Page 59 of The Truth About You and Me
‘Derek, are you flirting with me?’ I smile.
‘I never pass on a pretty face. You’ve got to be in it to win it, as I always say.’
There is a flicker of a thought. It’s hard to describe, but it’s like he’s remembering to act a part. We continue slowly along the corridor. I glance into the rooms as we pass, seeking out green walls and dark furniture. Rounding a corner to the right, we continue. I hear his thoughts before he says them, like it’s a well-rehearsed script and he’s reading out the lines. But it’s quieter than I’m used to; there is less background noise in his mind.
‘So what’s a pretty girl like you doing in a place like this?’ he asks, a twinkle in his pale eyes.
‘Quite the charmer, aren’t you?’
I scan more rooms, listen to his thoughts, but there is a mist there, something dampening his memories.
I spot his room, as a sense of relief floods through him.
Silly old fool. Here it is.
He taps the side of his head. ‘Ah here we are. Might you fancy a drink?’
‘Let’s get you inside and I can make you one?’
‘Perfect. I take my tea with honey and lemon if you don’t mind.’
‘Not at all.’ I let him go as he makes his way into the room. It’s clean, fresh but there is something sad about it too, like it’s not him, somehow.
He folds himself into a large green armchair and picks up a discarded newspaper. I turn and look for a kitchen area but there isn’t any tea and the fridge is empty. I frown.Isthis his room? I scan the photos on the wall and lean in. There he is, much younger, standing on what looks like a yacht; beside him is a man with red hair and ruddy complexion. I step around the room. There are more photos of the two of them, getting older but smiling from various destinations.
‘Derek! There you are!’ A pretty nurse in a uniform more suited to hotel staff than a carer comes in. She has thick black hair in a neat bun and walks in with a palpable look of relief on her small face. Ravina her name tag reads. She looks to me with gratitude. ‘Thank you,’ she breathes.
‘No problem. I brought him to his room, no harm done.’ She chews her bottom lip and tries to convey something that I can’t quite get the meaning of as she moves towards him. ‘I turn around for one minute.’ She shakes her head. ‘Derek, love. It’s time for your dinner.’
‘I’ll have it in my room,’ he says from behind his newspaper. Her shoulders drop and she gives me an almost sympathetic look.
‘How about we go downstairs and…’
‘No thank you. Here is fine.’ He drops the newspaper and confusion descends across his features again.
‘Derek, your room is downstairs. This is your…friend’sroom.’
I’m pulled back to the photos of the two men and sadness fills me. The act. The script.
‘Well, where is he?’
She crouches down and takes his hand in hers. ‘William has stepped out for a moment. Let’s get you some food. It’s lamb chops – your favourite.’
Derek gets up and folds the newspaper. ‘Would you like to dine with me?’ he asks, putting out an arm, that twinkle back.
‘I can’t today, Derek, but another time?’ I smile.
He taps me on the hand. ‘Very well. Don’t be a stranger now, will you?’ He winks. ‘I never forget a pretty face.’
‘Come on, you old rascal,’ she says, as he walks towards the door. Another nurse with dreadlocks and kind eyes approaches them and takes Derek by the arm.
‘His partner, William, died last week,’ Ravina says sadly as we watch them leave. ‘He’s forgotten. This was Will’s room and… he’s regressed. When they first came to us, they were a right pair! Always holding hands, laughing and getting into all kinds of mischief but the dementia started to take its toll. Broke William’s heart when Derek started to pull away from him in public, started flirting with all the women. Put himself firmly back in the closet, William said. It was so sad to watch.’ She straightens. ‘Thank you, for finding him. He’s a clever bugger when he’s lucid, watches when people go through the safety doors and tags along as brazen as you like.’
‘What happened to William?’
‘Heart attack. He died peacefully though. That’s all we can hope for in this job.’
‘Does he have many visitors?’
