Room service

When they got back from the hospital, Leonora said she was going to go and lie down for a while. Not only did she go and lie down, she cried herself to sleep, partly with the pain, partly because she felt so out of control, but mainly because she was feeling so very sorry for herself.

Leonard was very frustrated at being in a wheelchair again. He was also annoyed that Leonora had gone to bed because he had no-one to take out his irritation on.

Mrs Leonard and Tata had immediately cleared off into the kitchen on the pretext of preparing a somewhat late lunch, although mainly because they could see the warning signs of Leonard's frustration and they didn't feel like humouring him.

As they chatted in the kitchen together, they agreed the ideal solution would be to lock Leonard and Leonora in a room together for the next week so that they could annoy each other and leave everyone else alone.

"Ruff, ruff, ruff," barked Tata, thinking that was a really funny joke. And then "Rrrruff," when she realised that if Leonora was locked in a room with Leonard she would not be able to play tugs with Tata, or tell her how beautiful and wonderful she was.

At lunchtime, Leonora had still not surfaced.

"Leonard, " called Mrs Leonard from the sanctity of her kitchen. "Go and tell Leonora it's lunchtime."

"Aw do I have to? Why can't you or Tata go?" he whined.

"We're busy."

What the hell was Tata doing to be busy in the kitchen apart from gossiping with Mrs Leonard and scavenging tit-bits? Arguing with either of them however, was not to be recommended and as for arguing with both of them....his life would be miserable for days. And it was bad enough as it was at the moment.

He sighed and wheeled his way towards Leonora's room. He tapped on the partly open door. No answer. Damn. He hoped the wretched woman wasn't half naked. He pushed the door open cautiously, ready to do a shoot (as much as he could) if she was not sufficiently respectable.

But no. She was lying there with a sheet over her, and it looked like she had some clothes on too. Phew. He looked at her tear-stained face and almost felt sorry for her, and then remembered that she was selfish, childish and rude.

"Leonora, it's lunchtime," he said curtly.

There was no answer. "Leonora!" he snapped.

She pulled the sheet over her head.

"Don't want any lunch. Go away," came the muffled and sulky reply.

"Mrs Leonard has cooked an excellent vegetarian meal, solely with the intent of pleasing you. Stop being so inconsiderate and come and have something to eat." And he left the room before she managed to annoy him even more.

Leonora wearily sat up and dragged herself over to the mirror with the help of the little crutches. Not only did she have a huge plaster cast up to her knee, she now had a blotchy face, a red nose, and incredibly baggy eyes. She could try and disguise it with make-up but she doubted she would have much success so she didn't bother trying.

She slowly hopped to the table.

"How are you feeling Leonora?" asked Mrs Leonard kindly. "Any better after your nap?" Although actually thinking that Leonora looked terrible.

"It was good to have a rest," replied Leonora, not answering the question, and toying with her salad.

Then out of nowhere, "I was thinking maybe I could get the train home, and then when I can drive again, I can come back and pick up my Land Rover," she said.

"No," said Leonard.

"How do you mean 'No'?" she asked.

"Just that. No. There's no discussion to have. Drop the subject Leonora," he ordered.

She lifted her unhappy green eyes to meet his cold grey-blue ones. And decided she didn't feel like arguing. Leonard was not in a mood to be argued with.

Leonora was torn. On the one hand, it would be nice to be looked after and Mrs Leonard's cooking was always delicious. But on the other, Leonora felt genuinely embarrassed about staying with someone for longer than a couple of days, and although it was fun to tease Leonard, even she realised it would rapidly stop being funny.

"How about I contribute something to the food bill?"

Neither Leonard nor Mrs Leonard were remotely bothered about the extra cost of feeding Leonora as she was hardly expensive to keep.

"I suppose you can buy a few lettuces or whatever it is that forms the main part of your diet," said Leonard.

"That's rather a stereotypical view Leonard. I do eat more than lettuce as you well know," she answered.

"Let's worry about it later Leonora dear. We don't even know how long you will be here do we?" said Mrs Leonard, stepping in to avoid yet another spat between the two of them.

Leonora pushed the salad round her plate a bit more. Mrs Leonard looked at her sympathetically.

"If you don't feel like eating any more Leonora, just leave it. You can always eat later, and I will reheat the main course for you," she said.

"Or if you want to eat in your room, Leonard can bring it to you."

Flippin' heck, thought Leonard. Now I'm a waiter providing room service to Leonora. Whatever next?