by D. F. Jones
Anna calmed down, listening to Ruby’s voice. “Of course, you’re right, and I did meet one of my neighbors. Maybe he’ll want to study together. Thank you, Ruby. I feel stronger when I talk to you. Watch out for Jerry. I love you.”
Ruby smacked her lips in what sounded like a kiss. “I will, and I love you, dumpling.”
Anna hung up and stood to look out over the balcony. She had a view of a lovely pond with gorgeous plant life. Anna chuckled to herself. Her dad had rented the apartment on the second floor on the outside chance an alligator might meander into the complex. She hadn’t caught a glimpse of a gator yet.
Anna grabbed her books, shoved them into her backpack, and strapped it on her back. She hopped on her bicycle and rode over to the library to study. Anna slammed the book shut after about thirty minutes and looked up to find Ralph staring down at her.
He smiled and pointed to a chair. “May I sit down?”
Anna nodded and crossed her forearms, resting them on the table. “Long time no see. What’s up?”
The library was full of students, and all of them were oblivious to this beautiful being who radiated such love. Ralph radiated a soft glow of light around the frame of his body. “Now, Ms. Anna Faye, it’s time to start your training. I know you’re distracted by leaving your home, but in a few weeks, you’re going to be so busy the loss will lessen. You’re on the right course. When you faced a tough decision, you took a path rarely taken. Grab your book bags. I’ll meet you at your apartment.” Ralph dematerialized.
Anna straightened her spine and left the library feeling stronger. She unlocked her bicycle and began to pedal faster and faster as the balmy breeze hit her face. Anna’s guardian angel said she’d made the right decision.
At the crosswalk, Anna stood on the concrete with the bike between her legs and shouted, “I can do this. I will become a doctor.”
A man in a sports coat and jeans stood at the crosswalk with her. He turned around and said, “You can do anything if you’re willing to work hard enough for it.”
Anna smiled at the man. “It’s my first day of medical school. Thank you.” She pedaled to the Tom Thumb market and bought a six pack of baby Millers. She threw them into her bag and rode her bike to the apartment. Inside, she found Raphael lying on her couch with his hands behind his head.
Anna threw her keys in the glass bowl on the table and walked through her little den into an even smaller kitchen. “Hey, I bought beer. Do you want one?”
Raphael smiled again, his teeth dazzling white. “I only consume organic nutrition from my home. I’ve never consumed human food or drinks, ever. Similar to what humans refer to as being vegan. However, I do love the colors and the smells of your foods and the ingenious ways humans prepare it. Thank you for offering.”
Anna placed the beers in the fridge and wasted no time opening up one for herself and drank it pretty damn fast. “Ralph, how does the healing energy work? I want to know why I can’t heal all injuries or illnesses.”
Ralph motioned for her to sit down with him on the couch. “I briefly discussed with you about how the healing energy is a direct link to The Creator. He uses your electrons and neutrons through an embedded genetic code to link chemically up to His energy. There are some aspects of the energy I don’t understand. I wasn’t meant to. You’re unable to heal some humans because their destinies are sealed. Those souls are on a different path. All human bodies have an expiration date. Try to remember that angels aren’t allowed to interfere with human free will.”
Anna sat cross-legged and took another sip of beer. “Okay, so you’ve mentioned the free will part. Will you teach me everything you know?”
Ralph turned and sat cross-legged to face her. “I had to allow you to grow and mature as a human. But I would love to teach you. I have great faith that you’re ready now. The Creator has great faith in you, and He has great faith in all humans. And yes, before you ask, all humans are important. Some humans lose their way, and demons consume many. There are humans who simply ignore their gifts. Their rational intellect tells them not to believe in the supernatural. But the answers have always been there for any human who seeks the divine. Knock and the door will open. Seek and you shall find.”
Anna raised her hand and said, “Give me five.” Ralph met her hand with a smack. She smiled. “So where do we go from here? What do I need to do to help?”
Ralph touched the side of her face with his hand, and warm tingles shot across her cheek. “You and your friends have such a genuine eagerness and willingness to help.”
Over the next few years, Ralph began to teach her about her powers, and Anna’s entire perspective began to change on life. Anna had been chosen by the divine, and she delved into her medical studies like a madwoman. Ralph worked with her daily and taught her how to conceal her power and control the elements around her, so she could heal people without anyone or anything detecting her.
Anna hadn’t exaggerated to Jerry about her school workload. She barely had enough time to breathe, much less sleep and brush her teeth. Anna only saw Jerry a handful of times throughout medical school. At first, Anna talked to Jerry once a week, but as time passed, the intervals between their phone calls grew longer and the messages she left for him went unanswered. Until the day came when they had just quit talking. Life moved on.
Anna settled into a maddening, fast-paced routine and took full loads every semester as well as going to summer school and intersession. She spent long hours studying and memorizing material for every course. The doctors at the university hospital took notice of her work ethic when she started her clinical rotations. Anna’s schedule was very intense, but she’d been relentless in her efforts. She never complained and worked shifts no one else wanted. She covered for people who couldn’t make their shifts. Anna’s sole purpose in life was to heal, and her drive landed her a residency at the Hall of Saints Hospital in Pensacola.
* * *
Murfreesboro, Tennessee 1984
The first year after Anna left took an emotional toll on Jerry. He had to remind himself to wake up, put his feet on the floor, and breathe. The days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months. Ruby and Reed had been his lifeline. Jerry practically lived with them during the first year known as “life without Anna.”
The Ditch Lane Diaries monthly meetings had switched to conference calls and, more often than not, Anna was absent. Ruby and Anna had up-close-and-personal relationships with their guardian angels. Jerry knew his angel’s name and felt her presence from time to time, but no visuals. Whenever Jerry received an encrypted message, he would discuss it with Ruby. The supernatural events that had been so important in his past now seemed to make an appearance only in his professional life.
On the weekends, Jerry still helped his dad on the farm, and he became friends with Nelson Doune. Nelson became a valuable mentor to Jerry’s business. Nelson had been the one who suggested using Rachel to host employee events and dinner parties. She was a big hit with the Tech World employees. Jerry and Rachel’s friendship evolved into a professional relationship, albeit one with flirtations.
Jerry threw himself into building Tech World. He hired two exceptional programming students who had turned into full-time hires. By the second year of business, Jerry’s sales had doubled, and his success kept growing year after year. Eventually, he acquired enough capital to buy a commercial lot and hired a contractor to build him a commercial building to meet his specific needs, including climate control environment for his servers. Jerry hired Reed as his marketing consultant, and Tech World was projected to be in seven figures by year-end. Jerry had a staff of fifty employees, and he worked hard every day to make sure those employees kept their jobs and stayed happy. Happy employees yielded profits in a big way for Tech World.
Jerry walked through the double doors of his new building. His receptionist, Sarah, waved. He smiled and revealed a basket of pastries in his hand. “Good morning, Sarah. Would you like a pastry? Freshly made from Everglade Gen
eral Store.”
Sarah turned several shades of red and said, “Mr. McDaniel, they smell wonderful, but I’m trying to lose weight for summer. Thank you.”
Jerry frowned and shook his head. “Sarah, you’re beautiful just the way you are. You don’t need to lose weight. But I guess that means more for me. Is everyone in this morning?”
Sarah straightened her shoulders and nodded. “Yes, sir. Everyone is here.”
“Great! At nine o’clock, make an announcement for all employees to meet in the warehouse. I have some news.” He winked and walked down the hall corridor. Several employees shouted greetings, and Jerry waved or said hello. He hit the button on the elevator to the second floor. When he stepped out, his assistant, Kaye, waited for him.
“Good morning, Mr. McDaniel. You have a full calendar today. Hmm. Uh. Ms. Doune is in your office. She doesn’t take no for an answer.”
Jerry chuckled and offered a pastry to Kaye, who took a chocolate-covered donut. “Ms. Doune never takes no for an answer. We have a meeting in the warehouse at nine. If you need to change my schedule, please give me about twenty minutes to tell the employees the good news.” He whistled as he walked through his office door. Rachel stood looking at his Chris Chambliss signed jersey his dad bought him for his birthday last year.
Rachel wore a tailored black suit with a white blouse, and her hair was pulled back tight at the nape of her neck and secured with a black clip. She turned and smiled. “You’re late.”
He kissed her on the cheek. “I’m celebrating this morning, and I have pastries from Ruby. Want one?”
“You bet your ass I do. I want her cinnamon buns. So what are you celebrating? And why am I here so early? You know I hate early meetings.” She took a bite out of the cinnamon bun, and he went around and sat at his desk.
Jerry grabbed one of the donuts with confectioners sugar and placed it on a napkin. “I closed the deal with Weston-Hall Enterprises. Seven-figure contract.”
Rachel ran around the desk and hugged his neck. “Jerry, I’m so proud of you. When did you find out?”
He patted her hand. “Last night. I received a phone call around eight. And you’re here to help me throw a party for the employees. I couldn’t do this without their help or yours. I’m giving every employee a hundred-dollar bonus in their check this Friday. I want you to line up caterers, music, and an open bar. The works. I’m flying high, my friend.” He took a bite of his donut and washed it down with coffee, two creams, two sugars. Sarah came over the loud speaker system. He grinned and said, “Come on, let’s tell them together.” He grabbed Rachel’s hand, and they walked to the elevator and went to the bottom floor.
Jerry noticed that his employees looked apprehensive. He quickly hopped onto of one the spools of wire and whistled. Everyone stared at him. He shouted, “I have awesome news. We closed on the deal with Weston-Hall last night, and we’re going to celebrate this Friday. We’re going to throw a party, and each of you will receive an extra hundred bucks in your paycheck this week.” The employees yelled and whistled with excitement. “Now, y’all get back to work.” Jerry laughed, and several employees came over to shake his hand and thank him. He looked up at Rachel and smiled. Today was a good day.
* * *
New Year’s Eve
Jerry rode in the back seat of the limo he’d hired for the evening, heading to the Nelson Doune Farms annual New Year’s Eve Bash. He intended to celebrate tonight because Tech World had had another record year. Not half bad for a farm boy from Everglade, Tennessee. He stepped out of the limo in a custom-fit Armani Tux, diamond cufflinks, and a pair of black Salvatore plain toe oxfords. Jerry’s hair was shorter now and feathered off his face.
People entered the main house in evening gowns and tuxedos. Inside the house, black and gold balloons, streamers, and glittering décor filled the rooms. Music blared from the ballroom on the second floor. Jerry grabbed a flute of champagne offered by a passing waiter.
Jerry zeroed in on two hotties in the library when he glanced up, and Rachel appeared on the staircase. Holy hell. Rachel wore a sleeveless black evening dress with a plunging neckline that seemed to go to her navel, but a wide velvet belt prevented his view. The belt cinched at the waist and accented her voluptuous curves. Rachel waved and descended the stairs. He offered her his hand, and she took it.
Jerry kissed the back of her hand. “Ms. Doune, you’re looking quite beautiful tonight.”
Rachel reached over and kissed his cheek. “Right back at you, Mac. You clean up well for a farm boy. Every woman here is staring at you.”
Jerry placed her hand in the crook of his arm and walked them to the bar in the library. “And every man is staring at you.”
Rachel laughed out loud. “Then let’s make them all jealous as hell.”
The evening passed with more cocktails than Jerry could count. At midnight, Jerry and Rachel were on the floor dancing to Al Green’s “How to Mend a Broken Heart.” He pulled her close, his hand resting on the curve of her ass. The music stopped, and Nelson took the microphone and started counting down, “10-9-8…” But Jerry didn’t hear anything. He locked on Rachel’s eyes, his gaze dropped to her mouth, and she licked her top lip as everyone screamed, “Happy New Year.” Jerry grabbed her by the nape of her neck and crushed her with a kiss.
Rachel grabbed his hand and said, “Come with me.” Jerry followed her and raced to the east wing of the house. The next morning, Jerry woke up in Rachel’s arms and his life began again.
Chapter 9
Separate Lives
Pensacola, Florida 1985
Anna rented a brick guest house from a former patient she’d treated when she first came to her residency at Hall of Saints Hospital. Cary Stewart was a well-off man in his seventies with no kids of his own. She’d saved Cary’s life. He’d had a massive heart attack in the ER, and with the miracles of modern medicine along with her healing powers, Cary had recovered astoundingly fast.
Anna stopped by frequently to check on Cary during his stay at the hospital. They would get into long conversations about Tennessee. His grandmother had lived on a farm in Bethesda. She enjoyed Cary’s sense of humor.
On the day of his release, Cary made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. “Look, I learned from one of the nurses you’re looking for a place to rent. My place has a guest house I normally rent out to tourists. I’m happy to offer it to you. It has two bedrooms with a daybed up in the loft. We have a swimming pool, and the ocean is only a stone’s throw away. How about it?”
Anna sat down in a chair next to the hospital bed. “Sounds expensive. How much?”
Cary tapped his finger next to his temple. “You pay the utilities, and we’ll call it even. You did save my life.” He reached over, grabbed his pen and pad off the side table, scribbled, and handed the note to Anna. “Here’s the address. Come and check it out.”
Anna took the note and read the address. It was close to the hospital. “Cary, I don’t know what to say except thank you. I’ll come and check on you tomorrow, and then I’ll check your guest house out.”
Anna accepted Cary’s offer but insisted on paying him a fair amount of rent. The tropical oceanfront property had a pool and private access to the beach. Carey and his housekeeper, Maria, became her friends during her two years of residency in Pensacola.
* * *
After Anna’s shift at Hall of Saints, she went for a long walk on the beach. It had been a particularly hard day for her. She’d lost a patient. Her mind retraced each step of the case, and she couldn’t find anything she would have done differently. Anna had even tried to use her healing powers, but she lost her patient anyway. She thought about the fifty-year-old woman, still in the prime of life. The patient had been admitted to the hospital with stomach pains, no fever, no chills, only stomach pain. By the time Anna had been made aware of the case, it was too late. There had been a tear in the abdominal wall. An abdominal aortic aneurysm. The worst part had been going out to the family. Her husband
and two sons were in the waiting room.
Anna went over to the Densen family. “Would you please come with me?” The look of terror struck across the husband’s face, but the two teenage boys were unaware of the life-altering event she had to tell them. Inside the family consultation room, Anna looked at the husband and the two boys. “Mrs. Densen suffered a tear in her abdominal wall. It’s what we call an abdominal aortic aneurysm. I tried to repair the damage, but too much time had lapsed.”
The oldest boy, who looked to be sixteen or seventeen, said, “May I see Mom?”
Anna held the boy’s hand and looked at the father. “Yes, you can, but I’m sorry to say your mom has passed away.” The husband broke down in tears, and the sons stared at her in shock.
The older boy said, “No, my mom is okay. She’s taking me to my baseball tournament this weekend. Mom said she just ate something bad.”
Anna placed her hand on his shoulder. “I am sorry. You may come with me now, and I’ll take you to her room.” The husband was inconsolable as he and the boys followed her to the room. Inside the room, all three broke down and cried and Anna had cried with them. She said, “Please take as long as you need. I will be at the nurses station.”
Now, Anna walked on the beach with her heart broken. She didn’t understand why she could heal some patients and not others. As the sun began to set, Anna made her way to Cary’s boardwalk, past the grounds, to her house. Inside the kitchen, she sat at the table numb for the family who had suffered the loss of a beloved spouse and mother.
The telephone rang three times before she heard it and the machine picked it up. Ruby was on the line. Anna went over and grabbed the phone from its docking station. “Hey, Ruby, I’m here. Just a little slow today. What’s up?” A chill came over her, and the hair on her arms rose. Ruby let out a big sigh. Anna said, “What’s wrong? Tell me. I can see you twirling the ends of your hair right now.”