The Making of…
Chapter 44
Clumsy Idiot
I kept my foot on the accelerator – keeping directly on the speed limit as I drove through the streets of Wellington. If I glanced in the rear-view mirror I could see an anxious Raven and Sean sitting in the back seats of my Mini, and if I glanced slightly to the side I would be able to see Viggo – but I kept my eyes on the road.
“The hospital’s just ahead.” Viggo murmured as we stopped at a red light. I nodded mutely. I hadn’t been able to say a word since we left the apartment, I’d only just managed to communicate that Orlando was in the hospital, and I hadn’t a clue about what was wrong. As I bit my lower lip and stared intently at the red light – willing it to turn green again – I felt Viggo’s hand close over mine which was positioned on the gear stick.
“It’s ok, I’m sure he’s fine.” He whispered comfortingly.
“I don’t know that. I can’t relax until I know.” I whispered back hoarsely, my hand slipping away from his as the light changed and I switched gear – speeding up the road until I turned off into the hospital car park. I swore under my breath as I saw the ‘Pay to Park’ sign on the red and white barrier and searched my pockets for change.
“Here.” Raven murmured, leaning over the seat to hand me a few loose coins and I jammed them into the machine. A ticket popped out and the striped barrier rose slowly – too slowly. I’d driven the car under it before it was fully up. I growled angrily as I searched for a parking space and finally found one close to the doors. Cutting the engine, I climbed out – bumping my head on the roof as I went. I hadn’t bothered putting it down, but I was used to it not being there. I slammed my door as everyone else scrambled out and we walked towards the large automatic doors. I locked the car over my shoulder as an afterthought. Viggo caught my hand as we walked and squeezed it comfortingly, whilst Sean jogged ahead to the front desk to find out where Orlando was.
“Second floor, come on.” He waved us over to a waiting elevator as we approached. The elevator moved at an infuriatingly slow pace, and I might have screamed with frustration had Viggo not been rubbing soothing circles on the back of my hand with his thumb. I anxiously bounced on the balls of my feet as the door opened and we walked out into a large, quiet waiting room lined with red plastic chairs. There was one man in the corner trying to staunch a nose-bleed, and a woman reading a magazine with a pair of crutches propped against her side – in the chair closest to the only other door in the room, sat Karl He had been holding his head in his hands but looked up as we half-walked, half-ran over.
“Karl, what’s going on?” I asked as we stood before him, “What happened?” I realised that my voice was trembling slightly, and my hands were shaking. Viggo tried his best to calm me down, but I waited for Karl to reply.
“We were at the stables and Orlando was trying to practice one of his stunts and he just… Fell off the horse. I thought he was ok at first, but then he started yelling…” Karl trailed off and I only realised now that he was wearing his yard clothes, and his cowboy hat was sitting forlornly on the chair beside him.
“Do you have any idea of what’s wrong with him?” Viggo asked with a startling calmness as Karl shook his head.
“One of the nurses said it might be his ribs, they’re hoping there’s nothing wrong with his spine.” He mumbled as my stomach lurched.
“H-he’s going to recover though… Right?” I stammered, feeling tears prick at my eyes.
“They’re ninety-nine percent sure.” Karl replied, and I suddenly felt a lot better. It couldn’t be too serious if they were that sure. But I still felt anxiety bubbling uncontrollably inside me.
