Blackout, p.3
Blackout, page 3
As three nurses rushed in, a couple of doctors following soon after, his eyes were opening slowly.
They quickly checked his vital signs, Tiffany still close, hopeful now.
He opened his eyes fully.
“Where am I?” he asked, the first coherent words that he had spoken in two months.
“It’s the hospital, darling. You blacked out. You’ve been in a coma for two months.”
He looked confused. She knew it must have been very troubling for him right now. She wanted to keep him talking. The doctors had said that would be important. Would aid his recovery.
“You said something just now. About post being a mess.”
“What?” he asked. Clearly not understanding, not remembering.
Tiffany looked worried at this, a glance to the nurses, who were continuing to run checks. They didn’t seem alarmed by anything. Marcus’s heart rate was stable. Tiffany could not believe that he had finally woken up. She stepped back, giving the nurses the space they needed.
She cried again. This time they were happy tears.
Kings Hospital, Fulham —London
A fresh batch of cards had arrived, the news that Marcus had come out of his coma getting around fast. Now the cards said things like welcome back, and see you soon.
So far, the hospital had not allowed visitors in, aside from Tiffany, his constant companion. There were several bunches of flowers, Tiffany having been telling him all about the first batch, the abundance of floral displays in that Windermere hospital, where his initial assessment had taken place.
Marcus could now sit up in bed. There were natural factors he had to overcome with spending two months asleep. Muscles had to be built up again, as well as the ongoing assessments as to any medium or long-term damage to his brain.
So far, the early signs were good.
Breakfast was on the tray on the table, Tiffany in the chair next to him, though he could feed himself by that point. She was more than happy to let him do it.
“You remember nothing?” she asked with a smile. They’d just been talking about him coming round. His first few moments of consciousness after eight weeks of silence.
“Absolutely nothing. I was on the lake with you. I remember that. There was some heat in my chest, only briefly. It didn’t hurt. Then I was here.”
He’d already shared with her about remembering nothing of that first week and all those tests in Windermere, nor his long journey south.
Tiffany said. “And last night, when you came round. Do you remember anything?”
“Nothing, just you.”
“No nurses, no doctors prodding you?”
He was shaking his head, amused by all this. Amused at how surprised she seemed to be.
“You stirred a month ago. You smiled at me.”
He grinned at that. “Well, you are worth smiling at, even if I’m still a zombie.”
“So you really recall nothing? You said something about the post when you came around, you know.”
He was laughing. “Not a clue.” He pushed the tray to one side. Enough of such food already.
“The doctor said you can leave today.”
He was nodding. He had evidently heard that conversation.
“I can’t wait.”
She went a little serious suddenly. The last two months had been catching up with her fast. “You terrified me, you know.”
“I can only imagine how frightened you must have been.”
They remained in silence for a while, Marcus holding her hand, the pair just happy to have each other once again.
“The baby’s kicking!” she said excitedly. She pulled his hand, placing it with hers on her stomach, both smiling in delight as they felt their daughter responding.
The doctor entered the room. He smiled as he took in what he was seeing.
When he had their attention, he said. “No exertion for you for a while, okay? You listen to that monitor. Take heed of its warnings, otherwise you’ll be back here before you know it.”
Marcus looked thoroughly chastised. He understood now that he’d been taking shortcuts. Not always wearing the monitor, ignoring the orange warning sound. The rowing had been one exercise too far. The doctor continued, “Your vital signs are good. We’ve run all the tests we can run, so whenever you feel ready to leave, you can go.”
“We’re ready,” Marcus said. “And thanks for everything.”
As the doctor headed out of the room, Tiffany followed him to the door. She kept her voice low, so that Marcus couldn’t hear what she was saying.
“I’m worried about the birth.” She said no more.
“Don’t be. He knows to listen to the monitor now. If things get too much in the delivery suite, it’ll tell him. He’ll need to get out of there, only until he’s calmed down.”
“I can’t do this on my own,” she said, eyes moistening. There had been plenty of tears in those last two months as she sat by herself, waiting for Marcus to wake up. Not even knowing if he was going to wake up.
“You won’t be on your own.”
“I don’t just mean giving birth... our baby needs their father.”
The doctor, his gentle manner coming through again, placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Your baby has two parents who love it very much. You just focus on staying relaxed for the baby. Marcus will be perfectly well, you’ll see.”
Chapter
Four
Tallinn—Estonia
Marcus was finishing washing up the final few things from breakfast. He handed Millie the last plate, and she carefully dried it with a tea towel. She looked up at the monitor hanging around his neck, which had been beeping while they were standing there, though this was still the safe warning.
“Will you die again, Daddy?”
Her words hit him heavily, the conversation at breakfast still playing over in his daughter’s mind. He did his best not to show his reaction. She was only five, this was all still new to her. Composing himself, he looked down at a girl he loved dearly and said, “Not until I’m an old man who has lost all his hair.”
He then acted out being an old man, using the towel she had finished drying the plate with to hide his hair, a brush used as a walking stick. All silly, childish fun.
Millie was in hysterics.
“You’d better run and brush your teeth. They’ll be waiting for us,” he said.
She rushed off without a second thought, Marcus watching her go, troubled that she was thinking such things for one so young.
When he lost his own father, aged ten, there had been no warning. One day he was there, then he was gone. It was hard for Marcus to remember much about his dad now.
It felt like a long time ago.
He refused to dwell on leaving his own daughters without a father.
Tiffany was behind the wheel already when he got outside, Millie climbing into the backseat, where Jenny had strapped herself in seconds earlier. Marcus took the front.
“So, where are we going?” he asked.
“You’ll just have to see, Daddy,” Jenny beamed back at him from behind, Marcus catching her in the rearview mirror.
He sat back, happy to go along with whatever they had planned for his big day. Soon they were off, Tiffany not saying much, focused on the road, though giving him a smile when she caught him glancing her way.
Their first stop was the garden centre, not somewhere he imagined they would head, but soon understanding exactly why they had.
He loved garden centres, especially when there were things to buy.
“It’s time we thought about the front of the house,” Tiffany said, the girls grabbing a trolley, Marcus brushing his hands through the first rows of plants they came across. “I know you’ll need to plan it all out properly, but why not buy something today for a little section of the garden? A promise of things to come.”
He loved the idea, giving her a hug, before grabbing the trolley and racing off as if it were the start of a Grand Prix.
Twenty minutes later, Marcus had selected a couple of shrubs. They took them back to the car, fitting them into the boot while Jenny returned the trolley. She raced back to join the others in the car.
“So where next?” he asked, knowing he wouldn’t get an answer.
They pulled into the carpark of a large shopping centre fifteen minutes later, the sign Kristiine Keskus displayed above the entrance. It was the first shopping centre they’d visited when they arrived in Estonia, and it still held fond memories for them all.
Marcus had a good idea where they were heading, but let them lead him inside, anyway.
It wasn’t long before they turned into the sports and arcade bar called O’Learys, a Swedish brand’s take on the classic Irish-American sports bar. It had opened not long before they moved to Tallinn. With plenty of games for the girls, as well as great international food served downstairs, it had fast become a firm favourite, for a family missing some of the tastes of home.
They were holding hands as the girls skipped singing into the establishment.
Built over two floors of the shopping centre, while the restaurant was downstairs, the much larger upstairs had a long drinks bar, lots of comfortable areas for sitting, with an array of table games available to play. There were screens everywhere, in keeping with the sports bar image. In the distance, there were bowling alleys, arcade style games, even a VR game for four players.
Tiffany led them towards the VR machine.
Marcus smiled. They’d talked the last time they were there about trying it out.
Five minutes later, they were all fully immersed and playing the VR machine. The girls were screaming as zombies attacked, Marcus speaking louder than he realised he was, the immersion of the game absolute.
It was great fun, though one game was enough for the girls.
They walked around looking at the other sections, a large screen cinema also there, though nothing was playing right now. Jenny and Millie wanted a go on the motorbike game and they let them.
Soon they were all feeling hungry, and Tiffany announced that they had a table booked in the restaurant, and she suggested with a smile that they had better get moving.
Downstairs, the family was still in high spirits. A pretty waitress, her name tag displaying Emily on her uniform, showed them to their table. Marcus took a second glance at her. He couldn’t resist, though it was nothing but a natural reaction. There were plenty of beautiful local women like her around town.
She handed them each a menu, the girls included, which only made them feel more excited. They sat around the circular table and started the tough decision about what they were going to eat.
Soon Emily was back and taking their orders. Her English was excellent, and she seemed to know how to smile at customers. Her service skills were admirable. Not a common thing in their experience from most local Estonian waitresses.
Tiffany handled the payment at the end of the meal. They had a joint account, but it was his birthday.
Marcus was happy to stay out of it.
Millie, smiling up at Emily, couldn’t help herself. “It’s Daddy’s birthday today.”
Emily handed the credit card back to Tiffany, along with the receipt, smiling at what Millie had just said.
“Well, happy birthday. I hope it has been fun for you,” she said to them all, though was looking at Marcus.
“It’s been wonderful, thanks.”
The waitress left, Tiffany pulling out a few coins, all that she had with her, not quite a proper tip.
She left it with the receipt.
“I’ll just use the little boys’ room,” Marcus said, standing up and heading in the direction of the kitchens, next to which the restrooms were located. Tiffany picked up his coat, checking that his phone, wallet and anything else he’d left in it were still safely inside.
Marcus washed his hands slowly at the basin. It had been a lovely time, a great family memory. He checked his hair in the mirror, his eyes somewhat bloodshot, though he couldn’t remember seeing them like that earlier. There was a smudge on his forehead, something he initially thought might be a bruise, though it rubbed off.
It was probably from the VR headset.
He hated to think about how many kids had been wearing that over the years.
He washed his hands again, drying them on the paper towels, realising the others would be wondering where he had got to.
He left the toilets, passing the kitchen, the smell of food, even though he had eaten his fill, still delicious. Turning the corner, their table was empty.
There was no sign of his family anywhere.
He hung back, checking the female toilets, calling in after a couple of seconds of silence, in case they were still in there.
There was no response.
Going back to the table, his jacket gone, there was simply no sign of them. He was stumped. He patted his pockets, wanting to call Tiffany, though cursed his luck. His phone was in his jacket, which they had now walked off with.
He shook his head.
Marcus headed out of the restaurant at a trot, in jeans and a t-shirt, which was fine for the shopping centre. He looked in multiple directions, no sign of them in any of the nearby shops, or hiding close by and ready to jump out on him. He swore under his breath, in case they were close, this some big joke.
He was not finding it at all funny any more.
Marcus headed off along the top floor, glancing at the various shops. He still couldn’t see them anywhere.
He went back downstairs.
There was a large supermarket on the ground floor. They had probably gone there to get party food for home, though he couldn’t remember them saying anything about him meeting them there.
He frantically covered the supermarket. There was still no sign of them.
They were nowhere to be seen.
Finally, he headed outside, back to the carpark. However, there was no sign of their car anymore.
They had gone.
He shook his head, confused at why they would do this. He said aloud to himself. “Where the bloody hell have you gone?”
He jogged off down the street.
Chapter
Five
By the time Marcus arrived back on the street where they lived, his monitor was beeping its warning sound, the one he couldn’t ignore.
Marcus was red in the face, his t-shirt showing patches of sweat. He slowed, walking the last part back to home. There was no sign of the car outside. He controlled his breathing, slowing it down.
The beeping stopped after a minute.
Walking right up to his front door, he knocked. His keys were also in his jacket.
There was no answer, which now didn’t surprise him. They were unlikely to have gone home, not without him. However, none of where they had gone to or why they left without saying anything made any sense.
As Marcus stood, he heard movement over the fence from the other half of the building, the house adjoining theirs. The suspicion had always been that there might be neighbours there, even if they had never seen them.
An elderly lady was in the front garden. She was looking over the fence towards Marcus, who was just standing outside his front door.
She called out in Estonian, Marcus not understanding what she was saying, though he turned towards her, smiling as he walked across to the fence.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t understand what you just said.”
“You’re English?” Kirsten said, the old lady at the fence. “My husband speak better English than me. I said there is no one home.”
He’d gathered that much. He didn’t know why he’d come all the way home. His family was probably frantically looking for him now, too.
“Have you seen them?” he asked. It was unlikely she had, not in the last few hours.
She didn’t appear to understand what he was saying to her. Instead, she turned towards her house, calling out in Estonian, Marcus not understanding a word. Andrus, come here, there is someone to see you.
She turned back to Marcus. “My husband is a postman. He speak you.”
She smiled, backing away slowly, leaving Marcus alone at the fence. There was the sound of someone coming from the house. Her husband, Andrus, came out of the front door, glanced at his wife, before spotting Marcus standing at the fence. He walked over to him.
It was Marcus who spoke first, somewhat embarrassed. “Hello. Sorry that we haven’t met yet. We weren’t certain who lived here.”
Andrus eyed him cautiously. “You live around here?”
Marcus nodded, not yet ready to admit they lived next door. “I’m looking for my wife, well, my entire family, actually. They walked off with my jacket, which had my phone, my keys, my wallet. I thought they might have come here. That seems silly now. They’re probably still at the shops, wondering where I am.”
“Do you want to come in?” Andrus asked. “Perhaps you can call them.”
“If that isn’t a problem for you, that would be wonderful. Thank you.”
Marcus went round to the other side of the fence, heading towards the front door of their neighbour.
Inside, they both settled into chairs. Kirsten hovered in the periphery. Andrus handed Marcus their landline.
“Damn,” Marcus said. “I don’t know her number. I’ve not learnt it yet. Rarely needed to. I mean, it’s in my phone.”
Andrus took back the phone. “Where are you from?”
“I’m from England. We all are. We’ve lived here getting on for three years, believe it or not. Moved across the Baltic from Finland. My wife worked at an international school in Helsinki. Now she works here. Look, I’m sorry that we’ve not met before now. I mean, I know Estonians keep themselves to themselves. But we didn’t know for sure that anyone was living here.”
Andrus didn’t seem fazed by this. “That’s quite okay, and you are right about most people here.”
Marcus asked. “Where did you learn to speak English so well? Your wife said you are a postman, is that correct?”
