Two Different Worlds (ManxMan)

Chapter 5 - Who The Heck Is Catherine Pittsfield? -2

Chapter 5

Who The Heck Is Catherine Pittsfield? Part Two

"Reception of the Governor's Hotel, Colette speaking, how may I help you?" an elderly woman answered.

"Hello, may I be transferred to room 1102 please?"

"An instant, sir..." I could hear her tapping on a keyboard. "There is a restriction for this room under request of the occupants."

"I know about that, madam. They gave me a password."

"Could you please give me this password?"

"Santa Claus."

"Thank you." I heard her type again. "Don't hang up, your call will be transferred to room 1102 in a couple of seconds. Thanks for calling the Governor's Hotel, sir. Have a nice day."

Waiting on the line for somebody to pick up the phone made me really nervous. I thought I would pass out. My hands were frozen and blue and I could tell my face was a sick white. The fact that the phone had already rung four times didn't help. I felt relieved when I decided after the fifth ring to hang up. But when I was about to do so, a feminine voice came through the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hum..." How was I going to answer? Who was that woman? Had I been sent to the good room? "I... I'm sorry... I guess I have the wrong room..." I said, my voice shaking.

"Which room were you looking for?" she asked.

"Hum... I was looking for room number 1102. I guess..." I was interrupted.

"You are at room 1102. How may I help you?" I was even more nervous. With my luck, I had probably been lurking on her boyfriend that afternoon. "Hello?"

"Yeah well... I was wondering if it was possible... to speak to Jerome... please." My voice squeaked on the last word. So much for trying to sound casual.

"May I ask who's speaking?"

"Yes, it's... Yannick Durand..." I trailed. "He helped me this afternoon when I fell on the sidewalk and waited for..." She interrupted me again.

"Yes!" she exclaimed. I had to pull the phone from my ear not to suffer from a perforated eardrum. "Is everything alright now?" she asked, regaining a neutral but smiley tone.

"I guess so," I answered, a bit shaken by the fact she would know about the incident. But if she was Jerome's girlfriend, I guessed she would know how brave her boyfriend was by him telling her the whole awkward adventure.

"I'm happy to hear it," she said seriously. Of course, she was nice. How could a guy as wow as Jerome go out with a bitch? "Can you hold on a minute or two? I'll see if Jerome is available."

"Sure!" See if Jerome is available? I was tempted to say something stupid as "Hey girl! You don't even know if your boyfriend is available when you are in the same room?" Maybe she was more stupid than I thought. I heard a phone being picked up and another click telling me the first one had been put down.

"Hello?" the deep voice answered. I thought I would have fainted right then.

"Hello... It's Yannick Durand... the guy who fell on the sidewalk. I'm sorry to disturb you..." I was interrupted by that same voice that kept on telling me to focus.

"Hey..." he trailed and sighed. I heard shuffling as I was sure he was lying back on the bed rest, rubbing his socked feet together for more comfort. My heart skipped a beat. "How're you doing? I mean... how's your back?"

"It's not so bad. I haven't stood up yet though."

"What's the doctor said? Have you seen one yet?"

"Yes, a couple of hours ago. I haven't seen her after that though. I don't know exactly what I have. Probably a sprained back."

"Shit... So you're still at the hospital?"

"Yes. I think they want me to stay the night. They have sent me to a private room."

"That's too bad."

It was strange... Before that day, I had never met this guy. Hearing his voice was so comforting and charming that I couldn't just say my thanks and hang up. At one point, my nervousness was completely gone and I was eager to know more about my stranger. I learned that he was born in Boston but now lived in Clermont, Florida since the age of fourteen. He was nineteen years old going on twenty, two days before my birthday.

Sometime over our discussion a nurse brought me some less than tasty food that I ate while I kept discussing with Jerome. He told me he was in Montreal for two weeks then would have to go back to work. I just couldn't hang up. I couldn't. I was suspended at his lips the same way I had been to his eyes and the hand that had soothed me on the sidewalk. But this conversation had to come to an end. We were, after all, two different people living in two completely different worlds. So after almost two hours of chatting about music and other noncommittal subjects, I told him I would better get some rest.

"Yeah..." he sighed. Maybe it was from relief from finally getting rid of me without being impolite. "You do that."

"Thank you for everything." I said.

"It's alright..." he trailed. It seemed as he wanted to say something more, but I dismissed this idea as being my foolish mind at work again.

"Bye Jerome..."

I didn't wait for an answer and hung up.

As much as I had felt comfortable while talking to Jerome, now I was sad. I felt empty again. My bladder though was about to burst open.

There was a soft knock at the door and my eyes met Dr. Werner's, looking more tired than they seemed before. I thought that she really would better get some rest before she found herself in my position on a hospital bed. She smiled.

"I passed by earlier and you were on the phone, so I decided to come back later."

"Oh! You should have just cut me out of it! It was not that important..."

"I always take love affairs as serious, trust me!" she smiled. I found myself blushing furiously and decided to let her think whatever she wanted to. "So," she continued, "good news, there is nothing to be alerted with your back. When you fell, you twisted your spine so it is sprained. There is nothing I can do more than give you prescriptions for pain killers, a cane and a lot of rest. I have discussed with your wife earlier and she told me she could get a way of transportation to bring you back to your home tomorrow. I want you to stay here tonight so you get more rest and you don't aggravate the sprain."

"Actually, Valerie is not my wife."

"I would have guessed so." She winked. "Nobody these days is so crazy as to get married so early."

"I was wondering..."

"Yes?"

"Do you know who asked for my transfer to this room?"

"I think her name was Pittsfield. Yes, Catherine Pittsfield. She also asked to be billed for the charges for the ambulance. Rings a bell?" she asked.

"Not at all! Is she still in the hospital?"

"No, I think she asked for the transfer by phone. You probably have some influence though."

"What do you mean?"

"She asked for the bills to be sent to her... in Orlando."

A nurse came by soon enough to help me walk to the bathroom. Valerie came back sometime before the visits ended and told me she'd be back with her mother's car in the morning. I stayed awake late after she left, wondering who the heck was that mysterious Catherine Pittsfield, how did she know me, how had she gotten to know I was in hospital... and why the hell she was paying for all that.

Sorry for the small chapter.