Chapter 17 - Ben
BEN
As I strode down the corridor towards the main library hall, my pulse quickened.
For some strange reason I was excited.
Maybe I needed to go to the doctor and get checked out because surely no person in good health could be happy about coming to work on a Sunday morning.
Then again, it wasn’t as if I’d be doing some kind of hard labour.
I was here to meet Sarah to film another social media video. We’d done the first one a few days ago and it had gone just as well as I’d hoped.
Sarah had pitched the idea to Jess and Theo the day after our meeting and they’d loved it. So had the rest of the team.
Jane said she had some experience in filming, so offered to shoot the video. It’d taken a few attempts, because Sarah and I had burst out laughing several times, but we’d got there in the end and the finished version that Jane had sent over once she’d done some editing was brilliant.
Sarah said she was tempted to post it straight away but then decided it was best to get a few videos in the bank first. That was why we’d agreed to meet this morning and create some more.
So here I was, ready to be objectified and embarrass myself. I didn’t mind, though. If it’d help Sarah—I meant, if it’d help the library out, it’d be worth it.
As I pictured Sarah’s face, I smiled.
We’d got on a bit better this week. She seemed to really appreciate my help with the videos and it was nice to feel needed for a change.
Obviously, she still thought I was a tosser, not least because I hadn’t been a fan of the books she’d recommended so far. I’d finished the second romance she’d given me and it was just okay.
Like I’d said, I knew I wasn’t the target audience, so she could take my opinions with a pinch of salt, but the thing was, everyone at the library was so evangelical about the books they’d read and so perhaps my expectations were higher than they would’ve been ordinarily.
I was waiting for her to give me something that was going to blow me away and so far it hadn’t happened.
I was still keeping an open mind, though. I knew Theo and Jackson both enjoyed romance, so I was tempted to just ask them what they liked, but this was ‘Sarah’s project’, so I didn’t want it to seem like I didn’t have confidence in her or was trying to undermine her.
After sitting on the sofa, I looked at my watch. It was only five to ten and we’d arranged to meet at ten, so I was early.
I got up and walked over to the bookshelves. It was strange to be here alone. The library was eerily quiet. I ran my hands across the colourful spines, taking in the book titles. Although I was starting to recognise a few of the author names, this world was still so alien to me.
But just because I wasn’t a romance aficionado, it didn’t mean that I couldn’t appreciate the significance of this place.
This was like the equivalent of Disneyland for a Mickey Mouse fan.
I saw how the members’ faces lit up when they spoke about their favourite books or authors.
If we didn’t close the library, I’d bet that they’d all happily stay here until five in the morning just so they could keep reading.
I couldn’t imagine doing that myself, but I guessed it was nice that they had something they were passionate about. It was hard to think of anything in my own life that interested me to that degree.
Yes, I liked travelling, but sometimes it got kind of lonely on my own. So many of my friends were doing the whole marriage and kids thing, which meant that they couldn’t just drop everything and come away with me anymore like the good old days.
Twenty minutes later, I’d browsed most of the library’s shelves, but there was still no sign of Sarah. That was unlike her. She was usually punctual and when I saw her yesterday afternoon, she made a point of reminding me that we’d be filming today at ten sharp.
Sarah had told me that Jane had left a tripod and some other equipment for us because, along with Jackson, she’d be going on a double date with Jess and Theo for the whole day, so we’d have to do everything ourselves.
I pulled out my phone to check for messages, but there was nothing. I tried dialling her number, which she’d reluctantly given to me a few days ago.
The phone went straight to voicemail.
My chest tightened.
I didn’t like this.
Something wasn’t right.
I contemplated calling Jess to ask if she knew anything, but I didn’t want to disturb her, and anyway, Sarah was only staying across the road at the B&B, so it’d take all of five minutes to check on her.
I hurried out of the library. Once I’d locked up, I crossed over to the B&B and rang the bell.
‘Oh!’ A woman with short dark hair and white skin who was probably in her late fifties appeared in the hallway. ‘I thought you were my guests. They just called to say they were around the corner and offered to pay extra for an early check-in. It’s Ben, isn’t it?’
‘It is indeed!’ My eyes widened as I wondered how she knew who I was. ‘And you are?’
‘Sorry! Where are my manners?’ She laughed. ‘I’m Glenda.’
‘It’s a pleasure to meet you, Glenda.’
‘Oh, the pleasure is all mine.’ She fluttered her eyelashes. ‘Goodness, you’re just as handsome as your lovely brother!’
‘Only just as handsome?’ I smiled. ‘Sounds like I need to go to bed earlier so I can work on getting more beauty sleep.’
‘Give over!’ She laughed. ‘If you get any more beautiful, you’ll give all those male models a complex! If I was thirty years younger and single, I’d definitely give you my number!’
‘And I’d take it in a heartbeat.’ I grinned. ‘I bet you were a heartbreaker in your heyday and I wouldn’t be surprised if you were still breaking hearts now. Look at your gorgeous smile.’
‘Oh, I don’t know about that!’ Her cheeks turned pink. ‘Such a charmer,’ she giggled. ‘So, apart from brightening up my morning, how can I help you?’
‘I came to ask if you’d seen Sarah today. We were due to meet at the library half an hour ago and she didn’t turn up, which is unlike her.’
‘No, I haven’t and you’re right. Normally I’d at least hear some movement in her room if I hadn’t seen her go out for breakfast. Let’s go and check.’ She picked up a bunch of keys from behind the reception desk, then started climbing the stairs.
I followed a few steps behind her. I was sure that Sarah would hate me coming to her room, but I needed to make sure she was okay.
‘Sarah?’ Glenda said as she knocked on the door once. There was no answer. ‘Maybe she got up early and I didn’t hear her.’ Glenda faced me.
‘Would you mind trying again, please?’
‘Course,’ Glenda said before rapping her knuckles against the door.
‘I don’t think she’s there,’ Glenda said.
‘Wait.’ I put my ear to the door. ‘I think I can hear something.’
We both fell silent as we listened.
A groan or a whimper sounded from behind the door.
‘Did you hear that?’ I asked. ‘Sounds like she’s hurt!’ My heart thundered against my chest. ‘We need to get in there.’
‘Oh!’ Glenda said. ‘Sarah, love, it’s Glenda. I’m going to open your door. We’re worried about you. I hope you’re decent.’
Glenda put the key in the door, then once it was open, she cautiously poked her head around it.
I understood why she was being cautious, but this was taking too long. I needed to make sure Sarah wasn’t hurt or unwell.
‘What can you see? How is she?’ I said, my fingers twitching with impatience.
‘Oh, Sarah, are you okay?’ Glenda said.
‘What’s wrong?’ I repeated.
‘She’s curled up on the bed. Looks like she’s in pain, I—’ The doorbell rang. ‘Drat. That must be my guests.’
‘Don’t worry,’ I said. ‘You go. I’ve got this.’
‘Sarah, I have Ben here. Is it okay if I let him in? I’ve just got some guests as the door, but I’ll be right downstairs.’
‘Sarah, can I come in and help you?’ I said, hoping somehow that if she heard the concern in my voice, it might put her at ease.
‘Okay,’ I heard Sarah groan, and the sound cut through me like a knife.
‘Back in a jiffy,’ Glenda said as she cracked the door wider.
When I saw Sarah looking lifeless on the bed, my chest tightened.
‘Sarah.’ I rushed over. ‘What’s happened? Are you hurt?’
‘It’s my period. Owwww!’ she cried out.
‘Shit.’ I crouched down at the bed. ‘Have you taken anything for it?’
‘All I had was paracetamol, but I finished the pack last night.’ She winced through the pain, clutching her stomach. ‘And I couldn’t… I haven’t been able to get up to buy more.’
‘You should’ve called me! I would’ve got you some. Let me ask Glenda. I’ll be right back.’
I raced downstairs, where Glenda was checking in a couple at the desk.
‘Sorry to interrupt, but do you have any painkillers? Paracetamol or maybe ibuprofen?’ I asked.
Glenda excused herself from the guests, disappeared into a room and came back a few minutes later with a glass of water and some paracetamol.
‘Thanks.’ I took them, then sprinted up the stairs taking two steps at a time. I knocked Sarah’s door, then returned to her bedside. ‘Here, take this.’
She sat up slowly like lifting a limb was harder than moving a mountain with her bare hands. God, she must be in so much pain.
Eventually she managed to take the glass. She tried to pop the pills from the pack but struggled.
‘Here, let me.’ I took the packet from her and pressed out two pills into her hand.
‘Thanks,’ she said, her voice hoarse and strained like it was a huge effort to just say that one word.
After popping the pills, she took a few gulps of water. My shoulders loosened slightly. Hopefully they’d work quickly so she could feel better.
‘Okay, so you lie down and rest. I’ll go and get you some breakfast and more painkillers for later. Is there anything else you need?’
Sarah shook her head, then curled up into a ball on the bed.
Shit. I hated seeing her like this. Right now, I’d give anything to hear her call me an arrogant wanker or Benjamin Buttface like she usually did.