Chapter 6: Tracey Unwinds

In the middle of the usual busy Saturday morning, Lewis got a text. During a short lull in customers, he eventually got a chance to read it.

‘Hi Lewis, it’s Gwyneth, you sorted me out quite a while ago regarding Victor from the nursery. I’m in a new flat now sharing with Tracey who is almost nineteen. I’d like to bring her to meet you if I can. I’m convinced she has a problem although she denies it. Usually a happy soul, this last month she has seemed extremely down.’

‘I thought that if I could bring her to meet you at lunchtime, perhaps she might come back on her own this evening when you close. Oh, by the way, Rowan and I are now engaged.’

‘Are you ok with visitors for lunch?’ he called over to Mike. Getting a smile and a nod Lewis managed a quick text back. ‘Come for a chippy lunch for twelve fifty.’

He got a ‘Thank you’ and a ‘Thumbs up’ back.

At quarter to one Gwyneth came in accompanied by a slightly younger young lady. They stood just inside the door and Lewis went over to them as soon as he could.

Gwyneth greeted him with a hug and introduced him to Tracey. He handed her some cash and a list of his and Mikes lunch. ‘If you can go to the chippy along the block for us,’ he told them. ‘Get yourselves lunch too.’

As they walked Tracey said, ‘He’s very young, isn’t he?’ ‘Don’t let that put you off,’ Gwyneth told her, he’s an expert at what he does. Believe me if it wasn’t for Lewis, Rowan and I would never have got together. Rowan doesn’t know that.’ she added.

When they returned to the shop Mike was just showing the last customer out. He waved them in and said, ‘Go through, Lewis is in the back.’

Lewis had plates and cutlery out on the table, mugs out and the kettle was just coming to the boil.

He explained the options and they both decided to share the food. Lewis dished it all up, put it on the table then made them all a drink. As they ate Lewis congratulated Gwyneth. ‘We haven’t set a date yet,’ she said, ‘But I don’t expect it will be far off.’

‘What do you do, Tracey?’ Mike asked. ‘I work in the kitchen at the local hospital at the moment,’ she told him, ‘But I’d really like to train as a nurse.’ ‘Anything specific?’ Mike asked, ‘Or just general?’

‘I wouldn’t mind any,’ she said, ‘But I think long term I’d like to be on a maternity unit.’ ‘Well, you’re dining with someone whose delivered a baby.’ Mike said grinning.

When they both looked surprised, Mike told them about Lewis delivering Catherine. Both ladies looked suitably impressed. ‘But that’s not all,’ Mike told them, ‘If Lewis hadn’t solved a problem for my girlfriend who is now my wife, we would never have got together. So, there wouldn’t have been a baby to deliver.’

‘Well, my recent engagement would certainly never have happened without Lewis.’ Gwyneth said, ‘Even though my fiancé doesn’t know that.’ They chatted about general things too. Then Gwyneth looked around the room. ‘It’s funny,’ she said, ‘I feel so at home in here yet I’ve only been here once.’

‘I remember the first time I came,’ she told Tracey, I’d been unhappy for quite a long time, and I was very nervous to be here. Lewis was even younger then and I thought, ‘I can’t possibly tell this young lad about my problem.’ But I soon felt able to do so and I left here feeling like a new woman. I’ve been happy ever since.’

‘What I usually do,’ Lewis told Tracey, ‘Is ask you all about your life to get to know all about you, and at the same time do my best to get you feeling relaxed with me. It’s ages before we even look at your problem. Plus, at any time you want to, you can just get up and leave. No explanations necessary.’

Lewis gave her a card. ‘If you want to come back tonight at five,’ he told her, ‘Just come, I’ll wait until quarter past just in case. But if you don’t it’s no problem. You can text me anytime in the future and we’ll sort out a time and date. There’s no pressure, if you’re not here because you want to be, we would be wasting our time. So, it’s entirely up to you.’

They chatted about general things then Gwyneth and Tracey got up to leave. Lewis deliberately didn’t say anything about her returning. ‘It’s been lovely to meet you Tracey,’ he told her shaking her hand. Then he gave Gwyneth a hug and a kiss. ‘Congratulations again,’ he said, ‘That’s great news. Have a happy life.’

As she was about to leave Gwyneth hesitated, looking at Lewis. He just smiled at her and waited. ‘When we get married,’ she said, ‘You would be the first person I would have put on the invite list, but... ‘ she trailed of in embarrassment. ‘You couldn’t think how to explain to Rowan who I was.’ Lewis finished for her. ‘Yes.’ she said, relieved.

‘Don’t worry about it,’ Lewis said, ‘I’ll be with you in spirit, I’m just content to know you’re going to be happy.’ Gwyneth ran back and gave him another hug and a kiss.

As Gwyneth and Tracey walked away Tracey said, ‘He is rather nice isn’t he.’ ‘He’s lovely.’ Gwyneth told her, ‘I don’t know where I’d have been now without him. I’m not going to say any more to you,’ she told her. ‘I’ve told you about him and introduced him. As Lewis said, it doesn’t work unless you go and see him of your own choice.’

After a busy afternoon Mike finally closed the shop. They went into the back room and had a hug and a kiss having missed out on time together at lunch time. ‘I’ll just hang on a bit in case.’ Lewis told him as he saw him out.

He left the shop lights on and rewound some of the excess tapes. Then as quarter past came and went, he packed up and locked up. He hadn’t gone far when his phone rang. ‘Hi Lewis, it’s Tracey.’ a harassed voice said. ‘I was coming back to see you tonight but the bus I was on broke down. A replacement came and we all moved over onto it. Then for some unknown reason we didn’t move off for ages. I know I’m too late now so can I make an appointment for next week instead?’

‘How far away are you?’ Lewis asked. ‘I’m at the bus stop near the shop waiting for a bus back.’ she said. ‘I’ve only just left a minute ago,’ Lewis told her, ‘Do you want to come now? I don’t mind coming back.’

‘Oh yes please,’ she said, ‘That would be wonderful.’ ‘See you in a few minutes then.’ he said as he hung up.

He turned around and headed back. As he approached, he saw Tracey coming from the other direction. As he opened the door, she arrived and sounding out of breath she said, ‘This is very kind of you.’

‘Not at all,’ Lewis told her, ‘When people have a problem, it’s usually already getting really bad before they ask for help. So, to keep them waiting seems too cruel.’

He locked the door behind them and showed her his key in the lock. ‘With that there, even Mike can’t get in.’ he told her. ‘So no one but me will hear anything you say and I never tell anyone.’

They went into the back room. Lewis switched the shop lights out and made them a coffee. Over their coffee he explained about going at her speed, saying ‘Go’ ‘Stop’ or ‘Pass’ and reminded her that if she decided to leave, she didn’t need to say anything, just get up and go. ‘No one’s done it yet,’ he told her, ‘But if you did, you’d always be welcome to return in the future.’

‘When we’ve finished our coffees,’ he told her, ‘It’s decision time. Either go over to the settee, take your shoes off and lie down, or just get up and let yourself out.’

Tracey looked over at the settee, ‘Is it like going to see a psychiatrist?’ she asked. ‘Not really,’ Lewis said, ‘Although I suppose there are some similarities. Have you ever been to see one?’ ‘No,’ she told him, ‘But I’ve seen it done in films.’

‘Well, to put your mind at rest,’ Lewis told her, ‘To the best of my knowledge I can’t hypnotise anyone.’ She laughed, got up and went over to the settee.

As she lay down Lewis went over and asked, ‘Are you ok if I sit here?’ ‘Sure,’ Tracey said remembering something Gwyneth had said, ‘Everything Lewis does has a valid reason. He would never ever do anything to hurt you or anyone else.’