The Woman Behind the Glass Wall

by DB Jones

  She set her cane near the wall and slowly stepped onto the balcony while holding onto the door frame. “It’s so beautiful out here. I’ll bet I could see the lake from over there.” She glanced at the stone railing around the balcony. “I’m not ready.” She turned and went back inside.

  Jacob hung up the cell phone. “Why did she hesitate? Maybe going over there wasn’t the best idea. I should call her back. No. Jacob, you’re a jerk.”

  Doctor Payne poked his head into Jacob’s office. “Hey, Jacob, are you ready?”

  “Huh? Oh, yeah, Brian. I’ll be right there.”

  Brian stepped into the office. “Is something wrong? You seem preoccupied.”

  “I just called Miss Parker to arrange to go by there this afternoon to check on her, and now I’m wondering if that was the right thing to do.”

  “Why didn’t you just have Maria set up an appointment. Isn’t she the one you were doing a case study on?”

  “She is. You’re right. I should have scheduled our meeting at my office. It’s just that…oh, never mind. Let me scrub up, and I’ll be right there.”

  Brian grinned, shook his head and closed the door. He scrubbed up and waited for Jacob in surgery.

  Jacob pulled his cell phone back out, stared at it and slid into the top drawer of his desk. “I’ll call her back later.” Jacob headed to surgery and scrubbed up.

  After surgery, Brian joined him in the office to go over plans for their follow-up on their patient. “You did a great job in there today. I learn something from you everytime we operate. Hey, I didn’t mean anything back then about your case.”

  “What case?”

  “Miss Parker.”

  Jacob sat down and waved his hand. “Ah, I don’t remember what you said. My case study with her is nearly complete anyway. I just wish I knew what caused her phobia about going outside. She borders on Agoraphobia. That seems to be the only thing holding her back. I’m hoping her brother can encourage her to seek help with opening up that blocked memory she’s carrying around.”

  Brian sat down across from the desk. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you take this much interest in a case. Is there something you’re not telling me?”

  “Like what?”

  Brian widened his eyes and tightened his lips. He leaned against the armrest of the chair. “Dude, I think you care about this woman.”

  “I do care.”

  “Don’t play dumb with me. I’ve known you a long time, and you have never spent this much time thinking about any other woman, that I know of. You’re falling for her.”

  Jacob stood up and walked to his file cabinet, turned and put his hands on his hips. “Now, you sound like my father. I’m just curious about her, that’s all.”

  “Okay, no need to get huffy.” He started to walk to the door. “Jenna is bringing her friend over tonight for dinner; want to join us?”

  Jacob shook his head. “Thanks, but I have plans.”

  “Maybe another time. Jenna’s friend is a knockout. Don’t wait too long.”

  Jacob smiled. “Get out of here.”

  Brian laughed. “Your loss, my friend.”

  Jacob washed up and changed. He looked at the clock; it was nearly 2:30. “Dang, it’s too late to call Sydney and cancel. I might as well get this over with.”

  He pulled up in front of her apartment and looked up at the large glass window of Sydney Parker’s apartment. Jacob spotted her walking around in her room, and smiled.

  He took the elevator to her floor and knocked on her door.

  “Just a minute,” Sydney hollered.

  She opened the door wearing tight blue paisley leggings and a dark blue tank top. “Come in, Doctor T. I was just finishing up with my exercises. Would you like something to drink?”

  Jacob glanced around the room. “I guess I didn’t notice all the changes when I brought you back from rehab. The place looks so spacious. Yes, do you have any coffee.” He followed Sydney to the kitchen and sat on a barstool.

  “We did a little more since you were here last. I guess you can see that I’m not using my cane?”

  “I did notice that. So you feel confident without it?”

  “I still keep it around, but if I get tired, I’ll use it just to be safe. But I don’t think I’ll need it much longer. I’m making good progress.” Sydney handed him a cup of coffee.

  “Thank you. Where’s your brother today and your friend, Anna?”

  “They had plans for the day. I hope it’s okay. Did you need to talk to them?”

  “No. I’m just used to seeing them here when I come by.”

  Sydney smiled at him.“It’s just the two of us. As you can see, I get around pretty well on my own. I don’t need someone watching over me. It feels good to be independent.”

  He nodded his head. “I’m sure it does. Have you gone outside since you’ve been back?”

  “As a matter of fact, I have. I sat out on the balcony with Teddy and Anna, just the other day.”

  Jacob leaned back on his seat. “I mean outside.”

  Sydney got up and walked into the living room and straightened a few magazines on the coffee table. “I’ve been too busy, but I’ll get around to it.”

  He walked up behind her. “Sydney?”

  She quickly turned. He was standing so close that she could feel the warmth of his breath. Her face flushed as he reached out and took her hands in his. “That’s not the real reason you haven’t gone outside, is it?”

  “Doctor T.”

  “It’s Jacob.”

  She lifted her head to see his ice-blue eyes fixed on hers. “I can’t yet.”

  She quickly turned away and sat down on the couch. Jacob sat next to her. “You’re never going to be totally independent until you face what it is you’re blocking. Let me help you.”

  She bit her lower lip and swallowed hard. Tears escaped and ran down her cheeks. Jacob took his napkin and dabbed her face. She looked up at him again. “I want to know. Honestly, I do. I even talked to Teddy about seeing his hypnotist. I promised that as soon my therapy is done, I would let him make an appointment for me.”

  Jacob smiled and squeezed her hands. “I’m so glad. Sydney, you’re a beautiful, bright young woman and I don’t want to see you locked up the rest of your life behind these glass walls.”

  Sydney burst out laughing. “That’s what Anna calls it. She calls it the glass walls of my prison.”

  “Perfect description,” he grinned. “But you know what I’m saying, don’t you?”

  “I think so. I can’t thank you enough Doctor; I mean Jacob, for all you’ve done for my family and me. Is this why you stopped by today?”

  He sat up straight and let go of her hands. “I can see you no longer require therapy, so you’re on your own now. How does that feel?”

  Sydney threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek then pulled back. “Oh, Doctor, I’m so sorry. I couldn’t be happier. I was afraid you might have found out bad news on my recovery.”

  “Uh, no. You’re fine. You don’t need to come in for any more tests either. However, if anything comes up, I want you to feel free to call me.”

  “You mean you’re discharging me from your care?”

  He forced a smile. “I sure am. Isn’t that wonderful?”

  Sydney lowered her head and gave a half smile. “Yes,” she mumbled. She stood up and walked to open the French doors. “I thought, oh never mind.”

  “You thought what?”

  “I guess I was hoping that you would be around to see the day I ventured outside, maybe even walk with me to the lake.”

  He walked over to her. “I would love that.”

  She turned and looked into his eyes. “You would?”

  Jacob smiled. “I’d be honored to escort you around the lake. You just let me know when.”

  There was a moment of silence as their eyes met. Then he turned toward the front door. “I’d better get out of here and let you get back to whatever you were do
ing. I’ve taken up enough of your time.”

  Anna spent most of the drive wondering why Teddy wanted her to accompany him to his office. She turned to him. “I feel so guilty about lying to Sydney. Teddy, are you planning to return to work soon?”

  He smiled, shrugged his shoulder but kept his sights on the road. “I am, but…”

  “But what?”

  “Let me put it to you this way. How would you feel with me being around more?”

  “You’re not giving up your practice, are you?”

  “No.”

  “Then what in the heck are you saying?”

  He pulled over to the side of the road, turned off the car, undid his seatbelt and repositioned himself to face her. “You just don’t get it, do you?”

  She furrowed her brow and curled her lip. “Get what?”

  “Anna, what I’m trying to say is that I’d like to spend more time with you and if that means moving my practice to town, that’s what I’m willing to do.”

  Anna fell back against the door with her mouth wide open staring at him.

  “Well?”

  She reached over and grabbed his face and kissed him.

  “I’m taking that as an approval?”

  “You big lug. What in the heck took you so long?”

  “Waiting for you.” He pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her then kissed her.

  Tears began to flow from Anna.

  Teddy slightly pushed her back. “Why are you crying?”

  “You have been in my heart since we were kids running around your momma’s kitchen, but I never dreamed you ever thought of me in this way.

  “Why did you think I always found an excuse to come over?

  “To see your sister.”

  “I could have called her anytime. I was just hoping you’d look at me the way I dreamed.”

  “Well, then you’re blind.”

  “I guess I am.”

  Anna looked up at him with tears still streaming down her face. “Why now? Why tell me how you feel now?”

  He swallowed hard. “Now that Sydney is on her own, I couldn’t risk losing you.”

  “Lose me how? I’m not moving from the apartment unless Sydney throws me out,” she chuckled.

  “I wasn’t afraid of that. I was afraid you’d open yourself up to meeting someone else, and I couldn’t take the chance.”

  She reached up and took his face in her hands. “No chance of that.” Anna began to laugh.

  “What are you laughing about?”

  “Us. Think about it. I’ve been waiting for you, and you’ve been waiting for me, and neither would say a word. How dumb is that?”

  Teddy chuckled, too. “Aren’t we a pair?”

  “We are. I wonder what Sydney is going to say when we tell her?”

  “Are you kidding, she’s been encouraging me to make a move for as long as I can remember, but I kept avoiding her nudges with denials.”

  “So, you’re serious about moving your practice, too?”

  “I am. I wanted to see what your response was first before I discussed this with my staff.”

  “I hope you’re not moving just on my account. You only live an hour away.”

  He smiled and took her hands in his. “Anna, I don’t want us to waste any more time. We’ve skirted around our feeling most of our lives. An hour away would limit me spending time with you; of course, you might not want me around that much.”

  She shook her head. I must be dreaming. Anna brought his hands to her lips and kissed them. “I can’t imagine anything I’d like better.”

  He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. “This is what I want to do. Why don’t we get something to eat and drive back and tell Sydney?”

  “I can’t wait to see the expression on her face. I am hungry, but we’re not going to your office?”

  “No. It was just an excuse to get you alone, and give Sydney some time with the good doctor.” He grinned.

  “Good grief, I had forgotten all about that. I hope Doctor Thornhill came with good news for Syd. I feel a little guilty leaving her alone…but only a little guilty.”

  Sydney walked to the window and watched Jacob cross the street to his car. “Why is he just sitting there?”

  Jacob sat in the car reflecting and trying to read into what just happened with Sydney. “That could have gone better. I dismissed her. What a jerk you are, Jacob.” He glanced out the car window toward her apartment and saw her standing there. He quickly turned away, started the car and drove off.

  As he was pulling into his driveway, Frank was on his way out. “Hey, Frank. Are you done for the day?”

  “Yep, I’m already late for dinner, but I was having such a nice visit with your dad that I lost track of time.”

  “Well, then you’d better get home. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

  “Sure thing, Jacob.”

  Jacob headed inside to find his father standing outside on the new patio. “Hi, Dad.”

  “Well, what do you think of the patio?”

  Jacob looked around at the flagstone, the seating wall around the rim of the patio and the built-in grill set up. “This looks great. What do you think of the new grill?

  “Much better than our old rusted one down by the lake.”

  “ I guess I’d better get some beer and steaks for the weekend, uh?”

  “That would be nice, but I have plans.”

  “Plans? For the whole weekend?”

  “Yes, Sal and I are heading to the river for some fishing.”

  “Sal fishes? I never imagined him holding a rod and reel.”

  “Where Sal grew up in Italy, they did a lot of fishing, of course, it was mostly with nets, but he said he knew how to handle a fishing pole.”

  “Sounds like a good time. Let me change, and I’ll grab a beer.”

  “Okay.”

  Jacob walked upstairs to his new room. He couldn’t get the look of Sydney expression out of his mind when he told her she no longer needed his services. “That didn’t go the way I hoped.”

  He changed clothes and came back downstairs. He grabbed a beer and joined his dad on the patio.

  “Well, how did it go with your patient today?”

  Jacob took a swig from his beer. “It could have gone better. I lack the bedside manner that Brian has.”

  “What do you mean, Son?”

  “I discharged her, but not in a good way. I thought she would be happy, but I didn’t get that. I think she feels that since I talked her into having the surgery and now that she’s walking, I just dumped her to the curb. That wasn’t my intention at all.”

  “She was probably just startled. I’m sure as it sinks in, she’ll be happy.”

  “I’m not sure. You didn’t see the way she looked at me.”

  “How’s that?”

  “She looked disappointed.”

  “Son, you might be reading more into this than is there. Maybe it’s you who is disappointed.”

  “What?”

  “Maybe you were the one hoping for some other response from her, and not as your patient, but as a woman.”

  “Dad, you’re wrong.”

  Senior shrugged his shoulder and smiled. “If you say so.”

  Jacob walked to the new bar-b-que grill. “Frank did a great job on this, didn’t he?”

  “He did. Originally I thought we you were just going to move the old grill down at the lake up here?”

  “I was, but a new one seemed more fitting for our new patio.”

  “We need to throw a party.”

  “That would be great. You just let me know when. After all, Dad, you’re the one with a full schedule.”

  “I’ll let you know next week. Maybe Sal and I will come home with buckets of fish to grill.”

  Jacob muffled his laughter. “I’m sure you will.”

  “Who are you going to bring as a date?”

  “A date?”

  “Yeah, a date. That’s when two people get together to enjoy each
other’s company.”

  “Don’t be a wise-guy, Dad. I don’t have to have a date to have friends over. Besides, who would you bring?”

  “I’m done with dating. I had my love with your mother, but you my son who is already in his thirties, haven’t even started.”

  “Don’t start with that. I’ll date when I find someone I want to spend time with, okay?”

  “Okay, tic tock.”

  Jacob took a big gulp of his beer and shook his head.

  “You could ask your ex-patient. I’m sure it would be good for the young lady to get out.”

  “I’m not too sure about that. Besides, she’s still dealing with some underlining fears about venturing outside.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” Senior took his beer into the house.

  Jacob stood admiring how well the patio looked and was glad his father was enjoying it, but his thoughts were on Sydney.

  “Hey, Dad, why don’t I run up to Sal’s and pick up something for dinner?”

  “I could go for a big plate of spaghetti.”

  “I’ll be back soon.”

  Sydney heated up some leftovers and started toward the open French doors. She stopped, took in a breath of the cool fresh air and stepped onto the balcony. “You can do this.” Gripping her plate, she took another step, then another until she reached the small wrought iron bistro table. She quickly grabbed the back of the chair and set her plate on the table and sat down. She lowered her head into her trembling hands. “Why does this have to be so difficult?”

  The front door opened and she spun around to see Teddy and Anna walking in. They didn’t see her at first, but when Sydney saw Anna reach up and kiss Teddy, she screamed. “I knew it.”

  Anna approached the doorway. “How did you get out here?”

  “How do you think?”

  “You came out here on your own?”

  Sydney cocked her head and looked up at her brother. “Quit trying to change the subject. I know what’s going on.”

  Teddy walked out on the balcony and kissed his sister on the forehead. “What are you talking about, Sis?”