The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 2324 by Angharad Copyright© 2014 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

I awoke about six o’clock the next morning. I was in my nightdress and panties. Simon was lying beside me fast asleep. I slipped out of bed, went to the loo and showered then grabbed some clothes and dressed in the bathroom, combed my hair and nipped downstairs.

I was quite surprised I had the place to myself, normally Tom was up at this time getting ready to walk the dog. I checked, Kiki was still fast asleep in her bed. I made myself a cuppa and went into my study. I needed to think, why had Trish contracted the virus? Why couldn’t I help her directly? Was she going to recover without any lasting damage?

I’d formulated the questions, but I had no idea of the answers nor knew of anyone who would. I sipped my tea. I’d closed the study door because I didn’t want to be disturbed yet I had a feeling that I was being watched. I didn’t want to give into it but almost mechanically my head turned round to look behind me. There just inside a closed door stood a beautiful woman bathed in a golden light which seemed to pulsate.

“Milady,” I said not being able to think what else to say. I slowly stood up expecting it to have disappeared and for me to feel even more unstable. Instead she was still there and when I bowed, she acknowledged my act of subordination.

“You asked me to come,” she said in my head.

“I did?” I gasped confused.

“You had questions.”

“Oh yes, they relate to my daughter who is gravely ill. I need your help, milady, to save her.”

“It’s annoying that you only summon me to ask favours.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way.”

“So am I, Catherine.”

“Will you help me, milady?”

“Why should I?”

“Because you’re a female and you don’t wish to see children suffer and she is likely to serve you in the future.”

“I hope she does a better job than her mother.”

“I apologise for my shortcomings.”

“I should think so.”

“Very well, save your precious child.”

“Milady, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

“I didn’t do it for you, I did for the scrap of a child who follows me around nagging me remorselessly. It’s the only way I shall get any peace.”

“Might I ask if I could embrace the child who assists you, one more time.”

“If you must.”

She faded and before stood Billie. I couldn’t even say her name I was so choked. I opened my arms and she fell into them and we hugged, me weeping like it was going out of style. I closed my eyes and the next thing I knew, Simon was rubbing my shoulder.

“Hey, babes, how d’you feel now?”

“Um—what?” I opened my eyes and I was in bed, in my nightdress. I sat up with a start. “But I was downstairs,” I protested.

“When?” asked Simon.

“Just now,” I saw the goddess and she helped me to save Trish and allowed me to hug Billie.”

“Ah, that explains things.”

“It does?” I asked.

“Yeah, you were crying your eyes out and yet you were smiling at the same time.”

“Was I?”

“Yeah, but it was the talking in your sleep that woke me.”

“Sorry.”

“Who’s milady when she’s at home?”

“The goddess.”

“I thought you didn’t believe in gods and goddesses?”

“I don’t.”

“So how come you’re talking to one in your sleep?”

“I was obviously worrying about Trish.”

“I gathered that much. It’s all a bit double standards, isn’t it?”

“I suppose so.”But if it saves my baby, I’ll believe anything, even a dozen impossible things before breakfast.”

“Your baby?”

“Yes, Trish.”

“Hardly a baby.”

“They all are to me.”

“Okay, pardon me for breathing.”

“Men and women see things differently.”

“You’re not kidding.”

“Si, you can be so...”

“Double standards?” he offered.

“Yes,” I agreed.

“I’m a banker, remember?”

“I hadn’t forgotten.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

I glanced at the clock, it was six in the morning. A sense of déjà vu went through my mind, then I turned over and with Simon’s arm around my waist I drifted off to sleep again. He let me sleep until ten, and this time I really did shower and dress and comb my hair.

I discovered that Tom had taken the others out for a walk with the dog and that Simon had taken a couple of days off to do what he could to help. He spent any spare moment on his computer or phone, but he was where we needed him—with us. I knew Trish would appreciate it, as did I.

I ate a light breakfast and got myself ready to visit Trish, Julie had gone to the salon to try and deal with the Easter rush. Why is it people have to have their hair done for Easter? I could understand the churchgoers, they’re all in some sort of competition for being the most pious and best turned out, but the others...?

I collected my coat and bag and set off for the hospital, Si suggesting that he’d watch the kids if Tom ever brought them back. At the ward, Trish was sitting up in bed talking to a houseman about Quantum Mechanics, “Hi, Mummy, this is Dr Downes, he used to do A-level physics, said he’d bring in some exam papers for me to look at, isn’t that kind?”

“Isn’t it?” I replied not sure what I felt other than she must be feeling better. After they stopped chatting I spoke to the doctor on his own. “How is she?”

“So much better we wonder if Dr Rose might have made a mistake.”

“I doubt it.”

“Oh, so how can she recover so quickly?”

“She’s got phenomenal healing rates.”

“So I see.”

“It’s just unprecendented, VM takes weeks to get over.”

“Trish recovers very quickly, I did say earlier.”

“Who was the woman they thought they saw in the middle of the night, she apparently glowed golden?”

“How am I supposed to know, I was fast asleep home in bed.”

“Lucky you, I had to deal with a neo-natal with some complications.”

“Lucky me, absolutely. I feel I’m the luckiest and happiest woman alive.”