Calling All Dentists (Calling All... Book 2), page 17
“You look the same Emma, you can hardly notice it.” Wiping away Emma’s tears, her mum stood up, “Come on, why don’t you go and have a lie down. I’ll tell your dad and Grandma you’re not feeling too well.” Emma nodded in agreement; she was so exhausted from the shock and the tears. “Your grandma won’t even notice it and I’ll talk to your dad later. Try not to worry about it love, we’ll sort it out tomorrow.”
Emma stood up and went to her old room where she climbed in to her old bed, hid under her old duvet clutching her little tooth and fell in to a peaceful sleep… for once.
Several hours later, Emma was aware of the bedroom door opening slightly. Peering over the duvet, she could see her mum peeping round the door. “Are you ok love?” Emma’s mum asked in a soft voice.
“Yeah,” said Emma, feeling like a young child again as she glanced around the room.
“I told your grandma you’d been sick so you went to sleep it off. I’m afraid you might get a lecture about drinking alcohol, but at least that’s better than the alternative.”
Emma smiled – she loved her mum so much and knew she could always count on her to make everything right. She just wasn’t sure how her mum would manage to put this latest dilemma right – unless she had a magic wand that could bring the tooth fairies back with all her baby teeth. At least that way, she could find one that would fit in the hole her tongue was now playing with.
Emma sat up and stretched, she’d been more tired than she thought and the sleep had made her feel so much better, but only in the sense of her hang-over earlier. Emotionally, she was a ticking time-bomb and now her new appearance was going to add to her already mounting pile of insecurities, loss (loss of both her grandad and her tooth) and worries.
“Your phone has been making funny noises in your bag all afternoon as well.”
“I’ll get up and come down now. Where’s Grandma?”
“She’s asleep in the living room.”
“Good,” said Emma, climbing out of bed.
“Coffee?”
“Yes please Mum. Oh and thank you Mum.”
“Don’t mention it and don’t worry. We’ll sort it out, first thing tomorrow.”
Emma’s parents were great but she’d always known that really. Sadly, she always took them for granted, until it came to a crisis and then they were always there, always supportive. After a lengthy discussion, once Grandma had gone to bed at 7.45pm, it was agreed that Emma should stay overnight and not go to work tomorrow. It was easier to take a ‘sickie’ rather than go to work and have to explain (lie) her way through the day and try to get time off to visit a dentist (secretly), should she be lucky enough to get an appointment. The butterflies fluttered frantically in Emma’s stomach at the thought or mention of the dentist but she now knew there was no other option.
Four unread messages waited in Emma’s inbox and she flicked through to find out who they were from. One was from Andrew (of course), Ruby, Colin and then Andrew again. She opened the one from Ruby, I’m home early. What time will you be home? Love from Ruby x
Long story but not home tonight. Not too well. Call you later and explain. Em xxx
Hello Emma, best wishes for the New Year, although it must be very difficult for you at this time. See you tomorrow, all being well. Regards Colin and Rosie.
Thanks Colin, I’m really sorry but I won’t be in again tomorrow, really not very well.
No problem, totally understand. Take care of yourself and get better soon.
Ok, hope you’re all right. Love from Ruby x
Emma’s heart began to race as she opened Andrew’s first message, Hi babe, can’t believe I slept all afternoon! How did the meal go? :( Love Andy xx
Then she opened the second. Been awake an hour and missing you like crazy! I really should get a grip of myself (but NOT how you would be thinking… LOL). Are you home yet? Love Andy xx
Hi, I’m not going home tonight, staying at Mum’s. I’ve been feeling ill since dinner – think my mum tried to poison me. LOL xx. She hated lying to him but she couldn’t let Andrew find out the truth.
“Emma!” called her mum from down stairs, “Ruby’s on the phone.” Rushing down, Emma took the phone and then went back up to her room.
“Ruby hi,” she said with a lump in her throat. She’d missed her dearest friend and knew she could safely talk to her about her terrible situation without it going any further. “How was your Christmas?”
“Oh, it was nice. I’m so sorry yours wasn’t good. I just thought I’d call to give my condolences to your mum and then I could speak to you as well. I need a bath but I thought I’d call you beforehand. Are you all right?”
“Yes… ish. I’m going to the dentist tomorrow, if mum can get me an appointment. I’ve texted Colin to say I won’t be in work because I’m ill. I told him a little white lie.” Emma waited for the shock-horror response but unusually, it didn’t come.
“Have you got another abscess?”
“Yeah, but not a big one. The thing is… I’ve lost a tooth as well, right at the front, that really wobbly one. Please don’t say anything to anyone.”
“Oh dear, you know I won’t tell anyone. Oh gosh, I’m so sorry Emma. We knew this would happen sooner or later. I just don’t know what to say Emma.”
“There’s nothing to say, it’s my fault entirely. I know I’ve been really stupid but my fear of the dentist has been so great, as you know Rue.”
“Honestly, it won’t be as bad as you’re thinking Emma.” Ruby sounded concerned.
“Anyway, how have you been?” Emma hesitated, “Have you heard from Pete at all?”
“Yes… Pete texted me 3 times over Christmas and phoned me this morning to wish me a happy New Year.” Ruby’s tone of voice lifted. “We’re going out for a meal on Saturday night. I’m really scared – so that’s two of us.” She giggled, “I’m probably nearly as terrified as you are of going to the dentist.”
“Yes, you’re probably right, but what are you frightened of really?” Emma could just imagine what Ruby would be like come Saturday.
“I don’t know, it’s just that… well… I was drunk the last time I saw him.”
“So what.”
“Well I think he may like me a little bit now. I mean… he does seem keen to see me.”
“Well that’s good isn’t it? I’m sure he liked you before ‘now’.”
“Um.”
“You’ll be fine Rue. Just have a few drinks, maybe even a couple before you go out, then you’ll relax and it’ll be fun.”
“Um.”
“So I guess that means you’re going on a date then?”
“Um… yes I guess it does. I wish you were here, I’m really nervous about going to work tomorrow.”
“I expect he is too. Just act normal… well no actually, don’t act normal. You need to be a little more adventurous and say good morning with a smile and even give him a wink if you can muster one up.”
“I can’t do that!” screeched Ruby.
Emma laughed at her friend; she felt so much better just talking to Ruby on the phone. If everyone lived in Ruby’s world, it would be a beautiful, happy place (boring – but beautiful and happy).
“Yes you can. After seeing you at the Christmas party, you can do anything Rue. Go for it. Fill your boots – to match your shoes.” Emma roared with laughter down the phone.
“Oh my goodness, those shoes are ruined. I am so sorry Emma.”
“They’ll be ok, just rinse them out – unless you really do want to plant flowers in them.”
“Um, anyway, will you let me know how you get on tomorrow? Are you sure you’ll get an appointment? Do you know when your grandad’s funeral is?”
“Yes… no… no” replied Emma. “I’ll text you or call tomorrow night or I might even be home. Mum and Grandma are sorting the funeral out tomorrow, so I’ll let you know as soon as.”
“Ok, well I’d better go and have a bath, ready for work tomorrow. I do hope everything goes all right for you Emma.”
“So do I, talk tomorrow. Bye.”
I forgot to ask you if you’d heard from that man (Andrew) again. Sorry Em I felt so sad about your bad Christmas and then I was wrapped up in my own worries… how selfish of me. Love from Ruby xxxxxxxxxx
Hope you feel better soon babe. Would you like to meet next weekend? I‘d really like to get to know you better. If we meet in a public place, we might get a chance to talk more and we could get past the temptation of the underwear-removal bit (although I love that bit a lot!). LOL. How about going out for the day on Saturday – ploughman’s lunch in a country pub? Dinner in a nice restaurant in the evening? And then back to the underwear-removals! Love Andy xx
Have I heard from him Ruby? Seen him, heard from him almost every day and been shagged senseless by him a couple of times too! LOL.
Oh gosh! Love from Ruby xxxxxx
That sounds lovely. I’ll have to let you know nearer the time as it’ll depend on when the funeral is and when my family arrive. Em xxx
Emma cringed as she sent the message. She really wanted to spend the whole day with him and couldn’t care less if her family (namely Jack – her eldest brother) might be here at the weekend, depending on when the funeral was. But how could she see him if she had a tooth missing?
Ok, I understand. Let me know as soon as you can or maybe we could do Sunday? If it’s easier we could just meet up in an evening, although you would be in danger of me ripping your clothes off. Really want to see you again soon, love Andy xx
Ditto xxx
Chapter 15
Morning, hope you’re feeling better. Just off to work don’t know how the day will pan out with visions of you in my head all of the time. Andy xxx
Sent at 7.50am, noted Emma. She looked at the time on her phone, 10 minutes to 9 – damn. He was probably working by now. What did he do? Where did he work? Stupidly, she didn’t even know that. She still didn’t know his last name either. What did she know about him? Nothing it seemed – except that she was crazy about him.
Sorry, only just got up. Didn’t go to work today, still feel rough. Hope your day’s ok wherever you are. I don’t even know what you do for a living, LOL. Love Emma xx
“Mum can I have a quick bath please?” Emma called from the top of the stairs.
“Of course you can love,” she replied.
Just as Emma was about to turn around on the landing she heard her grandma down stairs.
“Why hasn’t she gone to work today? Is she still poorly?”
“Yes, she’s not right and hopefully she’s going to the dentist today as well.”
“Oh I see, that will be alcohol poisoning. If she’s not careful it will rot all of her teeth away. What time are we going… out… you know… to sort everything?”
“Ten o’clock, I did say that last night.”
“Just checking,” said Grandma, pompously.
Pouring bubble bath under the flowing taps, Emma mused over the possibility of an appointment at her mum’s dentists while she waited for another message from Andrew. Mum had assured her they were very nice people and they wouldn’t actually do anything if she did get an appointment today. They would just have a look and tell her what needed to be done.
The frothy bubbles looked inviting so Emma slipped off her mum’s old dressing gown and then reached across to grab her phone from the windowsill above the bath – one last check before she jumped in.
Plop! The phone had slipped right out of her hand…
Emma watched her mobile phone sink through the bubbles, leaving a little pathway behind it and then it sank to the bottom of the bath. It was like watching a horror film in slow motion as Emma froze and stared into the hot water. “Oh shit,” she muttered under her breath and plunged her hand in. “Argh!” the water was far too hot. She turned on the cold tap to full flow and hesitantly dipped her hand in and out quickly to mix the scalding water around at one end until it was cool enough that she could stir it around at the other end of the bath. Then she fumbled around in the bubbly water and managed to retrieve the phone. Quickly, she reached for a towel, wrapped it up and started to pat it dry. It was dead.
“Dry it right out first and then try and turn it on,” her mum said. Emma nodded and placed it on the kitchen windowsill, wrapped in paper towel. She couldn’t bear the thought of not having her phone. It just had to start working somehow.
“I’ve managed to get you an emergency appointment, it’s at 5.15 this evening Emma.”
“Oh, really?” said Emma suddenly realising it was inevitable and beginning to feel sick with fear. “Are you coming with me Mum?”
“Yes of course I will, I did say I would. I told them you’ve got a really bad toothache, so they said they’ll squeeze you in.”
“Well I have got a sore tooth where the small abscess is so you weren’t lying.”
“Oh my goodness, what a mess you are Emma.” Her mum tutted and turned to walk away, “It’s just gone too far hasn’t it? An abscess as well?” she added, looking back over her shoulder, before she disappeared in to the kitchen.
Still dead – great. How was she going to contact Andrew if she couldn’t get her phone working? She didn’t know his number. Emma pulled the back off the phone, took another piece of paper towel and began dabbing the insides again. Her mum and grandma had gone to the funeral directors and she was hoping to take the opportunity to catch up with Aaron, if he ever woke up. He’d arrived home very late last night – in fact it was very early this morning, so her mum had told her. But Aaron had never been good at getting out of bed, particularly if he didn’t have to go to work.
The funeral date had been set and Emma’s mum and grandma returned, ashen faced and full of emotions again. “I’ll call Jack and let him know when it is,” said her mum, wiping away the tears. Grandma sat down in the dining room and stared out of the patio doors once again, absent mindedly.
“Is there anything I can do Grandma?” asked Emma, tentatively.
“No love, thank you.” she said, without taking her eyes from the view in the garden, “You just get yourself sorted out. I know those teeth of yours have become a real problem for you.” Emma nodded and turned down her mouth in agreement. What could she say to that?
It was only a short drive to the dentists. The private practice was run from an old Victorian house, just outside of town and funnily enough, very close to Emma and Ruby’s flat. The long gravelled driveway comfortably housed eight cars, diagonally parked on either side. As her mum pulled in to the drive, Emma noticed there was only one other car in the visitor’s bay, therefore she assumed they may not be very busy and she might be seen quite quickly. A signpost pointed to the staff car park, located behind the once four-bedroom mansion. There were at least 6 cars there that Emma could see. “Oh no Mum, I feel sick,” she said, holding her hand to her mouth. A vision of many dentists peering inside her mouth, while she laid back on the patient’s chair, filled her head with dread.
“You’ll be all right love. Come on, nothing is going to happen. They’ll just have a look today.”
Climbing out of the car with leaden legs, Emma’s heart raced and a cold sweat broke out on the palms of her hands. The queasiness and fluttery tummy far outweighed her painful tooth and the abscess. But for once, the fear didn’t outweigh the toothless gap in her mouth. Emma had to get through this somehow, no matter how terrifying it felt.
“Not sure I can do this Mum,” she said in a splutter as her eyes filled with tears, “I feel like crying. I know it’s really stupid of me.”
“Emma, calm down. Take a few deep breaths and then we’ll go in. Pacing around the car park, with her hands on her hips, Emma breathed in and out slowly. In… out… in… out…
The smell sent another surge of terror through Emma’s veins. A clean, clinical scent (unlike the fresh smell in the foyer of Andrew’s place) wafted around the empty waiting room. Her mum was at the reception desk explaining that ‘her daughter was literally terrified’ and ‘in a bit of a state’.
“Did you have to over-emphasise the fact that I’m nervous Mum?” whispered Emma when her mum sat down.
“They totally understand how you’re feeling Emma. Stop worrying. I’d say you’re a bit more than nervous love. You look like a prisoner on death row who’s just about to sit in the electric chair.”
“Mum do you have to say things like that? Honestly.” Emma gulped and felt terribly sick again.
Five minutes later Emma’s name was called by a young dental nurse standing at the entrance door to the treatment rooms. The words felt like they punched Emma straight in the stomach as she froze momentarily.
“Emma?” said the nurse, looking directly at her (she was obviously Emma as there was no one else in the room). She stood up, smiled shakily and moved her heavy legs in the direction of the nurses pointed finger.
The torture room (as Emma imagined it to be) was quite small with a large window at one end which looked out of place in comparison to the size of the room. In the middle sat the patient’s chair, modern and fresh looking, in light blue and white. There were lots of nasty looking tools and equipment on both sides and Emma stared in horror as she was ushered to the chair by the nurse.
Sitting on a swivel stool, a petite woman with jet black hair tied in a bun was typing on a computer behind her as Emma perched on the bottom edge of the chair, clasping her hands together tightly.
“Seet back,” said the lady with a Chinese accent, behind her, “Come.” Waving her hand, she gestured to Emma to lie back. “You have pain, yes?” she asked sternly.
“Hmm.” Emma nodded her head while keeping her lips firmly closed, she was sure that her heart was going to jump right out of her mouth if she opened it. Her mum smiled down at her and then took a step back to sit in a chair at the side of the room. Emma gripped her hands tighter together as she was slowly lowered to a horizontal position. The beaming light above her glared straight in to her eyes, until the woman moved it slightly. Then the petite Chinese lady swivelled around on her chair to one side of Emma’s head. She peered down at Emma through large, orange eye shields; the expression on her face was lifeless.
