Remembering Ellie, page 20
‘Are you expected to be there?’ Grace asked.
‘I’m not sure but they want me to write a victim impact statement for the judge to consider before sentencing.’
‘What’s a victim impact statement?’
‘Probably just what it says, the impact the accident’s had on me. There are some guidance notes here. I’ll look at them later with Phil. I’m not sure this is something I want to do.’ Ellie was confused, with no desire to dwell on negatives anymore, being obliged to think about the accident was an unwelcome intrusion. Putting the letter aside, she accepted the steaming mug of tea her mother offered before opening the second letter.
‘Oh no, this one’s from Solutions asking me to fix a time to see someone in human resources about returning to work. How on earth can I do that?’ This letter was even more perplexing than the one from the CPS.
‘The short answer is you can’t. Talk to Phil about it later, love, he’s probably been expecting this but with his dad dying and everything else it must have slipped his mind.’
Ellie nodded her agreement and put the letters aside to turn her attention to Sam. The little boy was beginning to grizzle, a sure sign he was ready for his tea.
Later that evening, Phil read both letters twice through.
‘Do I have to do this victim impact thing?’ Ellie asked after Sam was in bed and they were alone together.
‘Of course you do! This idiot had been drinking – he could have killed you. The man deserves to have the book thrown at him.’
‘The policeman who came to the hospital said he’d expressed remorse.’
‘Huh, they all say that, their solicitors advise it in an attempt to get a more lenient sentence. If he hadn’t been caught on camera, he’d probably have pleaded not guilty and then you would have been called to give evidence.’ His expression was determined.
‘But I can’t give evidence if I can’t remember anything about it!’ Ellie was horrified at the thought of going to court.
‘Don’t worry, you don’t have to, but you do need to make this statement. This Trevor Simpson’s caused so much pain and he needs to know he can’t get away with it.’ Phil ran his fingers through his hair, a gesture Ellie noticed he often did when he was thinking.
‘But what will I say?’
‘Everything! You were in a coma for four weeks which impacted your family as well as you. We didn’t know if you’d live or die. When you woke, you didn’t even know who I was, or your son; think of the pain and anguish this has caused. And we nearly didn’t make it as a couple, I mean, did we? It’s the ripples in the pond effect and you need to write it all down. And it’s not over yet, is it? There’s no way you can return to work until your memory returns which will have financial implications too. You’ve lost relationships with friends you don’t remember, and extended family – there’s so much you can write about and it’s still ongoing!’ Phil was getting into his stride, and the more Ellie listened, the more she realised he was right. So, with his help and the guidance notes she would compose the statement.
Then they turned to the second letter. ‘I’d completely forgotten your career break was due to come to an end. You should have returned before Sam’s birthday when your twelve months were up but with the accident, they agreed to extend it for another three months. We have to decide on this one, Ellie, and let them know soon.’
‘But I can hardly go back to work if I don’t know how to do the job, can I?’
‘True, but you’ll need to talk to them and explain. They’re apparently expecting you back, and quite soon.’
‘Do we need the money, Phil? I mean, you mentioned financial implications and I have no idea how well off we are. Can we manage if I don’t go out to work?’
‘We’ll manage somehow, love – we can always find a paper round for Sam.’ Phil’s expression was solemn but then he burst out laughing. ‘Oh, Ellie, your face is a picture. The honest answer is yes, we can manage on my salary alone. Of course, it’ll mean we don’t have the same disposable income we’re used to for luxuries like holidays and changing the car regularly, but after all we’ve been through lately, it doesn’t bother me in the least. What’s important is that you’re happy here at home and I quite like knowing you’ll be here when I get in from work. Sam loves having his mummy around full time too.’
‘Did we have childcare plans for my return to work?’ Ellie still felt awkward asking practical questions but needed to understand this side of their life, something she’d not considered before.
‘Yes, we’d looked around a couple of day nurseries and put his name down at the one we particularly liked but only for three days a week. You intended working from home whenever possible and Grace offered to be a backup if we needed her.’
Ellie considered the problem. Having a career appealed to her, the best of both worlds, yet there was no way she could go back without a clue as to how to do her job.
‘I’ll ring Solutions tomorrow and make an appointment to call in and see someone. Perhaps the fairest thing would be to offer my resignation. They’re probably obliged to take me back but to hold them to it would hardly be fair on them, would it? Was I any good at my job, Phil?’ Ellie didn’t even know the answer to that.
‘Yes, you were, excellent, which is why they agreed to a career break. Solutions didn’t want to lose you. But you’re right, in fairness to them, you should offer to resign. If your memory comes back at a later date, you can consider returning to work then, but it isn’t a major problem from a financial point of view, we’re very fortunate in that respect. Now, are we eating at all tonight? I’m starving – but we can still afford a takeaway if you’d like?’ Phil grinned.
‘There’s a lasagne in the fridge ready to warm up if that’s okay?’
‘Fantastic, and then you can tell me all about your visit to Mr Samms.’
Chapter Forty-Two
Two days later, Ellie left Sam with his grandma and drove to Rawcliffe on the outskirts of York city centre, to Tower Court, the business centre where Solutions was based. After receiving their letter, Ellie telephoned her employer and arranged an interview with Carly Jones, in human resources, for Tuesday morning. Unfortunately, the spell of glorious summer weather had finally broken and rain teemed down, lashing against the windscreen and making the Mini’s wipers work furiously.
Parking in the centre’s ample car park, Ellie stared up at the modern offices from inside the car. Being a few minutes early, she used the time to revise precisely what she was going to say. Having discussed this with Phil over the last couple of days, she was still undecided. The problem was that Ellie was still unsure what she wanted to do regarding her job. It was a relief to learn they didn’t rely on her salary to live, although clearly their standard of living would be better if she could contribute to their finances, and if she was honest with herself, the thought of earning her own money appealed to her. The major obstacle, however, was that she hadn’t a clue what her role at Solutions was. Ellie knew she was a graphic designer and according to Phil loved the work, yet she still had no idea what the job title entailed.
The rain eased a little, and, steadying her breathing, Ellie took the opportunity to dash to the office, where a logo of a question mark interwoven into the word Solutions informed her she needed to be on the second floor. Taking the stairs, she pushed open the swing doors at the top and entered a spacious lobby with a reception desk to the right.
‘Ellie!’ A young woman with frizzy red hair ran out from behind the desk and enveloped her in an enthusiastic bear hug. ‘How great to see you. We’ve missed you!’ The woman’s grin was wide and her green eyes danced with delight as a somewhat perplexed Ellie took a step back. Unperturbed, the woman continued, ‘Does this visit mean you’re coming back to work? I do hope so – the office simply hasn’t been the same without you. Why haven’t you brought that lovely little boy with you? He must have grown so much since you last brought him in?’
Ellie gazed around the unfamiliar space, hoping someone might rescue her from this embarrassing situation but there was no one else there; she would have to extricate herself from this dilemma.
‘I’m sorry, but do I know you?’ She spoke apologetically, not wanting to offend.
‘Ellie, you’re joking!’ The woman laughed, then on seeing her solemn expression appeared to realise her mistake. ‘Oh, my goodness, you’re not joking, are you?’
‘No, I’m sorry but, you see, I’m suffering from amnesia and if I should know you, then I apologise but I can’t remember.’ She was unused to having to explain things herself. Her parents or Phil generally shielded her from such situations and most people Ellie had come into contact with since the accident knew of her amnesia.
‘Not to worry.’ The red-haired woman looked flustered; her face flushed with embarrassment. ‘I’m Sally, the receptionist and Girl Friday of this crazy operation. I knew you had an appointment but the news of your, er… condition hadn’t reached me. We’re quite good friends, you and I, but don’t worry, we can catch up another time. You’re here to see Carly, I believe. Come on, I’ll take you to her room.’ Sally soon composed herself and Ellie dutifully followed through more glass doors and past several small offices which accommodated two or three people, most of whom had their heads bent over computer screens.
‘It might sound a silly question,’ Ellie ventured, ‘but do I know Carly Jones?’
‘Oh, you poor dear, how difficult this must be for you, but no, Carly’s new to the company. She only joined us a couple of months ago and can be a bit stuffy at times but generally she’s okay; hers is the kind of role which makes it difficult to be one of the guys, you know? But Carly’s fair and sympathetic, so you’ve nothing to worry about.’ Sally had stopped walking while they talked.
‘And is it a big company?’ Ellie wanted to know so much and Sally appeared friendly and willing to talk.
‘About thirty employees in all, although most of them aren’t here now, clearly. The type of work we do lends itself nicely to home-working, which you often did, particularly in the latter stages of your pregnancy. Oh my gosh, this feels so strange, telling you things about yourself. I honestly had no idea.’
‘Don’t worry about it. I find it rather odd myself but I appreciate the heads-up.’
Sally moved on to a room at the end of the corridor where a shiny silver plaque announced the occupant’s name as Carly Jones. She knocked and opened the door without waiting for an answer.
‘Hi, Carly, Ellie Graham to see you.’ Sally left the room with an encouraging squeeze on Ellie’s shoulder, and Carly Jones stood to greet her visitor. She was a slim woman, about Ellie’s height but older, maybe in her forties, with a friendly face and shining blonde hair tied back in a tight bun with a few wisps escaping to soften the effect.
‘Hello, pleased to meet you.’ Her green, twinkling eyes peered at Ellie from behind a pair of rimless glasses. ‘Take a seat and don’t look so worried. This isn’t the dentist!’ Her words and ready smile put Ellie at ease as she sat opposite Carly and took a deep breath, trying to relax. Solutions was a whole new world to her, but, she reminded herself, there was nothing to worry about; Ellie didn’t need this job, and intended to offer her resignation to this woman as she’d discussed with Phil over the weekend.
‘I’ve been reading your file, Ellie, and it appears you’re due to return to work after an extended career break. Unfortunately there was some kind of accident wasn’t there, which delayed your return? Are you fully recovered now?’
‘That’s right. I was knocked off my bike and left in a coma for four weeks. Physically, I was fortunate not to suffer any broken bones, so I’ve healed well in some respects. But a head injury has left me with amnesia which is still causing problems, and as yet, there’s no sign of my memory coming back.’
‘Oh, my goodness, that’s awful! How much of your memory have you lost? Sorry, that sounds totally intrusive and you don’t have to tell me anything – it’s just I’ll need to know some details regarding your job.’ Before Ellie had a chance to reply, there was a knock on the door and a man stepped inside.
‘Sorry to interrupt, Carly, but Sally said Ellie was here and I wanted to say hello.’ A warm smile split his long thin face. ‘I’m Jeremy Bland, the CEO?’ Then, when there was no sign of recognition, he continued, ‘Sally explained you have no recollection of working here. I’m truly sorry, Ellie, I didn’t realise. The last update we had was when Phil rang to say you were out of the coma and making progress. He did mention some memory problems but I didn’t know it was so bad and still ongoing. How are you coping?’ The look of genuine concern on this man’s face made Ellie warm to him; although she had no recollection of him, it appeared she’d known him once and it seemed he was her boss.
‘I take things a day at a time but as for work… well, this is all new to me. I’d hoped coming here might jog a memory, but it hasn’t, I’m afraid.’
‘Carly, do you mind?’ Jeremy Bland pulled up a seat beside her. ‘I don’t want to take over but this is quite an unusual situation.’
‘No, please, Jeremy, I think we need your input here.’ Carly sounded relieved to share this unprecedented problem with her boss.
‘As I have no idea what my role here is, I thought the fairest thing would be for me to offer my resignation,’ Ellie continued.
‘Is that what you really want?’ Jeremy looked surprised.
‘I don’t think there’s a choice. With no recollection of how to do my job, it would be impossible to return. I’d be a spare part which is something no business needs. So, look, here’s my letter of resignation, I’m sorry but there’s not a viable alternative.’
‘Your concern for the company is appreciated, but we’ll certainly miss you. Would you leave your letter with Carly and come with me for a few minutes? There’s something I’d like to show you?’ Jeremy stood and Ellie followed him from the room into another larger space, possibly a conference room. One wall was lined with poster-sized images of advertisements – designs which it was reasonable to assume were produced at Solutions.
‘These are some of our best designs, the most successful and admittedly the most lucrative too. Most of these are for our regular customers, companies who come back to us time and time again because they like our product, our innovative approach.’ Jeremy was clearly proud of the images displayed here, and Ellie could see why. She liked them too. They were modern, vibrant designs with exceptional use of colour. The images themselves were attractive and the slogans sharp, concise and to the point; it was obvious why the company was successful.
‘Do you like them?’ Jeremy asked.
‘Very much, they’re eye-catching without being in your face. Modern but timeless. Yes, I do like them.’
‘These are all your work, Ellie. You’ve been our top designer for years, and to be frank, we’re missing you. Our customers are missing you.’ Jeremy’s words stunned her; had she really designed these amazing images? He continued, ‘We have other talented designers too, but none of them quite match your flair. Now you can see why we’ll be sorry to let you go, but I fully understand the situation. It’s an impossible one for us all. I can’t help but think your skill must still be in there somewhere, and it’s probably just a matter of recalling the technical side of the job. What I’d like to ask is if you’ll seriously consider returning to work for us when your memory returns. Will you do that for me please?’
Still unable to believe she’d produced such fantastic work, Ellie nodded her agreement. ‘I’m afraid it’s a question of if my memory returns rather than when but yes, I’ll certainly think seriously about coming back. I’d actually love to be able to come back.’
‘Great! Now, Carly will process your letter of resignation and email you very soon. Keep in touch, Ellie, and please let me know how you get on. I hope your memory does return and not just for the sake of the company.’ Jeremy walked her to the door where she said goodbye to him and a rather tearful Sally.
Driving home after being confronted with a part of her life which was utterly alien to her, Ellie was in a dream. She possessed a talent she couldn’t remember, yet the evidence of which she’d seen with her own eyes, yet another thing on the list of things which were lost to her. Not for the first time she wondered how a whole chunk of her life could be so completely wiped from her conscious mind, and how many more surprises were in store for her in the future.
Chapter Forty-Three
September mellowed into October, the leaves turning into rich golds, reds and orange, a season which Ellie had always loved. It was as if the heat and frenzy of summer had dissipated, and as the weather outside settled into a cool, comfortable temperature, so did Ellie’s emotions. She remained contentedly at home, focused on Sam and Phil and trying her best to ‘forget’ the amnesia which continued to raise its unwelcome head to frustrate and confuse her on occasions.
The autumn months also brought welcome closure with the sentencing of Trevor Simpson. Ellie had dutifully completed the victim impact statement for the CPS, a painful experience which hammered home to her exactly how much she’d lost along with her memory. The family decided not to attend the hearing but heard afterwards from the police that Simpson was given a three-year custodial sentence for causing serious injury by driving while under the influence of alcohol. He was also banned from driving for two years and fined £2,500. Phil grumbled that it wasn’t enough, arguing Ellie’s sentence was far greater and still ongoing but generally they were happy to put the accident behind them. Life was too good to allow recriminations to fester and breed unwelcome bitterness.
Trips to the park with Sam were so very different in the autumn, perhaps even more of a delight than in the heat of summer and undoubtedly less stressful with the spectre of Dave now banished for good. Knowing she’d done nothing to be ashamed of was a huge relief, indescribably so, and Ellie was once again free to laugh and enjoy her life in the present.
