The Empty Room Read online

  “Yeah, I haven’t been answering any calls or texts but I did answer one the other night.”

  “Oh no!” Hannah remarked, laughing as our meals arrived and we enjoyed the few moments peace between bites.

  “You know, if you need me for anything, I’m here aye Hannah,” I said, between bites.

  “Yeah, I know,” Hannah replied.

  “Good. Do you want another jug before finishing lunch and heading off?” I asked.

  “Yeah, just one more, then I need to finish up a couple more bits for work,” Hannah said, as we both started laughing again.

  We continued laughing up the hill and back through the front door until we went our separate ways.

  Sitting down at the computer, I confirmed the Paris trip. I was looking forward to sitting down with Audrey later in the week and working on the rest. I looked at the calendar guessing at when we might be in China. I knew that once I’d confirmed those dates I could let Devin know about it. I laughed as I went out to the fridge to see if we still had cheesecake or some had magically appeared, only to be disappointed. I was still laughing as I knocked on Hannah’s door. “Hey I might have some rough dates for ya,” I said.

  “Okay cool. Is that including the train?” Hannah asked.

  “Ah, no,” I said. “Whoops, my bad! I forgot about that,” I added.

  “Why don’t I just wait til’ Audrey has sorted out the rest of the trip,” Hannah commented with a massive smile on her face.

  “Yeah, good idea,” I replied.

  “Hey, I’m gonna head down and get some more cheesecake from Waitrose. Do we need anything else while I’m down there?” I asked.

  “No, should be all good. What have we got for dinner?” Hannah asked.

  “Um, yeah – no idea,” I said, again with a cheesy grin on my face.

  “Ha, okay check and hang on. I’ll check now,” Hannah said, as we both started laughing and checking the freezer and the fridge.

  “Hey, what do we want for dinner tonight?” Hannah asked.

  “I’m pretty full from lunch,” I said.

  “Yeah, me too, but something light might be good.”

  “Yeah alright, I’ll pick up some couscous or a pasta salad and some chicken,” I answered.

  “Yeah, sounds good. Definitely should head out for a run on the weekend,” Hannah remarked.

  I walked back into my room, grabbed my wallet and keys and chucked a pair of shoes on and walked back out past Hannah.

  “Won’t be long I’ll see you in a bit Hannah,” I said as I walked past and saw Hannah in the kitchen eyeing up a bottle of red and a bottle of white wine.

  “I’ll pick up some more wine while I’m down the hill as well,” I added as I went laughing out the door.

  “Yeah might be handy,” Hannah yelled from the kitchen, grabbing a glass as I left.

  Walking down to Waitrose, it didn’t take too long to get everything we needed – as well as a few other bits and pieces I shouldn’t have bought – but walking out and towards the bottle shop across the road was good. I even ran into Louise as I was leaving.

  “Hey are you following me?” I asked, smiling.

  “No, I was just about to head in and get a couple of bottles as well,” Louise said.

  “Ha, I was only joking. How’ve you been?” I asked.

  “Yeah, really good. I enjoyed the other night. It’s been ages since the last time I went to The Pitcher and Piano,” Louise replied.

  “Yeah, it’s such a great bar,” I agreed.

  “Let’s catch up again soon,” Louise commented, as I was about to head home.

  “Yeah, done. Just let me know when, okay? I’ll see you again soon,” I declared.

  I headed off home thinking to myself I possibly should have mentioned I’d be away for a while. I didn’t worry about it though. When I got back and started to put everything away, Hannah come into the kitchen and joined me.

  “Hey, Karen rang,” Hannah said.

  “Oh okay, thanks Hannah,” I said.

  “Anna called me the other day as well. What’s happening there?” Hannah asked.

  “I’m not too sure, I guess I need to get away and think about that one,” I replied.

  “Yeah, better you than me Phil,” Hannah said.

  “Yeah, I know.”

  I put the last box into the fridge.

  “Hey, more cheesecake?” Hannah asked, with a smile on her face and a glass of wine in her hand.

  “Yeah. Hey, I’ll grab a beer and join you in a second,” I mentioned.

  We both laughed and headed off into the lounge.

  “So, what about Karen? Does she know about Anna?” Hannah asked.

  “Wow, wasn’t expecting you to open with that!” I replied.

  We both laughed as my phone started ringing.

  “Hey, how are you?” I asked, as I answered it.

  “Yeah good. Can I come over tonight?” Karen asked.

  “Yeah, that would be good. I’m just having a couple of drinks with Hannah,” I said.

  As Hannah started laughing in the background, Karen could hear this. “Is Hannah laughing at me?” she asked.

  “No, just at me,” I said.

  “Oh, okay. I’ll see you later on,” Karen replied.

  Hanging up, I went back to laughing with Hannah.

  “Hey, so how has work been?” I asked.

  “Terrible! I wonder, if I wrote a book if Audrey would represent me,”

  “What would you write about?” I asked.

  “How about living with a writer who has no game with the ladies?”

  Hannah laughed then, in a manner that was a little louder than I felt was acceptable. Still, I laughed as well – knowing full well she wasn’t wrong.

  “I’m not sure there would be enough words there, maybe a journal piece,” I said, just before we both started laughing again.

  Getting up, I grabbed another beer and filled Hannah’s glass before putting the wine back in the fridge. We were there for ages, until at some point we looked around the room and, noticeably missing from that laughter were the smiles of our friends, and the laughter had stopped. Karen arrived then and we made a few plates of chicken salad and couscous and we ate and sat around talking. Karen didn’t ask what we had been talking about and we woke up the next morning, while Karen was in the shower, Hannah popped into my room and thanked me for yesterday, before she headed off to work.

  I walked Karen down and dropped her off at the tube station, only to hug her a little tighter and kissing her a little bit deeper than usual. It ended up being a strange week, Karen and I were excited about our trip, Luckily Audrey was an awesome help, with everything planned and booked, our trip was coming along brilliantly. Hannah had put in for the time off, she was totally in the dark, when I emailed Devin. His therapy was going really-well and he was looking forward to meeting up, he thought the idea of not telling Hannah was a bit strange, knowing something in my voice that she might have been seeing someone. Though we would get together soon I got to packing a few things and printed off some rough itineraries for Audrey, Hannah and Karen’s mum.

  I’d give Karen’s mum her copy, a couple of nights before we left, as we all went out to dinner.

  Christine mentioned her daughters would be around Europe to me, as Karen was in the bathroom, by plan. I had no idea, but I thanked her again for giving me the little time I would have with Karen. A couple of nights before we left I put a light green bag in my wardrobe, I wasn’t sure what I was doing but on the off chance I knew I would have to at least let her know. The night before we left I stayed at Karen’s. Lisa and Jeff had popped back up to Scotland to hang out with Georgia for a few days and Karen and I had the place to ourselves. I had already said good bye to Hannah and looked forward to seeing her in China, we laughed for a while and hugged, I wanted to asked her about what was going on especially when she winced when I hugged her a little bit tighter.

  Until she called me douchebag and we laughed at each o
ther.

  It was really-good that Mrs Arkos came to see us off as we were taking the train to Paris. Both Karen and I were massively excited, both of us thanking Christine as she hugged the both of us and in her motherly way, then told us to have a great time, then subtly embarrassed Karen.

  “Mum, don’t say that, we will use protection,” Karen said.

  As a few onlookers smiled as they walked past.

  Christine just laughed as she knew how to wind up her daughter but smiled as they both hugged and told each other they loved one another.

  As Christine came up to me.

  “Remember your promise Phil,” Christine reminded me.

  “Yes, I will, Mrs Arkos,” I replied.

  “Thank you Phil, have a great time as well and use protection,” Mrs Arkos declared.

  “Mum don’t say that,” Karen replied blushing.

  “Thank you Mrs Arkos, I’ll try to remember,” I said smiling.

  As Karen just stood there shaking her head, Christine gave me a hug and with our passports and tickets we jumped on the late train and headed off to Paris.

  9

  The Turmoil Caused

  “Hey wake up we have to go!” Karen yelled.

  Trying her hardest to wake me up.

  “Hey what time is it?”

  “Its 6:30 am,” Karen replied.

  “Your nuts,” I said, and rolled over and trying to get a few more moments of sleep.

  “Hey, by the time you get up and have a shower and helped yourself to some of this room service we’ll have to go and try and beat the bus to Euro-Disneyland,” Karen shouted in my ear.

  “Huh, room service,” I whispered, still yawning and trying to wake up.

  Opening my eyes, looking straight into Karen’s smiling face.

  “Good morning sleepy head, now go have a shower, I’ve left something for you to wear in the bathroom.”

  “Yeah okay,” I said.

  Throwing the covers off and getting up to go and have a shower.

  Joined soon after by Karen,

  “Hey what bus?” I asked.

  “Oh the make a wish kids bus,” Karen said.

  Like it was one of the most normal conversations ever.

  “Oh, hang on why are we trying to beat them to Disneyland?” I asked.

  “Oh so we can sneak in with them,” Karen replied.

  Still like it was just the most normal things to do.

  “Oh okay,” I said smiling. Leaning in to kiss her.

  “Hey we don’t have time for that,” Karen laughed looking down.

  “Oh so what am I wearing, you were saying,” I replied.

  Karen just laughed at me and stepped out of the shower.

  “Turn the hot water off and hurry up.”

  Drying herself off she walked back into the room.

  “Hey do we have coffee?” I asked.

  “Yeah, do you want me to pour you one?” Karen yelled back.

  “Yeah that’ll be good.”

  Stepping out of the shower I turned to find a suit bag hanging up on the towel rail.

  Walking over to dry myself then opening it up I started laughing and put some boxers on and walk out to Karen.

  “Hey, you can’t honestly expect me to wear this?”

  Karen just laughed at me and told me to put it on, so I walked back into the bathroom, and laughing I put it on and stepped back out to her laughing at me.

  “You look great,” Karen said.

  “Like a great-dane more likely,” I said before adding.

  “So if I’m dressing like this are you dressing up like Vilma?” I asked.

  “No, I’m gonna put this on,” Karen said.

  As she pulled out a make-a-wish t shirt.

  “What, where did you get that from?” I asked.

  “Oh I tried to steal it off a blind kid, but it’s okay, I swapped him with my Run DMC t-shirt,”

  “You what?” I asked.

  Karen kept this going the whole morning through breakfast and a couple of coffees she was adamant that she had tried to steal it from a blind kid, I didn’t think that was very funny.

  It wasn’t till we were inside the park that one of the nurses accompanying the blind kid Jacob, came up to us and thanked Karen for the Run DMC top,

  Karen just stood there smiling at me, “Jacob loved it.”

  “Oh well played,” I told Karen.

  Who had also told me to hide and just as the kids were coming off the bus we were to jump in behind them and sneak in.

  The woman chaperoning the whole day thought it was hilarious, the other guys dressed as the rest of the Scooby Doo team made fun of me the rest of the day, I took it though, and got to enjoy most of the day with Karen, talking to some of those terminally ill kids was so inspiring. I was grateful for the opportunity. But I would have liked to have known, I could have bought a change of clothes with me, eating at the restaurant later in the day, dressed as Scooby Doo was a bit tough.

  It was actually a great start, to the trip. The following day was interesting.

  “Hey sleeping beauty wake up, we’re running late,” I remarked.

  “Oh babe, I’m not feeling to good today, is it cool if we stay in?” Karen asked.

  I saw the smile on her face and knew she wanted to get a few more hours sleep, but I wouldn’t have any of it, not after yesterday.

  “Hey go have a shower and let’s go and get some breakfast on the way,” I said.

  “Oh where are we going?” Karen asked, trying to wrestle the covers on the bed so she can stay there.

  “Time to go sightseeing, and we have a challenge, so you’ll need your runners,” I said smiling.

  “Oh okay, a challenge though?” Karen asked.

  “Yeah, I’ll tell you on the way. I have to confirm the restaurant, so don’t let me forget.”

  “Yeah sounds good where are we going?” Karen asked smiling.

  “Hey, stop trying to get more time, get up and go and have a shower,” I declared.

  “You know you can always join me in here,” Karen said, pulling back the covers.

  I quickly jumped into bed with her and we wrapped our arms around each other.

  “Hey, go have a shower stop stalling,” I said.

  “Yeah okay,” Karen said.

  Kissing me and then getting up to take a shower.

  “Hey, are you almost ready?” Karen asked.

  “Yeah, I’ve just got to put some shoes on,” I replied.

  “Ha, cool, I won’t be long.”

  It didn’t take us much longer to get out of the hotel and look around, we were both pretty-shocked by the people dry humping on most of the park benches on the bridges along the way to the Eiffel tower and came across a really nice little bakery/cafe that had pain-au-raisin’s and amazing coffee.

  “We need to come back here at some stage,” Karen insisted.

  “Agreed, these are so good,” I replied.

  “Did you use to make these before you started roughing it as a writer?” Karen asked.

  “Actually, I did,”

  “So how you feeling now?” I asked.

  “Yeah better, planning on kicking your ass today,” Karen replied.

  “I’d be careful the last time I got challenged like that a mate got a perm and had to shave his foot and so did Devin,” I said smiling.

  “Okay but if I win you have to wear the Scooby doo outfit to dinner tonight,” Karen said.

  I just laughed and said, “Sure thing”.

  “All right, let’s finish these and start off to the Eiffel tower,” I added.

  “Hey do you want a take away coffee for the walk,” I suggested quickly.

  Already getting up and heading inside to pay the bill and order the takeaway flat whites.

  “Yeah, but hurry!” Karen yelled laughing at me.

  Luckily I didn’t have to wait too long as there weren’t that many customers there so they bought them out to us, in around about five minutes, and thankfully poi
nting us in the direction of the tower. About two shops down I saw it, but didn’t say anything to Karen, I knew if I wanted to, I would win the race, the fact we walked past a vintage clothing shop had me in stitches.

  “Hey, what are you laughing at?” Karen asked.

  “Hang on, stop right here, and turn to the front of this shop just back here,” I replied.

  Doing this Karen started laughing.

  “Nope, no way, are you ever going to catch me wearing that get up,” Karen remarked.

  “Well, you’ll have to beat me up the Eiffel Tower then,” I replied.

  “There’s no way I want to wear that,” Karen said, looking at me.

  “Hey, sad eyes won’t work on me, you started this. You’ll have to back yourself,”

  “Yeah okay, you’re on, but you’ll have to wear that if I beat you,” Karen insisted.

  “It’s for a woman,” I said.

  “Challenge accepted,” I added quickly.

  Holding out my hand to shake Karen’s in agreement.

  She spat on her hand quickly and firmly shock mine.

  “Ew, what the hell Karen?” I remarked.

  “Ha, that will teach you,” Karen said.

  Quite smug with herself, I wiped my hand on my shorts and enjoyed the rest of the walk to the Eiffel tower and stretched a bit before running up it.

  No way, I was wearing what looked like, MC Hammer pants and a tube top, as for the frilly scarf I wasn’t losing this race.

  “So first one to the second level then we can catch the lift the rest of the way up,” I commented.

  “Yeah sounds good,” Karen said.

  Still stretching and smiling at me.

  I had no idea what she had planned but no doubt she was going to cheat somehow.

  It took her fifteen minutes to get to the first Platform and she was struggling, by the time we set off for the second platform I left her about two flights from the top. Just so I could celebrate the victory and then went back down and piggy backed her back up.

  “Hey you didn’t need to do that I would have beaten you eventually,” Karen muttered.

  “Um, okay let’s get up to the top I have an important question for you,” I said smiling.

  “No you don’t,” Karen remarked.

  “Yes, I do,” I said.

  “No, you really don’t Phil!” Karen insisted.