ROLE CHANGE CHAPTER TWENTY
"Ethan?"
"Liza! Wonderful to hear from you! How are your parents?"
"They're fine, thanks. I thought you'd be annoyed with me for spending Christmas with Mum and Dad instead of with you."
"No; I've learned that we need to appreciate the people in our lives while we still have them."
Liza's voice was concerned.
"What's brought that on, Ethan?"
"A friend of mine's been through hell last weekend. His wife died – was murdered, actually – and he's in pieces."
"I'm so sorry."
"We all are; he's a lovely guy. It's taught me to make the most of life though."
"Good attitude. I rang to see if you wanted to go to the theatre next week? Do you like Shakespeare?"
"Depends which play."
"Much Ado about Nothing."
"Now that one I like."
"That's good because I've got you a ticket for next Friday night. If-" Liza chose her words as carefully as she could, "-If you could get to the theatre I'd be able to sort out wheelchair access for you."
"Will you still be sitting with me?"
"Of course."
"I'd love to go please. But you have to let me buy you dinner afterwards."
"Sounds like a good night out to me."
"What's wrong with you? You don't usually sing in the house."
"I don't, but my gorgeous girlfriend's treating me to Shakespeare and I'm treating her to dinner so it's all good."
"Has she seen you eating before or should I warn her?"
"I eat like a gentleman!"
"You do; it's the size of the portions that'll creep her out."
"Cheeky sod… Cal, something's been on my mind. It got pushed to the back with everything that's happened to Ben, but… did you mean it when you said I could start looking for a flat?"
"Only because you were acting like a pillock!"
"Ah. Not that I'm thinking of being under your and Sophie's feet forever, you understand?"
Cal looked seriously at Ethan.
"We will need space once the baby gets bigger, but you can take time to look. Hey, Liza will probably be able to tell you about all the scams and loopholes that happen with flat hunting."
"Possibly but you don't think I'd make my girlfriend talk shop in her free time?"
Liza and Ethan enjoyed 'Much Ado' and Liza didn't even raise her eyebrows when Ethan, hearing Beatrice's chilling line "Kill Claudio" and being disgusted by that character's chauvinistic attitude, blurted out "Yeah, go for it!" louder than he'd intended.
"That was great" he enthused afterwards.
"Oh I could see you were getting right into it" Liza teased him.
"I just hope you enjoy the meal as much as I've enjoyed the show" Ethan said.
"When would I ever not enjoy a free meal?" Liza grinned.
Ethan sighed as the taxi drew up at Liza's flat.
"A gentleman would help you to your door."
"You don't have to prove you're a gentleman to me, Ethan. I'll be fine and you need to keep dry. I'll call you tomorrow if that's okay?"
"Please."
He kissed her, wishing it didn't have to be through a taxi window.
As soon as he'd paid off the taxi and wheeled himself up to the door, he let himself relax. He'd had to ration alcohol for so long now because of the amount of painkillers he had to take. Tonight he'd enjoyed the wine and the slightly woozy feeling it had given him. He began to bawl "Sigh no more, Ladies, Sigh no More" at the top of his lungs as he came wheeling into the lounge.
Only to see the unexpected guest sitting in the armchair opposite Cal and Sophia, an icy stare on her face.
"Hello, Ethan. Enjoyed the play, I see."
"Oh Mrs Beauchamp, I'm so sorry."
Cal smirked at Ethan over Connie's head.
"You will be" Connie said, allowing her face to relax into a smile, "I called to discuss Cal's new job with him."
"New job?" Ethan looked perplexed.
"I want him back on the team – part time to begin with – as soon as possible. How would you feel about that?"
Cal waited for the outburst but Ethan merely nodded.
"I could manage; I could call my Girl Friday, Sue. She'd come and check on me in the day."
"Excellent."
"Where's Sophie, by the way?"
"Feeling a little under the weather" Cal told him, " I think Christmas got us all down a little, what with everything that happened to Ben. She's having a snooze."
"That reminds me" Connie's interruption was the gentlest they'd ever heard from her, "Ask Ben to have a word with me sometime. I'm in need of another nurse on the team and – well, better for him to keep busy than brood and upset himself."
Somehow Cal couldn't see work being a cure for somebody as broken as Ben was.
"I hope you told her where to go when you rang her?" Dylan said, outraged.
"No, actually. Dylan, if I go back to work I can start to heal people again. I wasn't there for Sara and that will haunt me till I die. But I can help others, Dylan. The only thing I've insisted on is that I can take time off at short notice if – if David keeps his promise to bring Alex to the UK sometimes."
"I'm going to speak to her tomorrow" Dylan said, his eyes suddenly becoming more animated.
"No, please; I do need this-"
Dylan gave him a half-smile.
"I want her to let you work with me again."
"That-" replied Ben, "That would help me a lot."
Cal remained anxious about Sophia for a good couple of months, then she seemed to find her strength again, and by Easter she was what the romantic writers would call 'Blooming'. Ethan had found his flat, and though he was nervous about being alone, insisted that it would be best for all concerned. Sue had promised to come straight over any time Ethan felt uneasy or afraid.
Ben began back at Holby and though at first he found it difficult to cope with all the well-meaning but painful questions, with Dylan's help he took up his own job again.
He'd had another call from Nicky Lascelles, asking how he was. Nicky didn't know the full details but knew Ben had had to withdraw from the West End musical project because of 'a personal grief'.
"I'll be writing and producing a new musical from early next year, Ben. I'll check to see if you still want to do it, and if your voice is still up to it, if you're interested."
Ben suddenly remembered how he'd wanted to be with Sara at a West End musical. If he were to perform in one after all, it would mean that in a way, Sara would be with him. She'd be in his mind and heart; he'd be singing for her.
The healing process was well under way.