Call Waiting

by Dianne Blacklock

  Ally sighed, staring at her glass.

  “Or you could do relief teaching.”

  She pulled a face.

  Matt smiled. “See, you really don’t like it, do you? I can’t imagine you wasting your life like that. Not when I’ve seen the way your eyes light up when you enjoy what you’re doing.”

  Ally blushed. Her eyes lit up? He noticed?

  “I could even give you some work.”

  “Doing what?” she frowned.

  “Painting, I told you I can’t get a good subbie down here. I reckon you could pick up quite a bit of work.”

  “Oh get real!”

  “Why, what’s wrong with that? Ally, you’re young and single…”

  “Not that young.”

  “Young enough that you can still make changes.”

  Ally sipped her wine slowly, thinking. This is what Meg had been on about. A total change of direction. But just quit teaching, and work as a waitress? Or a painter? That was ludicrous.

  She sighed, looking across at Matt. He was smiling at her. Gosh he had a nice smile.

  “Look, it’s none of my business, Ally,” he said abruptly. “I’m just playing the devil’s advocate.”

  God, had he seen that dopey schoolgirl look in her eyes? She knew she was blushing. She seemed to blush all the time lately. Maybe there was an operation for that, some gland they could cut out or something.

  Matt looked at his watch. “Are you working tonight?”

  “Not till later on. Nicola arrived back a couple of days ago. Tonight’s her first night on, so I won’t have to start so early.”

  “Have you met her yet—Nic, I mean?”

  Ally shook her head.

  “She’s good value, you’ll like her,” Matt grinned. “So, you’ve got time for another drink?”

  “No, thanks. I had better be getting back.”

  “Are you sure?”

  She nodded.

  “I was on my way to visit Lillian anyway. I’ll follow you.”

  His truck was parked over the other side of the shopping center, so Ally said she’d see him at Birchgrove. When she pulled up around the back of the guesthouse, the door flung open and a short, red-haired woman appeared, waving frantically.

  Ally guessed it was Nicola. Was she just overenthusiastic, or was there something wrong? As Ally stepped out of the car, she rushed at her.

  “Hi, it’s you, isn’t it? Ally?” she said in a distinctly English accent. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

  Ally hadn’t imagined Nicola to be the nervy type. She ran the restaurant single-handedly many nights, according to Lillian. What was she so stressed about?

  “There’s been a bit of an accident.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s Lil.” She frowned, watching the color drain from Ally’s face.

  “What happened?”

  “She’s had a fall. Evidently she slipped on the tiles in the bathroom. I found her when I came in to set up today.”

  “What time was that?”

  “Just after four.”

  She felt sick in the stomach. “Oh God, I left around three. She said she’d be fine.”

  “Well, of course she did! I’m sure she didn’t expect this to happen,” Nic exclaimed.

  “I should have been here.”

  “You’re not her nursemaid. Don’t be blaming yourself for what was only an accident.”

  Ally took a breath. “I better go in and see how she is.”

  “She’s not here, they’ve taken her to the hospital.”

  “What?” Ally almost shrieked.

  “Calm down, you won’t do anyone any good getting so worked up.”

  She was right. Ally took another deep breath, but she could feel herself trembling.

  “Hi, Nic. How are you?” Matt appeared from around the corner of the house, walking toward them.

  “Matt, I’m afraid we’ve had a bit of drama here,” Nic explained.

  He looked at Ally and frowned. “What’s going on?”

  “Lillian’s in the hospital.”

  “What? Just now?”

  “She had a fall, in the bathroom,” Nic explained. “I had to call an ambulance, because she was in pain when we tried to move her.”

  “You don’t think it’s her back?”

  Nic shook her head. “No, it was more likely her hip, maybe her leg. I hope she hasn’t broken anything. They took her to the hospital for X-rays.”

  “I’ll go,” said Ally determinedly. “Hopefully she’ll be allowed home later.”

  “Yes, you go. I can’t leave here.”

  “Oh, what about the restaurant? You’ll be on your own.”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time. Besides, I can always call Gail or Michelle.”

  “Let me drive you,” Matt offered. “You look a little shaken.”

  “Good idea,” said Nic. “We don’t need another accident in the household.”

  “I don’t want to put you out,” Ally said weakly.

  Matt held her arm firmly at the elbow. “You’re not putting me out.” He walked her around to the passenger side of her car. “We’ll take your car.”

  * * *

  Ally was glad Matt was with her. She wouldn’t have known her way around the hospital. She hadn’t been here since Nan was ill, before she died.

  She shivered. Nothing was going to happen to Lillian. It couldn’t, not so soon after her grandfather. Ally felt a mixture of guilt and fear; guilt at staying away for so long, and fear that she was running out of time to make up for it.

  “Are you okay?”

  Matt must have been watching her biting her lip and frowning. They were sitting on a bench in a corridor of the hospital. Lillian was out of X-ray, and staff were settling her into a room.

  Ally shrugged. “I’m just worried about her.”

  “She’ll be okay, you know that. She’s a tough old bird.”

  She smiled at him. “You wouldn’t call her that to her face!”

  The doctor came out of the room. Ally jumped up.

  “How is she?”

  “Fine,” she smiled kindly. “Fortunately there were no fractures from the fall.”

  Ally breathed a sigh of relief.

  “There is ligament damage, though. She’s going to need physiotherapy.”

  “When will she be able to come home?”

  “The nurse already explained to you that we’re keeping her in overnight for observation?”

  Ally nodded.

  “Well, I’d like to run some tests tomorrow.”

  “What kind of tests?”

  “She described feeling dizzy and disoriented just before her fall. Now, that’s nothing unusual in an elderly person. But we’d like to check it out, just to make sure.”

  “Of course.”

  “Have there been any other episodes that you’re aware of?”

  Ally shook her head. “Nothing like this. She traveled to Melbourne by train for Christmas. She hasn’t been quite herself since then.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “Just more tired. She never really seemed to get over the trip.”

  “Well, it’s best to give her a thorough checkup while she’s here. Her records indicate she doesn’t spend much time with her GP.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me.” Ally smiled. “Can I go in and see her now?”

  “Sure, only for a minute though,” she said. “She was experiencing quite a bit of pain, so we’ve had to give her something for that. She’ll probably be a bit vague. Don’t worry, it’s only the medication.”

  Ally stepped quietly into the room. It was a shock to see Lillian lying there in a hospital bed. She looked old and frail, not unlike Nan the last time Ally had seen her. She swallowed hard. She couldn’t let Lillian see she was upset.

  She opened her eyes when Ally pulled a chair over next to the bed.

  “Hello, Ally. What are you doing here? You should be helping Nicola tonight.” Her voice was tired, and s
he spoke slowly, as though she had to think about each word.

  “She’s fine, Gail was coming in. I just wanted to make sure you were alright.”

  “I’m in a hospital, Ally, nothing much is going to happen to me here. Though I’m a bit dubious about that so-called ‘doctor.’ She looks about fifteen. I’m sure she’s younger than Emily.”

  Ally smiled. She was certain the doctor she had just spoken to was older than Lillian’s eighteen year old granddaughter.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “I have to admit, those drugs are not too bad. I feel warm inside, and the pain has stopped. It’s like drinking red wine, only I hope I don’t have a hangover in the morning.”

  Ally hesitated for a moment. “I was thinking I had better call…”

  “No, don’t do that.” Lillian had closed her eyes again. Her speech was becoming a little slurred, but Ally could still understand her. “Don’t ring Richard.”

  “But…”

  “No buts.” She opened her eyes and looked directly into Ally’s. “Not for a day or two. Give me a chance to get my strength back before I have to deal with him.”

  “Lillian, I feel terrible, not letting him know.”

  She closed her eyes again. “Promise me, Ally.”

  “Okay,” she sighed reluctantly. “I promise.”

  * * *

  “She knows what she’s doing, Ally, trust her,” Matt tried to reassure her on the way home.

  “Imagine when he finds out. He’s going to hit the roof.”

  “Lillian will deal with him then, when she’s feeling better.”

  “That’s if she does get better. What if something happens, what if they find something when they run those tests?” A sob caught in Ally’s throat. Damn, she didn’t want to make a fool of herself and start crying in front of Matt. She pressed her fingers to her eyelids, forcing back the tears.

  They had pulled into the guesthouse driveway, and Matt stopped the car along the row of birch trees.

  “I’m alright, we should get back,” Ally sniffed. “Nic might need some help.”

  “She would have called Gail by now,” he said gently. “Just give yourself a minute. You don’t want to walk in all upset. You’ll set everybody off in a panic.”

  He was probably right. Ally breathed deeply, swallowing down the lump that sat stubbornly in her throat.

  “I didn’t realize you were so close to her,” Matt said eventually.

  “What?”

  “I mean, it’s just that I’ve known her for a few years and I’ve never met you before.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing, Ally. It’s just an observation.”

  Ally knew she hadn’t been down here much. But she was close to Lillian, she could feel it. That’s why she couldn’t bear it if something happened to her now. She needed more time.

  “I have visited her, often in fact, over the years. I’m sure she doesn’t report all her comings and goings to you,” Ally said curtly, trying to control the tremor in her voice.

  “I didn’t mean anything by it, Ally,” Matt tried to reassure her. “Of course she means a lot to you. And on top of your grandfather dying, I’m sure this is all a bit much.”

  Oh God, now he was giving her pity. She couldn’t stand it. Ally wasn’t weepy anymore, just annoyed. “Can we go now, please?”

  He didn’t say anything as he drove the short distance down to the house, parking Ally’s car out back. She jumped out as soon as it came to a stop.

  “Ally!” he called as she started toward the house.

  “What?” she turned around.

  “Your keys,” he said, holding them up.

  She marched back toward him and snatched them out of his hand.

  “Thanks for the lift,” she said brusquely, turning her back on him.

  “Pleasure,” she heard him mutter as she walked into the house.

  “Oh, here you are!” exclaimed Nic as Ally appeared in the kitchen doorway. “Is she alright? What’s happening?”

  Ally sighed. Rob turned around from the sink and looked at her expectantly. She’d have to go through it all again. She didn’t feel like it now.

  “Um, she’s fine, no fractures, they’re keeping her in for tests tomorrow,” she said in a monotone.

  Nic frowned at her. “Here, you could use a drink.”

  There was an open bottle of wine on the bench, and a half-empty glass. Nic grabbed another glass from the cupboard and poured one for Ally, then topped up her own.

  “To Lillian’s rapid recovery,” said Nic, raising her glass. Ally could drink to that.

  “What’s been happening here?” she said, nodding toward the dining room. “Did you send everyone home?”

  “No,” Nic explained. “In all the panic, I’d forgotten it was a week night. We’re only open for the guests, and there’s barely anyone here. There’s two couples in the dining room having port and coffee now, they’ll be off upstairs soon.”

  “Well, that’s a relief.”

  Nic looked at her closely. “Now that you’ve had a drink, tell me, is Lil alright?”

  Ally nodded. She relayed the events to Nic in more detail while Rob hovered in the background.

  Ally tried to put the two of them together in her mind. Rob was tall, very tall, and as somber as an undertaker. Nic was like a pocket-sized dynamo. Surely she must only come up to Rob’s waist? And she had so much energy, Ally got tired just listening to her. She had flaming red hair, an intentionally obvious dye job, and she wore it short, gelled to make it look like she had just got out of bed.

  “I’ll pop my head in and see if that last lot’s finished,” said Nic, after Ally had filled them in. “I’ll give them a nudge if they’re not!” she winked, disappearing through the door.

  It was barely a second before she reappeared. “Yippee, they’ve gone! Girls’ night! You go on upstairs, Ally, take your glass with you. I’ll follow with the bottle in a minute.”

  Ally could already tell it was no use arguing with Nic. And she wasn’t feeling all that tired anyway. She was worried about Lillian, and pissed off with Matt. Maybe a drink was just what she needed.

  Ally kicked off her shoes once she got up to her room and looked around for a convenient place to rest her glass. She shrugged, draining it instead. She pulled out the scrunchie that held her hair back and rubbed her scalp with her fingers, freeing the curly locks till they stood out wildly from her head. Then she fell back on the bed and let out a deep sigh, staring up at the ceiling.

  She shouldn’t have snapped at Matt like that. But it was none of his business how long she’d known Lillian, or how often she’d visited. Ally was having enough trouble dealing with her own guilt, let alone having to explain herself to someone else.

  Nic burst through the door with her arms laden. “Oh, you’re not tired, are you? You can’t go to bed now! I just got rid of Rob.”

  Ally grinned, sitting up. “I was only relaxing. How many bottles have you got there?”

  “The rest of the one we were drinking, and some port!” she added wickedly. “Do you like port?”

  “Is the Pope Polish?”

  “My kind of drinking partner!” She started to unload her booty. “And I’ve got chocolate—real English Cadbury’s, not that dead awful, waxy Australian stuff. But that’s for later. I’ve got crisps for starters. Oh, I just remembered, you haven’t had your dinner, have you? I’ll run down and grab some leftovers.”

  “Take a breath, Nic!” Ally laughed. “These will do fine.” She grabbed the bag of chips Nic had flung onto the bed and tore them open.

  Nic refilled Ally’s glass and one for herself and came over to the bed.

  “Here, hold these while I climb up,” she said to Ally, passing her the glasses. “They made these soddin’ old beds bloody high, and people were shorter then!”

  “Probably not shorter than you, Nic.” Ally leaned over, giggling. She was already feeling the effect of the wine on an emp
ty stomach.

  Nic held up her glass again. “Let’s drink to a good working relationship, even if it is only for another week.”

  “Mmm,” Ally murmured, sipping her wine. St. Ambrose felt like it was a million miles away. “What’s going to happen now, with Lillian out of action?”

  Nic shrugged. “Haven’t thought that far. Lucky we’ve got you here for the week. We’ll have to organize someone in the meantime.”

  Ally swallowed a couple of mouthfuls of wine. “Or I could stay…”

  “Could you?” Nic blinked at her. “But don’t you teach or something? Won’t you be expected back when school starts up?”

  “I could probably organize some time off. I have long service leave owing.”

  “Really? That’d be brilliant. Lil would be so relieved.”

  “Do you think?”

  “God yes. It would get her stuffy old son off her back,” she exclaimed. “And she adores you. She was carrying on about you on the phone to me the other day. You’re like a daughter to her.”

  Ally started to feel a bit weepy again. “Tell that to Matt!”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He couldn’t understand why I was so upset tonight. He thought we hardly knew each other.”

  Nic shrugged. “What do men know?”

  “Bugger all!” Ally declared, gulping down the remainder of her glass.

  “I’ll get the bottle,” said Nic.

  “No, I don’t want you to fall!” Ally grinned, swinging her legs off the side of the bed. She walked across the room and picked up the bottle off the table, pouring herself another glass.

  “So, what’s going on with you and Matt?”

  Ally swung around to look at her. “Nothing’s going on. Why do you ask?”

  Nic looked at her. “It seemed to me like there was something … going on.”

  “No thanks,” Ally pulled a face.

  “Why not?”

  “He’s not my type.”

  “Matt?” Nic frowned, holding out her glass for Ally to fill. “What’s your problem? He’s lush as!”

  “You mean luscious?”

  “No, you know, lush as…” she paused, considering. “I don’t know, something or other that’s luscious.”

  “Oh.” Ally gulped down half of her glass. “There’s only this little bit left in the bottle, you want it?”

  Nic shook her head.