CHAPTER 28
The taxi driver was chatty, obviously feeling a need to fill in the long hours with some sort of human contact. He asked several questions which didn’t really need an answer, and several others which did.
’It’s a bit close to Christmas for travelling,’ he said. ’Visiting relations or something?’
’No, not relations, just friends,’ Natalie answered.
’I wondered. This is not exactly a holiday town, know what I mean? It’s not so bad in the summer but at this time of the year it’s pretty dead, isn’t it? Staying long?’
’No, not long, just a few days, I have to get back to work straight after New Year.’ She shouldn’t really have been away from work at this time, she knew. It had been with some difficulty that she had persuaded her employer to allow her an extra holiday the week before, unpaid, naturally.
’Know what you mean. No peace for the wicked. I’ll be working right through. There’s only me and the missus at home now and she’s going to stay with her sister. I thought there’s no need to stay in an empty house. I might as well be carrying customers. Here you are then. This is where you want to be. This do you all right?’
Natalie paid the fare requested, glad to be rid of the unceasing babble of meaningless talk. She walked up the path and rang the bell set into the wall alongside the blue painted door. No answer. She rang again. Still no answer. Wondering, she lifted her case and made her way to the back of the house. There was a large brass knocker set in the door there. She raised it and let it fall with a heavy thump, once then once again. The door opened after another long wait and Donald’s face appeared. Donald, yet not Donald. Natalie stared at him uncertainly.
’Natalie,’ he said. ’Of course, I’m sorry, I’d forgotten you were coming. Step inside. Here, let me take your case.
’Donald,’ said Natalie, ’are you ill? You look awful.’
His face creased in a mockery of a smile. ’No, I’m not ill.’
The emphasis of his words gave her the clue her slow mind was unwilling to accept.
’Then Gabrielle? Oh Donald, no.’
He was crying. She had never seen a man cry before. The sight upset her, not for the fact of his crying but for the sense of hurt and loss that he obviously felt. Words tumbled out of him, disjointed phrases, unconnected sentences as he told her what had happened. She could make little sense of it. She cradled him in her arms and held him close, coaxing him inside into the warmth and pressing him down into a sofa. It seemed the right thing to do. He lay across her lap, shoulders heaving, gasping for every breath he took. Her skirt, she noticed dispassionately, had been pushed up to expose her upper leg for a considerable part of its length. There was a momentary twinge of unease, instantly dismissed as she realised he must have seen more of his wife than that over the few years they had been together. A feeling came to her, a feeling of, was it envy for the third time? On investigation, she discovered that it wasn’t. On the contrary, it was a deep and powerful impulse to hold him, to enclose him in the warmth of her body, to comfort him in any way she could find. Gradually he ceased his weeping and dried his eyes, drawing away from her grasp.
’Better?’ she asked.
He shook his head sadly. ’No, not really. Everything’s such a mess, Natalie. I don’t know what to do.’
’Can you tell me what has happened? I’m sorry, Donald but I didn’t really understand you just now. Can you bear to talk about it? I gather it’s Gabrielle.’
’Yes. You arrived too late, Natalie. She died two or three days ago, I’m not sure exactly when. What day is it today?’
’Monday.’
’Monday? Four days ago then, I’ve lost track of time. She died in my arms at home. They told me at the hospital that they had to practically force me away, to prise us apart. I don’t remember that bit. I’ve been under sedation in hospital ever since. I only got back today, late this morning.’
’Was it so sudden, Donald?’
’No. She deteriorated fairly rapidly over a few weeks. We could see the end coming but then we knew it would. She almost disappeared, she got so shrunken. One night the pain left her and she asked me to hold her, knowing that her time was close, very close. She said once that sometimes she could hear a strange sound, as though it was angel wings beating, but knew it was only her heart. That night, she mentioned it again and said she was not so sure, that her heart seemed almost to have stopped but she could hear the noise anyway. I’m sorry, I probably don’t make any sense.’
’Go on,’ Natalie encouraged him.
’There’s not a lot more to tell. Or rather, there probably is, but my mind’s a blank. I can’t remember the last few days at all. Tom came in to see how things were, that I do know. He must have called the hospital. I don’t know.’
He sighed heavily. ’I’m glad it’s over but it’s going to take time to get back to a normal life again. I’m afraid it’s spoilt your holiday with us. You’re welcome to stay here tonight of course but I expect you’ll want to return tomorrow. There’s nothing here for you now.’
’If you would prefer to be on your own, then I’ll go, but I’m not sure you wouldn’t be better off with someone in the house. I don’t want to be in the way, Donald, but if you want me to stay, I will, just for as long as it pleases you. I’d like to help if I can. You’re my friend after all.’
He smiled tremulously. ’Thank you, I rather hoped you would see things that way.’
’To be practical, have you eaten recently?’
’I can’t remember. No, I don’t think I have. Oh Natalie, I’m forgetting my manners. You’ve come all this way and I haven’t offered you anything. You must be tired and hungry.’
’Don’t worry about it. I know my way to the kitchen. Come with me and keep company while I make a meal.’
’You’re a real friend, Natalie. It’s a good thing you came and agreed to stay.’
’That’s what friends are for. I’ll stay for as long as you need me.’
’Won’t you have to go back to work?’
’One day, yes. But nobody will miss me there and I’m not so fond of the job that I would miss it.’
’But you mustn’t lose out on your salary just because of me.’
’Wages Donald, it’s not a good enough job to warrant anything as grand as a salary.’
’Even more reason why you shouldn’t be out of pocket. It would be nice to have you stay for a longer time, but I can make that up to you, financially.’
Natalie gave him a hard look. ’Donald Vickers, if you are going to talk like that, I shall go home today. I mean it. I’ll stay here and help as much as is necessary and until you throw me out, but there’ll be no mention of payment. Is that clear?’
’All right. Thank you.’
The slight awkwardness of the moment passed as rapidly as it had arisen. The tie between them was too strong for anything else. While they were eating, the doorbell rang.
’I’ll get it,’ said Donald.
He came back moments later with a pale faced Tom.
’Oh hello Natalie. I guessed you would be here. Look Mr. Vickers, I hope you don’t mind, or think I’ve been acting out of turn, but I’ve been making arrangements for the funeral. They’re only tentative at the moment but can be finalised very quickly. I can cancel them just as easily if you want.’
Donald looked at the younger man and scratched his head. ’No, that’s perfectly in order. I haven’t exactly been able to tackle anything like that. Thank you Tom, I’m very grateful. Even now, I can’t really cope. If you don’t mind, you just go ahead with any arrangements you see fit to make and let me know later.’
’I’ll do that, Mr. Vickers. There’s just one thing that I do need your agreement for. I would like to attend the funeral myself, if you will permit it.’
Donald’s eyes glowed. ’Of course Tom, I took that for granted. I’d be proud if you would do that. Afterwards, I want a long talk with you when you have time.’
’May I come too?’ asked Natalie.
Donald sighed. ’Please, I have a few relations and they’ll probably attend, but it will feel good to have real friends at my side.’