WATSON MANOR
My Journey Home
Ronald S. Craig
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wish to thank all those that continually gave support throughout the creation of this fifth novel and fourth in the series. A heartfelt thank you to, Laurie Nelson, Jacque Ramirez, Stacy Mitchell and Nicole Ebert. Their ideas and encouragement have been a true blessing to me.
A special thank you goes to my editors; Geoffrey Moore has diligently gone through each chapter being my "Spag" catcher.
Charlene Marquez, was my final line editor and I'm grateful she ironed some rough sentences and applied the needed polish.
Thank you also goes to Jennifer Becherer for taking the time to help with this novel.
Then there is Rosalyne Bowmile, a dear friend and fellow author, and I think Bette Midler said it best in her song "The wind Beneath My Wings". Rosalyne has been the cheerleader that kept me going, the informed source that guided me back on track, the insightful inspiration to make it better, and quite frankly, the reason five books have left my computer.
Watson Manor My Journey Home Copyright © 2016 by Ronald S. Craig
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests or to contact the author go to: www.roncraigbooks.com.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
TITLES BY Ronald S. Craig;
In His Time (Novella)
WATSON MANOR MYSTERY SERIES;
Watson Manor Eventually.
Watson Manor Unfolding.
Watson Manor Investigations.
Watson Manor My Journey Home.
Chapter 1
My head was throbbing when I woke in the hospital bed. The lights in the room were dim and it must have been at night as the windows were dark. Someone was asleep in a chair, a man, and panic ran through me and I wanted to scream. Pain shot through my head as I turned for a better look at him. It wasn't Paul and I relaxed a little. I'd brought my free hand up; my other arm was taped down with IV tubes leading away. I discovered my head was tightly bandaged. I felt drowsy, but I could focus my eyes across the room. I was concerned about my eighth grade students. The end of the school year was just weeks away. How did I get here, a car accident? Did Paul hit me this hard?
My left hand found a pendant with buttons, and I raised it for a better look. Confusion filled me with the sight of an engagement and wedding band on my finger? Was this all a dream?
"Jenny! Thank God you're awake," the man said with a beaming grin. He came closer. I hadn't realized that he'd woken up from the chair.
"What happened?" I asked him.
"A drunk driver ran a stop sign … pushed you sideways through the intersection. We'd thought …Well, thank God you're OK now." He stood over me, tears welling in his eyes, and he was holding my hand. I'd studied his face and saw concern, and he added, "I'll get the doctor." He left the room. There were flowers everywhere and I could smell the fragrance filling the room. The pendant allowed me to raise the back of the bed into a half sitting position. The man brought a nurse back with him.
"Jenny, welcome back. I've called Dr. Franklin. You've had us all very worried," she said. I saw Stacy on her name placard, and her manner indicated I should know her also.
"How long have I been here?" I asked.
"It's been six days, Jenny. You've had a traumatic head injury," Stacy said and paused watching me closely. Her friendly smile faded to concern as she turned to the man and asked, "Jenny, do you know who this is?"
I studied him again and sadness stole his hopeful grin as he moved around to my left side. I drew a complete blank and it was painful to watch his face. My thumb found the rings on my finger, and as he'd been sleeping in the chair beside my bed, it seemed to follow. "My husband?" He glanced at my left hand still twisting the rings and turned to face Stacy.
"Charlie, we anticipated some memory loss, but it could all come back in time," she told him, and then she turned back to face me. "What do you remember, Jenny?"
"I'm sorry, things are not very clear to me," I told her and looked at him. "Charlie?"
"Yes, Jenny. I'm Charlie. We've been married for three years. You're surrounded by people that love you and want only to help," he said and took my hand again. It was all so overwhelming. I searched his face for a spark of recognition. It was a face that I'd give a second look at, and that gave me hope it would all come back to me.
"Three years? I remember a new apartment. Paul was abusive, my ex-boyfriend, but I'm not, Jenny Stevens anymore, am I?"
"You're Jenny Watson, but we'll take it slow," Charlie said. I saw hope returning to his face. "The only important thing now is that you've survived the accident."
I saw the doctor come into the room. Charlie moved back away from the bed to let him come beside me. He was very distinguished looking, mid-fifties with a neatly trimmed beard. He looked like he could have just walked of the set of General Hospital in his stiff white lab coat.
Stacy told him, "Alert, but with some memory loss, Doctor."
"Hello Jenny, I'm Doctor Franklin. We're thrilled you're awake." He took a pen from his pocket and moved it in front of my face. "Any trouble focusing on this, Jenny?"
"No. My head is pounding, and concentrating is difficult, but I see your pen."
He pulled the sheet back to expose my feet. "Can you wiggle your toes? Any feeling of numbness in your legs or arms?" he asked. I passed his tests enough it brought a smile to his face and he responded, "Wonderful. I'm increasing your pain meds, and will change your bandages," he told me and then turned to Charlie. "Mr. Watson, this is all very encouraging. I hope to have her out of bed this afternoon for a little exercise. You can come back, say around four."
"Thank you, Doctor. Jenny, I'll see you later," he said and left the room.
"My memory, Doctor?" I asked him.
"Mrs. Watson, Jenny, I'm thrilled with your motor skills, vision and speech. There is still some swelling from your severe head trauma. To be honest, your memory may come back in confusing patches, completely or not at all. But, what is very encouraging to me," he said pointing to the flowers surrounding the room, "is you have a loving support team. And that husband of yours hasn't left your side."
"I'm not ungrateful. I know, I could have been killed in the accident or paralyzed. The other driver, is he ok?"
"It's no wonder you're surrounded by so many that care about you. He had benefit of an airbag that you didn't have with the side impact. I know it will be frustrating. Don't dwell on what memories are not there, just move forward. Get some rest now." He pushed a button on the pendent and I felt warmth and the throbbing in my head fading as I dozed off.
*****
Someone called my name, and I opened my eyes. Stacy, the nurse was standing beside me. Behind her the windows were still dark so I thought it was a short nap.
"Doctor wants you on your feet. Are you ready?" she asked me.
"Is it still the morning?"
"You slept through the day, Jenny. It's six-thirty in the evening. How are you feeling?"
"In a fog. Is the
re any chance I could walk to a shower?"
"Maybe tomorrow? Let's see how well you walk first," she said helping me sit up and slid some slippers on my feet. Stacy pushed a walker toward me. "Slowly now, you'll probably feel dizzy and very heavy. We're not in a hurry here."
"My husband, Charlie. Missed him today?"
"He was here with your … . We'll talk after your walk." She was right. I felt like I was lifting three hundred pounds as I stood up. I'd lost a hundred of those pounds as we circled back from the end of the hallway toward my room. My pace improved as we approached the door to my room. "You've done very well, Jenny. We don't need to push it now."
"Let's make a pass at the other end of the hall while I'm up."
"No running!" she said, laughing. "Rodney was surely right about needing to tie you down."
Rodney, another blank slate appeared in my mind as I pushed on toward the end of the hall. Thankfully, I was shedding pounds with each step. When we returned to my room, Stacy led me to the restroom. It was a relief from needing the extra tubes, but a shock with my reflection in the mirror. The entire left side of my face was black and blue. Just above my eyes, was a white gauze bandage that encircled my head. Mummy movies flashed through my mind. I must have gasped in shock as Stacy slowly pushed the door open.
"Sorry, I should have warned you. Really, you are still in there, Jenny. Give it a week and you'll be back."
"This face would have my students running away terrified!" I told her. She moved in beside me and pulled the shower curtain back.
"You deserve a break. There's liquid soap and use this wand, but keep your head dry and stay seated in there. Can you do that?" she asked.
"Thank you, I'd like to try."
She helped me out of my gown and onto the shower seat, and then started the water flow. When it was warm, she handed it to me and said, "I won't leave this room, and will help you out when you're ready."
I realized the bruises extended down my left side. I wondered what my car looked like. The warm water was very soothing, and oddly reassuring that I was still here, alive and with feeling. It was also comforting Stacy was on the other side of the curtain. "Jenny, has anything new come back to you?" she asked me.
"Stacy, I think it's time to ease me into Jenny 101. Shit! I don't even know, if you know, who the hell I am?"
"Jenny, don't get frustrated. Your recovery so far has been beyond belief so take comfort in that for now. To start with, you aren't in Kansas anymore, Dorothy."
"Very funny, and it was Arkansas. I think we'll get along just fine, Stacy."
"My attempt at humor. OK, you and Charlie live in Watson Manor; a B&B in Marina, California, the two of you built it about three years ago."
"I'm in California, and I don't teach anymore?"
"That's right, Jenny. I'm just grazing over the major points and don't want to overwhelm you initially. There is one more thing you should know. You and Charlie have a daughter, Madison. She's about eighteen months old."
"I think we've hit my limit today," I told her, not believing I could lose the memory of my own daughter also. I shut the water off and Stacy handed me a towel that I used first on my tears. She helped me dry off and slip into a fresh gown, and held my arm to guide me back to the bed.
"Jenny, don't get up without help. Use the call button to use the restroom. A fall could be devastating. Do you understand me?"
"Yes. That may be the only thing I do understand."
"I'm going to get your dinner. Think of it this way, the best part of life is falling in love and you get to do that all over again."
I slid under the sheets without help and thought about what she said. She watched me closely and held an encouraging smile that matched her comment. Only one thought filled my throbbing mind. "Stacy, what if I don't find it again?"
Chapter 2
Charlie was driving his Crew Cap pickup home following their afternoon visit to the hospital. Madison was in her car seat behind him beside Jenny's mother, Teresa and Jenny's step father, Pete Jackson sat beside him in the front.
"She's a fighter, Charlie," Teresa said. "But I'm sure you already know that."
"Yeah, I know that. I'm so glad you and Pete flew out. It will help her to see family … family she recalls. The doctor is very encouraged with her physical side and warned me of memory complications, but I was not prepared for being a complete stranger."
Pete turned to face him and said, "The doctor told us that could all change in a flash, familiar surroundings, her friends and you and Madison."
"Whatever it takes. They tell me a couple more days to bring her home, by Christmas I hope. We could have lost her! I can deal with anything beyond that," Charlie said, choking on his emotions.
Teresa put her hand on Charlie's shoulder from the backseat. "Take the doctor's advice and stay home tonight, Charlie. Tomorrow will be brighter."
"The new bandage on Jenny's head was less terrifying. I was concerned how Maddy would react, seeing her mother that way."
"All the more reason to stay home tonight," Teresa told him. "Maddy saw you pretty beat up this last summer and knows the bruises go away."
"Charlie," Peter said. "This is Jenny we're talking about. Even without a memory, there is not a cold bone in her body, you know that. Maddy won't see, or feel the shock you felt today, son."
"I know you're right, Pete, and that was a major concern of mine for Maddy. Time and patience," Charlie said softly, and then louder added, "Maddy, mommy will be ok."
"Mommy coming home?"
"Soon, Maddy. Maybe before Santa comes," Teresa told her.
They parked at Watson Manor and Charlie pulled Madison out of her car seat. He was greeted inside by both Julia, their manager for the B&B and Lisa, the Chef and Madison's care giver.
"Any change from this morning?" Julia asked with a hopeful smile.
"She was sleeping when we were there. Stacy said, they were going to get her walking later. Julia, I know you are anxious to see her. Who knows, it may be a trigger, but I'm thinking tomorrow morning familiar faces will ease her frustration. Teresa, Pete and you, Lisa, might be what she needs in the morning."
"It's so hard to believe," Lisa said. "I can't imagine how confused Jenny must be." Charlie set Madison down and she ran into the office of Watson Investigations where she had a play corner filled with toys. "And you, Charlie," Lisa continued giving him a hug. "There is just too much of a connection between you two for it not to return."
"Any new hope from her doctor?" Julia asked.
"We spent most of our visit with him to let her sleep," Teresa told her. "Time, patience and prayers, summed it up. He is a neurosurgeon and had stories at both ends, complete recovery to starting over. Pete and I will stay as long as you need us, Charlie."
"Thank you, from me and Jenny. I'd better see what I've missed in the office. I can hope for a distraction," Charlie said, and walked into their office. The message lights were blinking on both of their phones. He sat down at his desk and hit the message button.
"Charlie, Walker here, give me call when you get this." Chief Rodney Walker of the Marina Police Department was a close friend of theirs. Charlie figuring that was the reason for the call he'd left a few hours ago, continued through the messages. He called the others back that expressed concerned with Jenny's condition and then called Walker back.
"Walker?"
"Hey, Chief. Nothing new to report, we let her sleep today."
"Charlie, Edwards might have stumbled onto something here. Are you and Jenny currently working a case?"
"Yes. The CEO of Branson Systems, Walter Price, has us looking at key employees for a technology leak, why?"
"The accident may have been staged, Charlie. We know the Suburban that hit Jenny was stolen and we assumed the driver ran from the scene. The open bottle of Captain Morgan led us to the drunken driver conclusion. The airbag was deployed on impact and we assumed it saved the driver. Edwards went back for a closer look and found the cruise control had b
een engaged."
"You think someone tried to kill Jenny!"
"We can't rule that out. I've sent Officer Marks over to keep an eye on Jenny at the hospital. Only the owner's finger prints were found in the Suburban. Did anyone you were investigating send up a flag?"
"Chief, if what you're saying is true; then Jenny was lured to that intersection. I'll check her notes, phone and computer for an address in the area. I've got to get her home! We can't compound what she's going through with a threat on her life!"
"Charlie, we could be way off base here. I just can't take the risk if we're right."
"And I wouldn't want you to, Chief. I need to be there for her. The doctor wanted me to give her space, but that's not possible now."
"Charlie, look for some leads we can follow right now. I have Marks there at the hospital and I've spoken with Stacy as well."
"I'll email you what I find, but her safety is first. I'll have my cell phone with me this time." Charlie hung up the phone and went to Jenny's desk.
*****
Charlie and Jenny had met Walter Price at Branson Systems in San Jose, California the second week in December. The high degree of security entering the facility was intimidating. They were required to leave their cell phones at the front desk and were never without an escort to the CEO's office. Their escort was dressed in a well fitted suit, not the company's security uniform, mid-thirties and well groomed. He didn't say a word leading them to the elevator and up to the fifth floor. The elevator doors opened to a hallway lined with pictures of fighter aircraft and in flight missiles. The Escort knocked on one of the double doors. "Mister Price, your appointment has arrived, Sir."
The door opened. "Jenny, I'm so glad you called. How's my Aunt Teresa?" Price said excitedly.
"Mom's fine. We couldn't very well pass through town without a hello, Cuz," Jenny said as they moved into the office.
Watson Manor My Journey Home (Watson Manor Mystery Series Book 4) Page 1