Chapter 24
As Mrs. Allison opened the door for her guests, she stared down at Talya. “My Dear God, Ms Kartz, what on earth happened to you? Please, come in…, both of you. Dr. Hendrix, good to see you again. But tell me... I really don’t know what to say... Sorry for staring...” She couldn’t keep her eyes from Talya’s frail-looking body…, the chair…, the blanket... It was all too much for the old woman.
Amid this babbling, incoherent welcome, Aziz and Talya tried to put a word in, to no avail. They went through an archway to a large room, the former parlour of the house, where Aziz sat down across from the woman and Talya, depositing the two shoulder bags to the floor.
The handsomely furnished room reflected the décor of the entire house. The walls lined with bookshelves, entertainment centre, and a couple of antique desks flanking a large fireplace, made the whole room as inviting and comfortable as one could want. The sofa facing the hearth and the couple of chairs set apposite added an accent of warmth to the entire place. You wanted to sit and relax in this room.
“I’ve got the room on the ground floor ready for you, dear,” Mrs. Allison said, tapping Talya on the arm compassionately. She was an elderly woman, matronly one could say, but her hospitable attitude, her grey hair and her soft regard made one forget that she was the owner of the house. She gave everyone the impression to be one’s grandmother, or aunt, waiting to welcome you home.
“Thank you,” Talya replied. “I’m sorry if we’ve put you out...”
“No-no, not at all, dear. We’re still in the low season, and I’ve got only one other guest apart from you two, so you’re no bother at all. But I had to put you upstairs, Doctor. We haven’t got two rooms on the ground floor, I’m sorry.”
“No problem,” Aziz said, “we’ll manage.”
“Would you like some coffee or tea?” Mrs. Allison was already on her feet. Clearly, she wanted to keep her guests in the parlour to hear what happened to Talya. Curiosity was gnawing at her thoughts. She could not imagine what could have happened to such a beautiful woman; nothing short of a car accident, she was sure.
However, Talya didn’t feel like talking. She wanted to go to her room, lie down and sleep. After a delicious and filling brunch, she felt more tired than ever. “No thank you, Mrs. Allison, I just need to lie down for now. Do you mind?”
“Not at all, dear, you go right ahead. I’ll show you where it is.” Matching words to action, Mrs. Allison led the way down the corridor, stopped in front of a double door, which she opened wide to let Talya roll her chair into the spacious suite. The décor reminded her of the room she had had in Khalid’s apartment in Paris. Shooting an appreciative glance to the tall wardrobe and the four-poster-bed opposite, she went to the French windows and looked out. The view was all encompassing and quite pleasant. It overlooked part of Snug Cove and faced the Sunshine Coast, north of Vancouver on the opposite side of the sound. The light-blue silk drapes that framed the window were the one thing that made Talya think of Paris. Similar drapes had framed the window of her room there, too. She stretched a hand and caressed them. The memory of Khalid and their time at the Hotel de Crillon came back to her mind so vividly; she had to turn away. As she did, she found herself facing Aziz.
He smiled gently at her. “Do you want to unpack and freshen up before lying down?”
The question brought Talya back to the present. She looked down at her legs for a moment and nodded.
“Okay, I’ll leave you two kids alone,” Mrs. Allison said from the doorway where she had remained while observing the couple. They’re so good together, she thought. “I’ll be in the kitchen, if you need me.”
“Thanks,” Aziz replied, not watching the woman as she closed the door behind her.