Chapter 53
The past four years ago
The nurse in triage checked out Clare’s ankle. “It looks like a nasty sprain to me. Doesn’t feel like anything is broken.” She assessed the patient in front of her. “Are you alright?” She asked, taking in Clare’s eyes, sad and forlorn. She looked like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.
There were no evident bruises on her arms or face, only the scratches and open wounds from what looked like a nasty entanglement with a cat. “I’m fine.” Answered Clare, wanting nothing more than to be out of the hospital. She had not quite figured out what her next move was going to be, with no money, no phone and no identity; she had absolutely no idea how she was going to survive the next hour let alone anything else. She had to get back in touch with Leon, she needed a phone.
“Right you are then. Well, you need to rest it for quite a while and just some gentle exercise.” The nurse knew that Clare was not going to offer any information and the harrowing look in her eyes was apparent. The poor girl was in some kind of trouble. The nurse knew when to leave things alone.
“You have somewhere to stay tonight?” She asked. Clare shook her head. “Not yet, but I can sort something out.” She responded feeling braver than she felt inside.
Clive watched as she limped outside. He saw her stop and look around. Hercules whined beside him, he wanted to get home to the cottage and have his evening meal. Clive too felt his own stomach groaning with hunger, they had been out hunting for most of the day before he had come across Clare, it had been many hours since he and the dog had eaten their lunch. It was now pushing eight in the evening.
He beeped his horn. Clare looked up. She stood rooted to the spot. What choice did she have? It was not in her nature to impose; it was not in her nature anymore to trust anyone either. The only people she had ever trusted since Jonathan had started on his road of brutal, mental harm towards her and sadism, were Leon, Lauren and Jimmy her ex-boss, and the help of Tim.
Going against her better judgement and with sheer desperation, Clare felt herself relent. She needed help. Clive was a complete stranger and as far as she could tell, a relatively safe and decent human being. He had no reason to help her and take her out of his way to the hospital. You have no one else right now Clare. No one else at all. You need to take this hand. Desperately she tried to convince herself.
He pulled the truck up in front of her. “You need a lift anywhere Clare?” she saw the kindness in his eyes.
“I have nowhere to go.” She offered plain and simple. There was no point lying about her situation. He did not act in the least bit surprised. He had already noticed she had nothing with her, just the mere clothes she was wearing on her back.
“We’ll get you sorted Clare. Don’t worry. Hercules and I can take care of you until you can get back on your feet. How does that sound?” He knew she had no choice. His kindness touched her very much like that of Tims.
“It’ll only be for a few days Clive. I’m sorry to impose on you like this.” Her voice was breaking as she fought back the tears.
“Don’t worry about it and you’re not imposing. When someone reaches out, it’s not an imposition from the other person. Let me help you get in. We’re not that far.”