A late night walk. Not far, just a walk, to get out of the apartment, to get away from all that…
What is it?
When it’s only me, what is it?
What the hell do I hear and all it is, is me?
Listening to her footsteps, slow and careful, calculating each one. Knowing that at some point, she’ll either trip and fall or walk straight into something.
There had to be something and she should know better. Why do this?
In there, that noise of nothing is so bloody loud and I can’t take it, I -

A sound like a scuffle. scraping perhaps. From behind her, from there.
‘Hello…’ A whisper in the dark that caresses, captivating her, making her stop.
As if someone had so gently flicked the hair by her ear, such a soft delicate move.
A thought, the sound of that whisper, is from behind, but above. Not ground level, above, up there.
She tilts her head hoping that it would speak again, to hear that voice and feel that sound in her ears.
A soft gentle laugh, and suddenly, Jennifer is so afraid…

London, now…

Perhaps it was the trees. You know, sometimes when they catch a breeze it’s like they talk in hushed voices, only just loud enough to hear.
But this, what she’d heard wasn’t anything like that.
What she’d heard was a man’s voice.
Jennifer laughs and that seems to echo in the kitchen, against the soft noise from the fridge.
A mug of coffee and maybe, just maybe she’s overdoing it with the caffeine. What she needs is a bloody stiff drink and like the coffee, it won’t help her sleep.

Yes, sleep. That thing you do when you’re tired and you put your head down and nothing bloody happens.
It’s been that way for weeks. Disconcerting at the start, because Jennifer had never had this happen before, but since his funeral, this is the way she’s been.
She might take the odd nap, but that’s not real, genuine sleep.
Of all the times where she’d roll over and feel Craig there next to her, ready to put his arm around her and hold her close. To listen to him breathing and that wonderful soothing sound of his heart that was all hers. A romantic take on it and why not, oh why not.
The times where she’d sit on his lap and have him read; that way he had of reading from his work, she could picture what he was saying and have her head on his chest as he spoke, the constant sound that was so reassuring and so loved, and now so missed.


Then…

Her letter. To Derek Johnston and the school. Just a simple goodbye and thanks. What she’d done hadn’t saved anyone, hadn’t changed a damned thing.
The school was destined for demolition and all else be consigned to a history nobody wanted.
Jennifer Sullivan walked away from it all and came back to an empty apartment and sat on the couch and cried, feeling like she’d given up, like she’d turned her back on them and as if she’d stuck two fingers up at them and walked away laughing.
So it was done. Maybe, it was all going so wrong anyway and the cottage still stands empty and she asks herself a question; What now?

If you keep saying ’Don’t know, don’t know, don’t know…’ when does it become ’I do know’?
With all that’s happened, she has an income, she has the apartment paid for, she has… what?
Take all this away and give him back. Just do that and I won’t ask for anything more. Give him back and my life and I won’t ask.
Please…
Just…
No, Jennifer it isn’t going to happen.
Have a dream and have it so cruelly taken away…

Now…

Getting run over wasn’t part of her plan. It happened though. The accident that took place broke her left leg, cuts and bruises and mild concussion.
Overall, she got off quite lightly.
When she said she didn’t see it, that was the truth. She can’t see.
She’s been in hospital for a week, on the mend and having Maggie visit her every afternoon and Pam every other day, it’s not got to the point yet where boredom has started and that just wouldn’t be a good thing.
She has a private room, paid for by the man who ran her down.
Nice.
Her finger plays with the remote that operates the television that’s mounted high up in the corner someplace. It’s just the noise she wants. This changes somewhat when the door to her room is softly opened. The television is turned off, either that or the volume button was pushed.
A soft scent of flowers, overlapping and there are flowers in a vase by her bed. A crackling sound; the rustle of paper.
Jennifer places the remote next to her, a movement of her head, listening, ‘Hello?’
‘Mrs. Jennifer Sullivan?’ A man’s voice, quite gentle.
She smiles, ‘Yep, it’s all me!’
The man laughs, gently as his voice, ‘I’m Jameson Pike. It was my car that hit you.’
‘Ah…’
A sigh from him, ‘I’ve come to say sorry for what happened. I would have been here before but - ‘
‘But you had better things to do.’ Her voice, in strong contrast is quite sharp.
The man moves a little closer, ’Mrs. Sullivan, I was away on business. If I could’ve got here any sooner, then I would have.’
The pitch and sound of his voice doesn’t change and he sounds genuinely sorry.
‘So, where were you, if you don’t mind me asking.’
‘I was in the states, all business and all very boring.’
Jennifer nods slightly, ’Well, it’s not exactly a bundle of laughs here, either.’
‘Again, I’m sorry.’
‘You weren’t driving were you?’
‘No, I wasn’t. The man who had been driving for me has been suspended.’
Jennifer shifts in the bed, the remote that was lying next to her is flicked onto the floor, ‘Bugger!’
Jameson laughs, ‘Wait, I’ll get it.’
While Jameson is picking up the remote, Jennifer settles again, ’So why did you suspend him? It was just an accident.’
‘Company procedure, Mrs. Sullivan.’
‘Mr. Pike…’ Jennifer starts to say something and stops, his fingers and hers meet as he passes her the remote control.
‘I just wanted to come and make sure you were okay. If there is anything I can do, have one of the staff call me and I’ll do what I can. They have my details, and anything you need, just call.’
‘I suppose you wouldn’t have a job for me, would you?’
‘Are you unemployed?’
‘Yeah, I was a secondary school teacher, but I packed it in. I had about enough, but sitting around at home all day just isn’t me.’
Jameson makes a subtle noise, like he’s thinking about something. ‘Perhaps this is a bit much…’
‘What, Mr. Pike?’
‘My personal assistant is leaving in six weeks, she’s going to have a baby and she won’t be coming back, so I wonder…’
‘You know I’m blind, don’t you Mr. Pike?’
‘Yes, so what?’
‘Doesn’t that make things a little awkward?’
‘No, why? You can use a telephone can’t you?’
‘I’ve got a specially adapted one yeah.’
‘I can get one for you. I can even arrange transport to and from your home, so would you think about it?’
Jennifer nods, ’Yeah, okay. I’ll do that.’
‘Good, then I’ll hear from you. I must go, another meeting, I’m sorry.’
‘Er, Mr. Pike?’
‘Yes, Mrs. Sullivan?’
She giggles, ’There is something I’d like.’
‘Then ask.’
‘I’d really like a Chinese take away.’
‘Would this evening be too soon?’
Jennifer shakes her head, ‘That would be perfect.’
Jameson reaches into his jacket pocket for a pen and notebook, ‘Okay, tell me what you’d like and I’ll collect it and bring it in.’
‘You’ll do this yourself?’
‘Yes, Mrs. Sullivan, I can do this myself. So…’

After he’d gone, he’d left Jennifer with a series of questions. She did wonder why he was doing all this, as if he was trying to soften the blow as it were, to stop her from putting a claim in, which she wasn’t going to do anyway; it was an accident, pure and simple and she was quite prepared to let it go at that.
The break to her leg was a clean one and it’s healing as expected. The bruises well, as if they weren’t there, so he has nothing to think or worry about.
The funny thing though, is that since she’s been in hospital, she’s slept very, very well.
Stranger things have happened, oh yes they do…

Now…

Kelly Johnson doesn’t sound impressed at all, ’You might as well have picked her up off the street.’
Jameson sits up, not liking her tone, ’Have you finished? I spoke to Mrs. Sullivan last night, she’s at home now and I’m collecting her in the morning.’
‘Doesn’t really answer why, though does it?’
‘I can’t see any difference. I like her, and you know very well what I’m like on first impressions.’
‘Yes, okay, I do know that, Mr. Pike, but she’s blind, how is she going to handle all this?’
‘She was a school teacher and now she’s coming to work for me. You’re going to help her out as much as possible. Then I’ll see the back of you and she can take care of things.’
Kelly gets up and walks towards the door, ’I think it’s stupid.’
‘Yeah, well you would. Now, would you like to go and do some work?’
Kelly rolls her eyes and handily bangs his door after her.
Jameson looks at the pile of notes on his desk and more phone calls to make. His work days are far too long, but as he sorts out the heap, thinking about Jennifer Sullivan puts a smile on his face. A glance at his door and doing his best not to think about the ever so annoying Kelly Johnson. He’s hiding the fact that he’s ecstatic she’s leaving; If he ever wanted a real life pain in the arse, it’s her. Anyway, onto better and brighter things…

A slight pause, a lull in their conversation. The funny thing is, the way he talks to her and it’s just to talk. Jennifer knows how busy he is, but he’ll bring her into his office and chat to her between meetings and there have been several occasions where he’s taken her out for lunch and he’ll ask questions and let her talk back. He doesn’t give her a lot of work to do either; he’ll get someone else to handle most of what she’s supposed to do, having been working for him for just over a month and he won’t have her call him Mr. Pike, always Jameson, and he’s always polite and will crack jokes and have a laugh with her.
The car is on time and will wait for her and sometimes, Jameson will collect her and take her home himself if he’s able.
Now, though something has come up and she can hear him tap his pen on his desk, he’s waiting for something and perhaps, it’s not a good thing.
Jameson coughs, ’I need to ask a favour.’
Jennifer smiles at him, ’Ask away.’
‘I have that bloody dinner tomorrow night with the Franklin’s and I must admit, this is one where I can’t say no, a long standing arrangement, business and no fun really, but…’
‘Go on, You have to go, because, because, because?’
‘Would you go with me?’
Jennifer stutters and that’s a first, ’What?’
‘I’d like you to go with me. I need that little bit of fun and the Franklin’s wouldn’t know fun if it stood up and bit them in the arse.’
‘But you’ve been to dinner with them before?’
‘Oh, good God yes! They haven’t improved and it is just dreadful.’
Jennifer laughs, hearing Jameson laughing as well, ’I don’t really know.’
‘Please, just say yes. I’ll pick you up, take you home and I promise, I’ll behave myself.’
‘Really?’
‘Well, within reason.’
‘And it’ll be for just a couple of hours?’
Jameson sighs, and it’s a hopeful one, ’Yeah. Mind you, the Franklin’s do talk an awful lot of shit. I’m worried you might get bored.’
‘No, I’ll just start kicking people,’ Jennifer smiles, ’including you.’
‘Okay, I’ll take that as your cue to take you home.’
Jennifer nods, ’Yeah, okay, sounds like fun.’
‘So that is a yes, is it?’
‘Jameson, a definite yes. Am I supposed to dress up for this thing or what?’
Jameson laughs at her, ’You can if you like, but I’m wearing jeans and a jumper, it’s casual, Jennifer, so just wear something comfy.’
‘So what time will you pick me up?’
‘Say, about seven?’
‘Yeah, that’s fine. Oh and have you forgotten your meeting with Reed’s?’
‘Ah yes, contract renewal time. Mr. Pike, sign this, sign that, blah, blah, blah. I’m getting fed up with all this stuff. I need a holiday,’ Jameson gets up and stretches, then looks at his watch, ’the meeting should be over by four, are you doing anything this evening?’
‘No, no plans.’
‘I fancy eating out. Care to join me?’
Jennifer stands up and takes a slight sideways step, ’What were you thinking of?’
‘I don’t know. I’ll leave that up to you.’
‘Okay, what about Chinese?’
‘Yes, that’s fine. Can you make arrangements for my Range Rover to be ready for us. We might head away a little early.’
‘Sure, yeah.’
‘Right, I’d better get to it.’

(To be continued..?)