Live the Dream (37 page)

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then in a strong, determined voice said, 'Marry me!'

Amy kissed him lightly on the mouth, her eyes smiling up at him,-and her heart giving the answer this time. 'All right. I will.

'What!' He leaped up and, taking her with him, swung her round and round. 'D'you mean it?' he shouted for joy. 'You'll marry me? You really will marry me?' He laughed and danced, cherishing the moment. 'When?'

'Whenever you like.' Amy knew it was time. Time to start trusting again. Time to begin a new life, with Jack, the man she loved. 'We can name the day, if you like.'

Afraid she might change her mind in the cold light of day, Jack snatched the opportunity. 'Easter Saturday,' he urged daringly.

Amy was caught unawares. 'But that's only about ten weeks away!' But the moment of doubt was short-lived. 'All right!' She threw her arms round his neck. 'Easter Saturday it is,' she announced, 'and the sooner folks know about it, the better.' Like Jack, she had the smallest, sneakiest fear that if she didn't do it soon, she never would.

But there were two people that neither of them wanted to tell just yet. With luck by the time the happy news got to Roy and Daisy, they would have resolved their differences and be making plans for their own future.

Meantime, Fate had her own way of dealing with such matters. And the news that came through the following day was a blow to them all.

Saturday the third of February was a day of great excitement in the Atkinson household. At long last, Daisy was coming home.

'Anybody'd think royalty were coming to stay!' Dave too was delighted that Daisy was now considered well enough to leave the infirmary. 'By! You've worked hard, I'll say that for the pair of you. It looks grand in here.'

He roved his critical gaze round the back bedroom, and took stock of the soft cream-coloured walls, painted by Amy's own hand, and the new pale blue curtains made by his talented wife, Marie, and there on the floor a pretty flowered rug, almost identical in pattern to the bedspread.

'You did right in persuading her to come here with us,' he said. 'One thing's for sure, she can't go to her parents' house.' Rolling his eyes heavenward he commented angrily, 'Them buggers would drive her to drink inside of a week!'

'Going to her parents was never an option, Dad,' Amy agreed. Getting up from the hearth where she had been polishing the rose-patterned tiles surrounding the iron fireplace, she dropped her cleaning rags into the bucket. 'So! You think she'll like her bedroom, do you?'

It was Marie who answered for both of them. 'She'll love it, lass. When Daisy comes through that door, she'll be like a cat wi' two tails, you see if I'm not right.'

'Aye, lass!' Dave confirmed. 'She'll be coming home in style, so she will.' He gave a winning, knowing grin. 'I can't wait to drive that grand little car of Steve's,' he chuckled. 'A Morris Oxford six, no less. By! He treats that car like a bairn. I never dreamed he'd let me behind the wheel, and here he is, offering it to fetch Daisy home. I told him my car were in the garage having the engine looked at…all that spluttering when I start it up! Still, all's well that ends well, 'cos when I mentioned how Daisy needed to be brought home from the infirmary, he didn't hesitate. Like the good man he is, he offered me the car there and then.'

Amy wagged a finger. 'I bet you didn't tell him that you could have taken the car in two days earlier, and still got it back in time to collect Daisy, did you, eh?'

'Never crossed my mind,' Dave chuckled. 'Mind you, he can't drive the car 'cos of his gammy leg, so the way I see it, everything's worked out for the best.'

Marie laughed. 'Except for his gammy leg.'

'You'd best mind how you go in it,' Amy warned. 'If you so much as scratch it, he'll have your guts for garters, and never mind all the favours you've done for him.'

Amy got herself ready, and half an hour later, she and her dad were on their way.

Dave still couldn't get over his good fortune. 'By! This is what you'd call a car!' Stroking the plush leather he almost drooled over it. 'By the time me and your mam retire, I mean to have one of these.'

Amy was also impressed—and not only with the red leather and the walnut dashboard. It surprised her how fast the little car travelled along, with the speedometer showing no less than thirty-five miles an hour, and on a long straight it was even nearing forty.

'You'd best slow down a bit, Dad,' she warned. 'We need to get there safely for Daisy.'

At the infirmary, Dave stayed with the car in front of the main steps, while Amy ran up to the ward.

'I've come to fetch Daisy,' she told the friendly receptionist. 'I can't wait to get her home.'

So full was she of Daisy actually coming home with her, Amy didn't realise how quiet and nervous the receptionist was.

Fortunately Nurse Rita came along and was able to tell Amy the disconcerting news. 'She left early this morning,' Amy was informed kindly.

Amy stared disbelievingly at the nurse. 'Left? What d'you mean?…She can't have left.' A sudden thought made her smile. 'Oh, no! She hasn't left yet! She must be in the bathroom, collecting her bits and bobs. Y'see, Daisy's coming home with us this morning. I know you've been away for a few days and maybe you weren't told, but the arrangement is that we take her home today. The papers were signed and everything. Dad's outside now, so is it all right if I go and get her?'

Knowing what a very special friend Amy had been to Daisy, Nurse Rita was loath to tell her the truth, and there was no easy way to do so. She took Amy by the arm and, leading her to a nearby chair, sat her down.

'Daisy was waiting for me when I arrived first thing this morning,' the nurse began. 'The truth is, before I went on my short break, we had a little talk. Daisy told me how she needed to get right away from everything. Her life was in tatters—that's what she said—and if she didn't have time on her own, to think and plan, and decide what to do for the best, she believed things would never come right again.'

Amy couldn't believe it. 'I don't understand. She has
me.
I'll always look after her. She could have had all the peace and quiet she needed. I would never let her be hurt, not by anyone, and if she thought I would bully her into getting back with Roy, she must know I would never interfere. All I want is what's best for Daisy. I love her, Nurse Rita. She's like family to me. I just want to take care of her.' Amy's voice shook with emotion, but she swallowed the tears and regained her composure. 'Don't tell me her parents came and took her away?' she asked fearfully.

'No. They don't even know she's left the infirmary.' In a softer voice the nurse confided, 'Even if they did, I'm not sure they would care one way or the other!'

'I know you and Daisy got on really well,' Amy said, 'and I know Daisy trusted you…'

'Yes, she did.'

Amy hesitated, but had to ask: 'Do you know where she's gone?'

There was a moment's pause before the nurse answered, albeit reluctantly, 'Yes, I do.'

Amy felt a surge of anger. 'So, where is she?'

'I'm sorry, Amy,' Nurse Rita was genuinely apologetic, 'I can't tell you that.'

'Please!' Amy was desperate. 'I need to see her. I need to be there for her.'

'I know you do, Amy, but—don't you see?—that's exactly why Daisy needed to get away. She knows how much you care for her, and more than anyone else, she knows how much of yourself you've given these many weeks.' She paused, tempted to tell Amy of Daisy's whereabouts, but reluctant to break a promise. 'Daisy feels that she's put on you enough. Now she needs the time and space to make decisions. You have to allow her that, Amy. You know it as well as I do.'

Reaching into her breast pocket she took out a small envelope, which she handed to Amy. 'She told me to give you this.'

Tearing open the letter, Amy read it through a blur of tears.

Dearest Amy,

Nurse Rita has found me a wonderful place where I can be alone for a while. I need time to think and work out what I really want. I need to accept the things that have happened to me, so I can decide which way to go.

'I know I should have confided in you, lass, but you would only have worried. Now you needn't worry, because I know I have to do this myself, and maybe, after a time, I'll be able to live my life. I don't know, lass. All I do know is, if I can't be away from everyone and everything, I might do summat very bad, and I think you know what I mean.

You were right. I should never have sent Roy away. I love him so much, but right now I'm so confused, I don't know what I really want.

You and Roy have to trust me. Leave me alone. Please, I need this time on my own. Don't either of you try to find me, or you undo everything. I'll be in touch.

Don't worry, lass.

Luv you.

Daisy XX Slowly replacing the letter in its envelope, Amy asked, 'If I write a reply, will you see that she gets it?'

'Of course I will.'

Rita led Amy to the counter, where she gave her pen and paper before standing back. Amy wrote:

Dear Daisy,

I think I understand what you mean, and I promise, I won't try and contact you.

If Nurse Rita doesn't mind, I will write to you now and again, and maybe you 'II send me a note to say how you 're getting on. But, if you don't want to, that's all right.

'I'm glad you haven't altogether pushed Roy out of your life, but if you did, then that would be your decision and nothing to do with anyone else, including me.

Take care of yourself, Daisy. I'll be thinking of you while you're away.

God bless,

Lots of love,

Amy XX After folding the note into the envelope, she handed it to Nurse Rita, with her thanks.

Nurse Rita put the envelope in her breast pocket. 'Don't you worry now,' she said.I'll make sure Daisy gets the note.' With that she excused herself and made off down the corridor to tend her ever demanding duties.

Outside, Dave waited and worried, and when he saw Amy coming down the steps without Daisy, he jumped out of the car and ran towards her.

'What's happened?' he asked. 'Where's Daisy? There's nothing wrong, is there?'

Without a word, Amy handed him the letter.

While he read it, she watched his face. After a moment his changing expression told her that he was as shocked as she had been. 'My God!' Looking up, he asked, 'Did you ask the nurse where she'd gone? Did she tell anyone?'

'Daisy did confide in the nurse, but she wouldn't tell me,' Amy answered. 'Daisy made her promise not to tell anyone, me included.'

'I see…' Dave glanced back towards the main doors. 'I see.'

He said that once more, then he slid his arm round Amy's shoulders, and with his usual calm manner, told her sternly, 'You have to do as she says. You know that, don't yer?'

'I know.'

'And you'll have to tell Roy.'

'I'll tell him.' Though there was, at least, one consolation. 'She still loves him. She says so in the letter.' Amy smiled up at her father. 'Maybe Daisy's right, Dad,' she said. 'Maybe she does need the time to sort her thoughts out. Afterwards, who knows? Maybe she and Roy will get back together and Daisy will be happy again…like she deserves to be.'

Dave slowly nodded his agreement. 'D'you know summat, lass?'

'What's that?'

'I've come to the conclusion that our Daisy is a wise old head on young shoulders.'

Amy couldn't help but be concerned for her hapless, lovable friend. 'Do you think she'll be all right,. Dad?'

'She'll be fine. Like you say, give her the time she asked for, and I'm sure, in the end, she'll surprise us all.'

'You're right, Dad, and Daisy knows I'll do whatever she asks, as long as it's for her own good.'

Now when Amy looked up, her smiling eyes were swimming with tears. 'Ever since I've known her,' she gave a funny, broken little laugh, 'she's been nothing but trouble.'

Dave walked with her down the steps. 'Daisy's a lucky lass,' he murmured.

Amy was surprised by his comment. 'Why's that?'

With pride glowing in his face he answered softly, ''Cos she's got you, lass. The best friend anybody could ever 'ave.'

'Now then, young lady!' Mother Superior was a large, Irish, rosy-faced woman with hands the size of shovels and a heart as big as an elephant. There are three tings you need to remember while you're convalescing in this convent of St Mary Magdalene.'

She listed them off. 'Forstly, everyone pulls their weight, so they do! Unless they're too sick or useless to carry out even the smallest task.' Looking at Daisy with raised eyebrows she asked smartly, 'Would that be you now?'

Daisy was equally adamant. 'I'm not sick and I'm not useless, and I'm used to hard work.'

'Good!' The nun went on, 'Secondly, we don't stand for fighting nor arguing in this establishment. You must understand this is God's house and we're only given charge of it! Do you foight?'

'No.' Daisy thought it a strange thing to ask. 'I usually get on with everybody.'

'Foine, foine!'

Mother Superior allowed herself a bit of a smile. 'And thirdly, we have to be disciplined, and we have to be respectful. D'you link you could manage that?'

'I think so, yes.'

'Hmm! Well, I don't tink you can!' She elaborated. 'Forstly, I have a title, so I do! A title I might add, which has not come easy. The title is Mother Superior, and whenever anyone addresses me, that's the title I go by. So now, I'll ask you again.' Taking a deep breath she seemed to add another six inches to the girth of her already sizeable breast. 'I've told you the three tings that are important to us here. Now then, young lady, do you tink you're able to comply with
all three?'
She winked one eye and glared at Daisy through the other. 'Moind how you answer now!' she warned.

Daisy did 'moind'. 'Yes,' she said. 'I'm certain I can comply with all three things, thank you…Mother Superior.' She emphasised the last two words with slow deliberation, but not so slow she might seem disrespectful.