Introduction
A new story presented itself to me by way of a what if: what if people believe that the Queen and her Head of Security are married?
Drama whispered into my ear that it would be interesting when the two leading characters would actually be having an affair. At first I planned to write just a few lines to make clear that the Queen and Joe were lovers, from which point the story could progress. After all: its main subject would be a gossip about a marriage that never took place. Then again: the tension the gossip would cause between the Queen and her Head of Security would gain weight in the light of their history together. Readers should have something to relate to and a few lines wouldn't do...
Pragmatism came to the rescue: why not use one of my previous stories as a 'prequel'? It wasn't difficult to select The weekenders. Although that story ended before Clarisse and Joe fell into each others arms, it was obvious that they would become lovers. And besides: I had once started a sequel, prompted by reviewers who liked to read more. My attempt fluffed though and I didn't publish it. I now feel that Field day (for you guessed that that is the name of the sequel) might offer an opportunity to explore The weekenders further. I will make sure though that the present story can be read independently of The weekenders.
Field day starts with Joseph Romero ending up in hospital after an accident. The poor man has a concussion causing him to (temporarily) lose months worth of memory. Admittedly, that doesn't happen often, but in stories anything is possible.
~ Field day ~
Chapter 1 – Nothing to worry about
´You're a lucky man sir,´ the doctor told her patient, ´You came off with a broken arm, bruises and a concussion.´
The man didn't reply.
When the doctor had entered his room, he'd sat up, and he paid for that now.
´Are you feeling dizzy?´
´Yes,´ the man said.
´Do you have a headache?´
´Yes.´
The doctor was just in time to hold a vomiting-pan under his mouth.
´I'm sorry,´ the patient said after he'd accepted the glass of water the doctor offered him.
´Dizziness and vomiting go together,´ she assured him.
The doctor had a feeling that this man was used to being in control. Such people made the worst patients.
´What do you remember from after the accident?´
´My arm was being...´
He searched his brain for the word. When it took him too long, he simply used his right hand to gesture at the bandage around his left arm.
´Put in splints?´
´Yes. That's it.´
´Do you remember anything from before the accident?´
There were images flashing through the man's mind. He couldn't make sense of them.
´I'm sorry, I'm tired.´
´I will leave you then. I'll come to wake you up again in an hour or so.´
OoOoOoO
´How's the biker with the earring and the concussion. Have you told him his name?´ nurse Kaas asked doctor Valera.
The doctor shook her head: ´I want him to remember it. He's got some access passes with him, but there's no company name, no address. Pedro is on to it.´
OoOoOoO
´Hello sir. How are you?´
The man didn't sit up this time. He remembered he'd thrown up before.
´Hello doctor.´
She checked his pupils.
´I've found your name on a pass. Do you recall your name?´
The man knew that if the doctor would read names from a list, he'd be able to pick out his. When he remained silent, the doctor asked him if there was anyone she could contact.
´Are you married sir?´
The doctor noticed that the man looked at his hands. He noticed that she noticed.
´I suppose not,´ he replied with a small smile.
´Don't worry,´ the doctor reassured him, ´I can imagine you're confused for not remembering things, but it will be temporary. You may also find that you have difficulty concentrating -´
´And that I tire easily,´ the man nodded.
´You are in Antiem. Do you live here?´
Silence. Then: ´I live in the capital.´
The doctor nodded and asked him if he remembered his address.
The man gave it some thought.
´It seems strange, but I think I live at the Castle.´
´OK, we'll check that.´
OoOoOoO
´Guess!´ Pedro said, when he saw doctor Valera approach, ´First I called a pension called 'the castle' but they didn't know biker Earring. Then I called a men's clothing shop by that name: they never heard of him. I called a massage room: nothing. Then I said to myself Pedro, why don't you call the Royal Castle. So I did and you'll never guess! This telephone operator said that Mr Romero works there! Ain't that cool? You can call this number -´
He handed the doctor a piece of paper: ´And ask for Miss Kutaway.´
OoOoOoO
Charlotte picked up the phone.
´Yes?´
´This is Carole Miss Kutaway. I have a doctor Valera for you.´
Carole put the call through.
´Miss Kutaway?´
´Yes, that is I.´
´My name is doctor Valera from the University Hospital in Antiem. Do you know a Mr Joseph Romero?´
Charlotte suddenly felt sick.
´Yes I do. Why? Is something wrong with him?´
´He had an accident with his motor cycle. He came off remarkably well. A broken arm and bruises. He's also suffering from a concussion.´
Silence.
´Miss Kutaway?´
´He had an accident? Will he be all right?´
The doctor patiently repeated that Mr Romero would be fine.
´He will be fine? Can I see him?´
´He will have to rest for a while, but he will be fine. And yes, you can see him.´
´Does he have to stay in hospital for a long time? Can I bring him something? Clothes? Can I visit him?´
After answering Miss Kutaways's questions, the doctor gave her Mr Romero's room number, greeted her and broke the connection.
Charlotte stared at the phone. Joe was injured - but not badly. That was good! So why was she trembling?
´What is wrong Miss Kutaway?´
´Colonel!´
´Are you all right?´
Charlotte swallowed. She heard the sound of high heels.
´Joe's had an accident and he's not badly injured but how I am gonna tell her?´ she whispered.
´What happened?´ the Colonel calmly asked.
´I don't know,´ Charlotte replied hurriedly, ´A bike accident. He's got a concussion. It will take time to -´
´Colonel, Charlotte,´ the Queen greeted them.
´Your Majesty.´
´Ma'am,´ the Colonel said, ´Miss Kutaway was just informed that the Head of Security managed to end up with a concussion.´
´What happened?´ Her Majesty demanded. The officer's behaviour made it clear that there was no reason to worry. But then again: the lady was always calm, wasn't she?
´He is not badly injured. He had an accident and he is taken good care of in hospital. His doctor contacted Miss Kutaway.´
The Queen looked at Charlotte who sighed with relief. The way the Colonel had talked about it had made the knot in the secretary's stomach disappear.
Charlotte told her employer what she recalled from the conversation with doctor Valera.
´Could you go to his apartment and select clothes and toilet requisites?´
´Of course ma'am. When would you want them to be brought to him?´
The Queen figured that Joseph would hate being in a hospital gown.
´Right now Charlotte. And could you please do that yourself? I have several meetings to attend this afternoon, and I hope that in between you can inform me about Joseph's status.´
´Yes ma'am.´
´Oh,´ the Queen added, already on her way to her office, ´Could you contact his brothers?´
´I will Your Majesty.´
The first thing the Queen did after entering her office was pour a glass of cold water and hold it against her forehead. With her free hand she steadied herself against a table.
OoOoOoO
The doctor and Charlotte walked out of the hospital room.
´It's a normal response,´ the doctor assured her patient's friend, ´It will take a while before the wiring is up and running. He'll remember you.´
Charlotte nodded bravely.
´Does he live on his own?´
´No, he doesn't doctor.´
´He thinks he isn't married.´
´That's true.´
´Are there people who can take care of him?´
Charlotte smiled at the thought of all the maids who'd fight to get a chance to pamper the Head of Security.
´Yes there are,´ she replied, adding: ´Will he be released from hospital soon?´
´Not today. I will keep him in observation for 24 hours at least. What line of work is he in? I ask this because the demands of some jobs -´
´He's a bodyguard,´ Charlotte interrupted.
´I have a folder that points out the effects a concussion can have on a patient. I will give it to you, so you can hand it to his commander and -´
´Mr Romero is the Head of Security,´ Charlotte smiled.
´Oh. He is, is he? Oh. OK. Well I suppose you need not give him the folder then.´
Charlotte took it anyway: ´I'll show it to our boss.´
´Your boss? Oh! Yes. I see.´
The doctor was sorry that they'd run out of colour printed folders and she scolded herself for that.
OoOoOoO
Meanwhile the man in the hospital room had checked the bag the young woman called Charlotte had given him. The stuff inside it looked familiar somehow.
´Joe,´ he said aloud. Yeah, the name with which Charlotte had addressed him rang a bell. It seemed right. He hadn't known her name any more than he'd known his own. Despite what the doctor had said, he was worried for not recognising Charlotte. She'd been embarrassed for having to tell her name. He had decided not to make things worse by asking her about their relationship especially not since she'd come all the way from the capital to bring him clothes.
I also brought you a letter Joe, Charlotte had said and she'd meaningfully glanced at the envelop she'd handed him.
Joe looked at it again. It read Joseph.
Joseph. Joe, Joseph. Yes, Joseph felt fine too.
He opened it.
Joseph,
You do agree with me that trying to get rid of your motor cycle like that is not the smartest thing to do, don't you? I am so very relieved that you are all right -ish. I hope you can come home soon. Meanwhile: rest (and that's an order!)
C
Who was C? From the handwriting he guessed that C was a woman and he reasoned that Charlotte wasn't C, for she'd said that she'd brought him a letter and not that she'd written him one. He felt sad.
When the doctor re-entered the room, she found her patient asleep, holding a letter. She woke him up to execute her checks.