Still she’d managed to keep her voice calm and normal.‘Thank you.’
‘Anyway, you having a good day?Are you doing something amazing?I mean, obviously nothing can topMonsters, Inc.and popcorn.’
Amber’s gaze had scanned the white walls of the room, the space where the bed had been before the porter had wheeled it out, the bag of Murray’s clothes that were still lying in the corner because she was afraid if she gave them back to him, he’d flee the scene before he’d been declared fit and healthy…
‘Nope, nothing can topMonsters, Inc.and popcorn.But yes, I’m having a lovely day, thanks.’
‘Well, if you change your mind, Sid’s offer still stands.We’ve gotCarslined up next and a space on the couch.’
A space on the couch.As she’d hung up, her only thought had been that she’d have given anything to be there instead of in the middle of this messed-up episode ofScrubs.
A while later, when the porter had brought Murray back in, his mood had escalated from irritated to blazing fury because, apparently, they’d kept him waiting for an unacceptable period of time and now he was being asked to wait even longer for the results.Clearly he wasn’t used to living in the real world, where things didn’t just happen at the snap of his fingers.
That’s when he’d checked out of the conversation, closed his eyes, and ignored her.
Glad of the peace, Amber had let the silence stretch until now, when the worry over whether he was actually dead or slipping into a coma over-ruled the worry that she could cause a premature, potentially life threatening bolt for freedom.If someone came through that curtain now with good results and agreed to discharge him, then she was going to be the one making an immediate bolt for freedom, so it was time for full disclosure.
‘Murray…’ If he thought it strange that she used his full name, he didn’t comment, although he did open his eyes, thereby ruling out death and a coma.It was only a mild relief.
‘I just want to let you know that the Lidl bag in the corner over there contains your clothes and everything else you left at my house.’
Instant anger.‘Why didn’t you tell me that before?’
She went with a more diplomatic answer than the truth that she hadn’t trusted him not to flee the scene.‘I’m sorry.I thought I had.’
His look of absolute scorn made it clear how he felt about that reply, and it had two effects.It wiped out the last shred of compassion she had for him, and it nullified the guilt over her untidy shower’s part in the fiasco.Something snapped.
‘You know what,Murray…’ Emphasis on his name, because as she’d already decided, the time for cutesy, friendly nicknames was long gone.‘I think we both know that this isn’t going to work out.I’m extremely sorry that you slipped in my shower…’ She’d watched enough of those corny legal adverts to know that she shouldn’t admit any culpability without a lawyer present.‘…But I think it’s probably best if we say goodbye and I go now.’
Just when he thought she couldn’t be more surprised by this man, he blurted, ‘But I need you to go and get my car and bring it here.’
Not, ‘I’m so sorry, I’ve acted like a dick.’
Or even, ‘Thanks for the quick shag this morning – I hope we can do it again.’
No.Just a barked order, as if she was at his beck and call.Or a valet.
Given that his head injury did qualify him as having an even crappier day than her, she decided to let that one go and choose a calm, classy, dignified exit.
‘Unfortunately, my car retrieval service isn’t operating today.However, I’ll leave you the number of a taxi and your car keys are in that bag.I’m sure you’ll work it out.’
Sod the wait for his results.She was done.There was nothing else to say, so she lifted her handbag off the back of the chair, stood up, and was about to duck out of the curtain and make a bid for freedom, when her path was blocked by someone coming in the opposite direction.
Okay, possibly a change of plan.Bernadette, the lovely nurse from earlier was giving off an urgent energy, as if she was here to deliver important news.And she didn’t look happy about it.In fact, her expression definitely bordered on concern.Amber’s heart sank.Had they found something on the X-ray?Was it worse than they thought?Would surgery be required?Was it terminal?That’s it.It must be terminal, because why else would she be looking so worried?
‘Murray, can I, erm, have a quick word with you alone?’she said, and Amber felt sick.This wasn’t just her usual catastrophising.She was right this time.This was bad.He was going to have long-term injuries, and then he’d remember standing on SpongeBob, and he’d sue her, and she’d have to sell the house to pay the legal bills and settlement, and then her and the kids would have to live in a tent… and the sex hadn’t even been that fricking good.
Murray was obviously getting similarly disturbing vibes from the nurse because his eyes widened and there was an unmistakable flinch of concern before he turned to Amber.
‘I think you were leaving anyway?’
She wasn’t sure if it was an escape route or a challenge, but either way she was taking it.‘Thank you for everything,’ she told Bernadette – politeness cost nothing – and was about to walk past her when the curtain flew open and a lady with white-blonde hair, bright red lips, a snatched jaw and possibly the most impressive cheekbones Amber had ever seen, stepped inside what was now way too small a space to be accommodating so many people.
‘Murray.Hello, my darling,’ she chirped.Amber’s catastrophe senses began to tingle again because it wasn’t said in the manner of a friendly greeting – more the way a cartoon snake would greet its next victim before it unhinged its jaw and swallowed it whole.And judging by the way that Murray’s complexion had drained to the colour of the white/grey bedsheets, he was having the same feeling of impending doom.
The new arrival’s gaze then went to Bernadette, and the woman groaned – actually groaned – before rolling her eyes and drawling, ‘You have got to be fucking kidding me.You, of all people.’Amber got a definite hunch that there was a dynamic going on here that she knew nothing about and she’d never wished more that she was on a couch watchingMonsters, Inc.
The nurse didn’t reply, but her shoulders moved an inch or so back and her chin raised slightly in what Amber could only describe as a gesture of defiance.
