One Last Love (13 page)

‘No trouble at all.’

*****

‘Oh, I haven’t had roast beef in ages,’ Madeleine said as she sat down for dinner with Bonnie and glanced at the choices on the blackboard near the servery.

‘It’s quiet in here,’ he said as he looked around at the empty tables. ‘Do you think I scared ‘em all away?’

‘I doubt it. Everyone knows you’ve got a soft centre under that grumpy crust of yours.’

He smiled. ‘Well, two roast beefs?’ he said as he started off to order.

‘And perhaps two beers as well?’

‘A girl after my own heart,’ he said as he wheeled away to the servery to place their orders. When he returned, they sat quietly waiting for their meals. Both thinking there was a lot to say, but not knowing how to say it. It wasn’t until after their meals had been served and they had clinked glasses and said, ’Cheers,’ that Madeleine decided it was time.

‘Bonnie?’

‘Yes?’ he managed with his mouth full.

‘Do you remember what it was like to fall in love?’

Bonnie finished his mouthful slowly, swallowed, then hesitated before answering. ‘Ever so vaguely, but as I recall, it was very nice until up until the living under the same roof part. Then it all got a bit messy.’

‘Oh, my thoughts exactly. Very pleasant until you have to start washing someone else’s underwear and socks and do their ironing.’

‘Well, I don’t think I was ever that much in love to be honest,’ he said with a chuckle. ‘Went as far as taking out the rubbish and mowing the grass – and handing over the housekeeping money on a Friday night. If I had any left over after a few bets on the ponies that is.’

‘You have to wonder what happens because it always starts out so romantically, doesn’t it?’

‘Yep, just like in the movies. Flowers, chocolates, a few whispers of sweet nothings and you have a romance all of a sudden. All lust, love, leg-overs and sweet smiles until the first mortgage payment is due.’

‘Oh you really are the romantic one, aren’t you?’

‘Probably should’ve had more practice at it.’

‘Can’t say I was any expert at it either. Really only experienced it once – for real I mean.’

‘So how do you know when it’s real and when it isn’t?’

‘I don’t know. Just a feeling that it’s right I suppose.’

‘And when it isn’t?’

‘I don’t know. You just, well, know somehow.’

‘Maybe Angeline’s right about her invisible unsmellable smells then.’

‘Probably as good a explanation as any I suppose.’

‘Reckon it might be,’ he agreed and tried not to show any sign that the pain was returning, but his efforts were in vain as Madeleine sensed his discomfort. She let the conversation rest as they struggled to finish their meals.

‘Think that will quite do me,’ she said as she neatly arranged her knife and fork alongside each other at a polite forty-five degrees on her plate.

‘My eyes were bigger than my belly,’ he said as he too placed his cutlery on his plate. ‘Not sure I can finish my beer either.’

‘Well, we made a decent hole in it all though didn’t we?’

‘You’re a bit tired,’ she said as she put her hand gently on his shoulder.

‘Not too bad. Might have a smoke and have an early night though.’

‘Come on then,’ she said as she stood, and then they moved toward the dining room terrace. Bonnie’s pace even a little slower than usual. Madeleine had to move a plastic chair from the corner, then sat beside Bonnie who offered her a cigarette. He lit them and they puffed in silence for some minutes, gazing into the night’s darkness.

‘The days feel long, don’t they Bonnie?’

‘Yes, it’s strange, isn’t it?’ he said slowly as he continued his little protest and deposited his cigarette butt onto the brick paving below him. He didn’t have the strength to flick it as far as the grass. Madeleine followed suit.

‘Ready?’ she said.

‘Yes,’ he replied as he slowly turned his wheelchair towards the door. Madeleine walked slowly by his side as they went through the dining room and out into the hall past the nurses’ station.

‘Good evening you two,’ Mary said with a smile from behind the counter when she saw them. They smiled back then moved towards their rooms. Both feeling tired. When they reached the end of the hall, Madeleine bent down and kissed Bonnie on his forehead.

‘Get some rest Bonnie and I’ll see you in the morning.’

‘Of course,’ Bonnie managed through the pain that was now impossible to hide. He waved to her as he turned towards his room, then managed the few metres to his door. As soon as he entered, he wheeled towards his bed and pressed the call button. Mary arrived within minutes.

‘Pain Bonnie?’

‘Yes.’

‘Thought so when you passed me just now. Just hold on a tick, I’ll get an injection ready for you.’

*****

Madeleine walked slowly towards her room, then walked past her door the few paces that it took to reach Angeline’s room. She just wanted to say goodnight. She stood at the door and looked at the freshly made and empty bed for some minutes before she turned, then walked back slowly and silently to her room. Once ready and in bed, she waited for the tears to arrive. They didn’t.

Day Five

Morning. Bonnie was surprised to see it after the pain of the night before – it was different somehow as it wasn’t simply pain, but more like an angry animal eating him from the inside creating a gut-wrenching hollowness. As he felt more awake, he was relieved to realise that it was just the normal pain returning again and hoped his tablets would help him make it through some of the day. Light clouds puffed above the trees in the distance. ‘It looks like a nice day,’ he thought to himself as he lay waiting for the predictable routine of the morning to start.

He didn’t have to wait long before he heard the familiar rattle of the breakfast trolley and the sound of hushed voices. The routine was broken for a change when Odele appeared at his door, smiled and walked in.

‘Mary left me a note to check on you before breakfast. How’re you managing?’

‘Oh, not too bad. Just had a turn last night but seems back to normal now.’

‘The injection you had last night is probably still helping Bonnie. Once you get a little breakfast in your tummy, I’ll bring your tablets and up your dosage a bit.’

‘Yes, Dr. McManus told me about that,’ he said understanding what it meant.

‘Robert will be here shortly with your breakfast, so I’ll pop back in in about half an hour. Ok?’

‘Yes, fine.’

‘Might just give you a wash later too. I think the exertion of a shower might just aggravate the pain.’

‘And let me stink,’ he joked.

‘Oh, once I’ve finished with you, you’ll be smelling as fresh as a daisy,’ she smiled as she skipped out the door.

Bonnie lay quietly and once Robert had delivered his breakfast tray and they’d exchanged their good morning greetings, he ate a little of his toast with some honey and washed it down with coffee, which burned strangely in his gut after he’d swallowed a few mouthfuls. He pushed the table away and tried to sit up but he couldn’t find the strength. He gave up and instead, satisfied himself in just looking out at the beautiful morning. Robert returned a little later to collect his breakfast tray, quickly followed by Mary with his tablets. Two and a half of them.

A half an hour later he felt a little more comfortable and took advantage of the reduction in pain by dozing for a little while until Mary returned as promised for his wash. She took her time and smiled a lot, which Bonnie liked. But she wasn’t as talkative as she usually was. When she’d finished, she helped him dress and then when he asked her, helped him into his wheelchair.

Anything else Bonnie?’

‘Yes, just one thing.’

‘Sure.’

‘Could you give me a little push. I’d like to go to the rose garden.’

Odele just nodded and pushed Bonnie towards his terrace doors, opened them, then pushed Bonnie through to his terrace and onto the path that led to the rose garden. When they arrived she went to position his wheelchair next to the bench.

‘Could you help me onto the bench please?’

She did, then walked away.

He sat quietly and calmly – oddly not feeling like having a cigarette. The early morning breeze cool on his cheeks. Looking carefully at the rose buds, he could see the first signs of colour. A few pink, one red and two white, showing a little of their colour through the thin openings of their green covering. Two birds flew by and they reminded him that he hadn’t looked up to see if the spider on his terrace was at work this morning. He returned his gaze to the roses, urging them to bloom. After some time he looked up at the small white fluffy clouds overhead, floating slowly on their way across a crystal clear blue sky.

‘Penny for you thoughts?’ came a familiar voice from his right. He didn’t turn his head for a moment. Then did and answered.

‘They’re free this morning. On special.’

‘Well, I’ll take a gross then,’ Madeleine said as she sat beside him on the bench.

‘They’re almost ready.’

‘Yes, I can see.’

He took her hand and they sat silently looking at the rose buds nearing the day they would finally bloom. Lost in their thoughts and wonderings under the cool early morning sunshine.

After some time, Madeleine turned her head and looked at Bonnie who was clearly lost in his thoughts. She leant across and kissed his cheek. He turned his head slowly, looked at Madeleine, then raised his hand and gently stroked her cheek. She smiled.

‘If we don’t ever plan on washing socks or mowing grass, it should last forever. So perhaps we can cheat and have our happily ever after,’ she said softly.

Bonnie smiled and squeezed her hand gently. ‘Yes, we’ll live happily ever after.’

*****

About The Author

Derek Haines is an author of fiction, historical fiction, essays and poetry and writes his books from a view of what fascinates him and not from a formula based on one theme or genre. Starting with poetry before moving into essays and novels, his writing is varied but is always written in a style that communicates with and engages his readers.

Most of all, the stories told by Derek Haines are about people, their feelings, regrets, hopes and struggles with life. Ordinary people, often a loser, but with extraordinary qualities that makes their story worth telling. While some stories reflect his own thoughts and beliefs, others are told from the view of characters who are sometimes dark and complex or childishly open. With splashes of allegory, black humour or simple satire, his stories can develop from the simplistic to the complicated and back again leaving the reader to decide if it is time to laugh or cry. Or both.

Born in Australia, but now living in Switzerland with his wife and his dog, his stories cross a wide geographical range but often draw from elements of his life and experiences in the two countries he calls home. From the rugged, dry and hot desert country of Australia and its crowded cities to the cafés of Europe and the peaks of the Swiss Alps. The hustle and bustle of Sydney to the quiet life of the Swiss country side.

When not writing, he is usually doing what he equally enjoys. Teaching English.

Derek Haines Links:

http://www.derekhaines.ch

Twitter @Derek_Haines           

Other Books written by Derek Haines

HAL

Millions of years before February The Fifth, Gloth was making a nice little profit from the planet Erde, with the help of some cunning Popes and the very, very secret Star Chamber.

Being disowned by his father and booted out of his family manor in England, then transported off to the distant sun drenched shores of Australia didn’t sound like such a bad punishment for Hal. All things considered. Sydney however, didn’t prove to be his cup of tea, but a quick move to Brisbane leads Hal to a wonderful new life full of friends, back yards, barbecues, beer, surfing, The Breakfast Creek Hotel and Narelle.

The idyllic life.

For a short time unfortunately, as so often happens just when you think things are beautifully perfect, someone or something comes along to throw a spanner in the works. In Hal’s case, his idyllic life gets hit my a number of airborne wrenches. Then when he thinks things are are about as bad as they can get, they of course get a whole lot worse.

Afflicted by an allergic reaction to dust and scary things, Hal does a lot of sneezing as he goes about trying to make the whole lot worse a whole lot better.

ISBN/EAN13: 146110565X  / 978-1461105657

Paperback: 238 pages

Kindle, Paperback and E-Book versions available.

February The Fifth

A young fool becomes king and quickly discovers he has some very nasty enemies. Particularly the ones who are shooting at him. 

In a remarkable turn of events, a young man with a lot definitely not going for him, somehow manages to come to terms with a startling reality. He has to grow up. Being handicapped by not only having rather nasty acne and an odd eye impediment, he also has to suffer the fact that his name is February. Or at best, Feb to his very limited number of friends.

While not at all wishing to rush into this startling new reality, circumstances and a few elbow nudges from his very protective elder sister ensure that his ‘not at all wishing’ turns out to be a complete waste of time. Thrust totally and altogether unwillingly into a position of authority by early afternoon, February finds himself with a new appendage tacked on to the end his name. 

The Fifth. The new and very authoritative part of his name.

Of course, as is the case in all such rapid and thrusting types of promotion to positions of power, there will be those who are not happy about it. In February’s case however, he finds that in fact these those amount to just about everyone apart from his three sisters. 

Undaunted by this reality, Feb accepts his new responsibility and by early evening sets about getting himself into a real tangle. His only true achievement being that he discovers that quite a few of these those who weren’t so happy, are in fact really very upset about the whole Fifth appendage deal. By bedtime, he thinks he is in trouble.