CHAPTER TWELVE
-:- Paisley -:-
Oh my God, I think they are trying to kill me. I’ve done so much bending, stretching, twisting, and turning. That’s before they put me through the jogging and when it came to the actual training, I was done. No energy left. I had stood like a damp noodle and would have let Kya beat the pulp out of me, because she was supposed to be my partner this morning. Well, she threw her arm around my shoulders, laughing, and kept saying, “You’ll get better each week.”
“Each week!” I have to admit that I screeched because I’m sure I would never have signed up for these torture sessions.
Kya laughed louder and sent me to get showered and changed, ready for their sit down while the brothers are in church. Holy moly, they go to church on Sundays!
By the time I’ve showered and changed, I feel somewhat better, although the muscles in my legs are hurting. Tomorrow I’m going to be walking like I’ve been bull riding or something, I’m sure. This is a weekly thing, so I’ve more of this torture to look forward to!
Downstairs in the common room, I sit next to Gemmy, who is Stitch’s woman. I can’t keep up with who is an Ol’ Lady, wife or both. So, in my mind, I just think she belongs with him, and he belongs to her…Easy peasy, well not really, but I’m sure I’ll get it.
One thing which is weird is that I remember none of these people, yet they are treating me like part of this huge family. Maybe I am, but it’s really annoying that I remember nothing.
“Oh, Paisley, your hair is growing really fast. You have over an inch of fresh growth on that area the doctors shaved.” Looking up, I smile at Kya, who I have trained with previously. She gives me a smile in return. “I reckon you’ll have it covered over with new hair so nobody can tell it happened in a month. I wish my hair grew that fast.”
“I’ve been taking multi-vitamins. Well, I’ve had them shoved at me by TwoCents.” Running my fingers through my hair, I slide them over the bald spot. Kya is right. There is a stubbly fresh growth there.
“I take them all the time, but I’m older than all of you.” Amelia, who just took a seat, says calmly before taking a drink of whatever she has in her mug.
“Oh, shut up. I’m only a little younger than you and I take plenty of vitamins. My old bones would seize up if I didn”t. They creak like something rotten even though I take the things,” Bitty responds to Amelia, and Sybil is watching the two of them calmly, but she remains quiet.
Sitting here with the women is nice. They all laugh and joke and the atmosphere is social and more than a little friendly. I look from one of the women to another, and I see this is a family, not of blood but of the heart.
The twins are on a play mat and building along with Jo, who is watching closely every time they try to put a piece of Lego in their mouths.
After lunch I make my way to our room because I’m tired after that workout and my head is aching something fierce. Laying down on the bed, I close my eyes and as I’m drifting to sleep, a flash of pain rips across my head.
“I told you I’m not letting you leave. You stay here, you know too much, and you could be in danger.” The man is shouting and spittle is flying out of his mouth. He’s well dressed, in a suit with a vest, hair groomed and could be a bank manager. ”Paisley, you need to give me what you have.”
The pain goes and I’m left thinking who he is, and what he is talking about?
I open my eyes and try hard to think about the man, but nothing is coming to me. Yet, I feel like I know him, or should remember him. It’s just out of my memory and it’s annoying. But the harder I try to remember, the further away the memory becomes.
When the bedroom door opens, TwoCents walks in, giving me a close look. “You okay, Paisley?”
“Yeah. I had a bit of a flashback of memory, but it made little sense. Maybe if more comes, it will.”
“Don’t try and force it. It will return as the Doc said, when it’s ready.”
Sighing, I sit up and watch as TwoCents disappears into the bathroom. I wait for him to come back out before I continue with our conversation.
“How did we meet? I mean, you’ve not told me much.”
“The doctor at the hospital said to let your memory come back gradually, and that’s what I’m doing.” Sitting next to me on the bed, TwoCents wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me to his chest where I snuggle in and breathe in the beard oil he uses.
“I know he did. It’s just hard not knowing anything.” I know I’m whining but can’t seem to help myself.
TwoCents starts to tell me and holds that bit tighter and I feel him rest his cheek on my head, smelling my hair as he begins. “Well, sweetheart… I was in a bad place and you came from nowhere and saved my life. I can honestly say, with no doubt whatsoever, that if you hadn’t come into my life at exactly that time and that place, I wouldn’t be here now. You were surely an angel sent to look out for me, and you did just that. My life has never been so full as it has been since we met. I’ve never felt as complete as I do now. I didn’t know that I could need someone like I need you, or that I even wanted someone in my life. One look at you changed all that.”
My mind tries to untangle the story TwoCents has told me because it just doesn’t sound like me, and how I know that I’ve no idea. But I’m not sure I’m brave enough to rescue anyone. I don’t hear anymore as I slip into a deep, contented sleep.
Later at the evening meal, I’m chomping down on what can only be described as the best barbeque ribs I’ve ever eaten. Served by Meat who is dressed in a cowboy outfit, complete with chaps and a Stetson. I mean, he looks good, but who cooks dressed like that? But to make it even more surreal, Star is dressed in a matching outfit and keeps telling everyone to call her Calamity. Now even I know that Calamity Jane was from the same era as Wyatt Earp, and that is who everyone is calling Meat this evening.
I’m saying nothing because these two are the oddest couple I’ve ever come across, but they are the most loving to each other and everyone else around them. Star is more British than American, and some of the things she says either have you bust out laughing or scratching your head because you’ve no idea what she is talking about.
Star is working with Beer at TJs and from what I’ve overheard, it has increased in profits as she has sold drinks behind the bar every Thursday that only have weird names, such as ‘Hot Sex’, ‘Penis Power’, ‘Screw Against The Wall’, ‘Captivating C**t’, and ‘Cocktastic’. Apparently the asterisks leave it to the imagination.
I’m going to ask TwoCents to take me because I want to see these cocktails she’s selling, and maybe try a couple. It wouldn’t hurt to get out for a while and have a change of scenery. Maybe I’d see someone I know and jog a fresh memory or two.
Finishing my meal, I take my plate and put it in the dishwasher. As I turn to leave the kitchen, TwoCents appears. “Sorry I’m late. I got hung up with some figures. Have you eaten?”
“Yes, but I don’t mind sticking around while you eat. If you’re okay with that?”
“I’m always okay with you sticking around,” he says, giving me a huge smile.
“How would you feel about taking me to TJs for an evening out? I could do with a bit of a change. Not that there’s anything wrong here, but I feel like I could do with a different set of four walls.”
“You’ve been talking to Star again, haven’t you?” TwoCents states.
Watching for any reaction, I suddenly feel a hand on my shoulder and I almost leap out of my skin.
Before I can reply, I hear, “That’s a great idea. I’m up for that too. Fancy some company? Forest hasn’t treated me to a night out in a while. Wanna make it a foursome? In a platonic way, of course.” Heather beams at me and once I’ve got my breathing back to normal, I answer her.
“You scared the hell out of me. I’m good at making it a group thing. Do you think anyone else would like to come too?”
“Hell, yes. I bet all the Ol’ Ladies would jump at a night out. I’ll drop a group text and see who’s up for it.” Heather slips onto a chair and pulls me onto the one next to her. Sending Forest off for food, she grabs her cell and pings off a text.
By the time Forest and TwoCents return with food, her phone is letting out ping sounds, ping…ping…ping. While they eat, she ticks off names as she gets responses. Some names I can immediately put faces to, but others I’m not so quick with. You’d think by now I could just associate everyone with a name, face and partner.
As we’re planning what night would suit everyone best, Sentry joins us. “Hi, Paisley. How’s things?” He looks really pleased with himself.
“I’m good, thanks. How’s things with the shop? Need any help with it?”
“No, thanks. It’s going great. You remember Hannah’s husband came home early? Apparently, he’s getting out of the military when this tour is over, which is very soon. She’s over the moon. Anyway, you enjoy the rest and get better. Heather, maybe you could help me out, though. Got any space to take on more work, because we need a cleaner for the Swap Shop a couple or three times a week?
“We’re getting so busy that the place needs a thorough cleaning, especially the floor. We’re wet mopping every night but I’m thinking it could do with one of those whirly spinny floor machine cleaner things that you use,” Sentry laughs at his description.
Heather stops eating and gives him an amused look. “Oh hell, I’ll get on to Alf and see if we’ve got anyone to spare that’s trained for ‘one of those whirly spinny floor machine cleaner things.’ How about, if you pay for the pads and chemicals, I’ll cover the labor costs? Will that help keep the shop costs down?” She grins and looks really pleased with herself.
Sentry offers his hand to Heather for a high five and they slap hands like a couple of kids, then he’s gone from the table and filling a plate with food.
“Do you have anyone that could work from my house? I have a basement where I have all the clothing that is brought to the shop. I wash them, dry them, and iron if needed before they’re put on the shelves at the shop.”
Heather looks at me and frowns. “You know, I’m not sure, but again I’ll speak to Alf. He’s on top of all the staff now, and keeps me in line along with them. If we have anyone he’ll know, but if he hasn’t I’ll see about taking on someone to do that, but it’ll have to be minimum wage at least to start with.”
“When I’m better and get back home, I can carry on doing laundry because I do it as I’m at home doing chores. Or my design work. Oh, I just remembered I struggled to get everything done.” My eyes must be round with surprise as Heather leans over and squeezes my arm.
“Don’t worry, we’ll find someone and it will be someone we don’t have to worry about being reliable, or honest, because Alf does background checks that Specs always completes for us.”
The rest of the evening we sit around talking and enjoying each other”s company, but when Bitty chases Wings with a broom through the common room not one person bothers to ask what’s going on. I shake my head and think, oh well, here we go again. Madness!