Chapter 11
The Game Is Afoot
Cambridge
Ashley and Jessica’s body-clocks were slowly catching up with the new time zone. They were up early enough to have a leisurely breakfast of bangers and mash, swimming in gravy. “At least we’ll be able to walk this off when we get to Nottingham,” Jessica remarked.
Ashley giggled as she noshed on her sausage. “I don’t understand why people say England doesn’t have good food. So far everything has been delicious.”
“More rivalry between the colonists and the Tories, I suppose.” Jessica dug into her mash. “They do serve a lot of potatoes here, don’t they?”
Ashley nodded with a mouthful of food.
When they finished the plentiful meal, they paid the check, got their luggage, and checked out of the hotel. A luggage shop was just a block away, and they were able to purchase a bag to hold Jessica’s mounting pile of ornaments. From there they hailed a taxi to the train station.
Blair and Emily had been waiting at the station for almost two hours. Blair didn’t want to tread on Emily’s hopes for an encounter, but he couldn’t help but ask, “What if they’re not leaving today?”
Emily slowly turned her head toward him. “They are. I can feel it.”
Blair shut his mouth before he stuck his big fat foot in it again.
Emily waited a beat before she told him about her research into twins.
If he didn’t think she could qualify for the looney bin already, he most certainly might think it now.
But she had a “feeling” and proceeded to explain some of the research she found about twins.
Blair listened intently. “It’s stunning, innit? ” he asked.
“Surely, it is.” Emily thought for a moment.
“Ya know, I always had this feeling inside that I was missing something. I could never put my finger on it, and I never mentioned it to my folks. They would have thought I was mad.” She continued to keep her gaze on the main entrance.
“And the feeling was hard to describe. Have you ever left the house believing you forgot something but you couldn’t put your finger on it? ”
“Many times.”
“That’s as close to an explanation I can find. That missing whatever.”
“Good enough.” Blair sat up straight. It was past nine and still no signs of the mysterious woman and her mother. “Do you have a contingency plan?”
“Go straight to Nottingham and wait at the station.”
Trying not to play devil’s advocate, he was compelled to ask, “What if they left before we got here?”
“They couldn’t have,” Emily said assuredly.
“What if they’re going tomorrow?”
“Then I’ll be at the station waiting.” Emily had made up her mind. She stood. “You coming with me?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“I would say yes, you do, but I would also say, please don’t make me do this alone.” She took his hand.
Blair looked up at the departure board. “If we dash, we can make the 9:35.” He grabbed her hand and they moved quickly through the crowd toward the track. Tickets could be purchased on the train.
Jessica and Ashley arrived at the Cambridge station at 9:45 with half an hour to spare before their train was scheduled to leave. A tall spruce decorated in white lights sat majestically in the middle of the plaza. Several other smaller trees stood close by.
They wheeled their suitcases into the large modern interior and looked for the departure signs and track locations. Jessica chuckled, thinking if no one thought they were tourists before, they surely had imaginary neon signs pointing at them: VISITORS. MIND AS YOU GO.
The station was brimming with people, but it was organized chaos and everyone was pleasant and polite. Jessica appreciated the effort people made for simple common courtesy. Life can be confounding and complex. Why not make it more pleasant for your fellow humans?
Several minutes later they heard the call to board their train. A middle-aged man asked if Jessica needed a hand with her luggage. “Looks like you’ve got a rather large haul. Need some help with that?”
Her first reaction was to say, “No, thank you,” but she graciously accepted his offer.
“Yes, that would be lovely.” She relieved herself of the larger suitcase and pulled the new, smaller one along.
Since they had purchased their tickets in advance, they had assigned seats.
The kind gentleman secured Jessica’s large bag in an area designated for luggage.
Ashley checked the rows as she marched ahead of the others.
When she found their row she stepped out of the aisle in order for the other passengers to pass through.
Jessica thanked the man and met up with Ashley.
The train was identical to the one they had taken the day before, with roomy seats and large windows.
Once they were settled, Jessica turned to Ashley.
“I’m glad we decided to take the train. It’s much more relaxing. ”
Ashley chuckled. “For who? You or me?”
“Both. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Absolutely.”
As the earlier train approached the Nottingham station, Emily was getting nauseous and began to turn pale.
Blair acted immediately. He pulled out his handkerchief and poured some of his bottled water on it and placed it on the back of Emily’s neck.
Blair could see the color draining from her face.
He took her hand and felt the sweat on her palms. He thought she might faint.
“Put your head between your knees,” he said gently, and guided her forward.
“Slow, deep breaths.” By this time others on the train noticed the troubled couple and motioned for a conductor.
The conductor moved quickly to their seats.
He leaned over and asked, “How can I be of assistance?”
Blair looked up. “Perhaps some water. Ice if you have it.” Blair removed the handkerchief and poured a little more water on it.
This time he placed it on her forehead and the conductor pulled out his walkie-talkie and asked someone from the café car to bring a tumbler of ice water and a clean towel.
“We’ll be at the station in a couple of minutes. You can take her to the first aid room. I’ll let them know to expect you.”
Emily attempted to moan her resistance. “I’m oh … kay.”
“Of course you are,” Blair said half-heartedly. He hoped this was simply an anxiety attack and not something worse. He leaned in and whispered, “Do you think you are going to hurl?”
She shook her head slowly and then clutched his hand. “I’ll be okay,” she said, consoling herself as much as she was consoling him.
The conductor moved out of earshot of the passengers and clicked his walkie-talkie again. “Incoming. Possible fainter.”
The train slowed down as they approached the station and came to a stop.
“Make way,” the conductor said calmly but sternly.
“Let the lady pass. Thank you.” Blair helped Emily up and into the aisle.
The conductor walked ahead of them, repeating the instructions until they reached the exit.
“First aid is on yer left. They’re expecting you. ”
Blair steadied Emily with his arm under hers and assisted her off the train and into the historic station.
He placed his arm around her shoulders and walked her slowly to the aid station.
Emily tried to object but she was still too wobbly for anyone to believe she was alright.
A cherub-cheeked nurse greeted them. “Good morning. I’m Alice.
And what have we here?” She tilted her round face toward Emily and then to Blair.
“She was feeling a bit faint on the train. Perhaps motion sickness?” He was struggling for the least embarrassing explanation.
“Aye. We see that a lot. The rocking to and fro.”
Blair furrowed his brow and shot her a look, as if to say, No need to make matters worse.
The nurse realized what she had said. “Sorry, love. Let’s take a look at you.” They went into a small private room with a reclining examining table. “Here. Take a seat.”
Blair kept hold of Emily until he thought she was ready to stand and sit on her own. Emily looked up at him. “Thanks,” she said with a weak smile. “I’m sure this will most definitely cancel our New Year’s.”
Blair chuckled. “I think you are the one who is trying to get out of it.” He looked at the nurse.
“I’ll be in the other room. Yell if you need me.
” He left the two women alone as the nurse began to take Emily’s blood pressure.
Once Blair left, the nurse asked, “Any chance you might be with a wee one?”
Emily looked puzzled. “Say what?” Then it dawned on her that the nurse thought Emily could be pregnant.
Emily laughed with a little more gusto than she had the previous half hour.
“No. Not preggers.” She smirked. When she was told of the circumstances of the adoption, she vowed not to make the same mistake her parents made.
She wanted to be good and ready to have a child.
The nurse placed the stethoscope on Emily’s chest. “Breathe in slowly. Good. Now exhale slowly.” The nurse then moved the stethoscope to Emily’s neck to be certain there wasn’t something awry with the blood flow to her brain.
“That’s all good,” she said and pulled a small light from her pocket.
“Look straight ahead.” The nurse passed the light across one eye and then the other. “How are you feeling now?”
Emily sighed. “Much better. But terribly embarrassed,” she confessed.
“Ah, don’t be. Happens to the best of us.
” She held out her hand. “Here, see if you can stand.” Emily grasped the nurse’s hand and stepped off the tilted table.
Her legs were still a little rubbery, but her head was clear.
“Let me get the gent back in here.” The nurse opened the door and gestured for Blair to come into the room.
“She’s gonna be fine, but I suggest you sit a bit and she drinks some more water. ”
Blair nodded and thought a shot of whiskey would be a better alternative for him at this juncture. It had been quite an untidy eighteen hours. The nurse returned with two bottles of water.