Chapter 2: Abigail

WHEN WALKER ARRIVED at the hospital ward he was informed where Bill was, but clearly warned that Bill had two people with him already and patients in recovery from surgery were only allowed two visitors at a time. Perhaps in a couple of days, depending on his rate of recovery from the effects of the anaesthetic, the nurse said, Bill might be allowed three or four visitors at a time.

Walker looked through the glass door and saw Bill in the small four-bed side ward, with two women: an older woman, probably Bill’s wife, and a young, extremely pretty woman, possibly a daughter but more likely a grand-daughter. The evening visiting time was for just two hours and Walker hung around outside kicking his heels for at least 90 minutes. Walker decided, with just ten minutes or so of visiting time to go, having rightly assumed that the two visitors would be there for the duration, to push open the door and go in anyway. He only wanted to be there for a minute or two to pass on his ‘Get Well’ card and hopefully have a quick word with Bill about the producer’s phone call. Bill saw his approach before the women did.

“Hello, Walker,” Bill said brightly as soon as he saw Walker approach the bed.

“Hiiii-ya, Bill,” replied Walker in the mid-Atlantic drawl he had developed over the years. “What you gone an’ done to yourself now?” He grinned at his friend.

“I fell off a step ladder replacing a blown bulb,” Bill said ruefully, “Broke my hip and looks like I’m out of commission for a few months.”

The old woman chimed in, “The old fool doesn’t know when to ask for anyone’s help! I’m Bill’s wife Doreen, by the way.”

“Hi, Doreen,” Walker said, holding her outstretched hand lightly and bending down and kissing her on the cheek, “I’m Walker, I’ve worked with Bill on the set a coupla times. He’s one helluva furniture maker.”

“Well it’s a pleasure meeting someone who really appreciates Bill, most of them down at the studio think he is just an old duffer.”

“Well,” chuckled Walker, “I guess he can live with that, since he is an old duffer, but a pretty clever one at that! Those rosewood inlays you did on those Sheraton chairs, Bill, are among the best I’ve ever seen.”

Bill chuckled, “Insults as well as compliments, eh, young man?”

“What else were you expecting, eh, old man?” he laughed.

“Nothing at all, Walker,” came the reply with a chuckle, “Oh! This lovely lady is Abi, by the way.”

Walker looked at the young woman sitting next to Doreen. She smiled at him sweetly and, with that simple gesture, Walker’s heart did somersaults in his chest. She was slim and petite, with just past the shoulder-length wavy ash blonde hair, intense blue eyes and deeply dimpled cheeks when she smiled. She looked like she was only about 18 but was probably a little older. One thing that Walker was certain about, was that she was an absolute honey. Sitting quietly, she barely registered her presence other than being pretty, but when she smiled, phew!, Walker thought, she positively lit up the whole room. She stood up, almost a foot shorter than his six foot two, and held out her slim hand. Walker took it gently in his hand, using just a fingertip hold, she looked far too delicate for any robust handling.

“Pleased to meet you, Walker,” she said. Even her voice was clear as a crystal bell, but soft and sweet as honey.

“Sure is a pleasure to meet you too, Abi,” smiled Walker. He had to force himself to tear his eyes away from this little angel so he could address Bill again.

“I had a call from the show’s producers’ office. They told me that you was in hospital and that they wanted to see me urgent like. Know what that would be about, Bill?”

“First I’ve heard—” Bill started.

“That’s my fault,” Doreen interjected, “That pushy girl Julie, who works for Mr Silvers, rang your mobile phone while you were in theatre, dear. The ambulance men cleared out your pockets and gave everything to me in a plastic bag. I forgot you’re supposed to turn these mobile phones off while in hospital, so I answered quickly to stop it ringing and drawing attention to myself.”

She turned to face Walker with a smile, “For weeks Bill has been telling me that ‘Walker can do this’ and ‘if Walker was about, he could have helped me do that’, so when Julie started panicking about what she was going to tell Silvers about how long Bill’d be out, I suggested that she call you. I didn’t have any other details, not even if that was your forename or surname, except you were an Extra called ‘Walker’, and left her to the task of tracking you down.”

“But why would they need me, you’ve more than enough props in the workshop, right?” Walker furrowed his brow.

“They probably have a storyline that involves the workshop or some additional furniture they need in the front shop.” Bill said thoughtfully. “They don’t tell you much beforehand but I’ve been been working on those ten chairs and that table plus a couple of additional leaves for the table that they wanted me to make for several months now and they wanted some extra examples made that were left at various stages of completion so they can show them being worked on. When the director was wringing his hands waiting for the ambulance to arrive I told him you are the man to contact, too.”

“Two endorsements, eh? Appreciate that. How far you got with that special furniture, Bill?” Walker asked, “You had only just started the table when I last saw you.”

“The table’s cut out, including the legs, and the inlays inserted into half the table top but the rest of the inlays need cutting and routing out, and the same for the legs. The carcasses of all the chairs are made but they all need upholstering, two have the first two coatings of French polish on but need rubbing down and a couple more coats at least; the other eight chairs haven’t been polished yet, nor has the table, obviously.” Bill looked at Walker and asked, “How are you at French polishing and upholstery?”

“Don’t worry, Bill,” Walker grinned, “I’m a red-hot French polisher and pretty good on upholstery too. Are the seat frames made and the materials sorted?”

“Yes and no, the materials are all locked away safely, though. I’ll get Doreen to look out my keys for you, only she doesn’t drive.”

“I can pick up those and drop them off at the Studios or bring them here,” Abi volunteered, “I’m at a loose end tomorrow. Although I had planned on bringing Doreen up for both the afternoon or evening visiting hours.”

“That’s a good idea,” said Bill, “As for the chairs, I have cut and jointed all the seat frames, so you’ll have those to assemble and glue up. However, the producer may want additional pieces.”

“OK, Bill,” chuckled Walker, “If you could bring the keys in here, I’ll pop in and see you tomorrow afternoon once I’ve spoken to this producer. I must dash now, I need to get off to work!”

Walker shook Bill’s hand, kissed Doreen on the cheek and smiled at Abi as he touched her hand briefly again, before he made a hasty retreat. The nurse glared at him for breaking her rules, as he passed by on his way to the exit. All he could think of on the way to work was how beautiful Abi’s smile was and it looked like he’d have the pleasure of seeing her again tomorrow afternoon or the evening, depending on how long he had to spend with the Producer.

When Walker called Julie, the personal assistant of the show’s producer, it was gone 10pm in the evening and he fully expected his call to go direct to voicemail, but no, the woman who rang him earlier answered the call immediately and with a bright cheerful voice. Walker apologised for calling so late but the recipient assured him that she was prepared to take calls at any time and confirmed an appointment for 10.30 in the morning, when he could meet with the producer and director to discuss any matters in connection with the show. She said she wasn’t at liberty to say any more. In the morning, at the end of his night shift, Walker had no time at all for any sleep, he showered and changed into smart casual wear for his interview with the producer.

The long-fingernailed receptionist smiled at Walker and waved him through for his interview. Walker satisfactorily negotiated a three-month contract for five days a week with the producer before going home for a welcome sleep.

Walker called into the hospital that evening on the way to work. He strode past the nurses’ station without even speaking to them, so they were unable to enforce the two visitors only rule. Both Doreen and Abi were at Bill’s bedside again when he got there. Bill noticed him as soon as he poked his head around the open doorway and waved him to the bedside.

“How’d you get on, Walker?” Bill asked eagerly as soon as his younger friend had reached the hospital bed. There was a spare chair for him already set out ready for him on the side opposite his other visitors.

Walker smiled and nodded at the two ladies present, sitting just as they had been the previous day. He couldn’t help noticing that Abi looked even more beautiful than he thought she looked then, her eyes shining as their eyes met, her dimpled smile almost making him forget Bill’s question for a moment.