‘Ahhh…’ he said out loud as he took a gulp of the smooth, milky drink and listened intensely to the absence of bed number four screeching for attention. He would have had more of the same if he’d have been placed in a rest home. He was lucky to find himself in this rather unique situation, brought about by the new friends he’d found. It was nice to discover there were good people out there in his time of need. He just wished it hadn’t been because he’d lost Nancy. Because whatever had happened, she was certainly gone.
He didn’t like reminding himself of this fact at this part of the day, but it’s where his thoughts always ended up.
When he finally switched off the side lamp and tucked himself under the covers, he knew he was safe here. In his sleep cocoon, no one would find him. There were just his thoughts to trouble him. There was no escaping he wasn’t at the end of the road yet. In fact, he knew as his head hit the pillow that he was far from it. There was something bothering him. In amongst the mishmash of false memories, he knew there had to be something that was real. It was Nancy. He was almost certain of it. But how could that be? Not when the police had said different.
In this foreign place none of it made sense. There was nothing concrete for him to rest his memories on. Maybe if he was somewhere more familiar a more accurate account would come back to him. Even though the thought scared him, he’d like to visit his allotment to see if being there would help. That might shift a clearer picture into his consciousness. He needed something to.
Because however impossible it was, he wasn’t able to shake the feeling that a crime had been committed.
19
Keisha
Other than myself, there are only three people who know about Clive’s temporary living arrangements. Clive, obviously, George and Tess.
It’s safer not to tell anyone else. The more people who know, the more likely it will be for news of this temporary plan to leak out. But I trust Tess. Other than Lucy, she is the person I confide in the most. The thought of visiting her every lunchtime while harbouring an elderly gentleman at the laboratories without telling her seems like an impossibility. Because of that, and the fact I’m ready for work far earlier than my usual time, I pop to Tess’s Treats. For once, I feel in need of the added sparkle it brings.
‘Do you really think that’s the best way forward?’ Tess asks.
‘It just seemed like a way forward. Clive doesn’t have many options.’ The maths is simple, but now it seems complex. ‘Besides, he’s there.’
‘Already?’
‘Already.’
Tess’s reaction doesn’t inspire the confidence I’m hoping for. Especially after a sleepless night of worry.
‘Invite him to come to the café for breakfast every morning. A man can’t live off microwave products alone.’ I’m pretty certain there’s many a student diet that will disprove that theory. I’d go as far as to bet a clinical trial can prove as much, but I’m not going to say that. Not when Tess is being kind on Clive’s behalf. ‘It’ll work far better for a cover story if he arrives from here rather than popping out of a cupboard each day. What will the cleaning crew say if he does that?’
Tess’s point is a valid one.
On her suggestion, I phone him at the laboratory to invite him for his first meal at the café so they can meet.
The café is busy this morning. Recently Tess has been throwing herself into all sorts of different ideas to try to attract new customers to make the footfall more consistent. They seem to be working. There’s a new scheme she has briefly mentioned, loyalty cards and inviting various groups to use the café as a meeting place.
Rather than sitting and waiting, I go behind the counter to lend a hand. I’m discovering more and more that being busy helps reduce the number of readings I take.
‘A black coffee and I’ll pay for a pay-it-forward please.’
I jot down the order. ‘What’s a pay-it-forward?’
‘It’s the new scheme I’ve been trialling. I’ve made the cost of coffee slightly less and given customers the chance to pay it forward. It means they pay for another coffee for someone else in need. If someone else comes along, they can ask for a pay-it-forward coffee. I’m doing the same for breakfasts.