“Oh… Catherine. Yes, you are most welcome. We were hoping that you would visit.”
“Wonderful, I will see you then.”
“Goodbye,” I said.
“Goodbye,” he replied.
Wow! That was easier than I thought!
I could have kicked myself for forgetting to ask about Elizabeth. Edward was such a gentleman. I remembered the way he looked at his wife. The love they had for each other was deep and beautiful. I could only pray that James and I would grow old together, spending each and every day in each other’s arms. I closed my eyes to think. I had a week from today to get out of the hospital. I would have to try and get discharged early in the morning to travel to London and back. I could have Jules pick me up late in the afternoon. Admittedly, I was feeling less confident after my last plan had turned into a complete disaster. I missed James, and I needed him so much that it added to my pain. I wished he could come to London with me, but he made it clear on several occasions that he avoided going to London as much as he could. I also felt I needed to meet with them alone. I wished I could tell him about the little girl, Elizabeth, but I wasn’t sure what to say. Would I tell him that I saw a little girl in my dream and I think she is the old lady I met on the plane? And the little girl is also the daughter of the couple with the locket that I have been dreaming about? It sounded so crazy. Would I explain to him that they seemed part of my dream and that they were alive and real? For a moment, I wondered whether I had landed on my head when I fell down the stairs. I decided to speak with the doctor and work out how to secretly get out of this hospital.
After handing the phone to the nurse, I asked if she could find out if I could be discharged a week from today. I told her that I had a very important appointment in London that I could not miss.
“The next time the doctor comes in I will check for you. Right now, you should rest.”
I agreed. I was feeling quite tired.
I lay on the right side of my body. There was less pain on that side. I faced the nurse and gave her a smile. I closed my eyes hoping that I would sleep for the whole week, wake up and leave, just like that.
When I woke, I immediately noticed the nurse’s chair was empty. I opened my eyes wider. The lights in my room had been dimmed. Panic started to come over me. A hand then touched my arm gently.
“Catherine, don’t be frightened. It’s me.”
“James!”
“I’m sorry. I should have been here for you.”
“You were… I know you were, and I know you only left when you knew I was going to be alright.”
“Did you just say alright?” he mocked me.
“I mean, okaay!” I smiled.
He was now smiling. That same smile that had melted my heart the first day I met him.
“I heard you got a replacement for me?”
“Correct,” he replied.
“Is it worth it for just a week?”
He didn’t answer.
“James, the replacement is just for a week, right?”
“Catherine… I don’t want to do this now.”
“Do what? Fire me? When would you like to do this then?” I was shocked.
“Please, you have to know… I mean, you have to now finally agree how serious this is. I saw your lifeless body at the bottom of the stairs, and at that moment I decided that I would rather not have you than lose you again.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. If you don’t have me, you have lost me anyway!”
“There is a difference, Catherine.”
“No, not to me there isn’t!”
“When you are discharged and you are back at the college, we will talk then.”
“Talk all you like, James. This jealous, vindictive, evil thing is not going to get what it wants! I will overcome it!”
“Jealous, vindictive, evil thing? Why do you say that?”
“I’m right, aren’t I? He is jealous of me being with any other man, and vindictive because his so-called pride has been hurt and evil because he will stop at nothing!”
I was shocked by my words. This was the first time I had referred to ‘it’ as a man. This ghost, or thing, had never really existed in my mind, but I didn’t believe that anymore. He was a man. My train of thought was confusing me, unsure of where my thoughts were taking me. James was also surprised by my sudden outburst.
“I don’t know what to say… You seem different… better…” he smiled.
“I suppose I am. I guess when you get pushed around, literally in my case, at some point it changes you. I hope you don’t mind too much.”
“I feel like I can win this James. Things are different now. I have more on my side.”
“More on your side?” he repeated, confused.
“Trust me, you don’t want me to explain it to you.”
“I think you should,” he said as he crossed his arms and stood up straight.
“I don’t think I can.”
He smiled, released his stern position and came closer.
“I have had an awful week, Catherine. You cannot imagine. I can’t lose you… Your life is so special and extraordinary that we can’t take it for granted.”
“I didn’t wish any of this craziness on myself!”
“I know, I know. But whether you wanted it or not, it’s here.”
He held my hand and kissed it. It brought a smile to my face, and looking deep into my eyes, James smiled back.
“It looks like you will be out of here on Friday.”
“Really?” I was pleased.
“When you were asleep, the nurse spoke with your doctor, and if all is still alright, you can leave Friday. Jules really wants to come and collect you, so I hope that’s alright with you.”
“That’s fine. I will call her Thursday night and confirm with her the time so she won’t have to wait for me to be discharged.”
“Fine, I will let her know.”
“James?”
“Yes.”
“Nothing…”
“What is it?”
“Nothing, really!”
“You’re not keeping anything from me are you?”
“No… no,” I said as I looked away. l was a terrible liar.
“Catherine, please be safe. I will escort you to the airport myself if you intentionally put yourself in harm’s way. Remember that!” James warned.
I nodded, thinking there was no way I would allow him to do that.
“You should rest now.”
“Will I see you tomorrow night?”
“Yes, you will,” he said.
He kissed my hand again slowly. I closed my eyes to indulge the feeling.
“Goodnight…” he said, opening the door, allowing the nurse back into my room as he left.
The rest of the week was filled with physiotherapy sessions, crosswords and awful hospital food. Jules visited me again, this time with Dr Simons, and James came late every evening. On the Thursday night, he asked me if I knew what time I would be discharged. I lied and told him 3 o’clock so I could make my journey to London before Jules came to pick me up. James said he would pass the message on to Jules. After he left, I asked the nurse to make certain that I was discharged by 9. She promised that she would have a cab organised.
The nurse was true to her word. The cab was waiting at the front of the hospital. It was a cold and drizzly day. I got into the cab quickly, gave him Elizabeth and Edward’s address and I was on my way. The journey into London took close to an hour and a half. I arrived at the house just before 11 o’clock. I paid the cab driver, asking him to come back and collect me and return me back to the hospital. He agreed.
When I got to the door I was overwhelmed, but somehow comfortable, at being there. The home was a terrace overlooking a park. It was beautiful, and had pretty planter boxes on the front window. I rang the doorbell and waited, hearing slow footsteps make their way to the door. As the door opened, I shied away, taking a step backwards.