One Hundred And Twelve Days

by Ian Todd

  “Noo remember, Senga. Keep yer cool. There’s nae use trying tae score points aff ae somewan like him,” Lizzie, her flatmate, hid warned her, as she’d heided fur the door.

  Lizzie’s advice hidnae been lost oan her. She knew the charming snake she wis meeting widnae haud back. There wis never any hauf measures when dealing wae Tony Gucci. Whereas the rest ae The Mankys wid deliberately noise ye up before conceding a point, Tony Gucci gied nothing away. He’d been like that as a wean as well. Fought hard and dirty and conceded nothing, whether the other person wis in the right or no. Everything he did wis calculated doon tae the last wee minute detail, irrespective ae how unimportant it seemed tae other normal people. Nothing jist happened oot ae the blue and if it did, he’d be in there, manipulating it, taking control. Surprises wur fur other people. Kim Sui hid telt her that he didnae like surprises efter wan ae the lassies hid suggested throwing a surprise birthday party fur him. Talk aboot weird. It widnae hiv surprised her in the least if he wis sitting in a car somewhere in wan ae the lanes running aff Hope Street, hinging back, waiting tae see if she’d appear. He didnae come across as being Mr Vain, bit losing face by being stood up by anywan, particularly by somewan like her, wid probably gie that credibility ae his a fair wee dunt. She knew she hid tae be extremely careful no tae noise him up or tae lock horns wae him. He wid be daeing everything fae his side ae the table tae get her tae bite. She turned and looked aboot again. The place wis filling up. She wondered if she should confess tae him that this wis the first time she’d darkened the doors ae a proper Atalian restaurant. It wid probably take the wind oot ae his sails if she wis tae mess up ordering fae the menu, withoot any deliberate entrapment fae him. The fact that she wis even thinking aboot that summed up everything she hated aboot him.

  “Madam,” the waiter asked politely, laying her bottle ae soda water and ice doon in front ae her, as she lifted her compact oot ae her bag and hid a wee squint at the skin below her eyes.

  They looked fine, which wis a miracle given the amount ae howling, ranting and greeting she’d been daeing the past few days. She still felt extremely hurt by Johnboy’s attitude. Surely he could see whit wis happening here? She’d put in an extra few hours efter her shift, until visiting time, tae save her hivving tae heid across the toon and then go aw the way back a couple ae hours later. When she’d arrived in the wee recovery ward, he’d been sitting up, looking doon towards the ward door, clearly expecting her. She’d left word wae Eve Hamilton, wan ae the nurses oan duty, tae let him know that she’d be in tae see him either sometime during the day, if she could get away fae casualty fur five minutes or if she couldnae, she’d see him at the visiting session in the evening at seven. She’d hoped that he’d let anywan intending tae come up tae visit him know that she’d be there. She wanted tae be oan her ain wae him.

  “So, ye’re sitting up?” she’d said, bending across and gieing him a wee kiss, before she felt the emotion building up in her eyes. “Sorry, Ah cannae help it. And me a nurse as well.”

  She looked behind her tae see if any ae her two colleagues hid noticed, before sitting doon.

  “God, ye look gorgeous, Senga…even when ye’re greeting,” he’d come oot wae, smiling.

  “So, how ur ye feeling?”

  “Ah’ve felt better. Ah’m sore aw o’er.”

  “Aye, it’ll take time, bit don’t be shy. If ye’re in pain, jist ask wan ae the lassies oan the ward and they’ll see ye okay.”

  “They swiped ma morphine drip aff ae me this morning and ur limiting ma intake ae painkillers.”

  “Aye, they won’t want ye tae become too dependent oan that stuff.”

  It hid felt strange sitting there, being able tae haud hauns, hiv a wee kiss and a gentle cuddle, talking aboot whit hid been happening in her life since she’d last seen him. He said he couldnae remember her phoning Fanny Flaw, the Dumfries social worker’s office, efter she’d come oot ae the court the day he’d been stabbed and clubbed o’er the heid wae a baton efter saving Fanny’s life. Fanny hid telt her that she could hear her voice shouting Johnboy’s name doon the line fae the phone box ootside the court ae appeal building in Edinburgh, as the haunset wis swinging back and forth, while Johnboy struggled tae get up aff the flair, efter disarming the guy who’d stabbed him and attempted tae rape her. Everything at his bedside hid been gaun okay until she’d brought up Fanny’s name.

  “And Fanny’s fine,” she’d telt him.

  “Is that right?”

  “Aye. She wis saying her and her man wid love tae come and thank ye in person fur whit ye did.”

  “Eh?”

  “She said…”

  “It’s okay, Senga. Ah heard ye the first time.”

  “Oh, ye sound as if that wid maybe be a problem.”

  “Look, Ah came across her efter she’d been taken hostage by some stoat-the-baw and jumped in. That’s it. Ah’m glad tae hear that she’s fine, bit there’s no a big deal, so leave it at that, eh?”

  “Bit ye saved her life and she jist wants tae…”

  “Senga, Ah’m sorry. You obviously goat a bit closer tae her than Ah ever did. That’s fine, bit as far as Ah’m concerned, she’s still a jail social worker.”

  “She’s goat a new job,” she’d blurted oot, no sure why she’d think he’d be even remotely interested efter whit he’d come oot wae.

  “Good fur her. Let’s change the subject, eh? Ah’ve goat a sore heid coming oan.”

  It hidnae goat any easier. In fact, her world hid come crashing doon aboot her ears two minutes later. Why hid she no jist bitten her tongue tae see which way the wind wis blowing?

  “Ah spoke tae Lizzie…ye know…aboot us.”

  “Aye?”

  “She’s fine fur you tae move in tae the flat…when ye’re ready tae get discharged fae here. It’ll be a bit strange tae hiv a man aboot the place, bit we’ll manage,” she’d said lightly, smiling, haudin his hauns in hers.

  Silence.

  “Whit?” she’d asked, no meaning tae snatch her hauns back oot ae his, searching his face fur a clue.

  “Ah’m no sure that wid be a good idea.”

  “Eh?” she’d hauf-yelped, feeling her heart sink, no believing whit she’d jist heard. “Bit we’ve spoken aboot it…in oor letters and at the visits doon in Dumfries.”

  “Aye, Ah know. And that’ll still happen, bit no right noo.”

  “No right noo? Fur Christ’s sake, Johnboy. Whit dae ye mean, no right noo? Whit’s that supposed tae mean?”

  “Look, Ah kin see this his come as a wee bit ae a shock, bit Ah’ll need a bit ae space…a bit ae time.”

  “A bit ae time? Fur goodness sake, Johnboy, ye’ve jist been let oot ae the jail efter spending nearly three years locked up, hauf it in solitary confinement. Whit ur ye oan aboot, ye need a bit ae time?” she’d demanded, struggling tae keep hersel in check and no burst oot greeting.

  “Look, it’s no like that. This his aw happened so fast…”

  “Johnboy, ur you saying that ye don’t want us tae be thegither?”

  “Ach, Senga, of course Ah’m no. Why wid ye think that, fur Christ’s sake?”

  “So, whit ur ye saying then?”

  “Whit Ah’m saying is, you and Lizzie hiv been living thegither fur a good few years noo. Aye, Ah want us tae be thegither, bit Ah’m no comfy coming oot ae the jail straight intae a flat wae two nurses…females…it’s a bit freaky.”

  “Freaky?”

  “Ah need a bit ae space tae come tae terms wae whit’s jist happened. Ah don’t know how long Ah’m gonnae be oan medication. Ah mean, they’ve still goat me peeing through a tube. Christ knows whit else there is. It’ll be embarrassing enough, withoot worrying aboot whit you and Lizzy will be thinking.”

  “Johnboy, we’re in love. Lizzie knows that. She wants tae help me…us.”

  “Ah’m sorry, Senga, bit Ah’ve made up ma mind. Ah’m gonnae need ma ain space until Ah kin sort ma heid and that body ae mine oot. That disnae mean we’ll no be thegit
her. It jist means Ah…need time…tae adapt.”

  “Ah’m sorry, Johnboy. Ah jist don’t know whit tae say,” she’d confessed through a bewildered, sniffling mumble.

  “Put yersel in ma position. Ye’ve been away three years and ye end up in hospital and Ah tell ye ye’re coming hame tae stay wae me and Silent when ye get oot?”

  “Bit…where will ye stay?”

  “Ah’ve goat a flat.”

  “A flat? Whit dae ye mean, ye’ve goat a flat?” she asked, even mair confused. “How could ye hiv a flat? Ye’ve no been oot in three years.”

  “Tony.”

  “Tony?” she’d hauf sobbed, feeling as if she’d jist been kicked by a horse.

  “Aye. Him and Simon wur up this efternoon. He said Ah could move in tae wan ae his oan Otago Street. Seemingly, it’s jist alang the road fae yours oan the other side ae the River Kelvin. See, we’ll be close by and will see each other whenever we want.”

  “Ah know where it is,” she’d mumbled bitterly, her heid in bits.

  How she’d manage tae keep her composure fur the rest ae the visiting hour, she’d never know. She could tell he knew how upset she wis, as he’d kept trying tae take her haun in his. She’d switched fae feeling rejected tae angry and back again, aff and oan throughoot the visit. She couldnae remember much mair ae whit hid been said between them efter that. By the time she’d stood up and left him, she’d walked hame insteid ae getting the bus, greeting aw the way. She’d been glad that Lizzie wis oan the nightshift. It hid gied her a bit ae time tae try and come tae terms wae whit Johnboy hid informed her, although she’d been sitting waiting fur Lizzie tae walk through the door the next morning.

  “Maybe he’s goat a point,” Lizzie’d hid the cheek tae hit her wae, efter sitting there in silence, while Senga ranted and screamed, cursing Tony Gucci and aw The Mankys fur being the biggest basturts she’d ever hid the misfortune tae come across in her life.

  “Ah’m sorry Ah’m late, Senga,” Tony apologised cheerfully, arriving at the table, bringing her back tae the situation in haun. “Ah hope ye hivnae been sitting here oan yer lonesome fur long. People might think there wis something wrang wae ye.”

  She wis glad tae see Quasimodo’s twin wisnae in tow wae him.

  “Ah’ve jist arrived,” she replied, fighting hard tae keep her anger in check, as he lifted his haun, clicking they fingers ae his, fur the waiter tae bring another two bottles ae iced soda water and another glass across tae them.

  “Kin we get a menu?” he asked the waiter, efter he laid the drinks doon, looking at his wristwatch.

  “Ur ye in a hurry like?” she asked pleasantly.

  “Ah’m always in a hurry, Senga. You should know that. Ah never did hiv the patience tae hing aboot, waiting fur time tae catch up wae me,” he replied, as The Fat Man himsel entered the restaurant, looked aboot tae see where they wur sitting, before grabbing a seat between their table and the door.

  “Is it no a wee bit embarrassing hivving him following ye aboot like a big dark shadow?”

  “Who?”

  “Baby Huey.”

  “He’s ma driver. Ah hivnae goat a licence.”

  “So, why dis he no heid aff somewhere and come back tae pick ye up later then?”

  “Because, like me, he needs tae eat sometimes.”

  “Madam? Sir?” The maître d asked, arriving oan the scene. “Are you ready to order? Perhaps some antipasti?”

  “Antipasti?” she asked.

  “Starters…a few olives and a wee bit ae garlic flat breid,” Tony said before the Man In Black could reply.

  “No, I’ll skip that. Er, kin Ah hiv the…the…Branzino…Alle Erbe, please? Ah’m no sure if Ah pronounced that right,” she said, apologising in advance, as the Atalian waiter smiled.

  “Fillet of sea bass in a herb crust with rice, madam,” the maître d repeated, writing it doon oan his wee pad.

  “Scampi Provençale fur me, Luigi,” Tony said politely.

  “Scampi tails sautéed in garlic butter and white wine sauce,” The Man in Black muttered quietly, again writing doon the order, smiling as he took the menus back aff ae them.

  “That music…it’s beautiful. He sounds so sad,” she said, glancing up at the wee speaker oan the wall.

  “Aye, Ah remember that auld granda ae mine used tae sit listening tae it, staring intae space, especially if him and ma granny fell oot. He played it aw the time. It’s aboot a guy who fancies a lassie who disnae fancy him back. Fur some reason, it always reminded me ae Johnboy when we wur growing up. Tae get her interested in him, he buys whit he thinks is a love potion and persuades her tae drink it. Unknown tae him, the guy he buys it fae, is a conman. When he comes across her, sitting there weeping, he thinks it’s working. Unknown tae him, the love potion is jist red wine. Ah don’t think Ah need tae tell ye how it aw worked oot in the end, dae Ah?” he replied, a wee smile appearing at the corner ae his mooth. “So, ye wanted tae speak tae me?”

  Speak tae ye? Naw, Tony, Ah want tae kill ye, ya horrible, nasty person, ye.

  “Aye, Ah wis wanting tae speak tae ye aboot Johnboy,” she replied, keeping her voice even, the music furgoatten aboot.

  “Whit aboot him?”

  “Ur ye aware that we’re…er…an item noo?”

  “Well, considering that ye’ve been trooping doon tae Dumfries in aw weathers since the middle ae last year, Ah gathered that there might be something a bit mair than jist being penfriends,” he replied pleasantly, taking a sip ae his soda, eyes raking o’er her face as if he wis searching fur an exposed blackheid or something.

  “So, Ah thought we should get thegither tae try and …”

  “Sort oot the rules?”

  “Naw, no sort oot the rules!” she snipped, instantly cursing hersel, as a wee smile appeared at the corner ae that mooth ae his. “Tony, Ah’m no gonnae fight wae ye o’er him. If Johnboy wants tae go back tae his auld ways, then that’ll be his choice.”

  “Good.”

  “Pardon?”

  “Ah said, good…it’s his life, considering the shite he’s hid tae put up wae.”

  Take that, Tony said tae himsel, looking forward tae the response.

  “And whit’s that supposed tae mean?” she asked, again much too quickly, feeling her face flush.

  “He’s jist come fae a controlling environment, so it’ll be good fur him tae be able tae make up his ain mind, withoot other people making decisions fur him. He’s goat a lot ae catching up tae dae,” The Atalian replied pleasantly.

  Right, let’s see how ye come back at that wan, Senga.

  “Catching up?” she wondered oot loud, as the waiter arrived wae their food.

  “Aye, being able tae go tae the toilet as and when ye like, eating and sleeping in yer ain time zone, talking tae whoever ye want, whenever ye want, withoot being under somewan else’s control.”

  Come oan, Senga, he urged, whit ur ye waiting oan? Get the flair show started.

  “Ah’m aware that it might take him a wee while tae get things sorted oot. Ah wis hoping tae help wae that….”

  “Ach, Ah’m sure that he’ll be able tae manage that himsel withoot help fae…”

  “Somewan like me?”

  “Somewan like you or other people who feel the need tae help him. It widnae work. Whit Johnboy needs is tae come tae terms wae where he is the noo. Let him dae that and everything will work oot jist fine.”

  “Well, it didnae seem tae hiv such an adverse effect oan you, Snappy and Pat when youse goat oot this time last year. Ah mean, you and Kim Sui seemed tae jist pick up where youse left aff…as did the others.”

  “Aye, well, we walked oot hivving served oor time. Wan day Johnboy wis in the nick and the next, he wis carted in tae an operating theatre before waking up tae find me and Simon sitting by his bed.”

  Ha, ha, he laughed inside, starting tae enjoy himsel. He knew that wan wid hurt. C’mone, Senga, stoap farting aboot and get it o’er and done wae.

  Her reaction, when it cam
e, didnae disappoint.

  “Ah wis at Johnboy’s bed long before you pair turned up, Tony. Don’t try and play yer wee psychological mind games wae somewan like me.”

  “Ah’m sorry, ye’ve lost me.”

  “Aw that shit aboot Johnboy waking up and the first people he sees ur youse pair,” she spat. “So, his supposed best pals wur at his bedside here in the toon when he woke up? Where the hell hiv youse been the past year when he’s been lying oan his lonesome doon in Dumfries?”

  Silence.

  Got ye, ya basturt, ye. She knew fine well he wis being deliberately provocative wae whit he wis coming oot wae, bit she couldnae help hersel. She’d need tae go caw-canny.