Calling All Dentists (Calling All... Book 2), page 14
Coming to her senses, Emma opened one eye and could just make out the figure of her mum, crouched down at the side of the bed. Her blurred vision made worse by the tears, Emma wiped her eyes and was surprised to feel just how much dampness there was on her cheeks.
“I think you must have been dreaming. You were crying out loud, I thought something was terribly wrong.”
“Oh no, I keep having these horrible dreams Mum,” said Emma, propping herself up in the bed. “It’s nearly every night now.”
“Dreams? About what?”
“Well, they’re nightmares really. Stupid nightmares about monsters with rotten teeth. My gums are getting worse every day and I can’t bring myself to do anything about it. Mum, I’m scared.” Glancing at the clock, Emma could see that it was 3.26am, “What are you doing up at this time anyway?”
“Oh, I couldn’t sleep. I think you need to get your teeth sorted out very soon, don’t you?” Gently rubbing the side of Emma’s arm, her mum continued, “I’ll definitely be coming with you. You shouldn’t have let it get this bad. I can see it’s really getting you down Emma.”
Emma nodded, “I know, it’s stupid, I’m pathetic. I know they’re going to fall out soon and then no one will like me.”
“Don’t be silly, I’m sure the dentist can sort them out.” Emma cringed at the word ‘dentist’, she hated them that much. “Let me make an appointment for you at my dentist. They’re very good you know.” Emma couldn’t believe she was sitting in her old bed, in the early hours of the morning, in the darkness, nodding her head in agreement.
“Yes, ok. Make an appointment then and Mum…”
“Yes…”
“Thank you.”
Pulling the covers up to her nose, Emma watched her mum tiptoe out of the room and close the door quietly behind her. Emma felt like a small child again, having just had a nightmare and her mummy coming to the rescue, it was just like the old days. Her mum always rescued everything and everyone.
***
Sunday morning arrived and the continuing blurry atmosphere was pulling everyone down. The phone didn’t stop ringing. Messages of sympathy, enquiries as to when the funeral might be and genuine offers of help in any way, kept coming. Grant tried to stay out of the way as best he could by tinkering in his frosty shed or trawling through paperwork piled high in his office. Grandma hadn’t gone home yet, except to pick up some more things and check for mail. The thought of returning to her empty house was not a pleasant one and Alex had decided that she wasn’t ready for it yet. “Maybe after the funeral,” she’d said to Grant who just nodded in agreement, knowing that any other response would not go down too well. “I just don’t think she’s ready yet,” added Alex.
Today Emma was getting ready to go back to her flat to try and restore some normality back into her life. Christmas had seemed to be one big cloud of gloom and she couldn’t wait to put it behind her, although she also realised that Christmas would never be the same again as the anniversary of her grandad’s death came around each year. The seven days she’d spent at her parent’s house had all rolled into that big gloomy cloud. Feeling like she had hardly spoken to anyone, let alone seen anyone (apart from her immediate family); Emma felt it was time to go.
Having promised to make an appointment the following week for Emma to visit the dentist, her mum had said she would make sure she got an emergency one. That way Emma could be seen quickly and probably not have to pay any money for the initial appointment. Trying to brush the worry from her mind, Emma packed her things together and stuffed them in her bag.
Tomorrow night she would see Andrew again and every time she thought about it a feeling of guilty excitement fluttered through her. She was nervous about seeing him and could only vaguely picture his facial features. She knew she fancied him like crazy but just couldn’t seem to produce a clear picture of him in her mind. The tinkle of her mobile quickly snatched Emma from her reverie and she picked it up from the side table.
Are you home yet? I could give you a call if you’d like. I’m home now Andy xx
Having lunch at Mum’s then I’ll be home later this afternoon. I’ll text you when I get back. Em xxx
Are you busy tonight? Would love to see you again over a coffee maybe? At mine? Andy xx
Emma’s heart raced and her palms perspired as she replied, Yes, I would really like that. Text you when I’m home. Emma xxx
Itching to get away as quickly as possible, Emma gulped her turkey sandwich down and then offered to help clear up the kitchen. “No that’s fine love. If you want to get home, you go,” said her mum.
“Thanks Mum, I’ll come back New Year’s Day and have dinner with you all, as long as I’m not too hung-over.” She laughed and once again felt guilty for doing so as Grandma peered at her over the thin rimmed glasses sitting on her nose.
“Well have a good time and try not to worry about things Emma. I’ll make that appointment for you next Wednesday just as soon as we’ve got the date for Grandad’s… well, you know.”
Emma knew her mum found it difficult to say the word ‘funeral’, it made it all too real. She was keeping herself busy just as much as Emma’s grandma was. Every day at some point, everyone had cried (apart from Emma’s dad) and then put on a brave face for the rest of the day.
Picking her bag up, Emma slung it over her shoulder and kissed her mum and dad on the cheek. She waved to her grandma who had just answered the phone to her late friend, Evelyn’s son.
Evelyn’s son, Gordon, was going to attend the funeral. His mum had passed away four years ago but he had stayed closely in touch with the family and that’s just how his mum, Evelyn would have liked it. However, most of the family, well all of the family (except for Grandma) had been somewhat relieved when Evelyn’s life came to a timely end. Evelyn was Grandma Dot’s counterpart in all matters of interference and meddlesome interaction and between them both they caused quite a lot of problems for Emma’s dad in particular, in the past.
But that’s another story.
The frosty afternoon air caught her breath as Emma jumped in her car and reversed out of the drive. Pink, snow-filled clouds hung gloomily in the sky, waiting to burst their contents on to the icy land below as she headed home feeling rather excited about her guilty pleasure amid the sorrow and grief in her family.
Chapter 12
Throwing on her best jeans and a very old blouse, which she’d had since her late teens, Emma sat on the edge of her bed and carefully applied some make-up. She wanted to look her very best, she wanted to look sexy without looking too sexy and she wanted him to fancy her just as much as he had done the night they met.
Nervously, Emma waited at the front door of the old Victorian building. The red intercom light flickered as if it was in rhythm with the beat of her heart. “Hello.” The sound of a familiar deep, scratchy voice came from inside the small box.
“Hi, it’s Emma,” she said with a slight tremble.
“Come on in.” Andrew’s voice sounded cheery, “I’ll meet you at the top.”
The wide, black door clicked and Emma pushed it open. A familiar smell of polish and some sort of cleaning fluid sent her into a reverie. Lustful passion in the form of Andrew had been at the top of the two flights of stairs the first time she was here, and the clean smells reminded her of it.
It was highly likely that the aroma of household cleaning products may never be the same again and she could possibly end up in a heightened emotional state every time she tried to do some housework in the future. She smiled to herself before taking in a deep breath of the scented air. With her heart beating fast, Emma climbed the stairs slowly and quietly.
“Hello, how are you?” asked Andrew as she reached the top.
Coyly, she replied, “I’m fine thanks. I forgot how many stairs there were.”
Andrew laughed and stretched out a hand as she took the last step up. Still holding her hand, he leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips, “Good to see you again, and the last time you ascended these stairs, I’d imagine that you were not completely aware,” he whispered. Emma’s face flushed and then a rush of anticipation tingled through the rest of her body. “Come in, do you want a coffee?”
Emma nodded and smiled as she followed him into the flat. It smelt clean and fresh inside the flat too, there was absolutely no hope of her ever doing housework again, she mused. The flat appeared larger than it had the first time she was here. Maybe the last chink of daylight that filtered in through the small kitchen window made it look different, or perhaps being sober had something to do with it.
“How are things with your family?” Andrew asked sensitively as he poured the percolated coffee into two mugs.
“Mum and Grandma are getting through it all right I suppose.” Emma shifted uncomfortably, “There’s just so much to sort out.”
“I can imagine that there is. I’m here to listen if you want to talk about it.” Passing a mug to Emma, Andrew invited her to follow him through to the lounge with a roll of his big brown eyes.
Placing her mug on the coffee table, Emma sat down on the sofa and Andrew sat next to her. “I can’t believe how much I’ve missed you. I didn’t even know you before last week.”
“I know, it’s silly isn’t it,” she replied, her heart had slowed down just a few minutes ago and now it was beginning to dance around in her chest again. As soon as she had set eyes on him at the top of the stairs she’d remembered his face and his amazing physique. The muscular figure of this fine looking man was now sitting close to her again and his eyes stared intently into hers. As he reached over and gently pulled her long hair away from her neck, a shiver surged through Emma’s body. Then he kissed her tenderly.
Passion and desire overcame them both. Andrew stood up and held his hand out to her – she grasped it and followed him through to the bedroom. The fading light outside cast grey shadows across the bed as Andrew pinned Emma against the wardrobe doors and proceeded to undress her.
Their love making was long lasting, emotionally charged and all consuming as they moved together in unison. Heavy breaths and perspiring silhouettes filled the air with a sexual scent as they gasped and moaned, succumbed by pleasure. And then the end came – forceful and strong, Andrew and Emma fused together in an embrace filled with the deepest of thrills and elation.
Stunned into a beautiful silence, Emma lay resting her head on Andrew’s chest, watching it rise and fall with each recovering breath. There were no words to follow what had just happened so she rested contentedly and peacefully in his arms as the darkness of the night crept into the room.
Some four hours after she had arrived, Emma looked over to the bedside clock, 8.15pm. Andrew slept tranquilly alongside her, his warm and taut body sprawled out across the bed. Lying on his front, Andrew’s peachy coloured skin was flawless, Emma noted as she studied his form, barely covered by the quilt. He was the most gorgeous man she had ever met, perfect in every single detail.
Tiptoeing from the room, she walked through to the kitchen with her shoes in her hand and reheated the coffee in the percolator jug. When it was hot enough she made another mug of coffee and went through to the lounge. Andrew’s suitcase was still on the table – he’d travelled home this morning and was obviously very tired after his journey. Not knowing quite what to do now, Emma sipped her drink and made up her mind to leave. Scanning the room for a pen or pencil and a piece of paper, she found a note stack and matching pen pot next to the phone, behind his suitcase. Before she began to write a note, Emma went back through to the bedroom, pushed the door open slightly and checked that Andrew was still asleep.
Thought I would get back home as I have so much to do and sort out and you were sleeping so peacefully. Text me when you wake and let me know the arrangements for tomorrow night (if we’re still going LOL). Thank you for a lovely evening, it was so nice to see you again. Love Emma xxx
Pulling the front door closed, she heard it click and knew it had locked safely. Then she left and made the short journey home to her own flat while large snowflakes splattered on the windscreen of her car and then melted into droplets of water before the wipers pushed them away.
Emma’s mum wanted some ‘nice’ pictures of Grandad and Emma had promised she would have a look when she got home. It had been agreed that a slideshow should be made and then displayed on the television, at her parent’s house, for the gathering after the funeral. Aaron didn’t know it yet but he had a job to do on his computer and it would have to take priority over everything else that he had going on in his busy life.
Sifting through her memory box, full of old photographs of family, friends and memorable occasions; she found the one she had been looking for. Her grandad was standing tall and proud by the side of a glass case which housed his most precious of models, a replica of the Titanic. With a huge beam on his face, one hand rested on the top of the case, proudly.
Emma recalled the tales she had been told about how her grandma had ended up in the lake, which stretched out in the background, in the picture, but she was also told never to mention it in front of her grandma, for fear of upsetting her. She smiled to herself and the tears began to fill her eyes once again. He was gone now and she still couldn’t believe it had happened so quickly. The only thing left of her grandad, apart from the memories, was his beautiful ship which had rested for many years in the local museum. I’ll take Andrew there one day, to see my grandad’s magnificent model, she thought and then smiled again as the tears continued to fall.
Hello babe, are you still awake? Just read your note, sorry I fell asleep like that. I was so tired after the long journey home. And then you finished me off completely! Love Andy xx
Sill awake, been sorting out photos of my grandad for my mum. Need to clean up the mess in my flat tomorrow too, baah! What time tomorrow night? Em xxx
Placing her milky coffee mug on the sink, Emma studied the red shoes, filled with soil, which stood proudly on the windowsill. She still couldn’t believe that Ruby had done such a crazy thing but then she supposed Ruby was very drunk at the time and if that was the extent of her misbehaving, then it really wasn’t so bad at all. She missed her friend and was looking forward to her return home on New Year’s Day. They would probably spend most of their time at work on Wednesday catching up with their latest news and Emma desperately wanted to hear whether there had been any developments in the ‘Ruby loves Pete’ department.
Do you want to stay here tomorrow night? Come round whenever you want to. We can leave about 8pm. Pub is only round the corner. Andy xx
Emma shuffled through to her bedroom, the phone clutched tightly in her hand, slipped off her dressing gown and got into bed.
Ok, yes I would love to stay. I’ll come round about 7.30, that way I can get things tied up here, ready for work on Wednesday. At Mum’s for dinner New Year’s Day (if I’m not completely wrecked!). Love Em xxx
Great! See you then. Need to try and get some sleep now but still can’t get you out of my head. You are driving me crazy! Love Andy xx
Ditto. Em xxx Switching the bedside lamp off, Emma snuggled down and drifted off in to another one of those restless nights.
Emma woke up wondering who on earth was texting her at this unearthly time of the morning and was then very surprised to see that it was almost nine o’clock.
Gosh, I’m not going to see you until next year, hee hee. Be home about 9pm tomorrow night. Missed you. Hope you and all of your family are ok, considering your terrible loss. Thinking of you as always, lots of love Ruby x
Smiling to herself, Emma suddenly felt full of mixed emotions. She felt excited that it was New Year’s Eve and she would be spending more time with Andrew and probably enjoying lots more delicious sex with him, but she was also terribly upset and still could not believe that her dear old grandad had gone. Pleased that Ruby would be home tomorrow, the downside was that it meant she would be returning to work on Wednesday and trying to catch up with her usual workload. Terrified that her mum would make an appointment at the dentist for her (and she knew her mum wouldn’t forget that), she also felt… in pain. In pain again. The festive drinking binges and wine at almost every meal at her parent’s house had played havoc with her gums and as she lay in her bed, she felt the familiar throb of new beginnings… another abscess would be on its way very soon.
Standing in the bathroom, she stared hard into the mirror as she went through the usual over-expressed routine. She had to get her mouth sorted out before anyone really noticed… before Andrew noticed. Well someone had noticed already at work and that’s why she’d received such a rotten secret Santa present, she reminded herself and suddenly felt the familiar rise of anger. She still hadn’t found out who it was but that could wait until she returned to work. She wondered how they knew but then realised that she was far more relaxed at work and had probably let her guard down on more than one occasion, more so than when she was out in the general public, or most certainly when she was with Andrew. So that was why they had obviously noticed in the office, she decided.
When she was with Andrew, she cleverly disguised her gappy teeth by choosing her words carefully, smiling tightly and generally keeping her mouth shut. Kissing him had not seemed to be a problem at all and she just hoped that it wasn’t for him either. Well…he always came back for more, she thought, so it can’t be that bad. Oral hygiene was always the top of her agenda and her problem probably wasn’t noticeable to those who didn’t know, like Andrew.
The throb continued, even after two Paracetamol, and Emma knew it would only get worse as time went on. She knew how it worked, she understood what the next stage would be, she was fully aware that by tomorrow she would be feeling rough and another tooth would have turned numb and be starting to loosen.
Emma stared at the mounds of clothes lying on the bed – she’d practically emptied her wardrobe. What was she going to wear tonight? It was a pub party, a live band (friends of Andrews’) would be playing and it was New Year’s Eve – what could/should she wear? Feeling hot and sweaty from her marathon-trying-on-clothes feat, she decided to make herself another coffee, take some more pain killers and have a think about it.
