“Mum?”

My head was decidedly woozy, I had to blink several times before my eyes would actually focus.

"Right here kiddo,” she supplied grabbing hold of my hand.
"Did they...?”
"Nothing to worry about.”
"So they found something?”
"Doctor Jancisdottir will explain things,” she fudged.
Sounds like not good to me.

Dad came into the room trailing the doctor and a nurse.

"Ah we are awake, that is good.”
"It is?”
"Of course,”the doc grinned, "I can now get your unterschrift1!”
"Eh?”
"For my sister, she is a fan of the Bond racers, what did you think?”

I was having a little trouble understanding her heavily accented German and it took me a moment to decipher her reply.

"Erm so what did you find?” I cautiously requested.
"Well,” she perched herself on the edge of the bed, "The good news is the biopsy hasn't revealed any abnormal cells.”
"So there isn't any cancer?” I interrupted.
"Let the Doctor finish kiddo,” Dad advised.
"Er sorry Doctor.”
"Its alright Gaby, so yes there were no cancerous cells in the sample.”
"There's a but isn't there?”
"A 'but'?”
"She means something else Doctor,” Mum supplied.
"Ah, yes, something else. We found you had some polyps on your tubes.”
“Polyps?”
"They are not uncommon.”
"So these polyps, what's the treatment?”
"Nothing further,” she replied with a wide smile, "It was a simple matter to remove them whilst we had you open, a few snips and a quick burning, all done.”
"What about the white cell thingy?”
"We'll keep an eye on that through Doctor Martin, sometimes we have a blip in the results, sometimes its something nasty others not so. With your mothers history it was best to explore every avenue.”
"Sorry kiddo,” Mum snuck in.
"So I can go home?”
"The nurse will just check your wound then once you have a clear head, yes you can go.”
"Thanks Doctor,” Dad mentioned.
"Er yeah thanks,” I added.
"I'll be back for the signature before you go,” she smiled.”
"Sure,” I agreed.

"Well that's a weight off,” Dad noted once the nurse departed.
"Sugar, what time is it? I need to get to work.”
"No you don't,” Mum stated,” I rang Therese earlier, you're excused today.”
"Does she know why? I haven't said anything to Con.”
"I had to tell her love but I'm pretty sure she'll keep it to herself.”
"What about later, I'm supposed to be working at the Sebenschuh's.”
"What about your shoulder?” Dad queried.
"Its only waiting tables.”
"Hmm,” he allowed.
"I'm sure she'll be sensible,” Mum interjected.
"Course,” I agreed, "It feels a lot better anyway.”
"We don't want to set your recovery back.”

"Someone looks happier today,” Pia opined.
"Looking forward to this,” I suggested.
"Sometimes I can almost believe you.”
"I'm hurt!”
"So how's the shoulder?”
"Still a bit sore, Mum had to help me get this on.”
"I'm sure you could've worn something else for one dinner.”
"And ruin the visitors experience.”
"Ah Gaby, girls” Sebenschuh senior greeted.
"Hi Herr S.”
“Pia told me about your arm Gaby, you okay doing the getranke this evening?”
"I guess,” I allowed.
"You'd come out clean from a pig sty,” Mand suggested.
"Even her wind doesn't smell,” Con added with a smirk.

I was about to refute that but stopped myself just in time.

"I'd like to get some pictures this evening,” P's dad put in before we started yammering again, "So perhaps a bit more makeup?”
"What are you saying papa?” P crowed, "You want me to wear makeup?”
He took a deep breath, "Yes daughter, but please you are representing the business.”
"Guys,” Pia stated, “bedroom.”

"Ow!” I complained, "That hurt.”
"Soz, but you did move,” Mand observed.
"Sorry for breathing!”
"Oh get a life Gab.”

She finished tugging at my hair, instead of my original twin braids my locks are now redesigned into a much more complex do.

"Hmmph!”
"Girls!” Ingrid called through, “bus is here.”

Usually of course Helmut greets the coach passengers on his own but this evening he had 'the staff' lined up outside, smiles plastered on painted faces as Inge manned the camera. Talk about a faff, Con had to run around through the cave to collect coats as we were sort of stuck behind our visitors. In fact we only managed to get back inside once our employer started his spiel about the evenings programme.

"You are looking very er, German tonight,” Julia, the Global host suggested.
"For the photos,” I allowed with a roll of my eyes.
"You certainly all look very nice.”
"Good job Chris isn't here,” her driver observed, "He'd want you all painted up every time.”
"Who's Chris?” I queried as I distributed their drinks.
"The er tour manager,” Julia offered.
"I thought that was Nena, the German girl?”
There was a quick unspoken exchange, "They work together,” Julia stated.

I'm sure there was something unsaid going on but hey, its none of my business is it?

"So how is your kiosk going?”

"What're you doing here?”
"Huh, nice to see you too,” Max huffed.
"I rang him earlier,” Con advised.

I might've been on light duties this evening but I'm still quite tired.

"Seeing as you're here,” I started, "Here catch.”

He grabbed my handtasche as it flew towards him.

"Hey!”
"Cut him some slack Gabs,” Mand suggested.
"I am, I was going to get him to carry your bags too.”
"Urgh!” de Vreen m managed.
"I don't mind,” Max stated as we started the walk back to Dernau.
"See?” I prompted.
"Ooow,” Con noted, "You two really have got it bad.”
"Got what?” Max asked my BF.
"Duh!”

"So you feeling better?” Max asked when Con and Mand finally left us alone.
"Yeah, look Max we need to talk.”
He stiffened a little, "Thought there was something up.”
"You did?”
"You have sort of been avoiding me since Bonn.”
"I haven't.”
"Its coz I got drunk isn't it?”
"You got drunk, we all got a bit out of shape.”
"I bet its that singer bloke,” he mumbled on.
“Max, what are you on about?”
"You're dumping me for Stefan right?”
"Stefan? Don't be so wet, he's like ancient!”
"Who then?”
"I'm not dumping anyone,” I rolled my eyes, “boys!”
"Well if you aren't dumping me what are we talking about?”
"Are you two coming in?” Mum called from the kitchen door.
"Coming,” I yelled back before addressing von Strechau again, "Look, Mum knows about Bonn, you know, you, me, in bed and stuff.”
"She does? Like I'm sorry about that Gab I was so out of it.”
"So was I,” I allowed.
"How'd she find out?”
"I er told her,” I admitted.
"Whatever for?”
"I've had some er plumbing issues, its sort of came out that we had sex.”
"We did?”
"You really don't remember?”
"I'm sure I'd remember something like that.”

for the first time since Bonn I had a moment of doubt, did we do the deed? We definitely spent the night in the same bed but I suppose it is a bit circumstantial, its not like with my plumbing anyone could tell. No it must've happened, it had to have.

"I thought I might be, you know, looking for a baby carriage.”
"Your dad's gonna kill me isn't he?”
"I doubt it, come on or Mum just might.”
"I will get a decent burial won't I?”
"Give over you great lump,” I reached up and pulled his head down to a more accessible level.
"Your mum?”
"She can wait a couple of minutes,” I opined before landing a limpet on his lips.
 

Maddy Bell © 14.07.17