me.” Carla was serious. Anne wasn’t sure that she did trust her one hundred percent, but it was too late now.
That evening, she left straight from work and took the tube to Bank, where she changed for the Docklands Light Railway to East India. Then she made her way to the flat her friend shared with her boyfriend. Whilst Sandy was not the most sophisticated of friends, she, and her fiancé Paulo, had both inherited money. They lived the life of luxury on the top floor of a reclaimed and refurbished warehouse development. It was far too big for the two of them but there was always the idea of a young family for them in the future to justify them owning this apartment.
Anne rang the video entry button. The box made a pathetic sounding buzz and she pushed the door to enter the ground floor lobby. The lift was waiting for her and she pressed button eight, plus Sandy’s special security number, to go up. You could only get up to the eighth floor with this entry code. When the door of the lift opened, there was no hallway, it opened directly into the apartment and Sandy came rushing over to kiss Anne.
“I’m so glad you have come. We are going to have a great time, you and me. We haven’t done this for ages.” Sandy was enthusiastic and gushing as usual.
Anne handed her the bottle of Corbieres Red and walked with Sandy over to the open plan kitchen. Sandy opened the bottle and shared it carefully between two huge wine glasses.
“That’s about half each, isn’t it?” Sandy asked earnestly, stooping down to check the levels.
“Yes, that’s fine.” Said Anne. She was enjoying Sandy’s carefree and easy attitude. She never made things complicated and always looked on the positive side of things. Anne needed Sandy tonight.
“Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes. We are having venison pie, Is that OK?” Sandy didn’t know it, but she was a natural and gregarious cook, and a great host. She actually used all those TV chef cookbooks and always came up with fantastic meals. Presenting someone with a venison pie, seemed completely normal to her. If Anne had said anything about the eclectic choice of menu, it would have confused Sandy.
“That sounds good to me.” Anne replied, she was sure she had never eaten venison before.
They sat down on a long, white, leather sofa.
“So, Ed is your new guy, have I got that right?” asked Sandy.
Anne went through how she and Ed had met up. They continued at the dining table during the meal. Sandy loved all the details and Anne was enjoying offloading her story onto her. As Sandy went to the fridge for pudding she said.
“Rumbaba’s OK? I made them yesterday, they should be fine.” Anne didn’t know what Rumbabas were, but nodded.
“I didn’t put too much rum in them so you should be OK.” Sandy placed one on a plate for each of them.
“So you aren’t going out with this Ed yet then?” Sandy asked for clarification.
“No, Sandy. I told you. I am helping him out by playing music with him. It’s a sort of therapy for him. He likes me but I don’t think that I should see him again because of that.” Anne was finding it hard to find the words.
“But you said that you have never felt anything like it when you played together. You said that you felt alive and exhilarated when you were with him.”
“Yes I did say that, but it was nothing to do with liking him. It was a musical connection. It’s like we have a very strong musical connection when we play together.”
“Well I wish I had a musical connection with Paulo. He has no musical taste at all. He thinks that Tony Christie and The Bay City Rollers made great records. You know what? I think you like this guy. I think that you like Ed more than you realise, but there are things about him that are stopping you going further. We have been here chatting about him for nearly two hours. I can hardly shut you up, telling me every detail about him, and what has happened each time you have met.”
“He is not a straightforward guy. He is disabled and has problems in his head in recovering from being on the frontline in Afghanistan. I can’t get involved with a man like that.” Anne really hated herself for voicing her discrimination so openly.
“If you think that is complicated, let me tell you, he has nothing on Paulo.” Anne knew that Sandy had a point. Paulo was not your regular man off the street. Sandy and Paulo had survived a typical, but turbulent, holiday romance and negotiated six months of living together, but their up and coming wedding had created all sorts of problems with Paulo and commitment. There was a month to go to the happy day, but it had definitely not been a smooth journey.
Paulo arrived about nine thirty and gave Anne a huge hug.
“How’s the old firm going?” he asked. Paulo used to work with Anne and Giorgio.
“We are missing you but I know that Sandy is much happier with you doing what you’re doing.” Anne looked over towards Sandy, who gave her a two handed thumbs up behind Paulo’s back.
“Well I’m sure she is. How are you getting home?” Asked Paulo, rather too quickly.
“Oh, I’m on the tube.” Replied Anne.
“Do you want a lift halfway?” asked Paulo.
“No, I’m fine. I must be going. Thanks Sandy. I’ll see you soon.”
Sandy and Anne hugged and Paulo waved as he went into the bedroom to get changed.
“Bring him here as soon as you like. He sounds really interesting.” Said Sandy.
“I might. Let me think about things. Thanks for hearing me out. I don’t know what I’ll do - but it helps that you know all about it.”
The rest of the week, was spent avoiding the smirking and whispering in the office, from some of Anne’s heartless work colleagues. Carla was true to her word and did not say anything, but it is amazing what one false step, like the emails with Sandy, can do to a girl’s reputation. Jayne wanted to know more details and in the end, had to make it all up, as Anne refused to say anything to her.
Anne actually spent very little time in the following week thinking about Ed. She had far too much on at work and the Kovergirls had an extra rehearsal this week, to finish off the Adele/Emile Sande set they had been working on. So, Friday’s concert came, and the girls were in the van travelling to Guildford, before Anne gave any thought to what she would say to Ed.
“Is your man coming to see you tonight?” Asked Gail.
“He is not my man.” Replied Anne rather tetchily.
“Well, I think he is gorgeous, a real catch. The way you two play together is fantastic.” Gail was persistent if nothing else.
“He has only got one leg. He is still recovering mentally from what he went through in Afghanistan. He has a real attitude problem and he is very pushy.” Anne replied.
“OK, have it your way.” Smiled Gail.
There was only a twenty minutes time slot for them to set up. Fortunately, the PA man was the same one as last week and he had sorted out most of the levels from his notes on their previous performance. He would have to make the finer adjustments in the first few songs.
The Kovergir
ls played through the first set and then came off for a twenty minute break. Anne couldn’t help looking out for Ed. She drank her coffee and expected a message from him anytime. She became so preoccupied with Ed’s nonappearance, that she forgot to change outfits for the second set. Carlos held them back for two minutes while she threw on her outfit.
“She’s got a man on her mind.” Explained Gail to Carlos.
Anne scowled and finished her hairdo. The second set went well and the new solo songs went down a storm. There was no time for encores as the lead act was ready to go on as soon as they finished.
“That was great; I loved you singing ‘Chasing Pavements’.” Naze said to Gail. Naze had become more committed to the Kovergirls over the last two months. She had only missed one rehearsal and had agreed with Carlos that she was now the official bass player. This was probably due to Carlos’s ultimatum that she would be dropped if she didn’t turn up. Naze loved the recent upturn in the band’s fortunes and she loved the attention she was getting from the audience.
“I like the new songs. We were getting a bit stuck with just old classics.” Gail voiced what Anne thought about the songs they covered. It was much better having a complete mix of new and old songs.
“I have news. You are good girls, I have news.” Carlos came rushing in red faced and looking jubilant.
“You are booked for the main stage at the Replay Festival in six weeks’ time. Well done, well done.”
The girls all squealed and jumped around the changing room. Kate and Narinda even hugged Carlos. The Replay Festival was a chance to play to thousands of fans. It was a showcase festival for cover bands. Achieving main stage was pretty much as far as you could go, as a covers band in the UK.
In all the celebration, no one had noticed that Colonel Hatch had entered the changing room. He was not dressed in his usual military uniform. He looked very uncomfortable and solemn. One by one they turned to look at him.
“What is it Colonel?” Anne asked knowing immediately that something was very wrong.
“Can you come with me Miss Richardson, would you mind?” He asked.
“Of course, I’ll just get my things together.” Anne wanted to know everything but she couldn’t ask with Carlos and the girls there. She didn’t change out of her high heeled black boots and her sequined blouse as she could see that the Colonel was in a hurry. She waited until they were in the car to hear what had happened.
“Ed has been asking for you. He was taken to hospital yesterday after he reacted extremely badly to some new medication he was prescribed two days ago.”
“But he is going to be alright, isn’t he?” Asked Anne urgently.
“I hope so. It is going to be touch and go for a few days. He is barely conscious at the moment and the doctors don’t quite understand why he has reacted so badly to the new drugs. It is very good of you to come.”
They spoke little for the hour it took to get to Stoke Mandeville Hospital. The car dropped them off and Anne followed the Colonel to the intensive care ward.
There had been no change in Ed’s condition and they were allowed to see him although he was fast asleep. Ed was wired up to a couple of monitors which were efficiently scanning and beeping away. There was also the occasional bit of activity in other parts of the ward. Here in Ed’s section, nothing was happening. Anne sat there and began to wonder why she was there. The Colonel talked to her once more about the turnaround there had been in Ed, since the music sessions had started. Anne said that she felt very awkward about Ed, the way he was with her. After about two hours, Anne left the room to get some air. When she came back into the ward some time later, Ed was sat up on the bed and the Colonel was nowhere to be seen.
“Nice boots.” Ed whispered.
“Thanks, I didn’t bother to get changed after tonight’s concert. That’s why I’m dressed like this. The Colonel came and picked me up. I came straight away.”
“Thanks for coming.” Ed could only whisper and kept opening and closing his eyes.
“I could be in trouble here. The doctors don’t seem to know what’s wrong. I wanted to thank you for not rejecting me and giving me a chance. It looks like you won’t have to worry about me fancying you after all.” Ed closed his eyes for some minutes after saying this which was just as well as Anne had a tear running down her cheek and was barely keeping herself together. She wanted to reach out and hold his hand, but was afraid.
A nurse came in to check Ed.
“You’d be better coming back later. He’s gone off again.” The Colonel came in behind the nurse.
“I’ll get my car to drop you off at home, if that’s OK.” The Colonel ignored Anne’s tears and picked up her things for her. He walked her to the waiting car and noted down her phone number.
“I’ll keep you updated. Hopefully, he will pull through.”
“Can I visit him? Is that OK?” Asked Anne.
“Yes, definitely, just check with the ward sister that there has been no change in his condition for the worse.” The Colonel had touched Anne’s arm to reassure her.
“I hardly know him, Colonel.” Anne said, her eyes filling up again.
“You should get to know him, if you get the chance. He would be worth it.” The ‘if you get the chance’ line finished Anne off and she awkwardly hugged the Colonel for a moment before breaking away and getting into the back of the awaiting car.
It was the middle of the night and the drive only took about thirty minutes to get Anne home. She had thought about ringing Sandy up on her mobile, but she wouldn’t answer at this time of night. Sandy never knew where her mobile was anyway. In the end Anne thanked the driver and went straight to bed.
She awoke the next morning to hear her mobile ringing. She answered and heard Gail saying.
“Hello Anne, is everything alright? What happened last night?”
Anne went through the events of the night. In the coolness of the morning she didn’t feel quite so overwhelmed by the sight of Ed being so ill. Gail was turning out to be a good friend and offered some comforting words to Anne.
“The band is going out for lunch today, to celebrate our top billing at Replay. I know it might not be a good time, but we really want you to come, if you are up to it. We thought the Hard Rock Café would be appropriate, and Carlos is paying.”
“Well, if Carlos is paying, I’m coming. I’ll see you there.” Anne jumped out of bed and for some reason felt that today was a better day than yesterday. She rang the hospital to find out that Ed was stable, which was an improvement for him. Anne told the nurse that she would probably visit on Sunday. She took a deep breath and looked in the mirror opposite her bed. She was a mess. So she set about showering and getting ready for her day in central London. Two hours later, she stepped out of her front door to face the world afresh. Today was going to be a good day.
When she arrived at the Hard Rock Café, everyone else was already there. There were lots of hugs and kisses from everyone. Carlos explained that an act called ‘Wailing Angels’ had dropped out of the lineup and that he had already, two weeks previously, put the Kovergirls on the reserve list, in case they would be needed.
“Cheers to the Wailing Angels.” Said Naze, offering her glass up to the others in celebration. Carlos also told them that the gig paid handsomely and that they could each receive about two-thousand five hundred pounds as their cut for the concert. It was a great celebration and Anne felt the weight of the previous night fall off her shoulders. At about four o clock, they finished their meal and went their separate ways.
Anne phoned Sandy, who miraculously answered straightaway.
“Hi Sandy, It’s so good to hear your voice.” Anne went through the events of the last twenty four hours, finishing with the news of the band’s top billing at the Replay festival.
“That’s fantastic, you must have got a lot better than when I last heard you.” Sandy was as tactful as ever.
“Well, we have as a matter of fact, as you will hear if you can be bother
ed to come and see us one day.” Anne was a little peeved at Sandy’s honesty.
“Anyway, I’ve got a favour to ask you. I need a lift to Stoke Mandeville tomorrow, to see Ed, and wondered if you could take me?” Anne thought she would rather go with Sandy than the Colonel, nice as he was.
“That’s fine. Does this mean that I get to see him?” Asked Sandy.
“If he is well enough, you can see him, but that probably will not happen. He is really not well.” Anne was a bit cautious about Sandy meeting anyone. Strange things always seemed to happen when she did.
Anne took the tube home and set herself up with a plateful of nachos and a long night of television. She fell asleep flicking the television screen between ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and ‘The Voice’. She eventually awoke in the middle of the night, to a blood curdling scream, coming from a late night horror movie on the television.
Sunday morning was sunny and frosty, but promised to be a good day. There had been no emergency calls from the hospital or from the Colonel. No news was good news, as far as Anne was concerned. Sandy arrived at five to eleven, looking cool and sensible. She had a brand new, huge Toyota 4 X 4, which she was just about in control of. Paulo had decided, that her old Citroen Saxo was not safe enough for her. At least if she had an accident in the Toyota, she would probably not be too badly hurt.
“Nice Car.” Anne was impressed.