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Chapter Twenty-Nine
Calling Work
Esmerelda and Sybil left the bathroom and returned to the hospital ward where they now found Ethel lying back in the bed, panting. She was exhausted because the few steps she had taken required a lot of her energy, The sisters ran over to Ethel concerned.
"Are you okay Ethie?" Esmerelda asked as she reached her and touched her shoulder, worried.
"Yes….I am just tired, it was harder than I thought" Ethel replied out of breathe. Esmerelda knew right now her sister was weak so it was probably just normal.
"It is alright Ethel, a little bit at a time yes? Your body needs to recover" Esmerelda told her not wanting her to overwork herself. Ethel nodded before she looked at her bedside table.
"Can you pass me that glass of water Sybil?" Ethel asked and the youngest nodded and quickly handed it to her sister, who gulped it to try and calm her breathing.
"Thank you" Ethel said as she sat on her bed, trying to catch her breath, she had not thought it was going to be so hard for her.
"It will get easier Ethel, trust me" Esmerelda told Ethel as she knew her body had to get used to the new ways she was using her muscles and then it will be easy for Ethel to walk without panting.
"I hope so…." Ethel replied with a sigh, struggling with her new mobility issues right in that moment.
Esmerelda knew that it was a good thing that Ethel was being helped to walk by the nurses at the hospital, they were after all the professionals and knew what they were doing, but she did feel like they were overworking Ethel. For the next few days, Ethel would be exhausted after she had walked and Esmie was worried it was not good to put so much pressure on her recovering body.
"They know what they are doing, I am sure there is a reason for it" Sybil commented as Esmerelda told her sisters about her concerns after Ethel was once again left exhausted and panting after one of her walking sessions.
"I don't want Ethel to injure herself more" Esmerelda replied concerned for her little sister but Ethel shook her head before replying.
"Don't worry Esmie, I will be fine, it is getting easier already" Ethel told her sister and Esmie smiled, glad she was finding it easier, at least she wasn't finding it harder.
Now that Ethel was not on her deathbed though Esmerelda had a new worry in her mind and that was her job. It had been a few days since the accident and she had not contacted her work, nor looked at the messages on her phone. She knew they had probably already dismissed her because she hadn't even explained, but Ethel had to be her priority and Esmerelda did not want to leave her alone, even if she was in a hospital and being looked after. Therefore, the next morning, when Ethel and Sybil were both still asleep, she knew it was time to call them. She walked into the hallway as quietly as she could and then out of the hospital, to the entrance, knowing she was not meant to use a phone inside the hospital. She turned on her phone and saw she had twenty missed calls and just as many messages, she gulped, scared. She knew she was about to lose her job and now she had medical expenses she needed it more than ever. Yes Ethel got free care but she knew there would be things that were not covered, but she knew she had to tell them, even if it scared her. Therefore Esmie dialled the number and waited as the phone started to ring.
"Hello Robinson's Cafe, I am Cheryl, how may I help you?" a cheery voice said down the phone. Esmerelda knew who Cheryl was as she had worked with her before and she gulped, scared of being yelled at down the phone.
"Erm Cheryl….it's Esmerelda….can you put Jessica on?" Esmerelda said in a quiter voice than she normally would.
There was no response to that just silence and Esmerelda sighed, thinking Cheryl had hanged up on her but then she heard noise on the other end and the voice of her boss.
"Esmerelda" the woman said in a cold way. Esmie was not surprised she had left the woman in a lurch after she had given her a chance.
"Look….I know you don't want me working anymore, but I just rang to say I am sorry for not turning up for work and I am sorry for not ringing you, my head was all over the place, I didn't think" Esmerelda told the woman knowing how much the woman must hate her in that moment, she would hare herself in that moment for what she had done to them.
"Esmerelda….all I want to know is why...I gave you a chance and I thought you would appreciate that" the woman told the girl on the other end, sounding disappointed.
"I did...I mean I do…..the truth of the matter is there was an incident with one of my sisters….she had an accident and I have spend the last few days in the hospital" Esmerelda told her being careful not to say it happened flying, the woman wasn't a witch, she didn't want her thinking she was crazy.
"Oh dear!" the woman said sounding shocked as it was revealed that Esmerelda was not skiving because she could not be bothered going in. "Is she okay?" Jessica asked, knowing the girl was younger than Esmerelda and concerned about her well-being.
"She is alive thankfully...but she has injured her back and legs, she is not able to walk properly right now, I really am sorry, but I can't be at work right now, I have to stay here with my sisters" Esmerelda said as she shivered, not sure if it was from fear, being upset or because she was actually cold.
"Oh my goodness! I am sorry I had no idea" the woman told her, having no clue that Ethel had had such an accident.
"Thank you...I am sorry to let you down after everything" Esmerelda told her with a sigh, not looking forward to going job hunting once again, especially now Ethel needed extra care.
"It is alright honey, you take all the time you need and call me when you are ready to return" Jessica told the youngster, taking Esmerelda of guard.
"You...you want me back?" Esmerelda asked, she had thought she was going to be fired for sure.
"Why wouldn't I? You are one of my best workers, I am not happy you waited so long to tell me but I know you were worried and couldn't get in touch, I am not going to make things harder for you by throwing you out, your job will be waiting when you need it" Jessica told her and Esmerelda felt tears escape her eyes.
"But...it could be months...I don't know how long Ethel will be in hospital for" Esmerelda told her, making sure the woman realised she meant months and not days.
"Then you stay at the hospital with her, the hospital is your priority, I can pay you sick pay for the first few months, so don't worry" Jessica told Esmerelda and more tears streamed Esmie's cheeks, because of how kind people can be, she hadn't had that much since she took Ethel and Sybil.
"Thank you….thank you...how can I ever thank you..." Esmerelda replied, crying now she was talking and not making much sense.
"By looking after those sisters of yours, I won't keep you as I know you have somewhere you need to be, I hope Ethel gets better soon, goodbye Esmerelda" Jessica said before she ended the call and Esmerelda just looked at her phone amazed. That woman had being very nice to her since the day she met her and now was not firing her, it took a whole weight of the girls mind, now she could be with Ethel without a worry.
She realised then it was getting cold so she walked back into the hospital and made the way to the ward, finding Ethel was now awake and sitting up.
"Where did you go?" Ethel asked, looking at Esmerelda in a sad way, clearly thinking she had decided to leave, the blonde would always be paranoid about that.
"Sorry Ethie-Weathie, I went to call work...it was about time I told them what had happened" Esmerelda told her sister as she hugged her gently, seeing Sybil was still asleep.
"They fired you then?" Ethel asked about to say it was her fault and she was sorry for ruining the opportunity for her.
"Actually no, surprisingly my boss wanted me to keep working there and gave me time of on sick leave, so that means I am here for an as long as you need me" Esmerelda replied, beaming at Esmerelda now as she told her the good news.
Ethel suddenly threw herself at Esmerelda, hugging her tightly, happy and relieved she would not be alone, Esmie smiled and hugged her back, glad she was able to be here with Ethel for as long as it took.
