Chapter 15
Robyn was awake before it was light, waiting for the trundle of the breakfast trolley coming down the corridor. After breakfast, it wasn’t Gayle who appeared at the door as she’d expected, but David.
‘You’re dressed.’ He leaned on the doorframe and folded his arms. ‘Well, I guess I had to see you fully clothed one of these days.’
Robyn threw a pillow at him.
He caught the pillow. ‘What was that for?’
She glanced at him sideways.
‘I know my jokes are pretty awful.’ He walked in and placed the pillow back on the bed before joining her at the window. ‘Looking forward to getting out?’
‘In a way.’ Robyn said, staring out of the window at the hospital car park below. ‘But I guess you know how that feels.’
‘Pardon?’
‘I saw the newspaper article about my accident.’ Robyn pointed her thumb over her shoulder at the newspaper lying on the side table.
‘What article?’
Robyn looked at him. ‘You haven’t seen it?’
He shook his head and walked over to the side table. He picked up the newspaper. It was already folded at the article. He started to read, then grimaced and slowly sat down on the bed. ‘I told him not to speak to reporters,’ he said, not looking up.
Robyn didn’t ask who David was referring to. His demeanour spoke volumes – he wasn’t pleased.
She turned to look out of the window once more while he finished the article in silence. She heard the creak of the bed and looked around as David got up, his eyes still fixed on the newspaper in his hand.
‘I hadn’t realised it had been so serious.’ She’d assumed he’d spoken to reporters and got his name into print as the local hero. ‘The article is mostly about you.’
‘I can see that,’ he said sulkily. ‘My father must have spoken to a reporter. He still wants everyone to know I was a famous ice hockey player.’ He tossed the paper on the bed. Robyn guessed that David didn’t want his life history in print for everyone to see. She could empathise with that.
‘Why didn’t you tell me that you were—’
‘Famous?’
‘An ice hockey player?’ She nervously shifted her weight from one foot to the other. David’s mood had changed since reading the article. She wished that she had never mentioned it.
He joined her at the window. ‘It has been really refreshing to meet someone who doesn’t know about my past – the fame, the money.’ He glanced at Robyn. ‘But I don’t suppose you’d know how that feels.’
Robyn shook her head, which to David meant no , she wasn’t famous, but to Robyn meant she didn’t actually know either way. She imagined that if she were famous, then people would have been beating a path to her door and she wouldn’t have been sitting there, all alone except for her two visitors.
David stared silently out of the window. He turned to Robyn. ‘That’s what I like about you. You haven’t given me your history, and so I felt I didn’t have to give mine back.’
‘I’m sorry. I know it’s none of my business.’
He smiled. ‘It’s not your fault that my life history was printed in that article. I told my father that I didn’t want him to speak to reporters about it. But, as usual, what I think is not important to him.’ His smile faded. He turned back to the window. So did Robyn.
She wasn’t sure what to say next. It was difficult at times to hold a conversation with David. Before Gayle had given her the article to read, she’d already got a feeling that just as she wouldn’t talk about her past, he steered clear of his past too.
She decided to avoid the subject of his past. She didn’t want to lose his friendship. David and Gayle were the only people she knew right now. If her own family appeared, she wouldn’t even recognise them.
David broke the silence, pointing out of the window. ‘See that old van?’ He pointed to a grey, weather-beaten, rusty van parked below her window. ‘She’s a beauty – isn’t she?’ David grinned. He was being sarcastic. ‘I can’t believe my father still does deliveries in that thing. It should be in a museum. I’m afraid that’s all the wheels I’ve got at the moment.’
Before Robyn could apologise for his wrecked car, he added, ‘But I’d rather have you standing here today than have a fancy sports car.’
Robyn managed a weak smile.
Besides,’ he paused, ‘that sports car doesn’t really fit my new image.’
‘What are you talking about?’ asked Robyn.
‘Delivery boy extraordinaire.’ He bowed. ‘My father was always complaining he couldn’t find someone responsible who he could rely on to make the grocery deliveries.’
‘And you’re that person?’ said Robyn, quite surprised by his relaxed attitude to going from the dizzy heights of being a sports star with a sports car to delivering groceries in his father’s rusty van.
‘Not exactly. I think he may be a little put out when he finds out his delivery boy has been spending most of his time delivering flowers and magazines here.’
Robyn blushed.
‘Anyway, I know it’s a piece of junk, but it will get us from A to B. So where can I take you?’
Robyn caught sight of another old vehicle turning into the car park, although this was a car in mint condition. Robyn watched as the door opened. A woman seemed to be having difficulty getting out. When she did, the tight blue jeans and heeled sandals were unmistakable.
She grinned and turned to David. ‘Actually, Gayle arranged to pick me up today. She’s just arrived.’
‘Right.’ David looked disappointed as he glanced out of the window. ‘Did you just say Gayle?’
‘Gayle Belafonte – do you know her?’ Robyn asked, wondering whether, in a small town such as Aviemore, everybody knew everybody else.
‘No, I don’t. Where’s she from?’
‘Here. Um, not the hospital, obviously, although the time she’s been spending here, visiting her father, she might as well have been. Her father was next door. It’s how I got to know her.’ Robyn’s eyes roved to the television set. ‘Apparently, she lives on the other side of town. She returned to the area to look after her parents and apparently she’s got a room to spare,’ Robyn said excitedly.
‘You’re staying in town?’ David said, surprised. ‘How long for?’
Robyn shrugged her shoulders. ‘I don’t really know.’
‘Don’t you want to go home, to see your folks?’
Robyn looked at her shoes. She could see this was where things could get complicated if she didn’t come clean about her condition. However, she recalled what Dr Jamieson had said; something would trigger her memory – a familiar face, a place, her belongings. She’d mentioned there had been some letters amongst her belongings that the police had found, along with her ID, in the car. Her memory could just click into place like Dr Jamieson had said. She looked sheepishly at David. Why did she have to tell him about her memory problems? Especially if there was some psychological rather than physical reason. She didn’t want him to feel sorry for her, or think she was crazy.
‘You never said where you were from,’ David continued.
Robyn turned from the window and fussed around the bed, picking up magazines and putting them in a neat pile, trying to look busy while she waited for Gayle. How was she going to answer that question? She could just lie; say the first town that came into her head. But she didn’t want to lie to David. Robyn frowned. She knew she wasn’t exactly being truthful by not telling him she’d lost her memory.
Robyn tried to make light of the situation. ‘Why the sudden interest? Is this the same David Gillespie who said that what you like about me is that I don’t talk about my past, so you don’t feel you have to talk about yours?’
David held up his hands, ‘OK. You got me.’ He smiled at Robyn. ‘Can I ask where this Gayle lives just in case I may have a delivery?’
‘I don’t know. I’ll have to ask her.’ Robyn hunched her shoulders. ‘I don’t even know if Gayle has her groceries delivered or even shops at your father’s shop. For all I know, she could shop at the local supermarket – if there is one.’ Robyn knew that wasn’t very helpful. She finished her sentence and wondered why David was staring at her.
David smiled. ‘Actually, what I meant was that I might have a delivery for you .’
‘For me? But I haven’t even been to your father’s shop. I wouldn’t know what—’
David interrupted her. ‘These women’s magazines keep appearing in my van. Being a responsible employee, I have to deliver them to somebody. So I need your help because if I can’t deliver them to you, then this delivery boy is going to get mighty depressed not being able to properly fulfil his job requirements.’
Robyn stood there, open-mouthed. She didn’t realise the job meant that much to him. Then she saw the side of his mouth twitch and he started to laugh.
‘Oh, very funny.’ Robyn smiled too.
‘So, how about that address?’
‘What address?’
Robyn turned at the sound of Gayle’s voice. She stood in the doorway, staring at David with a look on her face that said, Is this guy bothering you?
‘Oh, Gayle. Meet David Gillespie.’
Gayle’s face erupted into a massive smile. ‘Hey, I thought I recognised you.’ Her eyes flickered to the discarded newspaper on the bed. ‘You’re the knight in shining armour.’ She pointed at David as she stepped into the room.
‘I’m what?’ David said, looking at Robyn in confusion.
Robyn whispered, ‘It’s nothing.’ She did not want to broadcast the fact that Gayle had also read the article.
‘I want to shake your hand.’ Gayle reached out and took his hand, shaking it enthusiastically.
David smiled weakly at Gayle, then glanced at Robyn. He was still looking confused.
‘That was a very brave thing to do, rescuing Robyn.’ Gayle pumped his hand.
Robyn cast her eyes up, praying that Gayle wasn’t going to mention the newspaper article.
He mumbled, ‘It’s nothing, really.’
‘Nothing?’ Gayle said indignantly, glancing at Robyn, who was staring back at her and trying to put across a telepathic message to let things be. She caught Robyn’s expression and let go of David’s hand without another word.
He looked relieved to get his hand back. Or was it the fact that Gayle had dropped the conversation?
‘Are you ready to get out of here?’ Gayle said to Robyn.
‘Oh, yes.’ Robyn nodded her head enthusiastically and walked to the door, dodging a wheelchair that had appeared in the doorway.
‘What’s this?’ Robyn said to the nurse, watching her wheel it right into the room.
‘This,’ she said, tapping the handles, ‘is hospital policy.’ She held up an authoritative finger. ‘And before you protest, I’ve heard it all before, so how about not wasting your breath, or my time, and just get in the chair.’
Robyn looked from David to Gayle. They both shrugged. Nobody was going to come to her rescue this time – not when they had a surly nurse to contend with. Robyn slowly sat in the chair without saying a word. ‘Oh, my magazines!’ She attempted to get up, but felt a firm hand on her shoulder pressing her back down into the seat.
‘’I’ll get them,’ Gayle offered.
David asked, ‘Is it hospital policy for the nurse to push the chair?’
‘No, but I don’t see …’
‘Good.’ David crossed the room. ‘I’m driving.’
Robyn twisted in the chair to see David standing beside the nurse, staring at her intently. The nurse lifted her hands off the handles.
‘Thank you.’ David grasped the opportunity, and the handles, and winked at Robyn.
Robyn turned back in her seat with a satisfied grin on her face. If she had to be wheeled out of the place, at least she didn’t have to see that surly nurse anymore.
Gayle started placing the pile of magazines on Robyn’s lap.
‘I don’t think you should put the magazines …’ the nurse began but stopped when she caught the three of them staring at her.
‘Have it your way,’ she conceded.
‘Yes we will,’ said Gayle, placing the last of the magazines on Robyn’s lap.
‘Right. Are we ready to boogie?’ David turned the wheelchair left and right very quickly before rearing it up like a horse, much to the nurse’s frantic protests. ‘And off we go.’
Robyn was spun out of her room and down the hallway at break-neck speed. Gayle was jogging alongside, falling back, then catching up, this time holding her high-heeled sandals in her hands. The nurse disappeared altogether.
Robyn twisted in her seat to see her standing in the middle of the wide corridor, her hands on her hips and a look of thunder on her face. By the time they reached the entrance – amazingly without any collisions – all three were laughing hysterically.
‘I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun!’ exclaimed Robyn as she got out of the chair, her smile fading when she realised what she’d just said. She had only meant it as a figure of speech, but even so, it brought home her situation. Just for a brief moment, she’d quite happily forgotten all about it.
With the magazines balanced precariously in her arms, she walked to the double doors. She couldn’t wait to get outside and breathe in the fresh air. The doors slid open, and she stepped out into the morning sunlight. A biting wind slapped her face and she shuddered. But even the warm hospital climate wouldn’t entice her to step back inside. She looked back through the doors to where Gayle and David were still standing, catching their breath. Robyn felt cold. She hugged her magazines and motioned to them to get outside. She saw the surly nurse approaching, and waved more frantically.
David saw her too, and they were out within seconds. He took off his coat and gently placed it around Robyn’s shoulders. Behind him, Robyn could see Gayle smiling approvingly at Robyn’s knight in shining armour.
Robyn turned to David, who was trying to wrestle the magazines out of her hands. ‘I am not an invalid,’ she said crossly.
‘Let me just take a few off the top then.’
Robyn lifted her hand from the top of the pile and David whisked away over half of them, making her load a lot lighter.
Gayle walked past them, leading the way to the parked cars.
‘Look – you’ve parked right next to each other,’ Robyn observed, looking from Gayle, who was grimacing at the rust-bucket, to David, who was admiring Gayle’s fancy Bentley. Robyn smiled when she saw him stroking the bonnet.
Gayle slapped his hand away. ‘Keep your paws off.’
‘She’s a beauty. How much?’
‘What do you mean how much? ’ said Gayle as she opened the front passenger door. She waited for Robyn to climb in, then shut it.
‘The car. How much would you sell her for?’
‘For one thing,’ Gayle opened the driver’s door, ‘this car has had one careful lady owner all its life.’ She emphasised the word lady . ‘And another thing …’ she continued as she got into the seat next to Robyn and closed the door.
David’s head appeared and he tapped on the window.
Gayle tutted and wound the window down.
‘What is the other thing?’ David rested his hand on the window ledge, and looked at Gayle.
Gayles raised her eyebrows.
David removed his hand.
‘If she were for sale, which,’ she lifted her finger, ‘she isn’t – you couldn’t afford her.’ She pointed at David’s excuse for four wheels.
‘Oh, I see.’ He paused. ‘You know, appearances can be deceptive.’
Robyn grimaced and thought of the photo of David’s squashed-up sports car in the paper that she’d had the run-in with.
Unfortunately, his little sports car had rather taken the brunt of the accident. It was just a miracle he’d walked away virtually unscathed.
‘You’ll tell me if she is ever for sale?’
‘Sure I’ll tell you, but it still doesn’t mean you’d be able to afford her.’
‘Good.’ David replied in a more serious tone.
Gayle started the engine.
‘Wait, Gayle. David, your coat.’ She struggled to take it off.
‘It’s all right. I’ll come and collect it,’ he said loudly so he could be heard over the roar of the old engine, ‘on one of my deliveries.’
‘His deliveries?’ Gayle glanced at Robyn.
‘The magazines.’
‘Oh, I see .’ Gayle said drawing out the last word. ‘I assumed he’d just brought them as an excuse to visit you in hospital. I guess his visits are not going to stop any time soon.’ She chuckled, and said under her breath, ‘Young love!’
Robyn pretended that she hadn’t heard. She waved to David as Gayle manoeuvred the car out of the parking space and headed for the exit. ‘Oh, no!’ Robyn exclaimed. ‘Stop the car!’
‘What is it?’ Gayle said, alarmed. She slammed on the brakes.
‘I forgot to give David your address.’
‘Well, you know what that means, don’t you?’ Gayle said gravely.
‘No – what?’ Robyn had twisted in her seat and was looking out of the small rear window, but she couldn’t see the old grey van anywhere amid the sea of cars in the large car park.
‘It means that David is going to think you forgot on purpose because you don’t really want to see him.’
‘Really?’ Robyn turned back in her seat and looked miserably out of the window.
‘No, I’m only joking. Now, don’t you worry. He’ll find you. And do you know why I know this for a fact?’ Gayle said mysteriously.
‘No – why?’ Robyn asked, perching in her seat and staring intently at Gayle, anticipating her answer: because he likes you . She knew this, but she rather wanted to hear it all the same.
‘Because you, my dear girl, are wearing his coat.’
‘Oh, of course.’ Robyn rolled her eyes and looked down at the coat as if it had magically appeared and had not been there the whole time.
‘And he likes you,’ Gayle added. ‘But then I don’t think you need me to tell you that.’
Robyn smiled at Gayle.
‘I didn’t think so.’ Gayle smiled as she turned from Robyn and looked at the road ahead.
‘Can we visit the town later so I can catch David at work?’
‘You know, I was sure I recognised that old van,’ Gayle mused. ‘It used to deliver our groceries way back when.’
‘Way back when?’
‘When I was a kid, right up until leaving home. I’ll have to ask Mother if she still gets her groceries delivered from Gillespie’s. That’s if she can remember – she barely recalls what day of the week it is now.’
‘David works for his father now.’
‘I used to see a little lad in the pickup with Mr Gillespie.’
‘Maybe it was David, helping his father.’ Robyn said, delighted at the thought that perhaps everybody did know almost everybody else in small towns. But does anybody else know me? she wondered.