Chapter 14
Chapter
Fourteen
PARCHED CAMEL
Neve
Hope made an ‘I’m sorry’ picture for the nun. We stopped by the church to give it to her. “Excuse me, um, I’m looking for a nun –?” I ask another nun in passing.
“Well dear, funnily enough you’ll have to be more specific than that, with this being a church and a convent,” she interrupts sarcastically.
I blanch at her tone. Here I thought all nuns were sweet and kind, god damn you Whoopi Goldberg and Sister Act.
“Right. I didn’t catch her name. She came to my door last night asking for donations and well, my daughter was a little rude so we have come here today because she would like to apologise,” I explain.
The nun starts walking off. I look down to Hope and shrug my shoulders confused. “Well come on then, I will take you to Sister Mary Jane,” she snaps.
I jump and usher Hope with me to follow this nun; well frankly, this rude grumpy bitch of a nun.
She stops and knock on a wooden door. “Enter!” is yelled from the other side. The rude nun opens the door and practically shoves us inside, shutting the door behind us. There sat behind a large walnut desk is Sister Mary Jane. “Well, well, well.” She smiles, leaning back in her chair.
Hope who apparently can’t read the unwelcoming vibe in the room walks forward and places her picture on the desk. “My mummy said I have to apologise for being rude to you last night,” Hope states.
“Did she now; shame you couldn’t tell your friend to come and apologise to me too.” The nun’s seething gaze snaps to me.
“I apologise for her, she couldn’t make it here herself,” I state, my voice wobbling a little from nerves.
“Huh! She would probably burn into flames on entry, a mouth like that comes directly from the devil himself!” she yells, whipping her long, wooden ruler on the desk. Hope and I both jump. I place my hand on Hope’s shoulder, pulling her back to my side. This bitch nun is cray-cray.
“Well anyway, we just wanted to apologise. Thank you for your time,” I rush out, moving for the door.
“Apology not accepted. People like you and your daughter are the descendants from the devil himself. No amount of apologies or praying can save either one of you.”
My reserve snaps and I turn back around, gritting my teeth. “You listen here bitch. It is you who is evil; you were born from evil.”
“You don’t know anything. I was born from good stock.” She huffs.
I shake my head and laugh. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re the product of your mother shagging Satan himself.
Your mamma just couldn’t get enough of his evil dick, with his teeny weeny evil sperm fertilizing her rotten, fungus infected eggs.
That’s what you are, a rotten infected evil sperm egg,” I hiss quietly enough so that Hope can’t hear me.
I turn, taking Hope’s hand in mine and leave, flipping the nun off in the process.
We walk out onto the street and I let out a long breath before a giggle escapes me.
I can’t believe I’ve just called a nun a fungus infected evil sperm egg.
I snort to myself. Well if there is a heaven and hell, I’m definitely off to hell.
My phone rings and I rummage around my handbag looking for it, finding it just in time “Hello?” I answer.
“Hello, Mrs. Smith?” a voice asks.
“It’s Miss Smith actually. How can I help you?” I reply, looking down at Hope skipping beside me, humming a song I have no idea of.
“I’m calling to say we’ve had a cancellation and would you be able to attend an appointment today at 4 pm for your daughter’s MRI scan?” she asks.
“Of course yes, we will be there, thank you,” I answer with a nervous unsettling feeling swirling around my stomach.
I disconnect and ring Bella and she answers by the third ring. “What’s up bitch?’
“Appointment is at 4 pm today,” I state without greeting.
Instantly Bella’s mood shifts; she feels it too. “I will pick you up at 3.”
“Thanks,” I answer before disconnecting.
“What are we doing today Mummy?” Hope asks, jumping up and down on the spot.
“I have to pop into work for a little while, then you have a check-up at the hospital,” I tell her.
“Not again.” She sighs.
I smile, taking her hand in mine. “Hey, come on. I’m sure Pearl will have some of those sweets you like.”
That distracts her from the thought of the appointment.
We walk down the high street to the laundrette and standing behind the counter puffing away on her vape is Pearl.
“Aunt Pearl!’ Hope yells, running towards her.
Pearl takes one last puff before moving around the counter to greet Hope.
She emerges through the cloud of vape like she’s walking through the cloud reveal of the old TV show Stars in their Eyes.
“My favourite girl!” Pearl holds out her arms to Hope.
Hope hugs her tight around her waist. “So I guess now that you’re here, I will have to share some of my special sweets with you, won’t I?” Pearl winks.
She walks around the counter and bends down, then places her handbag on the counter before she pulls out her bag of Lemon Sherbet’s. She hands Hope the bag, which she takes happily, running to her favourite chair by the window and starts unwrapping her first one. “Don’t eat them all miss!” I yell.
She gives me a cheeky smile and pops one in her mouth. “So what brings you here on your day off? I know you love me but this is a bit much,” Pearl teases.
“Killing time until her appointment,” I state. I then explain everything, including what Doctor Cahill said.
“Oh bollocks,” she sighs. “They could be wrong you know. I mean, look at her. She’s a picture of health. I think they’ve got it completely wrong. If she had anything that bad or that serious, she would have been poorly. She isn’t poorly,” Pearl states.
I nod. “Maybe you’re right. I still have to try and convince her to lay still for the MRI scanner. I mean adults are scared of those machines.” I sigh.
Pearl places her hand on mine and gives me a gentle squeeze. “If she doesn’t settle they may knock her out for it. But I know Hope. She’s a strong and brave little girl. She will be fine,” Pearl assures me.
I nod and lean my head on her shoulder. She’s become like a second mum to me. Even though she can make me gag in disgust at any moment, I class her as my family.
Pearl pats my head. “Now come on, while you’re here you can help me with this lot.
” She heaves a big bag onto the counter.
“I think Mrs. Russell had an orgy or something, because here sheets are stiffer than Cyril’s penis after he accidently overdosed on Viagra.
” I lift my head from her shoulder and shake my head in disgust. “What?! It was sweet bless him, he just wanted to impress me. Although I chaffed after a while, there is only so long you can last before the chaffing kicks in, especially at my age. We nearly went through the entire tube of lube!”
I gag. “Please stop,” I plead.
Pearl tuts and shakes her head. “You can gag all you want but mark my words… When you get to my age you will think back to this conversation and know that I was right. Lube is a necessity after the menopause, things dry out. Long gone are the days when men could just slide on up in there with ease. Now if they tried without lubing up, it would be like hammering dry wall. No man likes a parched camel dear.”
I have no words.
Ijig my leg up and down anxiously as we wait for Hope to be called in for her scan. Bella places her hand on my leg stopping me. “Will you calm yourself,” she whispers.
I nod, biting the skin around my thumb nail. She rolls her eyes. “Hope Smith,” a nurse calls. I jump to my feet, wiping my sweating palms down my jean covered legs. I take Hope’s hand in mine and follow the nurse.
“Hey, Neve!” I hear a deep voice yell from behind me. I turn and look over my shoulder seeing Doctor Cahill running down the corridor towards us. He smiles and stops, panting. “I’m glad I caught you before going in.”
I frown confused. “Are you doing the scan?”
He shakes his head no and wheezes. “Damn, I’m unfit. I just wanted to make sure you’re both okay, and be here to support my favourite patient.” He smiles holding out his fist for Hope to bump. She does so while laughing.
I smile and reach out, squeezing his arm. “Thank you. That means a lot to Hope. Doesn’t it Hope?”
She nods. “You’re pretty cool Doc,” Hope agrees. I snort my laughter.
Doctor Cahill smiles and nods. “Right okay, I have a little time until my next appointment. I will wait, then maybe we could grab a bite in the canteen? Their sandwiches taste like cardboard but they have a pretty good selection of ice creams.” He winks at Hope.
Warmth spreads in my chest. “Thank you, Hope would love that.” I smile before walking into the room and close the door behind me.
I had to remove any metal. They played a movie for Hope to watch while having the MRI.
It took twenty to thirty minutes to perform and the entire time I was amazed at how brave and well-behaved Hope was, she didn’t move an inch.
Even when they placed the weird cage thing over her head.
I was the one who was terrified, not her.
The Radiographer comes in after, explaining that results will be sent to our doctor in the next couple of days. I nod, feeling happy that it’s over with. Hope waves them goodbye, seemingly happy, like she does this sort of thing every day. When we get outside Bella is sat talking to Doctor Cahill.
They both turn and stand and Hope runs up to Bella. “Auntie Bella, there was this really big machine and it was loud, but they let me watch a movie with the machine taking pictures of my brain. It was really weird,” Hope rambles.
Bella scoops her up in her arms. “It’s a good job you’re super brave kid. Now let’s go and get you some ice cream.” Bella winks at me and leads the way with myself and Doctor Cahill following behind.
“She’s a great kid,” he states.
I smile and nod. “She is. I wish I could take the credit but that’s all her. It’s just who she is.”
“Well, I don’t know about that. I think she’s a lot like you from what I’ve seen so far.” He smiles.
I clear my throat. “So Doctor Cahill, what do you like doing in your spare time when you’re not taking your patients for ice cream?” I ask.
He smirks. “Call me Jack, and well technically Hope isn’t my patient anymore as she’s been referred,” he states.
I look to him and his gaze meets mine. I clear my throat. “Right, got it. So Jack, what do you enjoy doing?” I deflect back to my original question.
He shrugs. “Movies, going to the pub, don’t have a lot of time for much else.”
We reach the canteen and Jack gets Hope the biggest bowl of ice cream. I am sure he must have sweet-talked the staff into giving him extra. Hope takes a large mouthful, most of it going around her mouth. I laugh. “You enjoying that sweetie?”
She mumbles something and nods as a silence descends on the table.
I am at a loss of what to say to this well, nice doctor.
I mean if it was just Bella, Hope and I, I would probably tell her how I have a raging shaving rash on my hoo-ha, because I forgot to buy new razors and shaved with a blunt razor.
But this guy is educated. I mean he can save lives, and all I can think about at this moment in time is what are the results of Hope’s scan and damn I really want to scratch my crotch right now.
“Jesus Christ I feel like I’m chaperoning a pair of fourteen year olds on their first date,” Bella blurts out.
“Bella,” I hiss.
“Oh come on, let’s cut to it shall we? Doctor Jack, would you like to take my dear, dear slightly stupid friend out on a date say Thursday night?” Bella asks.
I slam my head down on the table with a loud bang, the sheer embarrassment numbing any pain I may have felt.
“I will pick her up at 6 pm,” Jack states.
I sit bolt upright and stare at Jack with my jaw practically hitting the floor. “You what?” I ask astounded.
He laughs and reaches across, removing an old ketchup packet that was left on the table that apparently just had to stick to my forehead for added embarrassment to the situation. “If you’re up for it, I would like to take you out for dinner on Thursday. What do you say?”
“Uhh…” I freeze.
“Jack, she would love to. Here’s her number and address. She will be ready.” Bella smiles handing over a napkin with my details on.
He stands, a smile across his face. “Great. I will see you then.” He sips his coffee. “See you later Hope,” he adds before leaving.
“Bye Doctor Jack!” she yells briefly before tucking back into her ice cream.
I turn to Bella. “You’re welcome.” She smirks.
“Hope sweetie, why don’t you go grab yourself some more napkins to wipe your face?” I suggest. Hope thankfully nods and runs over to the station to get more napkins.
“I can’t believe you set me up on a date while I have all this going on with Hope.
This shit could be really serious Bella, they don’t just do MRI scans for nothing.
Hope needs me right now. Me going on dates with random guys is not a good thing,” I hiss while keeping an eye on Hope as she apparently decides to take a mountain of napkins from the holder.
“Don’t give me that shit, she’s fine. Look at her.
And you need to get laid like yesterday.
And that hunky doctor is interested in you.
A date on Thursday isn’t a big deal, go enjoy yourself.
You deserve it. I will have Hope over at my place to stay just in case you want to you know, let him poke you with his thermometer. ”
“I just don’t think –” I start to protest but Hope comes running back to the table.
“Mummy, is this enough?” she asks holding out what looks like 150 napkins.
“Oh yes, plenty.” I laugh. “This conversation isn’t over, I am not going on a date,” I hiss at Bella.
“Oh but you are, you’re in desperate need for a good hard check-up.” She winks.