Chapter 7
Just noticed an embarrassing mistake for which autocorrect is responsible. It has turned all my TBCs to TBAs, LOL! Oh well….you know what I meant! Thank you for all the lovely reviews I have not had time to respond to at all. I'm sorry. They are very much appreciated! It's just...life. I can't seem to make it slow down. Anyway, here's the next chapter. As usual I have not proofread for mistakes and I'm sorry about that. I do good to get it written, much less corrected!
When Charles came back inside Elsie and Beryl were in the kitchen, Elsie at the kitchen table, having abandoned the huge wheelchair. "I'm starving!" he said as he came in.
"Good! There's plenty!" Beryl replied, ladling out a large helping of her chicken soup and handing him a thick slice of fresh buttered bread. "Hope you don't mind I rummaged through your cupboards to find the bowls and utensils." she grinned.
"Nonsense, glad you know your way around a kitchen." he replied happily, sitting down next to Elsie. "Mmmmm." he sighed as he took his first bite. "This is delicious Beryl!"
"Thank you. Now, when you're done I have some of Elsie's things out in my car and I need help bringing them in."
"Not here twenty minutes and already bossing him around." Elsie giggled.
"Yep, and he better get used to it!" Beryl replied, winking at Charles.
After they'd finished eating Charles followed Beryl out to her car to retrieve Elsie's things. "Did you pack up her entire flat?" he asked, standing the chuckling at Beryl's car loaded down with suitcases, bags and such.
"Nearly...Charles, I feel it only fair to warn you that Elsie is a bit...how do I say this...High Maintenance at times." Beryl grinned. "She's very down to earth but she does love her girly things. She's got more clothes, shoes and definitely more jewelry and makeup than I have ever had in me life." she said shaking her head. "She loves a mani and pedi, getting her hair done and she's got more bath accessories than I have ever seen."
"Bath accessories? What do you need beside soap and a washcloth?"
"Bubble bath, scented soaps, special bath sponges, a bath pillow….bath bombs."
"What on earth is a...bath bomb?!"
Beryl laughed heartily. "You're in for some culture shock that's for sure...say, speaking of the bath...how is she gonna...wait, nevermind, I don't wanna know!"
Charles looked aghast. "For your information there is a wheelchair accessible shower in her suite. She can just roll right in. She gets her stitches out tomorrow and I'm sure she'll be glad to finally get in a real shower. There's also an intercom system in there. I had it put in, in case Mum ever fell or needed help. It's voice activated...rather high-tech...you just have to say the special phrase and it broadcasts to the speakers throughout the house."
Beryl shook her head as she handed Charles a suitcase. "And what is this special phrase?"
"Well, you have to program it to recognize your voice you see. So she can make it whatever she likes. Mum's was Help me Charlie." He said, his voice suddenly serious. "She used it the night she fell and broke her hip."
"I see...well then, it sounds like you've got everything covered Charles. I'm so very thankful you're doing this for her. I'm not sure how she'd manage otherwise." Beryl stated, patting his arm.
"I'm honored to be able to do this for her and a little bit selfish because I certainly want her here. Beryl, I want you to know that my intentions are honorable. I have no intentions of taking advantage of this situation. My biggest concern is for her to heal and get back on her feet but I'd be lying if I didn't say that I feel myself falling for her."
Beryl smiled back at him. "I believe you Charlie...and you've no worries…she's falling head over heels for you as well. Just...one day at a time. Something tells me she's gonna have a lot to deal with over her ex husband's death and the publicity her accident has brought about hasn't helped. I assume you've heard that you've both been in the news?"
"We've heard. Thought I'd try and avoid the subject today, give her time to rest up."
"Good idea...now, let's get all this stuff inside shall we...before the lady herself comes out to see if we've been kidnapped from the driveway."
Once Elsie's things had been brought in and put away, Beryl excused herself to run her errands and head back home. Charles took Elsie back to her ensuite to set up the intercom system. "Now, you've got to follow the voice commands and repeat what it says so it can learn to recognize your voice, then you can set the passphrase that you say if you ever need help."
Elsie nodded, dutifully repeating the words and phrases until it had learned her voice. When it was time for her to record her passphrase, she looked up at him with unshed tears and sweetly replied, "I need you Charlie". The machine confirmed her passphrase was set up as she continued to look at him, a single tear flowing down her cheek. He leaned over, placing his hands on either side of the wheelchair and kissed her forehead.
"Why are you crying?" he whispered.
"I never thought I'd ever need someone again. Not in this way, I mean."
"And what way is that Miss Hughes?"
She sniffled and looked down at her hands. "In every way I can think of." When she looked back up he had tears in his eyes as well. "I need to go slow...you understand?"
"Completely. I'd never press you into anything Elsie. I need you to know that. One day at a time, ok?"
She nodded. "One day at a time."
After dinner they'd gone out on the back deck that overlooked the lake and Charles had made a fire in the firepit. They'd roasted marshmallows and made s'mores, which Elsie had never had. They'd snuggled in the porch swing as the sun went down and kissed sweetly. When he felt her shiver he decided they should go back inside. "I think I'll go to bed Charles. I'm completely exhausted. This is the most I've been awake and active since my accident."
"How's your pain level?"
"At the moment, about a 6."
"Well then, time for some meds and bed." he said, heading into the kitchen to get her pills and some water. He followed her into her room and set the pills and glass by the bed. "Now, do you have everything you need?"
"Yes, thank you. I believe I do. I can handle it from here."
"Alright love. Sweet dreams. Just press the call button here by the bed if you need me." She nodded, looking up at him sweetly. He leaned down and pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. "Good night Elsie." he whispered.
"Goodnight Charlie."
The next morning Charles knocked on her door, needing to wake her so she'd be ready in time for her appointment. She was still sleeping deeply when he peeked in. "Elsie" he whispered as he gently touched her arm. She stirred and slowly blinked as she woke up, turning and looking at him.
"Charles? What time is it?"
"It's gone 9. You're appointment is at 11 so I thought I should wake you. Breakfast is ready." he said, sitting down on the edge of the bed.
She rolled over and pushed her hair out of her eyes. "Yes. Thank you. Would you mind terribly bringing me tea? I'm terribly grumpy in the mornings until I've had my cuppa."
"Absolutely." he smiled. "You look beautiful by the way."
"Ha!" she laughed. She sat up on the edge of the bed and scooted herself into the wheelchair, wheeling herself into the ensuite to use the loo. When Charles came back with her tea she was still in there, wrestling with her dressing gown. He could here her murmuring under her breath.
"You ok in there?" he called through the door.
"Yes...be right out." she replied, opening the door and eagerly accepting the proffered cup of tea. "Mmm, it's perfect. How did you know?"
"Beryl left detailed instructions on the making of your morning tea." he chuckled.
"Thank you." she breathed into the cup.
Once breakfast was done and she'd cleaned up and dressed, they headed out to her doctor's appointment where she'd had her stitches removed and been given the ok for a "seated shower". The doctor also scheduled her Physical Therapy for three days a week and told her that in three weeks she'd get a walking boot if she continued to do well. Then they headed across the street to Charles' doctor to have his stitches removed as well. He was a bit less brave than she had been and fussed the entire time.
"You're a very bad patient." she scolded as he yelped as the last stitch came out.
"I've a low pain tolerance." he grouched, then chuckled at her expression. "Not everyone can be as strong and brave as Elsie Hughes." he teased. That got him a smack on the arm. "Ow!" he cried in mock pain causing her to giggle. He found it was a sound he simply loved to hear. Clean bill of health in hand, they headed for the medical supply company to pick out a new wheelchair.
"Well, they certainly have a wider variety than I expected." Elsie said, looking up at the display. "I expected small, medium and large. I never expected to have a color choice!"
"Well Milady, what'll it be? Generic black, royal blue, hot pink or candy apple red?" Charles asked.
"Oh I think candy apple red Mr. Carson...I mean it's not often a girl gets a new set of wheels is it?" she smiled up at him.
"You heard the lady, we'll take the red one." he said to the young man waiting patiently for her choice.
"Yes sir!" the young man replied.
The red chair chosen and paid for, Charles wheeled her out to the car. As they neared his Land Rover in the parking lot a man walked toward them briskly, a cameraman in tow. "Excuse me Mr. Carson, may we have word?" he said, shoving the microphone in Charles' direction.
"What? Who are you?" Charles exclaimed.
"Richard Carlisle, Channel 10 news. Mr. Carson, is it true that you rescued Miss Hughes after she plummeted down a snowy mountainside?"
Charles stopped, looking down at Elsie, her eyes wide. "Listen, this is not a good time Mr. Carlisle. Miss Hughes has had a very tiring morning." he said, starting toward his car again.
"Mr. Carson, is it true that you and Miss Hughes are now involved in a relationship and she has moved in with you?"
Charles ignored the man, continuing to push toward his car. Elsie, looked away from the camera.
"Miss Hughes, would you say that you and Mr. Carson are in a relationship?" She continued to ignore him. "Mr. Carson, how do you feel about Miss Hughes late husband's relationship with your former girlfriend, Alice Neal?"
Charles stopped abruptly and turned then, staring at the man before him down coldly. "I beg your pardon?!" he seethed.
"We have just learned that your former girlfriend, Alice Neal, was involved with a Mr. Joe Burns...Miss Hughes late ex husband. She was there the night he was killed." Carlisle said, grinning slyly, knowing he'd caught him off guard. "And furthermore Mr. Carson, we've also learned that you are a writer and go by the very famous name of Carson Edwards, the prolific romance novel writer. Do you deny this?"
Charles turned then, pushing Elsie's chair quickly to the Land Rover and placing her gently inside. He folded up the chair, shoved it in the back seat and nearly pushed Carlisle over as he climbed into the driver's seat, peeling out of the parking lot.
Elsie sat in stunned silence. "What? What?! How? I don't understand!"
"Neither do I, but I think it's time I called my lawyer and you should get in touch with yours as well. We need to know what the hell is going on!"
"Aye, Charlie. That we do." she said quietly. "What did your friend Alice look like?"
Charles sighed heavily. "I've not seen her in about a year, but she used to have long blonde hair, blue eyes, very tall and thin." Elsie nodded. "Why do you ask?"
"I knew Joe was having an affair before we separated...I…" she let out a tight huff. "That was one of the reasons he got so mad the night he beat me up. You see, I saw him with the last woman and confronted him about it…"
"Oh God." Charles rubbed his hand down his face. "Alice."
"From your description I'd say it's very likely."
"How long were you and Alice together?"
"We've known each other for years, dated on and off, but then the last three years we were serious. We broke up a little over a year ago I guess it's been. She'd started behaving strangely, drinking too much and then I found pills in her purse...when I confronted her she broke down, said she needed help. I told her I'd get her help, arranged for her to check in to a rehab center, but she didn't show. She texted me later that same day, said she'd found someone else and she was leaving. I saw her once after that across a crowded street, she looked at me and then turned and went the other way."
"Small world." Elsie whispered. Charles reached over and squeezed her hand. "It's a lot to process. I'm sorry."
"It isn't your fault."
"I know, but Elsie...it's not your fault either. Our only fault was in choosing the wrong partners...we won't make that mistake again." He rubbed the back of her hand where it lay on the seat between them.
She looked over at him and smiled through her tears. "No. We won't."
TBC
