Getting a Life (18 page)

'Have you got your ticket?' the man at car park the entrance asked her. 'Only you need to have paid for it to open the gate.'

'What?' she asked him, still feeling shocked and out of her mind.

'Your parking ticket. You need to pay for it to open the barrier. Move back out of the way a minute. Park over here.' She backed away from the trapper gate and the next car was able to leave. What on earth was she supposed to be doing? 'Have you got a ticket?' repeated the car park attendant.

'Oh, yes. Sorry. It's here.' she handed it to him. He obviously took pity on her and finally took it and put it into the machine.

'Five pounds forty please.' She groped in her bag for some money and handed it over. He fed it into the machine and gave her the ticket back. 'Right. Now you can go. I'm sorry you had such trouble miss, but perhaps you'll know what to do next time.'

'Sorry. Yes. Thanks a lot.' She backed again and went out of the car park. She needed to pull herself together. What a day. It was far too late to go back to college now. She had done the unforgivable and left her class to work by themselves. No doubt her head of department would have a few words to say tomorrow. Tough, she thought. She'd face him the next day.

It seemed a very long evening. She switched on her computer to do some work but it was hopeless. She cooked some supper but couldn't eat it. All the time, her thoughts ran round in circles. Why was he with Sarah? What were they doing? Where were they going? She wondered if Mel might know something? She dialled his number.

'Mel? It's Joanne. I wondered if you knew where Mike was going last night?'

'Sorry not at all. He got a call during the evening. Quite late it was actually. Said he needed to go out and drove away. How is he by the way?'

'Not too good. He's in an induced coma and has a broken leg.'

'Oh lordy. It sounds pretty grim then.'

'They seemed to think this was a precautionary measure. He should be brought out of it tomorrow.'

'Give him my best, won't you? You're all right though?'

'A bit shell shocked I guess. The girl who was with him, well it seems she died.'

'Who was that then?'

'Someone called Sarah.'

'What on earth was he doing with her again?'

'I really don't know. I wondered if you knew something but evidently not. I'll call you again when I know more.'

'Thanks for ringing anyway. Bye.'

That wasn't much use, she realised. She sat for a while longer and finally decided she would go to bed. She probably wouldn't sleep but it seemed like a plan. She lay there, remembering the happy times they had lain here together. She hugged his pillow, the one he'd used, as if she was trying to capture his smell, his presence. She felt tears burning once more. She would go to the hospital again the following day after work was over. She could be cool and casual about it by then. And she would know how to use the car park and its wretched ticket system. Five pounds and forty pence, she thought suddenly. For parking for a couple of hours? That was a scandal. She must write to someone to complain. People shouldn't be burdened like that when they were suffering.

Joanne arrived at the hospital after college the next day. She had somehow survived her day and had met no problems for leaving her class the previous occasion. Hopefully, they'd worked quietly and nobody had noticed her absence. She went into the main entrance and went straight up to intensive care.

'I came to see Mike Thomas,' she said to the nurse in the entrance.

'He's been moved. He's now in Ward Seven.'

'Oh. Is that good news?'

'Oh yes, indeed. He was brought round this morning and he immediately began shouting for attention. He's fine.'

'I see. Thank you very much.' She found Ward Seven and went in.

'Joanne,' came a voice from the side. 'Thanks so much for coming.' She crossed over to him and sat down.

'How are you feeling?' she asked politely. He looked terrible. A large bandage was wrapped round his head and there were bruises all over him. He also had a black eye to add to his discomfort.

'I'm fine. Well, a bit weak but I'm so pleased to see you. Mum said you were here last night when I was out of it. They patched me up and now I just want to go home.'

'Don't be in too much of a hurry. I was sorry to hear about Sarah.' She spoke carefully, unsure if he knew of her demise.

''Yes, that's so sad.'

'Why was she with you in the car?'

'I was taking her back to her home. It was her fault that I crashed. I say, have you heard anything about the car? Is it salvageable?'

'I've got no idea.'

'I bet Mel's in a stew over it.'

'He was okay last night when I spoke to him. He send his best wishes to you, in case nobody's told you yet.'

'Thanks. You spoke to him?'

'I wanted to know if he knew why Sarah was in the car with you.'

'I told you. She has been pestering me stupid all weekend. I finally met her and decided to take her back to her cousin or someone. She was being so silly. She leaned over me and I think she must have tugged on the steering wheel. I don't really remember what happened. I think I hit my head and was knocked out cold. The car must have left the road at that point. Plunged in a ditch, I gathered. That'll teach me won't it?'

'I suppose it will.'

'Joanne ... please say you forgive me. Please, let's get back together again. It's been hell since ... well, since we weren't properly together. I can't tell you how much really. I never wanted anyone to be so much in my life but you've made yourself so important in mine. '

'You just concentrate on getting yourself well again. We'll see after you're recovered.'

'But that's going to take ages. I have this broken leg and all the other bits to get over. I need you to be beside me. Please Joanne.'

'I'll see. I'll come to see you often, till you're out of here. Don't be in too much of a hurry to make it happen. You mustn't risk being hurt more.'

'But...'

'But nothing. Will you go back to your home after that?'

'I guess so. Unless you'd like to take me in?'

'Don't be ridiculous. I'm a working woman. I can't possibly cope with you at my place.' Her words came out rather quicker than she'd intended.

'Yes, of course you are. Sorry for asking you. It was just me being hopeful. Come on then. Tell me the gossip from college. How's Trisha?'

'Fine as far as I know. I haven't seen her properly for a while actually. You know I went to see my parents at the weekend? No, of course you don't.' She realised that he couldn't have received her message. 'I went up on Friday evening. It was all very nice. I somehow missed your messages. Sorry.'

'And I there was me thinking you were deliberately cutting me out of your life.'

'I wouldn't do that,' she told him. 'I'm just not sure why you spent so much time with Sarah if you really disliked her so much.'

'I told you. She's ... she was a nutcase. She told everyone that we were engaged, apparently. Of course we never were. It seemed like it was all over before she left. She really only came back on leave and decided she wanted to be married. I could never have coped with her, I realised.'

'I'm sorry.'

'She thought she was about to con a load more money out of us. It was a tough time for her to be asking. That is it. I'm really sorry she's dead. It's pretty tough for me to deal with. Her parents are also dead and I suppose she had problems with all of that and maybe it made her a bit potty. I'm sorry. But I can't let it spoil my life. Please Jo, let me know we can have a future together. I never could quite allow myself to suggest it before but please, will you marry me?'

'I'll think about it. That's the best I can do at present. You've disrupted my life somewhat.'

'Please say yes. I won't beg you but once I'm better, please can we get married? Think about it won't you?'

'Of course I will. But you've got to concentrate on healing yourself. Stop worrying about me and get better.'

Later that evening, she sat at home and thought. He'd asked her to marry him. It was what she'd wanted. But why had he asked her so suddenly? She lay back on her sofa and thought long and hard. If the did marry, she assumed they'd live in her house. Would she want to share it with someone? It would be different. He would be there every evening. He would be there most of the time, interrupting her own plans and stopping her from working. It would be a forever thing. She wouldn't be free any more. Why couldn't they still see each other and yes, maybe sleep together some of the time? She wanted him to sleep with her. He could return home whenever he wanted to. She had almost decided this was what she wanted but somehow, she didn't think he would accept it as a way of life. Only time would tell if it could work. She didn't think it would satisfy him. She wasn't sure if it would satisfy her. What a mess, she thought.

She visited him in hospital most evenings. He continued to ask her to marry him at every chance. She told him she was still thinking about it. At times, she really wanted to be married to him and at others, she almost wanted just to be seeing him. It was strange few days. Nothing seemed the same as it had been.

Mike came out of hospital a week later and went back to his home. He'd decided to hand his notice in to the flat he shared with Mel and return back home to live. Mel was delighted to get his place to himself and his girl friend moved there to be with him permanently. The car insurance would pay for a new car, so with half each, Mel would not be stranded without some sort of vehicle. It was the end of another era.

His parents, specially his mother, were delighted to get him home. His mother looked after him, or rather dominated him, until he could move around more freely. Joanne was invited round for Sunday lunch, one of the main things that always happened in their home.

'We thought we'd just leave it as the four of us rather than invite Sally and her brood. Hope this meets with everyone's approval?'

'Fine thanks,' Joanne replied. 'Can I help you at all?'

'No, you're just fine. Talk to Mike before he drive us all mad with his demands. Talk about a bad patient.'

'Don't talk about me as if I'm not here,' he protested. 'Honestly, did you ever hear the likes?'

'She loves you to bits,' Joanne told him. 'Give her leave to spoil you a bit.'

'A bit? She's spoiling me rotten. I don't have room to breathe. I'll try to behave for a bit longer but don't expect me to stay here for too long. Please Jo, can't me come to your place for a while? I promise not to be any trouble and I'll even cook for you. A pair of crutches and I'll manage fine.'

'You're incorrigible. No, you can't come to my place. Not until you're very much more mobile.'

'You have no idea how mobile I am already. Watch this.' He got up from his seat and walked round, using his crutches only a little. 'See? I can get around safely. I could be very useful to you.'

'Mike, please don't ask me again. I'm still thinking about your proposal. Honestly.'

'Now, who's for a drink?' asked his father coming into the room and saving further conversation about marriage.

'A soft drink for me please. I'll have to drive home.'

'And a soft drink for you too, my boy. Can't have you mixing the potions now can we?' He poured each of them a glass of orange juice while he drank a small whisky. 'I'll take a sherry through to your mother.' He disappeared into the kitchen.

'All right, I accept that it will make a big change to your life marrying me. But think about it carefully, won't you? I can move in for a while for you to see how it will work.'

'Let's wait till you're much better. You're still on heavy medication and it will be awhile before you're clear of that. Relax and settle for being alive. I'm very pleased you are, by the way.'

'So am I. Very pleased.' He reached over and took her hand and pressed it to his lips. 'I'll be even more pleased when you say yes.'

She smiled at him, wondering how she could love someone so much and yet still couldn't commit herself to him so finally. She was much too selfish, she decided. The rest of the day was spent chatting to them all and no more questions about marriage were possible, much to her relief. She left early in the evening, saying she needed to get home to be prepared for the following day. Mike's parents left them alone for a few minutes to say goodbye.

'Please, do think carefully won't you?' he said.

'I've told you I will. Don't bank on it too much though, please. I do love you, you know that. Now I'm going home. Get better. I'll see you again very soon.'

'It won't be too soon for me. I love you Joanne.'

She left them, knowing it wouldn't be long before she had to make her decision.

Chapter Fifteen

Joanne settled back into her usual routine, working hard and going out with the rest of the college crowd occasionally. It suited her. She went over to see Mike and his family at weekends and was pleased to see he was improving each time she saw him. He was extremely restless and wanted everything to happen immediately. The factory was managing to keep going and he was going in with his father most days each week. He had even stopped asking her to marry him, which came as a great relief to her. She was very surprised when one day when she was arriving, his mother asked her a question.

'I wondered if you could do us a huge favour?'

'If I can,' she replied.

'Could you possibly have Mike to stay with you for a few days? He's fairly easily manageable now. He can move around really well and manage for himself but I don't like to leave him alone, here. I did ask Sally but it's difficult for them, with the children and all.'

'I suppose he could come and stay with me,' she replied carefully. 'What's happening?'

'Well, we want to go and look at a house and thought we'd take a couple of days away, at the same time.'

'Oh, I see. Okay, if Mike's willing to come. Not that I think he'll complain at your suggestion.'

'We know he's stayed with you before so he knows your house. It would be from Wednesday over the next weekend. We haven't told him about the plans yet but if you're willing to have him, we'll do so right away.'