Phaedra Patrick - Wishes Under The Willow Tree

‘Benedicto.’ Cecil waved from his bed.

Benedict walked over. He gave his friend a brief hug then sat down on the plastic chair at the side of the bed. He felt the legs splay under his weight and he reached into his shopping bag. ‘I’ve brought Hello! magazine for you, and cupcakes.’

‘Fashion, gossip and sugary treats. Fabby.’

Benedict felt a twitching sensation in his fingers when he handed over the cakes. The lemon icing on top was pleasingly shiny and topped with a ruby-red glacé cherry. Cecil won’t mind if you eat one of us , they said. Just ask him .

Cecil tore them open. ‘Want one?’

Don’t do it, Benedict thought. He considered sitting on his hands, to stop himself, but he reached out for a cupcake anyway. He ate it in three bites but strangely it tasted a little too sweet. He batted the crumbs off his trousers with the flat of his hand. ‘So, how are you feeling?’

Cecil sighed. ‘Okaaay. I thought I’d be out and doing my Usain Bolt impersonation by now. I feel like I’m falling apart. How is my white ball of fluffy gorgeousness?’

‘He’s, er, the usual. White and fluffy.’

‘But the two of you are getting on, aren’t you? I worry about him not getting the love and attention he’s used to.’

‘We’re getting on just fine.’

‘And so…’ Cecil prompted. ‘Everything is just as it was?’

‘Let’s not talk about work – you’re supposed to be trying to get better.’

‘I mean, any progress with Estelle?’

Benedict shook his head. ‘Not yet.’

‘So you’re still waiting and seeing?’

Benedict thought of Gemma’s insistence that he should be Romeo. He dreaded to think what that meant. ‘There’s something I need to tell you,’ he said.

‘What?’ Cecil leaned forward in his bed.

‘My niece, Gemma, has come to stay with me, from America. She’s only sixteen and says she’s here for an adventure.’

‘Adventure, huh?’ Cecil stared off into space. ‘I remember that, once. A long time ago. You’ve not mentioned Gemma before.’

‘She’s my brother Charlie’s daughter. Our family isn’t close and Gemma just arrived out of the blue. It was a big surprise.’

‘That sounds a bit strange.’

‘I know.’

‘So, what is she like?’ Cecil picked up Hello! and took a quick glance at the cover. A soap star had given birth to quads.

‘She’s kind of infuriating. But she knows her own mind and she wants to learn. I’d forgotten what it’s like to have a passion for new things.’

‘Coolio. Like what?’

‘She’s interested in the meaning of gems.’

‘Like gemstones?’

Benedict nodded. ‘My father made notes on them in an old journal, and she brought some with her.’

‘That sounds intriguing. And what is she up to now, this niece of yours?’

‘I left her in the house on her own. So she can have some space to herself.’

‘That’s what you wanted to give Estelle.’

‘I know.’ Estelle’s space had extended for much longer than he thought it would. ‘Gemma says the same as you, that I need to win Estelle back.’

‘She’s right.’

‘She says that I should try to be like Romeo,’ he muttered, hoping that Cecil would agree with him, that the idea sounded absurd.

Cecil laughed, a machine-gun fire blast. ‘Oh, Benedicto,’ he said. Then he started to laugh again.

‘I know that I have to do something .’ Benedict shifted in his chair. ‘Estelle came into the shop and we were like strangers. I can’t let her go, Cecil.’

Cecil’s laughter subsided. ‘Well, if you don’t try to be Romeo, what else are you going to do?’

Benedict pursed his lips. He had no other plans. ‘Nothing, I suppose.’

‘Exactamondo. Perhaps you should give Gemma’s idea a go, whatever it is.’

He knew that his friend was right.

‘And, I simply must meet her,’ Cecil added. ‘What does Estelle think about your niece’s arrival?’

‘Well, they kind of met but I didn’t introduce them to each other.’

‘So, your sixteen-year-old niece is staying with you, but you haven’t told your wife. That’s pretty brave.’

‘Hmmm. Now you say it like that…’

The two men chatted for an hour, about Cecil’s nieces and football, and how Ryan and Diane’s marriage was doing.

‘You might have to sweet-talk the nurses into letting me out of here,’ Cecil said. ‘They keep talking about complications and I don’t want to let you down.’

‘Take your time,’ Benedict said. ‘Come back when you’re ready. The shop is doing fine.’

‘It sounds like Gemma might be a good replacement for me…’

‘No one could replace you, Cecil. And I’m not looking to.’

Cecil nodded with relief.

With visiting time coming to a close, Benedict was about to leave when he remembered something. He delved into his pocket then took out and placed a small mottled blue-green stone in Cecil’s palm. ‘Gemma asked me to give this to you.’

Cecil leaned in closer to examine it. ‘Is it Turquoise?’

‘Yes, it’s one of the gems Gemma brought with her. She’s copied some notes down, from my father’s journal.’ He gave an embarrassed cough as he handed the piece of paper to Cecil.

TURQUOISE

Early Europeans believed that this stone came from Asia Minor so gave it the name ‘Pierre Turquoise’ which means ‘Turkish Stone’. Turquoise is formed by water acting upon copper and aluminium within rocks which causes the gem to develop and gives it its blue colour. The stone was used in protective amulets or rings to ward off accidents. It is said to speed up your recovery after illness and helps to alleviate pain and reduce infection. It should be given as a gift to bring good fortune and peace.

‘Coolio. A miracle worker then?’ Cecil said. He slipped the gem and note into his pyjama top pocket. ‘Tell her, cheersy. And what gemstone has she given to you?’

‘Me?’ Benedict frowned. ‘Nothing.’

‘Perhaps you should ask her for one. If it will help you to get what you want.’

Benedict thought of the meaning for Peridot and how it sounded ideal for what he was going through. He recalled again Gemma’s explanation for Moonstone.

He didn’t believe for one minute that a small stone could make Cecil feel better, or help make Estelle fall back in love with him. Surely that would be crazy, wishful thinking.

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