Sleepwalk (40 page)

‘All right. But just for tonight. She’ll have to find somewhere tomorrow. Now, where is Ollie?’

When David left the hospital half an hour later Ellie was waiting downstairs at the main entrance. She looked up at him expectantly as he approached.

‘One night! You can stay tonight but you have to find somewhere tomorrow.’ He snapped.

‘Ok
Davie
.’

‘Don’t call me that!’

‘Ok Boss.’

‘Or that.’

‘Okay-ay.’

‘Seriously Ell ……….. I don’t want any disruptions in our lives. We have a happy life Flick and I; I’m happy; Flick’s happy; and Ollie is happy. You’d better not do anything to spoil what we have.’

‘David! If you’re all such a happy little family what can I possibly do to spoil it? Look …… I’m here to see Oliver; nothing more. I’m not going to come between you and Flick. In two weeks I’ll be back in the States…....’

Slim had a date. Her name was Molly. She was the younger sister of one of the girls at the office where he worked. She had been coming around a lot the last few weeks. He could tell from the start that she fancied him because of the way she looked at him and the way her cheeks went red whenever he spoke to her. When he’d finally plucked up the courage to ask her out there had been no hesitation when she’d simply said ‘Ok’.

They sat here now in the Three Feathers; Slim with his pint of best bitter and Molly with her half pint glass of lager. She was very quiet. Heather had said she was shy but they’d been here almost an hour and he’d barely got more than a few sentences out of her. It had come to the point where their conversation had almost dried up. He’d run out of questions to ask and couldn’t take much more of her
Yes
and
No
answers. His words became fewer and the silence between the words became longer and longer. He scanned the bar looking for a familiar face so that he could at least have some kind of stimulating conversation with someone before he took her home, but there was no one in that he recognised.

‘Is anyone sitting here?’ said a soft voice and he looked up and there she was …….
The angel of d
eath
. Except of course she wasn’t because they’d proved that it wasn’t her fault ………
hadn’t they
? Slim was supping his beer and almost choked as she said, ‘It’s Stephen isn’t it? …… Stephen Williams?’

‘Yes. My mates call me Slim.’

‘Slim? Well Slim …….. I don’t suppose you remember me………..’

‘Oh yes I do; you’re the angel of ……. from the sleepwalking case …… Mrs Wilson.’

‘Not anymore. We got divorced. I’m living in
America
now.’

‘Did he cure you then, that Doctor?’

‘I don’t walk in my sleep anymore if that’s what you mean. How are you doing anyway? You look well.’

‘I’m doing good thanks. I’ve got a good job and I moved in with Vanguard, and I learned to drive and everything.’

‘That’s good. I’m glad you’re okay. I’ve often thought about you since then. You were so upset about ……. about the girl.’

Ellie looked into his deep brown eyes and could still see sadness there. At that point the young girl with mousy brown hair sitting next to him who had not said a word until now suddenly slammed her glass down on the table spilling little droplets of lager everywhere and stood up knocking her legs into the table which moved and made all the glasses on the table tremble and shake.

‘Ok that’s it! You two are
obviously
old friends and you
obviously
have a lot to talk about and I’m
obviously
just in your way so I’ll just get out of your face. See you around Slim’ and with that she was gone.

Slim looked at Ellie and Ellie looked at the dark haired woman who had come in with her who also hadn’t said a word and they all laughed.

‘Obviously!’ said Ellie.

‘I um …….. I’d better go after her.’

Slim took a last gulp of his beer and stood up.

‘It was nice to see you. I’m glad you’re cured.’

‘Me too ......... and Slim?’

‘Yes?’

‘I didn’t do any of those things you know.’

‘I know.’

As he left the bar and made his way out into the street he couldn’t help feeling a little as though he was betraying the memory of Jonquil having chatted to her like a friend and yet a part of him felt good about it, kind of warm and forgiving
and he knew deep inside, she spoke the truth
………

The Hospital had told Felicity that as this was her first child she could expect to be staying for at least a week, possibly longer depending on how well the baby was doing and David knew she was already itching to come home. Ellie had stayed two nights and was still here for a third. She had been looking after Oliver for the past two days who at first had seemed apprehensive of her attentions and intimacy after living so long without her, but now appeared to have grown increasingly fond of her again and David was beginning to worry about the long term effects her visit could have on him. He would miss her terribly when she returned to the States. He was such a happy child and very intelligent; doing very well at school with an above average IQ. Losing his Mother all over again was bound to have a detrimental effect on him with undoubtedly serious repercussions reminiscent of their last separation. Today she had taken him to the zoo leaving David free to spend time at the hospital and to prepare the nursery for the baby and once again Oliver had come home over excited and couldn’t sleep. Ellie had been true to her word and aside from the first night there when she was feeling jet lagged and had gone to bed shortly after Oliver; she would wait until Ollie was in bed and then get showered and changed and go out into town with her teacher friend, Mary Darch. She had been in the bathroom now for over half an hour and when she finally came downstairs David found it hard to take his eyes off her. She was wearing a chocolate brown off the shoulder strappy vest top and white trousers with her hair tied up on top and she looked incredible.

‘Wow! You look lovely Ell. Are you going out with Mary?’

‘Yes. We’re having dinner at that new restaurant in town.’

‘You’re getting very pally with Mary again. I expect she’s missed you while you’ve been away.’

‘Why? ……. Are you jealous
Davie
?’ She fluttered her eyelashes and came up very close to him. Her perfume was strong; she knew it had always driven him wild with desire for her in the past and now as she stood in front of him that familiar feeling returned and he had to avert his eyes.

‘Don’t be ridiculous. I was simply saying………..’ He looked back and found she had taken a step closer and he was suddenly overcome by her closeness; her perfume; her beauty; her perfect face, and in a moment of madness David took her in his arms and began to kiss her passionately; furiously and she returned his kisses with an urgency that he had dreamed of for so long……..

‘Oh God
Davie
………. I’ve missed you so much’ she panted between kisses.

‘You Bitch………’ he murmured as he lifted the chocolate brown coloured vest over her fine blonde hair pulling off the clip that was holding it up which made her long hair fall down around her shoulders and flutter around at the sides of her pert bare brown nipples ……… ‘You’ve done nothing but tease me since you got here. You’re such a cow!’ He pushed her forward over the arm of the sofa where he and Flick had shared long winter evenings in front of the TV and pulled her bare buttocks toward him then thrust himself deep inside her and she cried out, ‘Oh God Davie ….. yes!’

The house phone was ringing but neither of them paid any attention or even cared as they writhed around on the sofa deeply engrossed in each other, touching, kissing and caressing as if their lives depended on it, and then finally, when they had both reached their climax of sexual bliss David collapsed over Ellie’s naked body and held her tight as they drifted slowly into an illegitimate subconscious state………

When he woke up David found himself still lying naked on the sofa, his clothes strewn across the floor. There was no sign of Ellie. She had gathered up her clothes and left. He looked through the window across the front lawn for the little red Fiesta she had hired but it was gone. She must have gone to meet Mary. Ellie wouldn’t want to let her down.
So had it really happened or had he dreamed it
? God knows he had been secretly dreaming of Ellie ever since the day she’d left him to run off with that dyke, Abi.
And what about Flick
? Poor dependable Flick lying in her hospital bed with their new baby son. What had he done? What if she found out? What if Ellie told her? It would mean the end of their happiness for ever; and was that what Ellie wanted? Did Ellie want him back……………?

The light on the answering machine was flickering. David got dressed and straightened the covers on the sofa. He pressed the playback switch on the phone and Felicity’s voice broke into the silence of his quiet evening.

‘
David it’s me. Perhaps you’re in the garden or something. It’s
…
um
……
twenty to eight. I’ll try again about eight. It’s easier if I phone you otherwise they’ve got to come and get me and everything. Charlie is doing great and is missing his Daddy
….
a
nd so am I
………’

There was a second message.
Oh God she’d phoned twice
! What time was it? He checked his watch …….
nine thirty
! He couldn’t phone her now. It was too late.

‘Damn!’ he cursed as her voice came again………..

‘
David it’s me again. I expect you’re busy. Your Mum and Dad are here with little Charlie. Your Mum says he looks just like you when you were a baby. Oh and the Doctor says I might be allowed home tomorrow as Charlie is feeding so well
……
Well, ok
……
I’ll
……..
I’ll see you tomorrow then. Love you
…..
Bye
.’

David sank into the sofa where earlier he hadn’t given Felicity a single thought and hung his head in desperation…………

The following morning Ellie had not returned to the house the previous night and when he’d checked the spare room all her things were gone. She must be staying with Mary Darch now. She had said she would ask her if it was okay at dinner that night.
He tidied the house erasing all traces of Ellie. He was at the hospital with Oliver by
ten o’clock
.
Felicity was dressed and was sitting in the chair by her bed. Her face lit up when she saw them.

‘David! And Ollie! Come and say hello to your baby brother.’

The child rushed over and made a fuss of the new baby who was oblivious to all around him having been bathed and fed.

‘I wasn’t sure if you got my message last night. I tried phoning but……..’

‘I know; I’m sorry babe. I was working in the garden and didn’t realise the time. When I got in it was half nine and they don’t like calls after nine do they?’

‘No. Poor you; working so late.’ She took his hand and pulled him toward her and he kissed her gently. As he leaned over her and felt his cheeks beginning to flush he prayed that she could not see the guilt in his expression.

‘So, have they said you can come home?’

‘Yes. I’m just waiting for the Doctor to come and give Charlie his final check and then we can go. Is Ellie not taking Oliver out today?’

‘I’m not sure. She didn’t stay last night. I think she’s moved in with that teacher friend of hers. She’s been going out with her in the evenings.’

‘Oh. Well it’s nice she’s got a friend. It must be hard for her…….. all this. I hope you’ve not been too awful to her David. She was amazing when Charlie came along…. so level headed. I actually really quite like her.’

‘I’ve tried to be……. very accommodating where Ellie’s concerned, believe me.’

‘Ok. I believe you.’ Felicity smiled and passed the baby to him while she checked her little bedside cupboard to ensure she hadn’t left anything behind. The Doctor arrived then and gave baby Charlie his final check up before discharging mother and baby and their silence was suddenly shattered by his healthy screams as his warm clothes were removed and his little arms and legs were pulled around until the Doctor was satisfied with his examination and told them they were free to go. At home Felicity was amazed at how hard David had been working. The nursery, all newly painted in pastel blue had a tasteful teddy bear frieze all around the centre of the walls and his little wooden cot was already assembled with a musical mobile hanging above it. The single bed which Ellie must have slept in was all packed away in the loft and everything was pristine clean and perfectly in its place just the way they’d planned it.

‘Oh David it’s beautiful. You’ve worked so hard. Thank you.’ She pulled him toward her and kissed him tenderly. There was a time not so long ago when Felicity had thought she would never find her Mr right and as she looked now into David’s blue eyes……..
eyes like the deep blue sea
…….. and saw his soft smile as he looked down at baby Charlie in his strong arms she thanked God for allowing this man into her life and making her happiness so perfect…….. and so complete.