CHAPTER 21
Gabrielle was well known in the area, too much so at times, thought Donald. She got so easily tired nowadays and the constant stops to chat with friends and acquaintances seemed to take it out of her much more than it used to. Sometimes, he thought, it was easier to use the village shops but that meant that Gabrielle never had a change of scenery. At last, long after he had planned, they reached the shops and went in to make their purchases. Most shops were convenient but there was one that had a high step and was impossible for a wheelchair. Gabrielle had to stay outside, a situation she had resigned herself to long since.
’I won’t be long, Gabby. At least, if there’s no great queue.’
’That’s all right, dad. I’m OK here.’
Typical Gabrielle, if she hadn’t been OK she wouldn’t admit it. Just the same the warmth of the sun made her feel good. Slowly she relaxed, enjoying the feel of the breeze across her face. Oh no, she was slumping again. Too far, as usual and at such an angle that she couldn’t get the purchase required to sit up straight. She struggled for a while, knowing it was useless, knowing she would have to wait for her father to come and lift her. Sometimes she could manage but more often than not she had to stay where she was, getting cramped and uncomfortable. The wheelchair was a blessing, she thought ruefully but it had its drawbacks.
A group of youth approached, pushing and shoving each other as they came, shouting curses at anyone who got in their way. Gabrielle’s heart sank as she realised who they were. One at least, she had met several times before, to her discomfort.
As they came close to her, they stopped as though operated by the same string and stared at her. One of them, a youth demonstrating just how loose and flabby an open mouth could be pointed at Gabrielle.
’Who’s that, then?’ he demanded.
’Who? Her? That’s Gabby Vickers. She’s mental.’
’Cor! She must be. Look at that.’ He lowered his hand somewhat.
They all looked where the speaker was pointing, and started laughing. One started chanting, and encouraged the others to join in as they pushed the wheelchair back and forth, swinging it around, causing Gabrielle to slump even further down.
’Gabby Vickers shows her...’
It was the third repetition, but he never finished it. A strong hand descended on his forearm, twisting it up his back and forcing him to his knees. His friends scattered immediately, one limping badly after receiving a sharp kick on the shin but he was caught firmly. He twisted his head to see his captor, a tall, fair haired young man with a look of utter determination on his otherwise smiling face. Struggling, the youth realised, was counterproductive, as his arm felt as though it was being dragged out of its socket and he contented himself with foul oaths. It was at this point that Donald came out of the shop, gazing in astonishment at the tableau before him.
’What on earth...?’ he stuttered.
’It’s all right, sir,’ said the tall man. ’Everything’s under control. This refugee from one of the nastier corners of a research laboratory was mocking your daughter. It occurred to me that someone should stop him. Would you excuse me a moment please? I have a little unfinished business to see to, and for various reasons I prefer that there should be no witnesses.’
He jerked the youth painfully round the corner of a back street. There was a series of muffled scufflings, followed by sharp crack, then a silence, broken only by a series of groans. The tall man came back, looking placid and dusting his clothes down with his hands. The whole incident had taken only seconds. Donald was rooted to the spot, still holding a couple of plastic carriers.
’Excuse me again, sir.’
The man took the carriers from Donald’s unprotesting fingers and placed them on the small luggage rack underneath the wheelchair. He offered a clean handkerchief to its angry and weeping occupant then gently lifted her to an upright position.
’What... what...’, spluttered Donald.
’It’s all right, dad,’ said Gabrielle. ’This man here very kindly helped when I was being bothered by a gang of youth and chased them away.’
Donald’s head cleared. ’Well, thank you. Thank you very much. You’ve done us a great favour. I’m very grateful.’
The young man didn’t seem to be listening. He spoke to Gabrielle.
’The problem seems to be one of posture, I think. You find you tend to slide down on the seat, am I right?’
’ Er... Yes.’
’It’s quite common with wheelchair users. Then you display a bit more than you wish to. That’s what a knee blanket is for young lady or even a long skirt but I suppose you don’t want to look like either a helpless invalid or an old granny. Right?’
’Er... Yes. I mean, no.’
’Contradictory statements, but I think I understand. Let me see. Yes, all it needs is a little adjustment on the footrests. You’ve got them all wrong. I suppose they used to be suitably positioned but perhaps you haven’t allowed for physical growth. You have been in this thing for quite a long time, haven’t you?’
He didn’t wait for an answer but bent down and fiddled with a couple of knobs and levers, lifting her feet away as he did so, then replacing them after adjusting. Gabrielle found his hands firm, yet strangely gentle.
’There, you may find that a little better. In that position, if you have any strength in your legs at all, you should be able to push down and hold yourself up, though you look hardly strong enough to do that. Perhaps you should eat more porridge for your breakfast. I don’t know that it helps but that’s the theory, at any rate.’
’It feels better,’ said Gabrielle. ’More secure, more the way it used to be. Thank you very much.’
’Young man,’ said Donald, feeling the situation was slipping away from him totally. ’Young man, I don’t know who you are but I owe you some thanks as well. You seem to know what you’re talking about, too.’
’Right, introduction time. My name’s Tom. Tom Fletcher. I’m a medical student, which may account for some of my actions. I’m also a bit hot tempered, which probably accounts for the rest of them.’
’Donald Vickers. My daughter...’
’Gabrielle. I know. In fact, everyone knows you both, sir, even the less socially adjusted amongst the lower echelons of society, I’m sorry to say.’
’Well, they’re not all as unsympathetic as that. But that’s another thing. Might I be permitted to ask what you did in that back street?’
’By all means, though I’m not sure you would want to hear it, involving as it does knuckles, foreheads and brick walls.’
’Ah, well, in that case, I never saw a thing,’ said Donald, wincing. ’Look, would you like to come to our house for a little refreshment? You must need something after all that effort.’
’I’d love to, but unfortunately I have to see my tutor and I’m a bit late already.’
’Do you know where we live?’
’Of course, who doesn’t?’
’Then come and see us when you have time. We don’t have many visitors. It’ll be a pleasant change. Come any time. We’re almost always at home.’
Tom came that very evening, bearing an enormous bunch of roses for Gabrielle to help her get over the shock of realising that there were a few nasty people in the world, as he put it. Gabrielle was delighted. In fact, the flowers gave her a talking point for many days afterwards. She never knew that Tom had skipped a couple of meals in order to afford them.
It was on Tom’s third or fourth visit, just as he was leaving, that Donald felt obliged to drop a little hint.
’Before you go, there’s something I think I ought to tell you.’
Tom looked at Donald expectantly.
’You do realise that Gabby is only fifteen? It’s her birthday next month, but she is still legally under age. I mention it simply because she has had a good education as well as various experiences which most people do not have to undergo and because of that, often appears older than she really is.
’And you wouldn’t want me to be under any misapprehensions?’ said the younger man. ’Yes, I can see that. It’s understandable. As it happens, I do know how old she is. She told me, the first time I came here, almost the first thing she said, in fact. I also know my responsibilities. It would be a poor doctor who didn’t. Sorry, that probably sounds a bit arrogant. It wasn’t meant to be. What I’m trying to say is that I’ve enjoyed coming here. It’s a change from student accommodation and a change to have someone to talk to about something other than anatomy and physiology. I like her, Mr. Vickers, it would be difficult not to, she’s such a lovely girl. I like her a lot, but at the moment, that’s all there is to it. I’m not, to put it vulgarly, sniffing around for what I can pick up. I’m certain you wouldn’t permit it and from what I’ve heard of Gabrielle’s tongue, I don’t think I’d dare risk it even if it was in my character to do so.’
Donald nodded, as though he had just verified something. ’I never thought you were sniffing around and for that reason you’re always welcome Tom, just so long as you know the score. Your visits do Gabby no end of good. I do the best I can but there’s really no substitute for friends of nearer her own age. She used to get friends from school at one time but inevitably they’ve grown apart and developed other interests and she doesn’t see them as much as she used to. You come any time you like.’
The visits became regular, at least once a week as all three settled into a firm friendship. If Donald felt any qualms about the developing relationship between Gabrielle and Tom, he kept them to himself for the time being. There were times he especially appreciated Tom’s presence, never more than on the occasion when he himself fell ill, just at the time that Gabrielle needed extra attention. Quite without understanding how it happened, Donald found himself shepherded to bed with a hot water bottle and supply of drinks, while Tom sat up all night with the girl. Like her father, she too was feverish. Unlike her father, she recovered more slowly, having little real resistance to minor illnesses. All night and most of the following day Tom was at her side, propping her up in his arm when she was sick or needed feeding, soothing her with calm words and nursing care of a high calibre. He slept, if he slept at all, in the high backed armchair in her room and came round every day for a week to ensure that both his patients were bearing up. He brushed off grateful thanks with a boyish smile.
’It’s good practice for me,’ he said. ’And you’re easy to deal with. I’m well aware there are people who will not do as the doctor tells them.’
The incident proved to be a turning point in the young couple’s relationship. It was obvious that Tom’s feelings towards Gabrielle were deepening. He brought her presents, stayed late in the evenings, called for flying visits if he had as much as a quarter of an hour spare during the day. Donald viewed the change with misgivings. For a long time he thought much about the situation but said nothing. At last, he decided the time had come to speak out.
’Have you a few minutes Tom?’ he asked one day as he opened the front door to the young man. ’I’d like a talk with you.’
’Sure, Mr. Vickers. Go ahead.’
’Sit down please. This is not an easy thing to talk about but I’m afraid it has to be mentioned.’
’This sounds serious,’ said Tom, with a fresh grin. ’I’m not in trouble, am I?’
’No of course not. It’s just that I’ve been watching you and Gabby very closely. You’ve been friends for a long time now, haven’t you?’
’About a year, yes.’
’It seems to me that you’ve gone quite a bit beyond friendship.’
’I’m sorry, Mr. Vickers, I’m not sure what you mean by that,’ said Tom a little stiffly, the smile disappearing from his face.
’Calm down lad, I’m not suggesting you’ve been up to anything improper. You wouldn’t last five minutes in this house if you had. All I’m saying is that your friendship is no longer purely platonic.’
’I’m very fond of Gabrielle, if that’s what you mean.’
’I think I’d put it a bit stronger than that, wouldn’t you?’
Tom relaxed. ’Well, yes I suppose so.’
’That’s what I thought. In fact, it’s pretty obvious. It’s not a thing you’ve been able to hide. Probably you haven’t wanted to hide it. For that reason I’ve been wondering if I should ask you not to call round any more.’
Tom’s face fell. ’Oh, well, if that’s what you want, I’ll do as you say, naturally. I don’t have to like it but I’ll do it. There’s just one thing, though. I’m aware I have no rights in the matter but I think I’m entitled to ask for an explanation.’
’I’ll give you one,’ said Donald. ’Believe me, there’s no pleasure in doing so. You know of course that Gabrielle is ill, more than can be accounted for by the loss of use in her legs. She has cancer, Tom, quite a severe one. She first developed it years ago. It was operated on then, but has now come back and is well advanced. It returned, in fact, long before you knew her. This time it’s inoperable. I don’t know how long she has left but a year at the outside seems to be the best guess.’
’Yes, I know that, Mr. Vickers. I wasn’t sure that you did.’
Donald lifted his eyebrows in surprise.
’Then we all know something, don’t we? Did Gabby tell you?’
’No, not directly, but maybe it’s pretty obvious to someone studying medicine. From what I could gather, I thought about a year myself, as far as anyone can be sure about these things. It’s an interest of mine, you see. I want to specialise in cancer. I always did, but now I have an additional reason. It’s become rather personal.’
’There’s no future in it Tom. No future for you, because Gabby doesn’t have a future. She’s getting weaker with every month that passes. If she lasts a year, it’ll be a bonus. I don’t know if you ever got as far as thinking of marriage, but it’s a non starter.’
’I know that too, Mr. Vickers. I’ll admit the thought did cross my mind but that’s where it stays, in my mind. I never mentioned it to Gabrielle and I never will, though she’s pretty sharp and may have guessed. Probably has. We have been on rather affectionate terms after all.’
’Tom, you’re a good lad. You’re more like a son than my daughter’s boyfriend. As things are, it may be better if you cut loose now, for your own sake, though I will say that if circumstances were otherwise, I’d welcome you as a son in law.’
’Ah, now that I didn’t know, thank you. I appreciate the compliment. If the circumstances you mentioned were different, I can’t think of a family I would rather marry into. I feel I owe you rather a lot.’
There was a long silence as the two men regarded each other gravely.
’Does Gabrielle know about this?’ Tom asked at last.
’She knows. We have no secrets. In fact,’ Donald spoke gently, not wanting to hurt, ’in fact, this conversation was her idea. She asked me to mention it to you, on the grounds that I have a little more tact than she ever possessed. Her words, not mine. She didn’t want to hurt you. She likes you too much for that. Find another girl, Tom, one in good condition, not a near helpless, cancer ridden cripple who is overdue to be returned to stock.’ Donald’s lips twisted in a mockery of a smile. ’Her words again, not mine, accurate though they are to a degree. You’ll make a good husband, a good family man. Don’t waste your time here.’
Tom shook his head slowly. ’I don’t consider my time is wasted. Look sir, may I explain? All right, I admit I love Gabrielle, young as she is. I didn’t look for it but that’s the way it turned out. It’s nothing I’m ashamed of. On the contrary, I consider it something to be proud of. I’m painfully aware that that’s as far as it goes, as far as it can ever go. I can’t get married yet, in any case, not until I’ve finished my studies and as we all know, there isn’t that much time left. At the moment I can’t really see into that future. It may be that I’ll meet someone else eventually and get married then. And if that happens, by the way, I will want to tell her about Gabrielle, about my first love.’
’I doubt if any woman could accept that, Tom.’
’Then she wouldn’t be the right sort of wife for me. And no, it’s not a case of kiss and tell, either, mainly because there’s not a great deal to tell about. There’s nothing I’m sure you don’t know about, yourself. It would be a way of letting her know how special she is. If she can’t understand that, then she can’t understand me, and that’s not a good foundation for a successful marriage.’
Donald cleared his throat. ’If you ever do meet such a paragon, Tom, bring her here one day. I would certainly like to meet her.’
’That’s a promise, Mr. Vickers.’ He sighed. ’Perhaps I’d better go now.’
The older man shook his head in mock sorrow. ’Don’t bother, lad. Go upstairs. She’s waiting for you. You’ve talked yourself into a year of misery but it’s your choice. If nothing else you’ll help to keep her happy in the time she has left.’
’But you said she wanted me to leave.’
’She did but you know what women are like,’ growled Donald. ’Always changing their minds. Don’t you worry about Gabby, I’ll have a talk with her.’
Donald called out as Tom reached the bottom of the staircase. ’Tom, the problem is, I could never refuse her anything she really wanted.’
Tom hesitated as the import of the words sank in. He smiled, then bounded up the stairs two at a time.