The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike) Part 1761 by Angharad Copyright © 2012 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

“I have never seen anyone crisis so quickly and recover like that,” Dr Carlton was talking about me to Ken Nicholls.

“Things like this happen with Lady Cameron; anyone else recover faster that you expected?”

“Yeah, some old guy who should have died by rights, has suddenly recovered and instead of the undertakers, we’ve called his wife to come and get him.”

“Where was he in relation to Lady Cameron?”

“In the next unit in ICU, we had to switch her there because she looked like she might not make it.”

“Dr Carlton, let me give you some advice: always expect the unexpected when Lady Cameron is about–she is–how shall I term it–unusual to say the least: yes, that will do.”

“You make it sound like she’s an alien or an angel.”

“The latter, perhaps.”

“Oh come off it, Ken, it’s just coincidence. The old guy rallied, they do sometimes.”

I continued dressing, they’d let me go and I was going home, hopefully to more of David’s lovely food and the Tour–okay, it was on the telly rather than being there, but I’m not complaining.

Dr Carlton came up to me. “Mr Nicholls says that some very strange things have happened when you’ve been in the hospital.”

“He has a very overworked imagination.” I tried to keep things down played.

“He said you’ve actually saved people’s lives, including the old man, tonight.”

“How could I save anyone’s life, I was too busy fighting for my own?”

“That’s what I said, however, I’ve never known anyone recover from a lung and pleural infection like you did.”

“My family are quick healers.”

“Lady Cameron, what happened last night was like me amputating a leg and you growing a new one overnight.”

“That I think is a bit far fetched,” I tried to pooh-pooh his analogy.

“What I witnessed last night was, far out. We also kept seeing a little girl here but when we went to ask who she was, she seemed to disappear.”

“Did you see her?” I asked feeling a cold shiver run down my spine.

“No, but it was definitely you she was here to see.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For looking after me so well, that’s obviously why I got better so quickly.”

“You were so delirious you were babbling on about seeing Jesus on a gold space hopper.”

“As you said, that must have been my delirium. Thank you for you care, I think this is my taxi.” I shook his hand and as I left I felt the urge to tell him something. “Your son, he needs you to phone him.”

“Eh? He’s in Manchester at university, I’ll call him tonight.”

“I would do it now if I were you.”

“I have ward rounds to complete.”

“Now, Dr Carlton.”

“Oh, alright,” he pulled out his mobile and speed dialled his boy. I couldn’t tell him that I saw him standing on the edge of a multi-storey car park thinking about ending more than his course.

I watched the doctor as I left the ward his expression had changed and he was looking very serious. I was glad that something had passed the message on to me that he needed his dad and was glad to help.

As we walked down the ward, the taxi driver, carrying my case, we passed a child limping, trying to walk with a frame. I could see she had spina bifida, a condition where the spine doesn’t close to protect the cord on birth, which I believe is caused by a vitamin deficiency in the mother. It can cause serious problems, though modern surgery is much better able to help them as neonates than it used to be. I stopped to offer her a sweet–I had some in my pocket. As soon as she touched my hand, I felt a power surge and she stepped away reaching for her back and yelling. Then she straightened up, looked at me and literally ran down the corridor.

“What was that all about?” asked the taxi driver.

“I have no idea, but there can’t have been much wrong with her, can there?”

“Not the way she took to her heels–probably a relative of a patient.”

“That must be it,” I agreed and got him to drop me in town–I didn’t want him to be able to identify where I lived. I also gave him a false name, so hopefully, he shouldn’t be much help if anyone is looking for the mystery healer–they do every so often.

I sat in the little coffee shop, drinking a nice cup of latté and thinking my own thoughts. So, Billie had come to watch over me had she? It made me wonder about all sorts of things.

I caught the bus home and I was expecting the walk from the bus stop to tire me, but it didn’t, I felt like I’d just come back from holiday not hospital. As I walked I called Simon.

“You’re what?” he gasped.

“I’m walking from the bus stop to the house.”

“You should be in hospital.”

“No hospitals are places for the sick, I’m completely well.”

“If this is a wind up, I’ll strangle you.”

“No, I am really better and well enough to come home.”

“I’ll be home early, if they’ve discharged you too early again, I’m going to sue them.”

“Um, do come home early, darling, I have a little itch that needs scratching.”

“Well can’t you get David to scratch it for you?”

“Think about it, darling.”

There was a pause before, “Oh, yeah, I get you now. Okay, we’ll be home earlier tonight–keep it warm for me.”

Maureen was the first to see me as I strolled up the drive. “Ma’am, what are you doing here?”

“I live here, remember?”

“Yes I know, but you were so ill yesterday by all accounts.”

“That was yesterday, today is Thursday, I always feel better on Thursdays, especially when the sun shines like it is now.”

“I’d have come and got you if you’d phoned.”

“Nah, as a fully paid up angel, I just hailed the first passing cloud and here I am.”

“Crikey, the boss-lady, and I haven’t done anything special for lunch,” David looked out presumably at the voices from the driveway.

“Open a tin of beans, that’ll do.”

“No it won’t, I’ll do some omelettes–we’ve plenty of eggs.”

“Spanish for me then.”

“Aye, an’ me too,” Maureen agreed.

“Two Spanish omelettes coming up, would the ladies like to take a seat, this will take a few minutes.”

So ensued my return to home and good food. Simon arrived early as he promised. “Fancy a night or two away?” he said as we cuddled on the bed waiting for dinner.

“We’ll have to take the baby.”

“Sammi and David have said they’d have her, it’s only for one or two nights at most.”

“I don’t know, where are we going?”

“Look they coped while you were in hospital.”

“I know, but that was different.”

“No it wasn’t, you were away for a couple of nights and they coped.”

“Only if they agree.”

“They already have.”

“You asked them already?”

“Yes, being in business means being able to act quickly when you have to.”

Was this my husband talking?

“Where are we going?”

“Somewhere you can relax entirely.”

“An old folks home?” I joked.

“Um, not quite, The Ritz.”

“What, London?”

“Um, Paris.”

“Paris?”

“Yeah, thought you might like to see Wiggo crowned and possibly Cavendish take the sprint again.”

“Paris,” I shrieked.

“Yes, did you have to shout it so loud?”

“That’s okay, they’ll think I had an orgasm–but this is much better,” I said hugging him.