Tea & Biscuits

Chapter Three


Beth couldn't move. She was lying in a bed, the sheets tightly pulled around her. The light was bright and was hurting her eyes and a sharp pain in her left arm made her look down. A drip had been inserted and was dispensing a clear liquid.

A woman moved closer to the bed. 'Beth?' she whispered. 'Its OK sweetheart, I'm here'. Alice Lewis took her daughters' right hand and squeezed it gently, tears streaming silently down her face.

Beth looked at her mother but couldn't speak. Her face was wrapped in thick bandages, her mouth partially covered with only enough space to breathe through. What she wanted to say was 'What happened? Where am I and why am I here?'

Beth was feeling sleepy and drifted off, not hearing the gentle knock on the door, not noticing her mother leaving the room to talk to the man outside.

****

'Mrs Lewis, I am so sorry' Alan took her hand in his and looked into her sad, lined face, his eyes mirroring her own concern.

'The Police?' she asked.

'Yes, I have just finished giving them my statement. They want to talk to Beth but I think it will have to wait....' he drifted off. Alan was still in a state of shock but his rational side took over. 'Let me get you a cup of tea?'

Nodding, Alice followed Alan into the hospital canteen. It was 6 a.m. , no staff around but vending machines dispensing dishwater coloured liquid containing milk powder and a Lipton's tea bag. They were alone and sat at a corner table. Alan put down the two paper cups and offered Alice a digestive from the pack he had purchased. 2 biscuits for 40p.

Shaking her head, she said 'No, thankyou... I cant eat...I...' a sob escaped her lips and Alan pulled tissues from his pocket and handed them to her.

Composing herself, Alice took a sip of tea and grimaced.

'Yes, not good I'm afraid. I make much better tea' Alan smiled at her.

Alice smiled at him and looked at him properly for the first time
'Have we met before, Mr Rickman? you seem familiar, somehow....'

'Please, call me Alan' he said quietly ' and its not unusual for me to be recognised... I act, you know...films and such.' He was reluctant to get onto this topic, more concerned for the welfare of Alice and her damaged daughter.

'That must be it then... maybe something Beth was watching sometime.' Alice paused and looked him in the eye 'I don't know how to thank you enough Alan, for what you did for my baby girl' her voice cracked with emotion but she held it together.

'Nonsense... anyone would have done the same...' he replied. 'A couple of 'phone calls and throwing a blanket over an injured person does not a hero make' he thought to himself.

They sat in silence. The stark canteen echoed the noises and clicks of the refrigerators and vending machines as they drank their tea.
On any other day this would have been a pleasant interlude. On this occasion it marked an event that created ripple effects in both of their lives.

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