Honor Pace allowed the cab driver to help her into her apartment building. She gave him a nice tip for this service and he wished her a good day. In the elevator she leaned against the wall and decided it was a good day, despite the discomfort of her hip and the inconvenience of low-slung cabs and houses with steps at the entrance. That Mavis lady was very kind and Hilary seemed organized and knowledgeable. The prospect of moving into a home with these four women was promising so far.
Making her way slowly three doors along from the elevator on the third floor, she gladly sank into a chair in her small apartment and placed her right leg up onto a padded bench. She had physio exercises to do later but for now she needed to rest.
The hip operation had given her a chance to stop and think about her future. Working from home as a computer expert was a given. It was a guaranteed income and she had clients who valued her skills highly, as proved by their bonus fees whenever she solved their technology problems. For years she had saved money. When mobility is an issue, you don’t have reasons to move around too much. Others might have bought a town house or condo of some kind but whenever she looked online the huge variety of such types almost always had barriers to free access, despite regulations to the contrary.
She had tried ground level apartments with quick access to the street level but those places were easy targets for break-ins and she feared she might not be able to flee fast enough to avoid injury.
The physiotherapist in the hospital was a kind and concerned woman who listened to Honor and was willing to give her opinion on health as well as safety. She recommended more gentle exercise. Sitting at a desk all day was not helping to maintain flexibility. She gave Honor the chance to try a standing desk set up where she could walk on a treadmill while working at a fixed counter that she could angle to suit her needs. This seemed radical at first but Honor was getting the message she could no longer continue with the bad habits that had brought her to the point of a hip operation. Changes had to be made.
The physiotherapist gently introduced the topic of companionship after hearing that her patient had no family living in the London area and few if any friends to call upon in an emergency.
“Look, it’s none of my business but I think you would benefit from having like-minded people around you for support. Good health is not just physical. We need daily contact with others to keep us mentally healthy.”
“Hold on! I am way too young for one of those retirement places with wheelchairs and scheduled happy hours. That would spell death to me.”
“No! I am thinking of a different lifestyle choice, perhaps sharing accommodation or inviting someone to live with you. Give it some thought. We all have to make compromises sooner or later.”
The words had stuck with her. Then there was the ad in the grocery store followed by the fall on a wet floor, the hip operation and the recovery period.
Finally she had taken action. Today’s visit to Hilary’s home made the prospect of co-housing seem achievable. There was a long way to go before it was a reality. The women she met had property to sell while Honor was ready now. She would continue to keep in touch and do everything possible to regain her strength. She expected a settlement from the fall on wet pavement in the mall, and her savings would fill in the gap until she needed to cash in some of her investments. One of the advantages to working with astute business people was hearing about reliable investment companies with excellent records for paying out high dividend yields.
Honor Pace glanced out the window at the snow beginning to fall. With any luck, by spring she would be in a far different environment, surrounded by women who would provide stimulating companionship and added security. For now, she would make a meal and review her stocks and shares before starting on her exercises.
Her life was about to change for the better and she was determined to be ready.
Mavis had approached the Reception area behind a Perspex screen and asked for information about her ‘cousin’ Eve Barton. The woman consulted a screen and typed for a minute before stating she had no patient in Emergency under that name.
“She might have been registered under Eve Dobrinski, her married name? She came by ambulance.”
A few more nerve-wracking seconds and the reply was more positive.
“Yes, she has been admitted and is under medical care at the moment. It seems it has been difficult to find her information. Do you wish to register as next-of-kin? Fill out this form. She is still unconscious. I’ll inform the doctor you are here. Please take a seat.”
The minutes ticked by and the waiting room filled up with an assortment of distressed people. Only a few were called for consultation. The remainder waited impatiently and Mavis heard the distant screech of ambulances approaching the hospital entrance. The man seated next to her said it was always like this when the first snow of the winter fell.
“The idiots forget how to drive in snow and zoom all over the road without control. My brother was hit at the bus stop. He likely has a broken leg.”
Mavis said a few words of sympathy then resumed her watch on the door to the Emergency section.
No one could enter there without permission. The reception desk nurses had control of a switch which caused the double doors to open. Mavis had a quick glimpse of a long corridor inside and hospital personnel moving from place to place at a leisurely pace. There were no patients to be seen.
After what seemed like an hour, a male doctor emerged and called her name. The man sitting beside her muttered ‘Good luck!’ as Mavis jumped up and walked toward the doors.
A young doctor was waiting for her.
“I understand you are related to our patient Eve Dobrinski?”
She nodded and followed along as they passed entrances to areas where some beds were concealed behind curtains.
“Mrs. Dobrinski has not regained consciousness and we have no contact information. She has only a bank book in her possession and the address is obscured. Perhaps you can help.”
“Yes, of course. Doctor, what is wrong with Eve?”
“We’ll know better when she can speak but it looks like she has had trauma to the head and a blood clot has shifted suddenly and is pressing on the nerves causing her collapse. We may need to remove the pressure but hopefully she will respond soon. Talk to her.”
He swept aside a green curtain and Mavis saw Eve, propped up on pillows and with closed eyes in a pale face. There was a new scar on her head that appeared to be close to the former injury.
“Oh, Eve, my dear. It’s Mavis. I’ve come to help you. Please wake up. I promise to take care of you.”
She picked up the limp hands folded over her stomach and gently massaged them while murmuring consoling words. There was a tiny flicker of an eyelid just as another person pushed back the curtain and asked if she could enter. This older woman had a badge stating she was a social worker.
Mavis immediately found herself in a dilemma. She knew the home situation of Eve. Could she reveal it now, knowing well what would result once the officials were involved; investigations, inspections, interviews with Eve’s husband and possibly dragging Hilary into the mix.
And yet, she could not lie. The time when Mavis Montgomery could secretly protect Eve Barton had passed.
On observing the doubt on Mavis’s face, the social worker quietly continued.
“You see, Eve has some bruising as well as the head injuries. We are required to find out if she has been abused in any way. Can you advise us at all?”
Mavis stood and motioned that they should go into the common area together. She quickly explained her knowledge of the home situation and indicated her expertise in such cases based on her courthouse experience. She said she had not known Eve long but she had no reason to doubt that her husband, Howard, had inflicted the injuries.
“I won’t go into the circumstances under which I met Eve but you do need to know I have a safe place for her to go to when she recovers. She should be among friends as I’m sure you can understand. Here’s my information. Contact me at any time and know this. Eve is mortally afraid of her husband. She should not be left alone with him if he turns up at the hospital.”
As she finished speaking, Mavis heard a small sound from the hospital bed. She rushed back inside and found Eve struggling to sit up. She spoke reassuringly to her while the social worker went to fetch the doctor.
A few quick tests with a light pen assured the doctor there was no lasting damage in the brain.
“We will keep you under observation for a day or two to make sure the swelling that caused you to collapse is under control. I’ll arrange a bed for you. Your friend can call or visit once you are settled in. Don’t worry. We’ll look after you now.”
His final words affected Eve. Mavis saw the relief on her face.
Poor woman. She’s been living in fear for so long that even a hospital is like a sanctuary to her.
“I was going to collect my money from the bank and bring it to you for safekeeping, Mavis,’ she whispered.” I don’t know what happened or how you got here but I am so glad to see you.”
“Just sit back and relax, Eve. I have spoken to the social worker. She knows your situation. They will interview your husband but you need not see him again if that is what you wish. Your first priority is to get well. After that we’ll settle everything else. Trust me.”
Eve closed her eyes and sank back into the pillows. Exhaustion was sweeping over her.
Mavis waited till her breathing was regular and some colour had returned to her face. She tiptoed out and walked slowly back to the double-door exit. She pushed a round metal button to the side and the doors opened outward. Escape!
The entire experience had thrust her back to her working days at the London courthouse. The barely concealed air of panic in the waiting room, the questions and concerns of the medical personnel and the knowledge of life and death decisions being made all around you were familiar reminders of the highly-charged atmosphere in the courts of law.
She shook it all off as she inhaled the crisp, cold air. Snow was falling and she had forgotten where she parked the car. Scrabbling in her pocket, she found the parking ticket stamped Emergency Priority Parking and headed uphill toward the entrance. She would pay by credit card as she had no idea how long she had spent in the hospital.
Next would come the explanations for Hilary. She hoped that lady was in a good humour.
When Mavis drew into the parking space at Camden Corners the windshield wipers had been swishing back and forth for some time as the snowfall developed. She had driven slowly and carefully, mindful of the man in the waiting room’s comments about the first snow.
As she climbed the front steps, she was overcome with exhaustion. She had kept her energy levels up all through the hospital experience but now she saw safety, she let go.
Hilary opened the door before she reached for her key, and pulled her inside.
“Mavis, you look worn out. No. Don’t say one word. We will have a meal first. I heated up lasagna while I was waiting. There’s warm crusty bread and a glass of wine if you want it. I just shoved an apple pie into the oven for dessert.”
It was not the thought of delicious hot food that undid Mavis. Rather, it was the warmth of Hilary’s comforting voice and the normal appearance of her home, so different from the clinical place from which she had come. The tears rolled down her face without her volition and Hilary knew at once what to do. She removed the coat, placed the purse in the closet and put her arms around her friend leading her into the kitchen and settling her on one of the padded stools at the counter where she had placed a mug of hot tea as soon as she heard Mavis’s car arriving. She added a box of tissues and removed herself to give the private Mavis time to recover her equilibrium. In spite of her curiosity she kept her promise and spoke casually about the day’s meeting while they ate.
“Honor seems like a good candidate. I think we can accommodate her needs and since she is young she should recover well from her hip operation.
I must say I am more and more impressed with Vilma. I judged her too soon as a glamour type, likely to be overly concerned with her appearance, but I am delighted to acknowledge I was quite wrong. She has taken Jannice O’Connor under her wing. Did you see how much better Jannice looked today? Vilma may keep all of us on our toes as far as appearance is concerned.”
She waited, until colour returned to Mavis’s face and she had finished the plateful of lasagna and broccoli, before continuing.
“Now, if you feel stronger, tell me what has happened with Eve.”
Mavis took a last sip of the glass of red wine and told her friend everything that she saw and heard at the hospital. She left to the end of her account what she had told the social worker.
“I acted on instinct with her, Hilary, and I believe I judged her correctly. We were on the same page as it were, and I think she will support my suggestion. How do you feel about it all?”
“Mavis Montgomery, I do not ever question your instincts. From the first moment you were concerned about that poor woman, Eve, and providing her with a safe place to live is part of our mandate for co-housing. We said we wanted to share living with like-minded people. Would we two, both products of caring professions, be happy without a project to improve the lives of those around us? We want harmony in our house and that will have challenges, of course.”
“Hilary, I should know better than to doubt your generosity of spirit. We will work together to help Eve and Honor, and I think you have just named our future home. Harmony House is a perfect name. All we have to do now is find the place!”