Carol is driving very nervous, reminding herself she must not run. It started drizzling as soon as she left the house, and the last thing she needs is to skid the car. Ms. Grey had been very patient with her.
"Your husband wouldn't stop winking and touching his temple during the interview", she had explained, "When I asked him if he was OK, he told me he had fell against a stonewall two weeks ago. In fact, the scar is very visible". Carol had hated herself when hearing that. "We offered him a glass of water, but he seemed to be in deep pain. We practically forced him to go to hospital… he said it was nothing." Carol had shaken her head. "No, we didn't let him drive. We asked for a cab for him. Do you know where the local hospital is?"
Yes, Carol knows. She crosses Halifax city centre at full speed, parks in forbidden zone and storms in the casualty room. John is not there. He never was. The receptionist offers to give her the phones of other hospitals in the area, but Carol says no. She thanks her, goes out and phones the bank again on her mobile.
"Ms. Grey? Sorry for bothering you again. No, they know nothing about my husband at the hospital. Can you give me the name of the cab company? They will be able to tell us where they took him."
xxxxxxxxxxx
Carol feels confused while she drives towards Leeds General Infirmary. Why would John go so far? There are several medical centres nearer. The casualty room is overcrowded when she enters. The receptionist is very kind to her. Maybe because Carol is as white as a sheet and shaking like a leaf.
"We discharged your husband almost an hour ago. You have nothing to worry about. Mr. Standring left unaided."
Carol breathes relieved and clings to the counter. Suddenly, she feels a hand on her shoulder. She turns and sees an Afro-Caribbean middle-aged nurse, with round glasses held by a chain.
"Are you Ralphie's wife?"
Carol smiles. It is true. John's full name is "Ralph John Standring". She teased him very often about that.
"I'm Sister Dixon. You can call me Nelly. I've known your husband since he was a small child… and you're even prettier than he said."
Her sweet expression invites Carol to trust her.
"Ralphie only needs to rest, that's all", Nelly explains. "The doctor told him he was very lucky. An inch higher and the blow would have been fatal."
Carol puts a hand on her forehead, feeling she is going to faint. Even if it pains her to admit it, Andrew behaved like a beast that day. He could have killed John! Nelly strokes her cheek.
"Poor thing! You got scared. Do you want to have a coffee? I would like to speak to you a little, if you don't mind."
Carol nods her head.
The hospital's canteen is almost empty at that time. Carol and Nelly sit next to the window, with two steaming coffee cups.
"I first met Ralphie when he was eight", Nelly starts to speak. "They brought him to the casualty room, with a concussion. The day of the accident."
"What accident?"
"Hasn't he told you?", the nurse looks at her astonished. "Of course, you have not been married very long."
"Less than a month", Carol sighs. She tries to warm her hands with the coffee.
Nelly rests her elbows on the table and smiles shyly.
"Forgive me. Sometimes I speak too much. Perhaps… perhaps it should be Ralphie who told you."
Carol holds her by the arm.
"Please. You must know that he's not very talkative. I need to know."
Nelly removes her glasses and rubs her nose bridge. She takes a deep breath.
"Ralphie was in a car with his family. It had rained all day and they skidded on the road. He was in a coma for a week. He woke up to find out that his parents and his little sister had died." The nurse sips her coffee. "He had to stay for a long time in the hospital. Apart from the blow to his head, he had very serious injuries in his legs. He practically had to learn how to walk again."
Carol remembers then that she saw a huge scar on his tight during their wedding night.
"All the nurses loved him to bits. He was as uncomplaining as a lamb. Did you get to know his grandfather?"
"Just superficially."
"A decent man. He brought Ralphie up. Unfortunately, he started suffering from Alzheimer when your husband was eighteen."
"Yes. John looked after him until he died. I remember it well."
"That's the reason I'm so happy you have your own farm", Nelly goes on. "It always was Ralphie's dream. He had started studying Agriculture at college, but he had to quit in order to look after his grandfather."
Carol raises her eyebrows, surprised.
"John? In college?"
Nelly gives her a severe look.
"I'm conscious that some people think he is a simpleton. But it's not his fault. He had no long-term effects after the coma, only it takes him a little to react when people speaks to him."
Carol hides her face behind her coffee. Nelly sweetens her expression.
"When he got the job at your farm, it was the first time in ages I saw him smile."
The girl wrinkles her nose and giggles in disbelief.
"My father was a bully and a drunkard. How could he be happy to work for him?"
"He was aware of what your father was like. He was thankful because he never complained if he needed free time to take care of his granddad. But that was all. Ralphie hated the way in which your father treated you. In fact, he made him angry by taking your part a hundred times."
"I never knew that John took my part." Carol seems pleasantly surprised. Nelly smiles when she notices it and keeps talking.
"If Ralphie was happy at your farm, it was because of you and your little sister. Then, he frequently came to the hospital with his granddad. I took him for coffee whenever I could. I knew Ralphie had nobody else to talk. His face brightened each time he mentioned you two." Nelly finishes her coffee and leaves the cup to one side. "I know he adores your little sister Lisa. She was five when Ralphie first met her. Same age as his little sister when she died."
Carol's expression becomes sad. She tries to drink her coffee, but realises it went cold.
"However, it was you he talked about the most. He never admitted it, but I know he fancied you from the beginning. He told me the first thing you did was looking at him from head to toe and shout: 'Gosh, you're big!'. He got so nervous that he dropped his hammer and hit his foot." Nelly laughs. "He went as red as a tomato while he told me."
Now it is Carol who gets red. She remembers that day very well. She had escaped to the moor soon after, to see Andrew. Both had been laughing for a while at the "clumsy lad" her father had hired.
"The doctor and I told him off today. Ralphie should have come to the hospital the day he fell. Given his history, any head injury has to be closely monitored. We ordered him complete rest for a week."
"I'll make sure he does it", Carol promises. "Even if I have to tie him to the bed."
Nelly holds her hand and looks into her eyes.
"Look after my boy, Carol. And, please, love him very much. He deserves to be happy."
TO BE CONTINUED