Chapter 17 - Ben #2
I noticed that when I’d offered to help her with the video, she’d called me Ben-evolent, which was one of my nickname suggestions. I thought that was sweet. The truth was I didn’t care what she called me. I just needed her to get better.
‘I’ll be right back.’
I raced out of the door, then down the stairs to where Glenda was handing over the keys to her new guests.
‘How’s Sarah doing?’ she asked.
‘She’s in a lot of pain. I’m going to get some supplies to help.’
‘Great. I’ll check on her in a minute and just ring the bell when you’re back and I’ll let you in.’
I nodded, then shot out the door.
I’d get her some ibuprofen. I think I remembered that was better for period pains, right? I was out of practice. I used to be really good at this stuff, but it’d been a while since…
Anyway, I’d figure it out.
Half an hour later I was back at the B&B. Glenda let me in and told me that when she’d checked on Sarah shortly after I’d left, she was still in pain. She knocked on Sarah’s door, then let me in.
‘I’m back,’ I said softly. ‘And I bought a few things.’ I hauled the big bag off my shoulder and put it on the floor beside Sarah’s bed. She opened her eyes slowly, still clutching her belly. ‘How are you feeling?’
‘Still in pain.’ She winced, ‘but a little bit better.’
‘That’s good. The painkillers will get to work properly soon, I’m sure of it.’
‘What’s all that?’ she said.
‘I got you a spinach and kale smoothie.’ I pulled it out of the paper bag in my other hand from Sweet Treats. ‘According to the internet, dark leafy greens have iron and magnesium, which help to ease cramps. Here. Please. Drink some.’
Sarah sat up, faster and smoother this time than she did before, which was a good sign.
She winced at the first few mouthfuls but continued drinking.
‘I got you some ginger, chamomile and also peppermint tea too, because they’re supposed to relax your muscles.
I know it’s only breakfast time, but I asked Maddie to make a fresh chicken salad.
I know you prefer ham, but chicken’s supposed to be good.
Oh, and dark chocolate is great for cramps too, apparently, so I got you two bars of that. ’
Sarah’s eyes widened and she blinked several times like she was trying to take it all in.
‘Wow, you didn’t have to—’
‘I have some other stuff too, for the pain,’ I said, accidentally cutting her off.
I was anxious to tell her everything I’d bought as soon as possible so that she could let me know if she needed anything else.
‘The supermarket didn’t have a hot water bottle, so I got some heat patches. Will those work?’
‘Yeah,’ she groaned. ‘I thought I brought my hot water bottle, but I didn’t have the energy to find it.’
Sarah was talking in longer sentences now. That was good. She must be starting to feel better.
‘I can look for you. I know you said you didn’t need anything, but I got some other stuff too.
Just in case. I wasn’t sure if you used pads or tampons’—I started emptying the bag onto the bottom of the bed—‘so I got a selection. There were so many different brands and I didn’t know which one you liked, so I just got one of each.
If there’s something I’ve missed, tell me and I’ll go out and get it for you. ’
‘This is… wow. You really did get one of everything.’ Her brows shot up.
As I began arranging the dozens of boxes into rows, I started to think that maybe I’d gone a little overboard.
But although I’d obviously never used any of these before, I guessed that, like everything, Sarah must have a favourite brand.
And if I’d just bought two or three, I might have missed getting the one she wanted.
‘You didn’t have to do all of this, but thanks. How much do I owe you?’
‘Nothing.’ I frowned. As if I’d ask her for any money.
‘But this must’ve cost a fortune!’ she said before taking a few more sips of her smoothie.
‘It was nothing.’ I waved my hand dismissively.
‘I’m so sorry about the videos,’ she said. ‘I wanted to message, but my battery died and I didn’t have the energy to find the charger.’
‘Don’t apologise! It’s not your fault. We’ll do them another time. The important thing is we need to make you feel better. How are you doing now?’ I knew I’d only asked her a few minutes ago, but I needed to know that something was working so if it wasn’t I could think of getting something else.
‘Still got the cramping, but it’s just how it is.’
‘Is it this bad every month?’ I asked.
‘Sometimes worse.’ She sighed.
‘Do you want to try the heat pad? Or a bath!’ I said, remembering another suggestion I’d seen when I’d searched online whilst walking to the supermarket.
‘Baths do help, but I only have a shower.’
‘I’ll be back.’ I jumped up, then rushed downstairs to find Glenda again. ‘Are there any rooms with baths here?’ I asked her.
‘Um, yeah. We have a honeymoon suite that does. Sounds fancier than it is, but the punters seem to love it.’
‘I’d like to book that, please.’ I pulled out my wallet.
‘Wait, you want to book the room, just to use the bath?’ Glenda frowned.
‘Yes,’ I confirmed. ‘Sarah’s in pain and she said that baths help her, but she only has a shower in her room, so I’d like the suite so that she can have a bath when she needs to and feel better.’
Glenda stood there. Rooted to the spot, gawping at me like I’d just sprouted three luminous green heads.
‘Wow. I… I’ve… that’s the first time I’ve ever had that kind of request. If Sarah’s in pain, she can use the bath for free. I can’t charge for that,’ Glenda said.
‘No,’ I growled. ‘You’re running a business.
You have overheads that need to be covered—water, heating, electricity, cleaning.
I wouldn’t ask you to do that for free. And she might need to have more than one bath.
I want her to be relaxed. How long do you think I should book the suite for?
A week? That’s how long periods last, right? ’
‘Oh, um, well, every woman’s different. Usually the pains are not for the whole week. It’s usually much less.’
‘Let’s do it for a week to be on the safe side. Do you have availability?’
‘Er, yes, but I can’t… I’d feel terrible taking that money. Sarah’s part of the community now. So are you, and we take care of our own. Please. She can use the room for the next day or two. It’s sitting there empty and I want her to feel better.’
‘Fine, thank you, but take this.’ I reached in my wallet and pulled out three fifty-pound notes.
‘That’s the only cash I have, but I can go to the bank tomorrow and get more or pay by card?
But hopefully that’ll cover the cleaning and utilities.
If she needs more than a couple of days, tell me the cost and I’ll cover it in full. ’
‘That’s really not necessary, I—’
‘Glenda,’ I said firmly. ‘I insist. Now can I have the key, please? I need to run Sarah a bath.’