By
Jan
Chapter 9
From
where she was stretched out on the bed, Nikki looked up expectantly as her bedroom
door opened. To her dismay she saw that it was only Marcia returning with her
drink. “Where did you get that?” she demanded, indicating the paper bag Marcia
was carrying.
“From
that Helen person,” the woman replied with a sniff of distaste. “I was on my
way up so she asked me to bring it.”
Nikki
smiled wryly. Helen couldn’t even be bothered to come up and see if she was
alive or dead. She sighed. What had Helen been thinking about when she told
Marcia to come over? It was almost as if she was throwing the other woman at
her. As far as she was concerned, whatever relationship they’d had was over now
Marcia seemed to be under the impression it was back on again. “How long are
you staying for?” she asked, hoping the visit was going to be a short one.
“Until
you’re well again,” Marcia replied with a smile.
Here’s
to a speedy recovery, Nikki thought uncharitably.
“I’ve
been thinking, Nikki, you need to rest and you can’t do it around here with
those noisy kids so why don’t we go away somewhere?”
“I
just need to take things easy…”
“Exactly
and you can’t do it with those kids around,” Marcia persisted.
Nikki
didn’t comment. Considering what they had been through, the children were
pretty well behaved but she knew Marcia would never agree.
“Well?”
“Let
me think about it,” she edged.
Marcia
forced a smile to her lips. “OK but don’t take too long I’m not renowned for my
patience.
Helen
replaced the receiver with a satisfied smile. She had taken the initiative and telephoned
the surgery to enquire about the job Rob MacDonald had told her about. There
was indeed a vacancy for a practice nurse and she had arranged an interview for
that same afternoon. She made sure the children were still playing happily in
the garden then checked in on Emma, who was sitting in her usual spot by the
bedroom window.
“Nikki
is going to be alright, isn’t she?” Emma asked her with a worried frown.
“She’ll
be fine,” Helen reassured her gently. “The doctor would have sent her to
hospital for tests if there had been any need for concern. She just needs to
take thing easy for a few days.”
Emma’s
face relaxed into a smile. If Helen said her granddaughter was alright then
that was good enough for her.
“I’m
slipping out for an hour, Emma. Is there anything you want before I go?”
“Anywhere
nice?” the old lady asked interestedly.
“I’m
just going to pick up a few things for the children,” Helen replied guiltily.
Emma
picked up her handbag from beside her chair and took out her purse. She removed
a five-pound note and held it out. “Take this and get them some sweets from
me.”
“There’s
no need…”
“Go
on, take it,” Emma urged. “A few sweets won’t do them any harm. My Nikki had a
real sweet tooth. She always had a bag of sweets in her pocket and look at her.
Skinny as a rake.”
Helen
smiled. She loved it when Emma talked about her granddaughter. She would miss
this when she left…her chats with Emma, Maddy’s company but most of all she
would miss Nikki.
“Are
you alright, Helen?” Emma asked, looking at her oddly.
“I’m
fine.” She forced a smile and took the note Emma was proffering. “Thanks for
this. I’d better go.” She went to her bedroom feeling as guilty as hell for
deceiving Emma. Her head was stuck in the wardrobe as she tried to find
something suitable to wear for her interview when the bedroom door opened and
Marcia entered unannounced. “Have you ever heard of knocking?” she demanded
angrily.
“You’re
only an employee in this house!” Marcia snapped back. “Anyway, I wanted to talk
to you.” She walked slowly around the room, running her fingers contemptuously
over Helen’s few possessions then turned and looked the Scot squarely in the
eye. “You’re not going to get her you know.”
“I
don’t know what you mean,” Helen replied with a frown.
“Don’t
try and act innocent with me!” Marcia sneered. “Nikki is mine. Any children she
has to provide for will be mine and hers, not your brats!”
“You’re
crazy! I’m not interested in her,” she exclaimed defensively
Marcia
laughed disbelievingly. “I’ve seen the way you look at her but you can’t win,
I’ll make sure of that.”
This
time it was Helen’s turn to laugh at the arrogance of the woman. “And what do
you propose to do?” she asked facetiously.
A
spiteful smile touched Marcia’s lips. “It would only take a word in the right
ear…Social Services, isn’t it?”
“What
do you mean?”
“What
do you think the Social Services would do if they received an anonymous tip off
telling them you had been neglecting your brood?” she asked maliciously.
Helen’s
blood ran cold at her implications. “You wouldn’t. No one could be so cruel.
The children are well taken care of and you damn well know it!”
“You
know that but I’m sure there would have to be an investigation to see if they
were at risk.” She moved across to the
door, a look of triumph on her face. “Think about it, Helen. Who means more to
you…the children or Nikki? But don’t think about it for too long because, as I
told Nikki earlier, I’m not renowned for my patience. I’m taking her away for a
few days. When I get back I’ll expect you to have gone…all of you!”
When
the door had closed on the American, Helen looked about her frantically. She
didn’t doubt Marcia would go through with her threat if she didn’t get her own
way so to protect the children she had to put as much distance between herself
and Nikki as she could.
George
Anderson was tall and thin and a somewhat unhealthy looking specimen for a
doctor but kind eyes twinkled behind a pair of horn-rimmed glasses.
He
listened intently as she gave a run down of her previous employment,
interrupting her occasionally to clarify a point.
At
the end of the interview he smiled at her warmly. “Well, I think there’s only
one other question to ask, Helen,” he said in a deep resonant voice. “When can
you start?”
“You
mean I’ve got it?” she asked delightedly, beaming when Anderson nodded. “Well,
I think Mrs Wade can manage without me now so as soon as you like.”
“Emma
Wade is a nice lady,” Anderson said approvingly. “How are you getting on with
Nikki?”
“F…fine,”
she stammered.
“Nikki’s
a good girl…devoted to her grandmother. “Pity her father didn’t take after
her.”
Helen
remained silent. She didn’t know what to say or even if she was expected to
make a comment.
“It
almost broke Emma’s heart when Stephen…Nikki’s father…turned out like he did.”
The doctor smiled at her. “Don’t worry, I’m not breaking doctor/patient
confidentiality. I’m sure Emma will tell you all this before too long, if she
hasn’t already.”
“Well,
she did mention something, “ she replied, skilfully avoiding answering him
directly.
“Thank
you for coming, Helen.” He stood up and held out his hand. “I’ll send you a confirmatory letter within
the next couple of days and I’ll see you on Monday.”
“I’m
looking forward to it.” She held out her hand and it was taken in a firm grip.
“See you Monday.” She left the surgery, unable to stop herself smiling. She’d
got the job. The children were safe. Now all she had to do was find somewhere
to live!
“Helen,
hold on!” Rob MacDonald called to her as she was getting into her car. “How did
you get on?” he asked when he reached her.
“I
got the job!” she announced triumphantly.
“That’s
great! I look forward to working with you,” he enthused. “How about dinner to
celebrate? Tonight…my place…eight-thirty.”
“Rob,
I don’t think so,” she replied doubtfully.
“Go
on,” he urged. “My wife and I haven’t been here long. She doesn’t know many
people so she’d be glad to see a new face.”
“Your
wife!” she echoed, sounding almost relieved. “OK then. If I can arrange a babysitter,
I’d love to.”
“Babysitter?”
“Long
story,” she grinned. “I’ll tell you some other time. Right now I have to get
back.”
He
pointed to a picturesque cottage directly across from the surgery. “That’s
where we’ve living, for now at any rate. See you later.”
When
she arrived back at the house, she went in search of the children and found
them sitting around the kitchen table having their tea.
“Maddy,
I’m sorry,” she apologised profusely. “I expected to be back before now.”
“They’ve
been as good as gold,” the housekeeper assured her.
“I
wondered if you’d do me another favour. Dr MacDonald has invited me to dinner
tonight so would you mind keeping an eye on them for me? I’ll put them to bed
before I go.”
“Of
course I don’t mind.”
“Thanks,
Maddy,” she said gratefully.
“But
I do!” an angry voice exclaimed from the doorway. Helen spun round. Nikki was
standing there in a pair of tight black jeans and a black T-shirt and looking
gorgeous…and livid! “Maddy is not your built-in babysitter so you can swan off
with every man you meet!”
“Nikki,
it’s alright…” Maddy began.
“No,
it’s not bloody alright!” Nikki stormed. “My first impressions of you were
right. You’re nothing but a…” She was silenced as, for the second time since
they had met, Helen slapped her face.
Helen
took a deep breath, realising the children were watching their every move. “You
don’t have to worry, Nikki, I start a new job on Monday so we’ll be out of your
hair in a few days.”
A
lump had formed in Nikki’s throat almost choking her. She swallowed hard.
“Fine,” she murmured then turned to Maddy. “I just came to tell you, I’m going
away for a few days with Marcia. Take care of gran, won’t you?”
“You
know I will but, Nikki…”
Nikki
ignored what she was about to say and turned back to Helen. “I’ll expect you to
have gone when I get back,” she said harshly then turned to leave the room,
only stopping to ruffle Tommy’s hair as she passed him. “’Bye, kids,” she
muttered.
Helen
watched her go. Maybe it was just as well things had happened this way. She
wasn’t like Nikki…she wasn’t gay so why did she feel as if her heart had been
ripped out at the thought of Nikki going away with another woman?