Lost and Found - 33

33

Thursday 11^th March 2009

Amelia looked around at the furnished apartment, it was finally hers. And her father had come home the previous day. It was strange to have such a huge man in such a small environment, but already they’d been inundated with visitors. At this exact moment he was being taken around the village by Mrs Young. The wheelchair had never become a necessity, but he still needed help for most things.

Dropping into an armchair, she flicked on the TV, watching for news of any survivors of an earthquake in the Philippines, form the comfort of her own home. It was as she relaxed that the phone rang.

                “Hey Ams!”

It was Li, and the sound of her voice caused Amelia to sigh. They’d salvaged their relationship over the last six weeks. When Li first met her father and became more knowledgeable of the family mechanics, the village life...she could see why Amelia had made her choices. Not that she thought she was right, but seeing Maxwell Parkin so restricted, so frustrated by his illness was hard for the non-family member, it was obviously harder for Amelia, Li got that. But she worried about her friend, she carried a huge amount of grief with her wherever she went, partly due to her father being ill – an irrational response to a man who’d lived an overindulgent and unhealthy lifestyle since his teens, but also towards Sol, the amount she’d hurt him. All this misplaced concern meant one thing; she wasn’t dealing with her own emotions at losing the man Li knew she loved more than anything. After several phone calls trying to make her see reason, they agreed to a truce, knowing that was the only way they could maintain their friendship.

It didn’t mean that Li didn’t keep her eye on the whereabouts of Sol, Craig his PA had irregular contact, and she knew that he’s travelled from Mexico down through several countries of Latin America, and at this moment was tackling a climb to see the modern Wonder of the World that was Machu Picchu in Peru. When Amelia got over her guilt, came to her senses, Li wanted to be able to tell her where Sol was. Saying that she’d presumed that time would have occurred weeks ago. As it was they were now into the second month and she was starting to question her knowledge of Amelia.

                “How you feeling?” Amelia asked kicking her feet up onto the coffee table and dropping her head back to rest on the chair back. “My goddaughter kicking lumps out of your inners yet?”

Li chuckled, “why are you so convinced it will be a girl? It may be a boy!”

                “Nope, someone as dainty as you couldn’t produce a boy, I’m convinced!”

Li laughed again, “Daichi’s hardly dainty, and if my biology memory serves me right then it’s all down to him!”

Amelia reached for the coffee she’d made a few moments earlier and took a drink, “you’re right...as always!”

                “So how was the first night?”

Li didn’t need to know that her father called her at least half a dozen times in the night, mainly to reach for items that he couldn’t see but didn’t actually need or want. She was tired and infuriated, but that was her problem.

                “Yeah, good. It’s so nice not to have to travel back and for. He’s in the pub with Mrs Young at the moment, so he’ll be shattered, but happy when he comes back!”

They chatted a little longer, Li inviting her up to London again, Amelia refusing...again. But they promised to meet soon.

Amelia must have nodded off, she woke at the sound of the door opening, and had jumped up and rushed to meet her Dad by the time the lounge door swung open erratically.

                “Get me free of this bloody woman!” he slurred; his speech had improved, but still was difficult to decipher when he was tired.

Mrs Young and her hide like skin laughed, “Oooh listen to you Max, for God’s sake stop your moaning! This girl is glad of the rest, and you enjoyed an hour out with old friends.”

Tutting he raised an eyebrow in an overdramatic poorly controlled manner, before slumping into a chair.

                “Aren’t you going to tell Amelia about your news?”

Amelia looked at him and smiled, “what news is that then Dad?”

He rustled into his pocket for a moment before throwing a small card at her. It was an invitation to Alex’s wedding...to one Sophia Menzie-Carter.  So Alex got his aristocratic bride to match his Manor house and his dreams she thought as she smiled at her father, “the fifteenth of April. That’s not long. But you’ll be running by then!”

He shrugged, then relaxed back in a way she’d come to know meant he’d ended the conversation.

                “I’ll see you out Mrs Young!”

As Amelia led her into the hallway, the older woman grabbed her arm, “call me Sylvia, please!”

Amelia nodded, “Sylvia. Thank you so much, I know he may be rude, but I think he really needed to get out and about today.”

Sylvia reached for the door smiling, “I did it for you love, not that cantankerous old bastard! You look shattered, a long way from that carefree woman who walked into the Lion on Christmas Day! Can I ask you a question?” When Amelia nodded, she asked, “What happened to that lovely Tanner boy? You too looked so good together.”

The unexpected question instantly brought Sol flooding into her mind and she almost physically staggered in response.

                “Um, it didn’t work out...” she offered her voice suddenly croaky with emotion. This had been so easy to ignore, to lock away, but somehow the question from Sylvia had unearthed all that she’d tucked away in the recesses of her mind.

Sylvia nodded knowingly, “I thought as much!” Then she left.

Friday 19^th March 2009

For two weeks Amelia had been the perfect carer, tolerating the anger and hostility, supporting the tears and frustrations. She’d taken him to numerous appointments, helped with a dozen home exercises for swallowing, speech, his weak muscles. She’d even left the room when Alex finally lowered himself to visit, not through manners and politeness, but through fighting the desire to smack him in the face.

Now she was on a train heading to London to meet Li. Now twenty one weeks pregnant, she knew her friend would be blooming. They’d seen each other once in the last two months, since their terrible row, but had ironed out all their differences, so much so that Amelia couldn’t wait to see her. Cole was also in town, and she was looking forward to him taking her out for dinner, later that evening.  She hadn’t seen him since she’d left New York, and she classed him as a great friend.

Sylvia had stepped in to babysit her father, much to his reluctance. He was walking much better even venturing out for short distances alone, starting to be much more independent, but he still needed supervision, someone to get him a meal, a cup of tea, his balance wasn’t good enough to co-ordinate finer tasks.

So he needed a sitter, though Amelia and Sylvia had conspired to not use that term, and not make it too obvious. As the train neared the capital she called Sylvia to be told he was as grouchy as ever, but they’d been into the village for lunch and he was now sleeping. Amelia thanked her again for giving this opportunity, and Sylvia had been very gracious, explaining she was glad to see her taking some time for herself.

Li was at the station, waving frantically. She looked both beautiful, and impossible to Amelia. Being so petite her bump was now looking huge and out of proportion with the rest of her, but her skin glowed, she looked more radiant than Amelia had ever seen before. Grinning they hugged like the long lost friends they were. And never had she been more aware of how much she missed her best friend than at that very second.

                “So,” Li had her arm tucked into Amelia’s elbow as they cut across the vast station platform to the exit. “Can you stay tonight?”

Amelia nodded, “I can definitely, but I have arranged to meet Cole tonight. I figured you’d be in bed by nine, so I’m meeting him at half past. I’m all yours otherwise until lunchtime tomorrow.”

Li beamed, “that’s excellent! Come on, let’s get lunch!”

They shopped, ate, walked, talked, all in all, had a wonderful day, just being friends. There was a giant dark cloud called Sol that they were both aware of, but neither broached. Instead they concentrated on their mutual interests, the past, the future. Anything but him or her father.

Back at Li’s new house, where Daichi was currently painting the lounge, and he looked up from his work to smile, taking in the dozens of bags they both deposited in the hallway. Amelia had gone to town in terms of buying for the baby.

                “Hey Amelia! SO glad to see you. How’s your father?”

Both women gulped awkwardly, they really hadn’t mentioned him up until now.

                “Good thanks, he’s home. It’s hard work, but he’s getting better every day.”

Daichi nodded, “I see that’s still a sore subject!” he shook his head, “will I ever understand women?”

Li reached out and squeezed Amelia’s hand, “darling husband, you have large feet and are very good at placing them in your mouth!”

Cole was a striking figure, he’d lost weight since she last saw him, and his shaggy hair was sculpted into a very trendy quiff, he jumped up as soon as he spotted Amelia crossing the busy restaurant. The hug was prolonged; he was another person that she missed hugely in her life.

                “You look great Cole!” She finally sat beside him on a stool at the bar that flanked one side of the restaurant.  “LOVING the new hair!”

Grinning, he smoothed his hand over it, “well needed a change, no one was taking me serious in the boardroom! And after you identified the underhand dealings in the Caribbean, well, I’ve been in hot demand with Daddy dearest!”

Amelia grinned, “Then it was worth it!”

He shrugged, “sometimes I doubt it. Come on, let’s sit and then you can tell me all about your own paternal problems!”

She was honest with him, telling him how she’d chosen doing the right thing over the possible love of her life. He was full of disappointment for her.

                “I do get it, in a bizarre way this is me and my Dad, I mean I could’ve competed in the last Winter Olympics, I was told I had the potential as a teenager. But I toed the college/work line to please my Dad, I’ll never get that time back...”

Amelia guzzled at the wine that was free flowing, “Exactly! No one else understands!”

He nodded, “but then I was a teenager then Amelia, you’re successful, independent...you don’t have to help him, sacrifice...”

Amelia knew all this, she’d been through every scenario in her head, “I want closure Cole. There’s this bastard cousin of mine who’s created this rift with my father, and I want to clear that. You know?”

Laughing Cole refilled her glass, “you just want Daddy’s approval, like me! Look at us slave to our errant father’s attention!” Clinking glasses with her he drank some of his wine.

                “So what brings you to London Cole? Winter season I thought you’d be making the most of Whistler!”

Cole nodded knowingly, “I wondered when you’d ask! I’m spearheading a UK move!” She giggled at his enthusiasm, but he carried on regardless, “an adult only retreat in the countryside somewhere? Well decorated mansion, tennis courts, indoor/outdoor pool, gym, spa...you get the idea?”

When she nodded he added, “Was hoping you might recce some places for me?”

                “Me? I’d LOVE to! It’d be great to have some purpose in life again!”

Cole’s nervousness dissolved into his best dazzling smile, “I was so worried you might think I was out of order asking! I’m SO relieved now!”

Suddenly the conversation was the future and they both chatted animatedly sharing ideas.

Saturday 20^th March 2009

Her head was hurting; suddenly that last bottle of wine wasn’t such a good idea. Amelia rolled over and grabbed her watch. Nine fifteen. She tried to remember her last thought...it wasn’t the wine at dinner that had been the problem, it was the celebratory vodka and night club dancing that had zapped all her energy.

Rolling out of bed, she dragged her self toe her feet. Splashing her face with cold water and then brushing her teeth with more vigour than she imagined.  Pulling a shirt over his pyjama vest top, she made her way down to find her friend.

Li was in the large kitchen reading through a ‘Mother and baby’ magazine, a mug of herbal tea beside her. Looking up as Amelia entered the room, she giggled, “that good a night, hey?”

Amelia nodded, “a quite meal turned to a celebration!” When Li cocked an eyebrow in question, she continued, “Cole is looking to convert a country house into some sort of luxury spa and hotel, and guess who he’s asked to be his eyes and ears finding a suitable place?”

Li clapped excitedly, “he’s given you a job? That’s brilliant!”

                “Well, we’ve not discussed salaries, but it’s nice to have something to get my teeth into. And I can do most of the work from the apartment; I won’t have to leave Dad.”

                “Hmmm.” Li’s response was a little frosty to that comment, she still didn’t like Amelia’s Dad, but they had a busy day shopping for something to wear to for the ‘wonderful’ Alex’s Society wedding, she’d promised to accompany her father, though in reality it was the last place on earth she wanted to go.