Licence to Dream by Anna Jacobs

Author:Anna Jacobs [Jacobs, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General, Contemporary/Romance
ISBN: 9781847512659
Google: Tf1bewAACAAJ
Amazon: B00BXSSBQ8
Publisher: Severn House Publishers, Limited
Published: 2011-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

As they waited for the paperwork, Ben stared up at Meriel from the wheelchair. ‘I've hardly endeared myself to you lately. I must be the last person you'd want as a house guest.’

‘You are. And I doubt you want to be indebted to me. But if you've nowhere else to go, you can't afford to be picky, and I daresay I can put up with you for a few days. Think how virtuous I'll feel afterwards!’

‘Do you have a spare bed? You didn't seem to have much furniture.’

‘Oh!’ How ridiculous that she hadn’t even thought of that. ‘No, I don't. But I'd intended to buy one for when friends come to stay. We can stop off at the furniture store and get one. They delivered my things the same day last time.’

‘I'll buy the bed, then.’

‘Look there’s no need to do that.’

‘I’m buying it.’

‘Well – all right.’

He was still staring at her, but his voice lost that hard edge as he asked, ‘Are you sure about this, Meriel?’

‘I'm sure I'm crazy to make the offer, but you don't have any other option apart from the hospital, do you? Unless you like taking risks.’

‘No. I definitely don’t like taking risks with human lives, mine or anyone else’s. They can be extinguished all too easily.’ There was a pause, then, ‘Thank you. I’m extremely grateful.’

She could sense him studying her while the nurse gave instructions about what danger signs to watch out for in the day or two after concussion and when she sneaked a glance at Ben, his brow was wrinkled, as if he was puzzled.

As they left the hospital he was wheeled to the car, then the orderly took the wheelchair away.

‘You’ll need a walking stick, at least,’ she said. ‘Look, I’ll stop at a pharmacy. They’re bound to have one.’

‘Thanks.’ He slid backwards into the car, receiving a boisterous greeting from Tina.

Meriel called the dog to order while he levered himself carefully into position and leaned back with a tired sigh.

She drove into town and stopped at a pharmacy. ‘I won’t be long.’

Ten minutes later she came back with a walking stick, a couple of cans of lemonade and a bottle of cold water, which she gave to Tina bit by bit, only spilling about half of it.

‘All right to go now, Ben?’

He handed her the empty can. ‘Thanks. You think of everything.’

She drove slowly along the main street and stopped the car outside a furniture shop. ‘I'll just go in and buy the bed.’

‘I’ll pay.’ He fumbled in his pocket pulling out his wallet, but couldn’t find his credit card. ‘There’s a cheque book somewhere in this car. We’ll find it when we get back. And buy a queen size bed.’

She looked at him suspiciously.

‘I'm a tall man.’

‘But it's a waste of money. I mean, a queen size is nearly twice the price of a single. And if it's only for a short time – ’

‘I like my comfort. Single beds are designed only for children and anorexic dwarfs, as far as I'm concerned.

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