Page 20 of Pyg

10

DOCTOR'S ORDERS

A lice’s hands still shook with adrenaline, rattling the teapot as she tried to pour the hot brown liquid into her mug. Most of it splashed onto the saucer, but that’s what saucers were for, right? She tried to steady her shaking hand with the other, but it was just as bad.

She’d texted Maggie as soon as she’d left the office.

I’ve done it — I resigned. But I got fired too. So much to tell you, you won’t believe it. Call me when you can. A x

She needed to speak to someone. Everything she’d just found out was blowing her mind. Her thumb had hovered over Ash’s number too, and even though Ash had said to let her know how it had gone, Alice didn’t want to come across as too keen, or too much.

Less is more, Alice. Even if that was a lesson from Fran, it made sense. However, Alice wondered whether, now that Fran was getting much less of her, she was craving more?

She shuddered. Fran and Jeremy were in on it together, all along. How messed up is that? She shook her head to shake the Daltons from her thoughts. Her phone buzzed on the table. Maggie.

What? Only you could resign and get fired at the same time. Can’t talk now but speak later. Proud of you X

Alice smiled at the screen and again scrolled down to Ash’s number. Fuck it. She tapped out a text.

Good news, I’m no longer an emotional wreck. I’m now a jobless emotional wreck. Wanna hang out again sometime? Lol xx

Her thumb hovered over the send button; usually she couldn’t restrain it, but this time she took a breath and backspaced. No, not now. Besides, Ash was probably still sleeping off her night shift.

Play it cool, Alice… for once in your life. She scrolled back over their text conversation from last night, her cheeks heating with fresh embarrassment as she recalled it.

She’d texted a breezy,

Hey. This is my new number!

Who is this?

Sorry, should’ve said that. It’s me, Alice.

Just kidding, I figured x

Ash had signed off with a kiss. Alice should’ve put a kiss, but she was trying not to flirt. Yet the absence of a kiss now seemed conspicuous. Does a text kiss even count as flirting? People put kisses all the time these days, don’t they?

As Alice tried to think of something else to say so she could add a kiss, another message from Ash pinged through.

Good luck tomorrow x

In her haste to even the kiss score, Alice quickly replied,

Thanks, you too x

Shit! No… not ‘you too’.

Lol. Goodnight, Alice. Get some rest, doctor’s orders xx

Alice cringed and took a sip of tea. It was so hot it stung the sore spots in her mouth.

She should use this time for planning her next steps, not for thinking about Ash, or Fran, or doctor’s orders or anything along those lines… focus , Alice!

She rummaged in her handbag and pulled out a crumpled sheet of paper, which she smoothed flat on the table. She dived back into her bag for her pen; a shiny Montblanc ballpoint — courtesy of Fran, of course — gifted to Alice on their second ‘date’. It had seemed like such a thoughtful gift, something Alice would hold between her fingers most days and think of her beguiling lover.

Ex-lover.

Alice twisted the smooth metallic barrel until the nib poked out, then she crossed through the top line on her to-do list, which said ‘Hand in resignation letter’, and added ‘Buy new pens’ to the bottom. She didn’t need a fancy pen, especially not this one, as it was another reason to think about the Daltons. She’d dig out the velvet box from the darkest depths of her flat, probably under the bed or on top of the wardrobe , and she’d give the Montblanc to Maggie for being such a wonderfully supportive sister.

Alice sighed. Next stop — groceries. She scrawled out a second list on the reverse of the page, otherwise she’d end up with a basketful of crap and only half the ingredients to actually make a meal with. After shopping, she’d head home, put on her comfiest clothes and power up the laptop to tidy her resume.

The phone buzzed on the table, and an incoming text from Ash lit up the screen.

Morning! How did it go? X

Alice grinned. Big kiss!

Good, I resigned and got fired X

Three little dots bounced on the screen, then disappeared, to be replaced by an embarrassingly loud ringtone sounding from the handset and causing the — mostly grey-haired — heads of the other people in the café to turn and glare in her direction.

“Sorry,” she mouthed and snatched up the phone, nearly knocking over the teapot as she did.

“Hi,” she said in a loud whisper. “I wasn’t expecting you to call.”

“Sorry, not a good time?” Ash’s voice sounded groggy with sleep.

“No, yeah. I mean, it’s fine. I’m in Snoots having a cup of tea.”

“Oh, cool. Speaking’s easier than texting when I’ve just woken up. So, you’re jobless then? Well done on going through with it. That was brave.”

“You don’t know the half of it,” Alice grinned. Yeah, she had been brave. It would’ve been so easy to keep her job, to stay with Fran and fall back into a rut. Jeremy had literally given her permission and offered her a pay rise. But she’d ripped off the plaster, and it was time to heal.

“Wanna fill me in over brunch?” Ash said through what sounded like a huge yawn.

“Er…” Alice looked down at her to-do list.

“I mean, if you have plans, that’s fine.” Ash gave a sweet, self-conscious laugh. “Tell me to mind my own business, of course, but I’m invested now. I want to find out what happened next, you know?”

“You mean you want the next instalment in my big fat mess of a life?”

“Yeah, it’s way better than anything on Netflix.”

Alice giggled. “Alright, you’re on.”

She scribbled down the address of the place Ash suggested, intrigued by Ash’s glowing review of Porky's and their ‘badass bacon butties.’

The health kick and the to-do list could wait, as could her resume. Today was a cause for celebration because she had been brave. And who was she to go against doctor’s orders ?

* * *

Standing outside the shabby café on a quiet, run-down street, Alice double-checked her phone to make sure she’d got the right place. Yep, this is definitely Porky’s.

A bell rang overhead as Alice pushed through the peeling door and tentatively stepped inside. Vinyl gingham tablecloths covered square tables, each set with condiments in squeezable red and brown tubes. Large tin cans that once held chopped tomatoes were now stuffed with cutlery and serviettes. The smoky smell of bacon hung in the air and roused Alice’s appetite, making her mouth water. Aside from a sumo-sized man reading a red-top newspaper, the only other customer was Ash, sat at a corner table and smiling in Alice’s direction.

“I know what you’re thinking,” she said as Alice approached.

“You do?” Alice grinned back.

“This place, it doesn’t look like much… but trust me.”

“Because you’re a doctor? You already used that line.”

Ash laughed. “This was our go-to at Uni. Their bacon butties are a proven cure for any hangover or heartache. We’ve literally done medical research on it.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Alice peeled the laminated menu from the table and studied the instructions on how to ‘Build your own bacon butty’.

This place was a million miles away from anywhere she’d ever been with Fran. She’d more likely see a pig dance out of the kitchen on roller-skates than she would ever see Francesca Dalton set foot in a place like this, let alone order a ‘butty’.

A round woman with cropped hair and a blue apron popped out of the kitchen and hobbled her way over to them.

“Sorry for the wait. It’s just me on today. Merv’s at the surgery. His hip’s troubling him again, poor love. Eh, he should’ve just let you see to him.” She nudged Ash’s arm and chuckled. “Is it the usual?”

“Give Merv my best, will you? And yep, I’ll have my LGBT special please, on a wholemeal bun. Thanks, Barb.”

“Right you are, lovey.” Barb scribbled onto the pad she’d pulled from her apron pocket. “And you, dear?”

“Oh, I’ll have the streaky smoked bacon, on sourdough please. And mushrooms, lots of mushrooms.”

“Is it tea for two?”

Ash looked to Alice, who nodded. “Sounds good.”

As Barb returned to the kitchen, Ash leaned over the table. With a grimace, she whispered, “Mushrooms?”

“Yeah, who doesn’t like mushrooms?”

“Me.” Ash stuck her tongue out. “They’re slimy and gross.”

“Well, what’s an LGBT special?”

“Lettuce, guacamole, bacon and tomato. It’s delicious.” Ash chef’s-kissed her fingers.

Alice raised an eyebrow. “Guacamole has no place outside of a taco.”

Ash gasped in mock-horror. Laughter bubbled between them, and they eased into each other’s company, which Alice realised was as effortless as slicing through warmed butter. She wasn’t on eggshells, scared she’d slip up at any moment. She wasn’t even wondering why Ash wanted to spend time with her, which she usually did around other people — always second-guessing their motives and worrying about whether they really liked her or just felt sorry for her. None of the usual mind-buzz seemed to bother her when she was with Ash.

Until now. Noticing the absence of mind-buzz seemed to have summoned it. Static fizzed and Alice blinked rapidly as she tried to equalise herself.

Ash tugged her back to the present with a hand squeezing over hers.

“Hey, where’d you go?” The corners of her eyes crinkled with concern.

Alice shook her head and refocused her gaze on that kind, lopsided smile, and after a moment, the fizz faded into the background. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. You’ve had a tough few days, you’ve got a lot to process.”

Their order came quickly, despite Barb being on her own. Ash agreed to eat a mushroom in exchange for a bite of the LGBT, which Alice conceded was delicious. Ash hadn’t been quite so complimentary about the mushroom.

Between mouthfuls, Alice filled Ash in on the conversation with Jeremy, how she’d resigned and been fired. And how all along Jeremy had known about the affair and Alice had been set up.

“That’s proper creepy. I can’t believe they were in on it together.” Ash sat back and wiped a tiny blob of guacamole off her cheek. “And what he said to you, I’m sure there are employment laws against that. You should seek legal advice.”

“No, I don’t want to go through all that. It’s finished.” Alice cupped her hands around the giant mug of tea.

“Fair enough. So, what’s next?”

“Tidy up the resume and apply for some jobs, I guess.”

“But you’re going to give yourself the day off, right? Maybe a couple of days to clear your head and get some rest before you dive in.”

“Yeah, maybe you’re right… are you working today?”

“Afraid so.” Ash glanced down with a look of genuine disappointment. Chewing her bottom lip, she met Alice’s gaze again. “I was thinking…”

Her pause stretched out. Alice put her mug down, willing Ash to finish her sentence.

“This might be a bad idea, but…” Ash fidgeted with the sports watch on her wrist.

Before she could stop them, Alice’s thoughts jumped out of her mouth. “Ash, are you trying to ask me out?”

“Oh God, no.” Ash held up her hands. “Sorry, no, it’s er…”

Ash’s vehement protest hit Alice square in the chest, and the static returned, fizzing furiously in front of her eyes. She bit the inside of her lip too hard and winced. Ash must have registered the recoil.

“Sorry, I know you’re going through a difficult time. I don’t want you to think I’m preying on you when you’re… vulnerable.”

Alice folded her arms. “I’m not a fragile little flower.”

Ash sighed and hung her head. “I really messed that up. I didn’t mean to offend you. I just don’t want you thinking I have ill intentions, especially after what you’ve just been through.”

Alice looked at her through narrowed eyes.

Ash leaned her elbows on the tacky tablecloth. “I really enjoy your company, Alice. And hopefully I’m not being too presumptuous when I say that I think you enjoy mine, too.” She looked up through her long eyelashes, a shy smile tugging at her lips.

Alice felt herself thawing. She uncrossed her arms, shifting in the wooden chair as she tongued the metallic spot inside her lip.

“I was wondering whether you’re free on Wednesday night. It’s technically my Friday, and I don’t have any plans, so… it’s fine if you’re not free and it’s probably a bad idea, which is what I was trying to say… I’m conscious of how it might come across?—”

“I’m free on Wednesday night. And it’s fine, we are allowed to just be friends.”

“No, wait… I don’t want you to think that I’m not?—”

“You don’t have to explain yourself.”

Ash placed a palm over her chest. “Okay. Let’s hang out on Wednesday. Your place? I’ll bring pizza. And we can watch a movie, or something. What’s that one with the bunny boiler?” Ash held up her fist as if clutching the ears of an invisible rabbit.

“ Fatal Attraction? ”

Ash grinned. “Yeah, to help you process your lucky escape.”

Alice laughed and playfully nudged Ash’s foot under the table.

“Right, well. I’ll settle up here. My treat, seeing as you’re currently unemployed.” Ash winked.

“You don’t have to do that, but thank you. Seeing as I’m treating myself to a day off, would you mind if I tagged along with you to the hospital? I’d like to see how George is doing.”

* * *

Alice found herself willing time with Ash to go slower, despite their little misunderstanding at the café, which had been entirely Alice’s fault… again. Jumping to conclusions was her superpower. Even though things with Ash seemed uncomplicated, she didn’t want to leap from one tangled mess to another, and it’d literally been four days since she’d ended the longest relationship she’d ever had.

Four days.

Her chest still ached when she thought about Fran for too long and she was struggling to ignore the fact that time with Ash felt like a magic balm that soothed the ache. Every moment spent with Ash was time not spent in her own head, thinking about Fran or Jeremy. She’d trusted him. She’d felt sorry for him. And now she just felt a bit stupid.

The Daltons are probably sipping their expensive red wine and having a good old laugh about silly little Alice, far too na?ve to realise she was being played.

They arrived at the hospital and after an awkward hug, Ash left in one direction and Alice in the other, towards the hospital shop. She hadn’t yet managed to do her own grocery shopping, but she wanted to pick up a few things for George.

After browsing the well-stocked aisles, Alice checked out with a large bar of Fruit at least then they got along alright.

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that, but the doctor said it isn’t likely to have caused any complications.”

George scoffed. “It might explain the skull-cracking headache though.”

Alice shifted her weight between her feet and the carrier bag brushed her leg. “Oh, um, I bought you a few things.” She held up the bag. “It’s not much, but?—”

George’s frowning face relaxed and Alice puffed out a breath.

“I didn’t know what you’d like, so I went with the usual.” She pulled the items from the carrier bag and placed them on the over-bed table.

“Is this compensation for the head injury?” George smirked as he fumbled with the punnet of grapes until his thick fingers tore the packaging open and he popped one in his mouth.

“I guess, I…”

“I’m just messing with you. Sit down, will you? Have a grape.”

“Apart from the headache, how are you feeling?” Alice took her usual seat.

George touched his fingers to the stitched gash above his eye. “Everything is still fuzzy… and I feel so tired all the time, even though I’ve never slept so well.”

“That’ll be the sedatives. Ash — I mean, Doctor Khurana, said you’ve been getting really agitated, so they’ve been trying to help you with that. Do you know what happened?”

George frowned and breathed heavily through his nose. “I can’t really remember. I’m just grateful you stopped to help a stranger. Only a particular type of person does that.”

Alice smiled. “I’d like to hope someone would do the same for me.”

“And you’ve kept coming by. I haven’t always been fully conscious, but I knew when you’d been here. Although, if we’re honest, I don’t think it’s been entirely for my benefit.” George raised an eyebrow and the corners of his chapped lips lifted.

“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.” Alice felt her cheeks flush, but she couldn’t suppress her smile.

“A certain doctor?”

Alice rolled her eyes.

“Before my recent retirement, I was a science teacher, which means I know chemistry when I see it.”

“Bloody hell. You’ve been far more conscious than you’ve been letting on. I only met her on Friday. We’re just friends.” Alice laughed and reached for a grape.

“You only met me on Friday, too, but here we are. Me in my pyjamas and you eating my grapes.”

“Tasty grapes.” Alice plucked another and popped it between her teeth as she relaxed into the chair.

“So?”

“So, what?”

“Doctor K.?” George said with an incredulous nod.

“You don’t quit, do you? We’re friends, I told you. Plus, I’ve literally just ended something long-term, and I think I should take a little time to?—”

“Ah yes, would this ‘something long-term’ happen to be ‘fucking Fran’?”

Alice’s stomach lurched. “How do you know about Fran?”

George chuckled. “You were muttering away to yourself the whole car journey here.”

“Oh, so you were awake then?”

“Barely, but enough to hear you twittering on.”

“Let’s say you caught me at a bad moment.”

George placed a hand on his chest. “ Bend when you can, snap when you have to .”

“Did you get that from a fortune cookie?”

“No, Taylor Swift.”

Alice giggled. “I wouldn’t have had you down as a Swiftie, George.”

Amusement shone through his tired eyes. “She’s quite the modern-day philosopher.”

“George, you’re awake!” Ash’s surprised voice came from the doorway.

“Speak of the devil,” he said.

Ash pointed to herself, “Me?”

“Yeah, he thinks you’re Taylor Swift,” said Alice.

George spluttered a laugh, coughing out a bit of grape skin.

“Oohkay,” said Ash as she picked up George’s file from the end of the bed and flicked through the pages. “How are you feeling?”

George stifled a yawn. “I’ve been better. Everything is still hazy. I’ve no idea how I ended up out there, lying in the road. I’m just grateful that Alice stopped.”

“Yeah, me too,” Ash said without looking up from the notes. George nudged Alice’s arm.

“Stop it,” she mouthed at him.

“You had your MRI this afternoon?”

George nodded; his eyelids were starting to droop.

“Good. You should get an update tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Doc,” George said through another yawn.

Alice squeezed his hand. “I’m going to let you get some rest.”

George gave her a sleepy smile.