SWNOVELS Chapter I think I really frightened him Tuesday 1st August 2017 1:30 pm
The staff room at the Sunny Vale Care Home
Monica is talking to Denise, the care home manageress. Monica is putting her day clothes into a locker. Denise is leaning against the windowsill, looking out onto the garden.
“... so, I feel really stupid,” Monica said. “Ok, I was really cross ... well, furious I guess, but ...”
“You were very worried, Monica ... and with what you thought was good cause,” replied Denise. “After all, with what you went through all those years ago, I could see why you would be concerned for Ginny. You had a truly shit time, and there was no one there for you either.”
“I know ... it’s kind of you to say, but I think I was wrong about Barney. He’s just a sweet old guy, isn’t he?”
Denise nodded.
“I think I really frightened him, you know. And I think I might have broken his toilet door.”
Denise watched through the window at some sort of bird, quite small, as it hopped along the grass. It didn’t walk. It just hopped.
“And you should have seen him making me a cup of tea. He was taking such pains. That’s when I was sure that he wasn’t the sort of guy who would hurt young girls. Or that he would employ someone who did.”
“He’s a nice guy,” said Denise. “He rings me up now and again, ostensibly to make sure that we will keep advertising in his paper, but partly because he likes talking to women. I met up with him once ... you know, one evening. It was sort of like a date, but we just sat and chatted. We had a nice coffee and some cake. I think he had a very nice evening. I enjoyed it myself. I’m surprised that he didn’t ask you out.”
Monica looked a little embarrassed.
“He did, didn’t he?” Denise said, chuckling.
“Well, he said why don’t we meet up tonight and he will try ringing Gabriel on his mobile phone. Apparently, Gabriel has still got the spare Gazette mobile phone, so Barney thinks we can try giving him a call.”
“Why didn’t Barney try ringing him from the office? You know, when you were there.”
“Barney said the battery on his own phone was flat. That’s why he suggested that we meet up tonight. His phone will be charged up by then.”
Denise chuckled. “And he couldn’t have simply plugged his phone in to charge while you were there, eh? You can use phones whilst they’re charging, you know.”
Monica smiled.
“I guess I just fell for the old guy’s charm,” Monica said. “And I guess I felt so sorry that I had gone into his office and wrongly accused him of such a horrible thing.”
“So where are you meeting him, then?” Denise said
“The Olde Swan pub in Clacton ... 8 pm.”
“Well, I guess he’s not trying to sweep you off your feet with glitz and glamour,” remarked Denise.
“No, I guess not.”
Monica finished putting her clothes into the locker. She locked the locker and slipped the key into the front pocket of her smock.
“You know, I’m still worried about Ginny,” Monica said. “Ok, I guess I was wrong about Barney, but I still don’t really know about Gabriel. Maybe he’s a nice kid, like Barney says, but maybe Barney’s wrong. I’ve tried ringing Ginny’s phone, but it just goes straight to answerphone. I imagine that it’s turned off ... or run out of battery. So, I’m really hoping that Barney can manage to get through to Gabriel. I’d like to talk to him. I’d like to talk to Gabriel myself. I’d like to ask him about Ginny. I think maybe then ...”
“Well, let’s hope that Gabriel’s phone is turned on, and that he’s somewhere that’s got cell phone coverage,” Denise said.
“I hope so,” Monica said.