PART ELEVEN
"We've had a look at your test results," Meyer was barely listening as the specialist spoke mechanically at him, "and I'm afraid it confirms the worst. You do have Parkinson's." Meyer raised an eyebrow, his features still mostly nonreactive and emotionless. "Is there anyone we can call for you, I know this must come as a shock?" Meyer fixed the specialist with a narrow look.
"Not at all Mr. Edwards, I'll be fine," Meyer said calmly. Mr. Edwards wasn't convinced but he respected Meyer's wishes nevertheless. He was a tall, skinny man with wispy grey hair and wore off-putting transition lens glasses. He wore a dark grey suit that was completely mismatched and frayed, but despite his dishevelled appearance, he was renowned for being the best in the field, what he didn't know about diseases such as Parkinson's, wasn't worth knowing at all. He watched intently as Meyer processed his diagnosis, checking for any of the usual signs. Those being the signs that a person wasn't coming to terms with the news or if they outright disagreed. Meyer appeared on the surface to be taking it very well, but Edwards knew all too well that those who looked the calmest were often the ones who coped the worst. He sighed, taking off his glasses to give them a quick polish.
"I'll prescribe you L-DOPAs," Mr. Edwards informed Meyer matter-of-factly, handing Meyer the prescription note who nodded appreciatively. "It of course, goes without saying that you no longer operate."
"Naturally," Meyer said through gritted teeth. Mr. Edwards shot him a stern smile.
"I know this is going to be a huge upheaval to your life but there is counselling available should you need it," he told Meyer encouragingly. Meyer gave a dry laugh.
"Feel free to call on me at any time of the day or night," Mr. Edwards continued.
"That's most kind of you," Meyer responded. He gave a quick nod of the head to Mr. Edwards and exited the room.
Jac Naylor came to a screeching halt on her new motorbike outside Wyvern Wing. She was now crutch-free and slowly but surely getting back to her old self. Jac had been longing to get back on a bike for weeks, to feel the weight of it between her legs. She clambered off the seat, her dark leathers glowing in the midday sun and pulled off the cumbersome helmet. Jac shook her long strands of hair out of her eyes and blinked furiously, adjusting herself to the brightness.
"Looking good Ms. Naylor," Oliver said with a whistle as he walked past her. Jac gave him a smirk but she felt pleased however. Taking the keys out of the ignition, Jac followed Oliver into the building.
At last the day of Mrs. Waterman's discharge had arrived. The anti-rejection drugs were working efficiently and it was now almost certain that the new heart would not be rejected. If all went well, she would be allowed to go home later that afternoon with regular check-ups needed for the next six months. Although she had been given a new lease of life, Mrs. Waterman felt morose and somber. Now that she was soon leaving hospital the reality of recent events was flooding to her. She still had to arrange a funeral for her late husband; there were so many things to be sorted out.
"Margaret?" her sister, Olivia had finally bothered to show up. Mrs. Waterman ignored her. Olivia persisted, "Margaret talk to me?" Her voice was grating, like fingernails down a blackboard.
"Finally managed to fit me in with your busy schedule," Mrs. Waterman scoffed, still determinedly avoiding eye contact.
"You know what it's like Margaret, I don't have to explain myself to you," Olivia retorted.
"Why are you here Olivia?" Mrs. Waterman cut straight to the point. Whenever Olivia decided to visit her it was never just because she wanted to see her sister.
"I'm not allowed to visit my dear younger sister?" Olivia replied, feigning a look of utmost hurt on her crow-like features. Mrs. Waterman knew it by heart.
"Don't give me those puppy dog eyes Olivia, you know I detest it. You don't care about me, you only come if you think you'll benefit." Olivia's eyes flashed scarlet with rage.
"You've always been jealous of my success Margaret!" she snapped bitterly.
"Jealous? Me? Of you? I knew you were loopy Olivia but you've positively lost your marbles now!" Mrs. Waterman snapped back, her eyes wide and incredulous. Olivia's temper got the better of her and she made to slap Margaret, her hand poised in mid-air just as Mary Claire appeared.
"What is going on here?" she demanded as Olivia lowered her hand sheepishly. "Your sister has just been through a very traumatic operation," Mary Claire told Olivia angrily. "You do not go around hitting people!" There was no response. "Do you want to tell me what this is all about?"
"She started it," Olivia said childishly.
"I don't care who started it," Mary Claire said exasperatedly. "All I care is that it doesn't happen again. Can you assure me you will behave civilly or do I have to ask you to leave?" There was a brief silence as Olivia calculated this in her mind. Finally she nodded.
"Did you get the results?" Hanssen asked Meyer concernedly. Meyer thought about this for a few moments before replying.
"Yes," he said simply. Hanssen gave him a look that clearly said: well? "All-clear," Meyer lied. He didn't know why he lied, it just came to him in that instance. Hanssen peered into his eyes and for a few moments it looked as if he would spot Meyer's lie but seconds later he looked away.
"That's excellent news," he said with a dry smile. "With Mr. Hope still on leave we would hate to lose you now."
"Thank you," Meyer said quietly. He felt disgusted by his lie but the cat was out of the bag now.
Jac examined Mrs. Waterman carefully whilst Olivia hopped around the bed like an irritating fly that you desperately wanted to swat.
"Would you please get out of the way," Jac demanded in exasperation as Olivia bounded into her for the fourth time. She mumbled an apology. "Everything is just as it should be," Jac told Mrs. Waterman who smiled in thanks.
"When are you going to let her home?" Olivia said abruptly. Jac scowled; she did not like being demanded by patient relatives.
"Later today hopefully. We just have to run a few more tests and then we'll see," she told Olivia. Olivia tutted. Jac ignored her and swept away, thankful to get away from the woman.
"Why do you have to be so rude?" Mrs. Waterman reprimanded her sister.
"I was merely asking," Olivia replied defiantly. She sighed. "Please let's not fight Maggie?" Mrs. Waterman considered this carefully.
"Okay."
"I heard about Peter. I'm really sorry," Olivia said and for once she meant it.
"Thank you."
"If there's anything I..."
"Thank you." Olivia took hold of her sister's hand and squeezed it gently. Although their differences were not solved, they would lay them aside for now. Over at the nurses station Jac and Oliver watched the two sisters engage in colourful conversation. Even Jac's hard exterior felt moved.
"Have you thought about what I said this morning?" Oliver asked. Jac turned away from Margaret and Olivia to gaze at him intently. She blinked, thinking...
TO BE CONTINUED
