Henderson Manor

by Emma L. Clapperton

  “So, did the police say that they would be in touch?” Deborah asked as though she had read his mind.

  “Well, there’s no need for them to contact me now. It was concluded as accidental death.”

  Deborah saw his expression deepen again and instantly regretted her question. It was plain to see he was still in shock.

  “Why don’t we forget about this for now and go back to your place. We could get some Chinese take-out and a bottle of wine?”

  Sam smiled and narrowing his eyes he replied, “That’s what you call it these days?”

  Deborah laughed, “All I want is Chinese food and wine. I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”

  The made their way out of the pub and down the street towards the Chinese takeaway place on the corner. Deborah was quiet, thinking about how their relationship might change if the police did conclude that Sarah was murdered. They would want to investigate Sam and anyone else who was involved in Sarah’s life. When they found out that Sam had a new girlfriend, they would want to talk to her too. Deborah wasn’t sure how she would deal with that if it did happen. She wasn’t sure how anyone would deal with it.

  ***

  Sam slid the key into the Yale lock and turned it to the right, allowing the door to click open. The hallway was dark and the flat was silent as he called out, “Jenny, are you in?”

  No reply came, so he assumed that she was out. “Looks like we have the place to ourselves.”

  Deborah smiled as she shook her head. “Like I said, it’s just Chinese food.”

  Sam flicked the light switch and was startled to see Jenny standing in the hallway at the entrance to the kitchen. Her hair had fallen over her face and her eyes were fixed on Sam and Deborah. “Jesus, Jenny you scared us half to death.”

  Jenny didn’t reply; in fact she didn’t move. She just cocked her head to one side, focusing her stare on Deborah through the strands of hair in front of her eyes. She smiled slightly, her teeth not showing as they hid behind her dried out lips.

  “Jenny, are you alright?” Sam asked, placing the takeout bag on the floor by his feet.

  Jenny did not reply to his question. Instead she kept her gaze on Deborah, who had now taken a step behind Sam and was holding his hand. No word of a lie, Jenny was beginning to freak Deborah out. “Sam, what’s wrong with her?” she whispered.

  Sam broke his grip from Deborah’s hand and took a few steps towards Jenny. He put his hand on her shoulder and she turned to face him. Sam noted that Jenny didn’t look well — her face had turned almost grey and her lips were dry and cracked. “Jenny, what’s wrong?”

  She lifted her head, hair falling from her face to reveal eyes which showed no life within them. “Hello Sam.” Jenny’s voice was hoarse with a hint of playfulness behind it.

  Sam looked over to Deborah, whom had now stepped backwards closer to the front door. “I think she’s sleepwalking.”

  “Has she done this before?”

  “Once or twice, when I was with Sarah; I think its stress related,” he said as he placed his hands gently on Jenny’s shoulders and guided her into her bedroom. “Take the food into the kitchen, will you? I’ll be with you in a minute.”

  Deborah nodded as she picked up the bag and walked cautiously into the kitchen. She froze when she heard Jenny say, “Goodnight Deborah.”

  The sound of her voice sent chills up her spine, allowing the hairs on her body to stand on end, each and every one of them to be precise. “Goodnight Jenny,” she replied, trying not to allow the fear to come across in her voice.

  She heard Sam close the bedroom door and soon he was behind her in the kitchen. He nuzzled her neck and wrapped his hands around her waist. “Do you want to skip the food?”

  “Actually, no I don’t. I’m quite hungry as it happens.”

  Sam laughed quietly, aware that it might disturb Jenny. “So, are you thinking food, then…?” The question hung in the air.

  “I’m thinking that you don’t ever give up, do you?” Deborah turned to face him and jumped as she saw Jenny in the hallway again.

  “Hey you two, I could smell the food and I’m sorry to say that I’m a weakling when it comes to Chinese … any going spare?” Jenny asked with chirpiness in her voice.

  Sam spun around, surprised to hear Jenny out of bed. “I’ve just put you to bed.”

  “Sorry?” Jenny said

  “Yeah, you were sleep walking again.”

  Jenny shook her head. “I haven’t done that for a while.”

  Sam nodded. “You want some rice and chicken balls? We ordered too much.”

  Deborah wasn’t enamored at the fact that, yet again, she and Sam had been interrupted. Jenny wasn’t as annoying as Deborah had first anticipated but she still didn’t appreciate the fact that this was the second time Jenny had interrupted them.

  “You don’t mind do you, Deborah?” Jenny asked aware that she may just have gate crashed a date.

  Deborah smiled as she shook her head. “Like Sam said, we ordered too much. In fact, why don’t we go and work up an appetite so we can really enjoy this food?”

  Jenny’s eyes widened at the audacity in Deborah’s tone. “I’ll eat this in the living room.” She left the kitchen and Sam and Deborah alone, not wanting to intrude when Deborah had just clearly stated what was on her mind. The boldness of some people.

  “You said you were hungry,” Sam smiled.

  Deborah reached up and kissed Sam’s lips gently. “I am hungry.”

  Sam reached down and took her hand in his and led her to his bedroom. She sat down on the bed, removing her shoes. “You said you thought it was stress related?”

  “I think so. She’d never done it before Sarah and isn’t aware if she did it as a child. It was when Sarah was sending those messages, the endless photographs of us together, the letters. I hated it; she just wore us both down. She swore it wasn’t her and for a while I think I believed her. That was when Jenny started sleep walking.”

  Deborah held her hand out. “Come here.”

  He went to her, allowing himself to flop down beside her. “You’re pretty amazing, do you know that?”

  She smiled, feeling flattered by the compliment. “I am?”

  “What kind of girl sticks around after finding out about all of my baggage?”

  Deborah stood up and removed her dress, exposing her body. “I didn’t find out; you told me about it. And while we are on the subject, I am not a girl but a woman who knows her own mind.”

  Sam placed a hand on either side of Deborah’s waist, “I do like a woman who knows her own mind.”

  Deborah did know her own mind and as she allowed Sam to let go of his worries, she kept in mind the very strong possibility that this would have to end at some point. But for the time being, she drank in every ounce of Sam Leonard that she could.

  16

  Sam snored softly as he lay in Deborah’s arms. She could smell the coconut shampoo in his hair and she let the scent fill her lungs. Had she fallen in love with him? She was quite certain that she had; not surprising really, considering the lengths she had gone to, to be with him. Deborah had followed everything that Sam had done over the last two years, at first due to a genuine interest in his work. But then something triggered inside her, something deep within that she couldn’t explain and she knew from the moment she saw him in the flesh for the first time on the stage, she couldn’t get enough of him. Deborah was aware that it would be a long shot that he would even consider going on a date with her, so when he offered to buy her a drink the night of the closing show, her heart had risen into her throat.

  She watched his chest rise and fall as he breathed softly in his slumber, unaware of all the things in her head. Sam could never know the things inside Deborah’s head; it would just ruin everything for everyone. He was so beautiful; conscious or otherwise, his skin was perfectly soft and to her, and he was just precious. As Deborah continued to admire Sam, she heard footsteps outside in the hallway. She si
ghed, wondering if Jenny was sleepwalking again and hoped she wasn’t. It had freaked her out the way Jenny stared at them both through the gaps in her hair which had fallen in front of her face. It was like she was reading Deborah’s mind, which of course wasn’t possible, but it scared her all the same. The footsteps had turned to a shuffle and were loud at times and quiet at others. If Deborah didn’t know any better, she would say that Jenny was trying to scare her on purpose. She snuggled down under the duvet and cuddled into Sam. His skin on hers made her feel warm and tingly.

  Suddenly, there was a loud thud outside the bedroom door and the sound of Jenny’s screams pierced Deborah’s ears. Sam sat up and was out of the bed before Deborah realised.

  “What the hell was that?” he asked.

  “I think it was Jenny.”

  Sam opened the door to find Jenny’s lifeless body lying on the floor. He knelt down beside her and brushed her hair out of her face. “Jenny, can you hear me?”

  “I’ll phone for an ambulance,” Deborah said, trying to mute the panic in her tone.

  Jenny wasn’t moving. She was breathing but she seemed lifeless. Sam began to move her into the recovery position and ran back into his bedroom to retrieve a blanket to cover her with. “Jenny, I’m here. We’re getting you an ambulance.”

  Deborah was suddenly by his side. “It’s on its way.” She placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll stay here till you get some clothes on and then I’ll get dressed.”

  Sam was grateful for Deborah’s presence; he wouldn’t have been able to stay calm if she hadn’t been there. “Ok, I’ll be two minutes.”

  As Sam dressed himself in the bedroom, Deborah stroked Jenny’s hair and stayed by her side. She knew she shouldn’t, but for some reason she couldn’t help but feel excited at what had happened. She tried to push the feelings to the back of her head. She didn’t want those kinds of thoughts invading her mind again. “You do like to make a fuss, don’t you Jenny. First the sleepwalking and now this; you’ll have Sam worried sick.” Her voice was soft, as if she were speaking to a new born baby.

  Sam was once again beside Jenny, now in his full attire. “Quickly get dressed so that we can go with the ambulance.”

  Deborah smiled inwardly but didn’t dare show it. “They’ll only let one of us in with her. You go, I’ll go home and you can phone me later to let me know how she is doing.”

  Sam frowned, “You’re not coming to the hospital?”

  He wanted her to be there so much because he needed her support. Since Sarah, Sam hadn’t considered being able to trust another female completely ever again, but Deborah did something to him which he couldn’t explain. He didn’t want to think about Sarah right now; he brushed her memory to the side and focused on getting Jenny to the hospital.

  “Of course I’ll come. I’ll get a taxi.”

  The buzzer rang out louder than usual, perhaps because the night carries such stillness, everything sounds louder when the world is sleeping. Sam got up and pressed the release button and in seconds the paramedics were in the flat. Sam explained what had happened and before Deborah could blink, Jenny was on a stretcher and Sam was shoving a set of keys in her hand. “Lock up for us please; we’re going to the Western Infirmary. I’ll meet you there.”

  He was gone and in an instant the flat was empty. Deborah went into Sam’s room to retrieve her bag and made sure that all of the lights were out. She proceeded to close the door and as she did, she felt a presence behind her. She turned to face the inside of the flat, but of course nothing faced her.

  She closed the door and put the key in the lock, turning it once and trying the handle to make sure that she had locked it properly. On trying the handle, she was shocked at how icy cold it had suddenly become.

  As Deborah headed for the stairs, she pretended to herself that she couldn’t hear the low growl coming from Sam and Jenny’s flat.

  ***

  On her arrival at the hospital, Deborah was met with the usual A&E suspects: drunks, drug addicts and street brawlers. She sometimes really did hate Glasgow but now that she had met Sam, the place had become a little brighter, even tonight. Deborah took her phone out and sent a text message to Sam.

  I’m here, where are you? Is Jenny ok?

  On pressing send, she looked up at the main entrance to the A&E department. There was an old man outside smoking a cigarette and he was clutching on to a walking stick. She thought of her granddad and decided to check if he was ok. She approached him and he was clearly unaware that he had caught her interest.

  “Are you ok?” she asked gently.

  The man looked up on hearing Deborah’s voice. “Aye hen, thanks.” Smoke filtered from his mouth as he spoke. On seeing that she wasn’t satisfied with his answer, he went on. “My granddaughter fell down the stairs tonight, broke her bloody ankle so she did. It’s a bad one too, all puffed up an’ that.”

  Deborah gave a sympathetic smile. “I’m sure she’ll be ok, especially if she has you here.”

  The returned the smile. “Aye hen, she will that. She’s tough as auld boots my Sarah, nothing phase’s her.”

  Deborah felt the bile rise at the sound of his granddaughter’s name and it must have shown.

  “Are you a’right love? You’ve went an awful funny colour so ye have.” The man braced himself against his walking stick as he stood up straight, stepping on his cigarette.

  Deborah swallowed hard. “I’m fine thank you. It’s just that, well my partner’s friend collapsed tonight and I’m not so sure if she’ll be ok.”

  Just at that, Sam came out from the swinging doors of the entrance. “There you are. She’s awake.”

  Deborah looked at the man with sad eyes. He smiled at her. “Your friend must be as tough as my Sarah.”

  Sam was already pulling her inside. “Thanks,” she mouthed as she entered the hospital. Was that guilt that ran through her veins at the mere mention of Sarah’s name? Obviously it wasn’t the Sarah but hearing the name and the fact that she had fallen down the stairs was enough to make her stomach lurch. She was pulled back from her thoughts when she realised that Sam was talking to her.

  “The doctor wants to do some routine blood tests.”

  Deborah nodded. “And what will that tell us?”

  Sam shook his head. “Hopefully nothing, maybe she was sleepwalking again, you know, after she’d gone back to bed.”

  Deborah hoped that was all it was; you don’t just faint for no reason. “Can that happen?”

  Deborah hadn’t realised it but she and Sam had been walking along the corridor and had made their way into the ward. She was suddenly standing in Jenny’s cubicle, by her bed. “Oh, you’re awake. How are you feeling?”

  Jenny smiled weakly. “I’m not sure. I don’t feel great.”

  Sam was at her side, with Jenny’s hand in his. Deborah’s heart began to ache on seeing Sam so hurt by his friend’s unfortunate illness.

  “You didn’t have to come here. You could’ve both stayed at home.” Jenny’s voice was weak. Her eyes scrunched at the pain in her stomach.

  “What? You want me to call a doctor?” Sam panicked.

  Jenny shook her head. “It could be food poisoning. I was sick earlier, after that bloody Chinese.”

  Deborah approached the other side of the bed. “Well, you did get out of bed to eat it. Maybe your stomach couldn’t handle it sitting in there once you fallen asleep again.”

  Jenny’s brow furrowed. “Erm, since when did you become a nutrition specialist?” She laughed quietly.

  A nurse came into the cubicle. “I need to take some blood. Could you wait outside please?”

  Sam and Deborah waited outside, Deborah quite happily; she hated needles. “It probably is food poisoning. She had the chicken balls and we didn’t.”

  Sam nodded. “That’s true. It was just scary seeing her there, lifeless on the floor. I honestly got the fright of my life.”

  Deborah was hugging him now, wanting to take away the pain he felt fo
r his friend but at the same time wanting nothing more than to be alone with him. “She’ll probably get kept in overnight. They’ll want to make sure everything is fine and with it being a Saturday they probably won’t get the results straight away.”

  The nurse opened the cubicle curtain and stepped out. “You can go back in now.”

  Jenny had her eyes closed and seemed peaceful, her chest rising and falling slowly. “We shouldn’t wake her,” Sam said.

  “I’m not asleep but almost. Go home and come back tomorrow,” Jenny said softly.

  “That’s me told then,” Sam laughed.

  He kissed her on the forehead, and Deborah didn’t look. She couldn’t look; it was too hard to see him be that way with her. Deborah knew she was being unreasonable and that he loved Jenny purely as a friend but she couldn’t help but feel like he was becoming hers, only hers.

  “We’ll be back tomorrow first thing,” Deborah said. She wanted Jenny to know that she would be looked after but she also wanted her to be aware that Sam wouldn’t be alone.

  They left, hand in hand and made their way out to the main road. The street was quiet; the pubs and clubs had closed two hours previously and the only life on the street was the ambulance workers going in and out of the hospital. Sam flagged down a passing taxi and they got in.

  “Palazzo Apartments on Ingram Street please, mate,” Sam said.

  The taxi driver nodded and pulled out onto the road. They were silent on the way back to Sam and Jenny’s flat and Deborah wondered if she would hear that low growl again once Sam fallen asleep.

  She sincerely hoped that she wouldn’t. Someone knew something about her which she did not want Sam to find out about. She would do anything to stop that from happening.