The Rescue
“Miss Peeg?” Richie called again.
“Oh yes sir,” She was at his office door]
“Can you take these papers to Coffs for me?”
“I can sir is there anything else?”
“No, go ahead and take your lunch while you’re out, I’ll mind the store,” he smiled.
“Thank you sir, I’ll leave right away.”
Miss Peeg set out to Coffs chastising herself once again; she was much too old to be mooning about over a man. It had been over a month since their trip to Sydney and after a call to make sure she’d made it home…not a word. Christmas came and went, New Years came and went and still nothing, had she disappointed him that much? She turned onto the main highway to Coffs. He hadn’t even sent her a Christmas card.
Her hand had hovered over her phone many times wanting to call and check on him; just a friendly chat but she couldn’t get the message from her fingers to her brain. It wasn’t her place to call him she’d told herself. She dashed into the court house with Mr. Robert’s papers and checking her watch she had an hour and a half left for lunch. She drove to the marina car park thinking to have some lunch at one of the trendy restaurants along the wharf.
As she walked along her eyes went to a particular building, he lived up there, Michael Stanley. Hesitating, stopping at display windows she edged herself down the sidewalk and finally throwing caution to the wind she entered his building.
The door bell rang for some time before it was opened by a rather disheveled looking Michael.
“Oh, I hope I haven’t come at a bad time I was in the…Michael are you all right?”
“Hello, Winnie come in dear.” Michael a little embarrassed to still be in his robe and pajama pants.
“I was just…lunch and I thought…Michael?”
“Come and sit down, love.” Michael led the way to a sofa. “I’m sorry I haven’t called, I went to Atlanta for the holidays and had a bit of a problem with the old ticker.”
“You should be in hospital….”
“I have been, came home on Monday. How are you, Winnie you look well?”
“No bother about me, does Toni know?”
“Oh yes I’ve talked with her many times, you know she’s bedridden for the rest of her pregnancy.”
“No I didn’t know, but you have you no one to look after you?”
“Don’t need anyone really; my needs are few a tin of soup you know, cup of tea.”
“Nonsense have you eaten today?”
“Um yes I had an egg.”
“This really won’t do, Michael…you must…would you consider staying at my cottage until you’re strong and healthy again, and I’ve the room off the lounge.”
Michael smiled, “You really are a dear, I shouldn’t want to be a bother to you I know you have your work.”
“Pah, you wouldn’t be a bother at all and I should enjoy the company, will you at least consider it?”
Michael sat back on the sofa pulling his robe a little tighter around himself, “I have considered it and if you don’t think I’ll be in the way, I wouldn’t want to upset your routine you know, yes it gets rather lonely here thinking I might pop off at any minute and not a soul would know.”
She took charge as she was wont to do, “I’ve an hour and a half how long do you think it will take us to pack you up?”
“Not long at all with your help…thank you Winnie.”
Miss Peeg smiled and took his hand.
