Sally’s Return: 2nd Book in this Romance Short Story Series (5 page)

“Ha
ha, well you are obviously in good humour – which is a great sign! How about the headaches – are they any better?”

“
Mmmuch better thanks..” She replied. Then asked the consultant.

“
Wwwhhat…about ththe speech problem?”

“Don’t you worry about that Mrs Lindsey, with a little speech therapy I’m confident that will be fixed in no time – in fact although you may not notice it; but I see a difference already!”

Agnes looked pleased. “Does tthat….mean I can…gggo home sssoon..?”

“Well now let’s not rush things, shall we. A few more days just to get the headaches sorted, and for your body to heal
properly; then I’m sure we can leave you in the tender care of your son here.”

“Lord
have mercccy!” Agnes spluttered out with a smile, causing them all to have a good laugh.

“Now
now, I’m sure he will be the doting son that you have always wanted from now on Mrs Lindsey – isn’t that right Robert?”

“Don’t worry doctor – she will milk this for the rest of my life!”

“Ha ha Ok, I’d better get on my rounds to see to the other patients now. I’ll drop by again tomorrow and see how things are progressing.”

As he left, he motioned
to Robert to follow him outside the door.

When they were out of earshot, the consultant spoke to him in a low voice.

“Robert, I just wanted you to understand that your mother has had a very near call – If you understand my meaning?”

Robert nodded silently.

“I am confident that she will make a full recovery in time, however she is still very delicate and the injury to her skull, is still causing inflammation to the brain – this I’m sure is the reason behind her speech problems.”

The consultant looked at Robert to be sure he
was comprehending the gravity of the situation.

“Agnes may well be allowed home within the next few
days, however you must be sure that she is kept calm, and her blood pressure under control. Any excitement leading to increased blood pressure, could be disastrous at this stage – do you understand?”

“How long then until she is ‘out of the woods’ then doctor – do you know?” Robert asked concerned.

“Well an injury like that can take many months to heal, and for some – never! But let’s look on the optimistic side; if all goes well she could be good as new in 3 months or so – she is not the kind to just lie down in the face of adversity!”

He thanked the consultant for his advice, and headed back to his mother’s room; relief and concern flooding his mind in equal measure. He was going to have a hard task on his hands getting Agnes to take it
easy, that was for sure.

******

Finally the time had arrived for Sally to board the plane, still a little groggy from the surprise farewell party the office had arranged the previous night. She was however in buoyant spirits as she headed for the departure lounge of the airport.

It had not been as much trouble as she thought, wrapping up her life in the US; true some things like immigration laws etc had yet to be overcome, but that was nothing major. She was fortunate that the apartment had sold quickly to a property investment company, keen on investing in an optimistic view of a returning property boom.
“Ah well, that’s their problem now!”
She thought to herself, wondering if the property market would ever be the sure thing it was back ‘in the day’.

Family concerns were no longer an issue, now that her father had gone. She was an only child, and the distant cousins were so distant that she did not know them. Her fath
er had two sisters, both of whom had married and had 3 kids each, but that was about as much as she knew of them; really just making contact with them at the funeral for the first time.

As for the work at the Milwaukee Journal; she had promised John that she would keep in touch, and maybe do some freelance work from the UK. In fact once he thought of it, he was pleased to have his ‘man in the UK’ and glad to keep her on a minor retainer. She was in fact financially independent enough now, to not need the job
at all; her father’s wise early investments in the rising gold market now adding up to almost 4 million dollars.

The figure had totally shocked her at first, when the lawyer called her into the office to read out the will
, advising her of her inheritance. Just like her father however, she had a cool head on her shoulders, and was determined to prove herself worthy of this opportunity. The money would be used wisely, and no-one would get to know about the sum involved with the exception of Robert – her new husband-to-be. One of the good things about the cash is that she could prove to the authorities that she was not marrying for the money, which in itself could scupper any immigration plans or attempt at citizenship.

As she waited in the lounge to be called to the first of two flights – first to Reykjavik in Iceland and from there to Edinburgh, Scotland – she
thought delightedly of her last call to Robert.

Agnes had been released from hospital just yesterday, after getting a cautious ‘all clear’ from the consultant.

Sally just could not remember a time when she had felt so free and light, as she did at that moment. Things had gone so well off late, that she had to turn around and touch the wooden table next to her out of superstitious dread of everything going wrong.

“That’s just stupid superstition Sally!”
She said to herself, immediately regretting her actions. She was not normally the superstitious type, being a ‘cynical journalist’ by conviction.

“Excuse me?” A voice next to her spoke out.

“What.. Oh I’m sorry..I suppose I was talking to myself again!” She flushed with embarrassment.

“Ha
ha, don’t you fret young lady, I often talk to myself; it is supposed to be a sign of an active mind, though I suspect at my age it’s more a sign is senility!”

They both laughed at the joke, Sally immediately warming to this distinguished looking older
gentleman.

“Oh, how rude.
Please let me introduce myself. My name is Malcolm Frazer.”

He held out his hand, which she took immediately while blurting out. “And I’m Sally
McInnis, it’s a pleasure to meet you Mr Frazer.”

“Oh please, just Malcolm would be fine.”

“In that case, please call me Sally!” She said returning his smile.

“
So tell me Sally, what drags you away from your homeland and off to distant shores – is it a holiday perhaps?”

“Well not exactly; I’m actually on my way to get m
arried to a handsome Scotsman!” As the words left her mouth, she felt a flutter of excitement in her stomach, as the realisation that she was truly on her way dawned on her.

“My dear, that’s marvelous news indeed! I myself a
m just heading home to Scotland; we must have the same flight?”

They checked their tickets and sure enough, not only the same flights but the
‘Business Class’ seats on the flight to Reykjavik were next to each other.

“Ha
ha, well that’s bad news for you Malcolm!”

“Why is that Sally?”

“Because I chatter like a Parrot when I’m nervous, and flying makes me nervous!”

Malcolm laughed at that, stating categorically that flying was still the safest mode of transport. It only seemed dangerous because of all the publicity, when a plane finally did come down.

“Honestly, you are in far more danger just going out for your morning paper, than you are flying one thousand miles!”

“Well that much I can understand, after my experience driving up to see my friend in Scotland last year.”

Sally went on to give a full account of her crash in a blizzard on the way to Aviemore, and her subsequent rescue by her ‘handsome prince’.

Malcolm was about to reply, when the Tannoy announced the gate open for them to take their seats.

“Well Sally, we will have lots of time to discuss things on the flight – I’m looking forward to hearing all about you! I do find these flights so boring most times – so you can chatter away to your hearts content!”

He gave her a wink and a smile as he lifted up his hand luggage.

Sally stepped forward, offering a helping hand.

“That is quite all right my dear, I will manage just fine. Decrepitude will only advance all the quicker, if I allow others to take too much responsibility for me!” He said smiling
.

Sally laughed at that, automatically taking his arm as they headed off towards the boarding gate.

They were soon comfortable in their seats, ready for the six hour flight to Reykjavik. She had never flown business class before; at $3,000 it was far too expensive to even consider, until recently.

Malcolm however was obviously used to it, and seemed very much at home in his surroundings
. They had tea and coffee served whilst waiting for their in-flight meal to arrive.

“Well now Sally, you were telling me about your handsome Scotsman?”

“Ah yes, well…you asked for it!” She replied mischievously as she launched into her story about meeting Robert in the midst of the blizzard, and all that had happened since. Malcolm only interrupting when it was necessary, to ‘fill in the blanks,’ in the on-going narrative.

He sensed wisely that talking would take her mind of her fear of flying; and for her part, Sally really appreciated his efforts to calm her.

The six hours had almost gone, and they were on the approach to Reykjavik before she realised with some horror, that she had done all the talking, and that she knew very little about Malcolm himself.

“That is quite ok my dear.” He graciously replied to her
embarrassed apology.

“I’m just an old man, on my way home.
Nothing exciting to report here at all. However I can tell you that I know where you are going very well. In fact I stay at Coylumbridge, on the outskirts of Aviemore!”

“SHUT UP!” Sally exclaimed, to which a shocked Malcolm just looked back at her aghast.

“Oh..I’m sorry Malcolm! That is just my way of saying I don’t believe it!”

Malcolm raised his brows in comical fashion.

“Well I must say, I have used that phrase a number of times in my lifetime – but not in that context! It might be quite amusing to try it on some of my colleagues; though on second thoughts…perhaps not!”

He turned a wry smile on her, as they headed off to catch the next flight from Reykjavik to Edinburgh.

“Well Sally, would you perhaps like a small drink while we wait for the flight? It is another hour or so I believe before it leaves for Edinburgh.”

“I would love that Malcolm – provided you are not fed-up with my endless chatter!”

“Ha ha, not at all my dear, I have enjoyed your company immensely. Indeed why shouldn’t I? It’s not every day that a gentleman of my age, has the opportunity to chat with an attractive young lady after all!”

“Hmm, I can see I will have to watch out for you!”

Sally gave him a playful nudge as they headed off to the Bar.

******

Sally was disappointed to see when they boarded the flight to
Scotland, that the seating arrangement did not allow for them sitting together as previously; and so at this point they had to part company.

“My dear it has been a real blessing to meet you, I have thoroughly enjoyed your company.” Malcolm said as they shook hands. “Please do give me a call when you get to Aviemore, I
am sure my wife would just love to have you for lunch maybe – and your future husband of course.” He gave her a business card, which she thanked him for as she slipped it into her pocket without a glance.

S
he then reached up and gave him a peck on the cheek; for although a man in his late sixties, he still stood erect with no sign of stooping shoulders, betraying his years.

“That would be just delightful
Malcolm, I’ll be sure and do that! I’ve been really glad of your company – though I’m a little concerned that your ears must be nearly bleeding by now!”

“Ha
ha, not at all Sally it’s been my pleasure entirely.”

They both made their way to their seats, and settled down for the last leg of the journey.

Two hours later, the plane touched down at a mist-shrouded Edinburgh Airport, with Sally’s heart racing at the thought of re-uniting with Robert, after what seemed an absolute Age.

On her way through the hustle and bustle of human traffic, fighting to get through passport control, she tried to spot her traveling companion; but Malcolm was nowhere to be
seen. She let out a sigh, for she would like to have introduced him to Robert, whom she had already informed Malcolm would be waiting for her at the Airport.

“Ah well, never mind Sally, you can call when you get to Aviemore.”
She thought to herself, as she eagerly collected her cases from the carousel, and headed through customs without any difficulty.