Bridgetown's Eleventh Hour

by Shirley A. Roe

  BRIDGETOWN’S

  ELEVENTH

  HOUR

  SHIRLEY A. ROE

  Copyright© 2012 Shirley A. Roe

  All rights reserved including rights of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Short sections may be reproduced for review and promotional purposes.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, establishments, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual personas, living or dead is entirely coincidental. Actual places and historical references may have been used to enhance the story or set the timeline. Any interaction with the fictitious characters is pure fantasy.

  A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in. - Greek proverb

  First Edition 2012

  ISBN: 978-1-84961-180-0

  TheEbookSale Publishing,

  Limerick Ireland

  The iron grip of the powerful is no match to the power of the meek, as our history, not yet written, will teach us.

  A special thank you to my husband Jim, for his patience and understanding during the creative process and his diligent, conscientious proofing of my manuscripts. And for just being, Jim.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty One

  Chapter Twenty two

  Chapter Twenty three

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Chapter One

  The rain had stopped, but the fog was thick and heavy, leaving the grass soggy with rivulets of rainwater. Sarah placed her steps carefully, trying to avoid the puddles that threatened her new shoes. Her mind was buzzing, With everything else that has happened; it is strange that I am thinking of my shoes, although they did cost the better part of this week’s earnings. Perhaps that’s a good sign. Maybe I am, finally coming to grips with the situation.

  Sarah, lost in thought, continued across the lawn toward the foreboding gray building.

  “Sarah, Sarah, wait for me!” As she turned toward the voice, she stepped into a large puddle.

  “Oh no, now look at my shoe!” she exclaimed, her mouth immediately set in an angry pout. Looking rather annoyed and shaking her wet foot, she waited for her best friend, Christine.

  “What is the matter now?” Christine inquired, genuinely concerned and noticing the obvious disapproval.

  “I just bought these shoes and now look. This one is covered in mud and I have a meeting in fifteen minutes.” Disgusted, Sarah moved to the nearest park bench and tried to wipe her shoe with a tissue.

  Christine followed her shaking her head. “It’s just a shoe! I thought something else had happened to Jack.” She sat beside her friend, but soon stood up when the moisture from the bench soaked through her jeans. “You had better stand up or you’ll be going to the meeting with a wet behind and a mucky shoe.” Christine teased, but Sarah was not in the mood for jokes today. Christine looked down at her own rubber boots. “There is something to be said for being practical.”

  Sarah jumped up in exasperation as the moisture soaked through her skirt. She brushed the back of her skirt. “This is just what I need. What a day this has turned out to be and really, Christine, you and your practical mind. I could hardly go to a meeting wearing rubber boots!” she snapped, seeing no humor in the situation. “I’m telling you, I’ve just about had it!”

  Christine was used to Sarah’s outbursts. They had been friends since public school.

  She put her arm around Sarah’s shoulders affectionately, “Come on, I’ll walk you to the main building and after your meeting, I’ll take you to lunch. Sound good?” She smiled, tilting her head to the side coquettishly.

  Sarah looked at her and smiled apologetically. “Yes, it sounds wonderful. I’ll meet you at the café around the corner at twelve. I’m sorry that I am always whining, but with Jack in hospital, our relationship on the rocks, my bills piling up, and the faculty fighting me all the way on this summer promotion, I really feel like I can’t take anymore.”

  “You go to your meeting. I’ll see you at twelve and then, I’ll go to the hospital and visit Jack. You can go for a manicure or something.” Sarah looked at Christine gratefully, appreciative of her friendship. She waved goodbye and climbed the steps to the faculty building. Before she entered the building, she again tried to wipe some of the mud from her shoe. She looked over her shoulder at the back of her navy skirt to make sure it wasn’t wet or stained from the bench. It was important that she look her best. Satisfied, she opened the large oak door, stepped in and walked confidently, toward the boardroom.

  Seven men and three women were seated around a long oak table. Sarah stood at the head of the table preparing for her presentation. She opened her briefcase and carefully arranged her papers on the table. She connected her laptop to the projector. She casually brushed a small speck of fluff from the keyboard. Sarah was fastidious. The others chatted amongst themselves while they waited. When she was ready, she called the meeting to order. On the screen behind her, pictures of young people laughing, dancing and enjoying life flashed one after the other. The name of the university was across the bottom of the screen. The next pictures showed young academics in laboratories, libraries, and classrooms. She had more than fifteen different campaign boards and went through each one carefully. Sarah glanced at the faces around the long table. Some smiled, others gave nothing away. Sarah prayed silently that they would approve this campaign that she had spent days preparing so she could move on to her next project.

  Christine walked to the library, where she intended to do some research for her latest book. Unlike Sarah, she walked through the puddles, not around them. She was smiling widely when she entered the building.

  “Hello Christine. More research?” the librarian, seated at the large desk situated at the entrance to the library, grinned at Christine. Bridgetown University library was a large, modern building, with four stories of books on every imaginable subject. The main floor was cozy and comfortable with large sofas and chairs, a coffee bar and magazine rack. Christine often spent the afternoons here, sitting beside the large, floor to ceiling windows, researching for her latest novel or a journalism piece she was working on.

  “It is ancient Scotland today, Mary.” Christine laughed as she headed for the fourth floor and the history department. Mary watched her go, thinking how cheerful and positive the young woman always appeared. Christine took the stairs two at a time, just for the exercise. Her rubber boots made a plopping sound as they connected with the stairs. When she reached the history department, she noticed it was nearly empty. Her eyes scanned the shelves for the books that she wanted and she was soon settled at one of the large tables, a coffee on her left and surrounded by books and papers. Within minutes, she was fully engrossed in her subject.

  After an hour, and needing a break from the research, Christine reached for her laptop hanging on the back of the chair. As she swung the case toward the table, it toppled her coffee cup. “Damn,” she whispered to herself as she reached in her pocket for a tissue. Mopping the spilled brown liquid from the table, she quickly moved the books out of ha
rm’s way. It took several tissues to control the river of coffee spreading across the table. Depositing the soggy tissues in the closest waste basket, she returned to the table. Finally ready, she turned on her laptop and opened the file containing the letter to her parents that she had started the day before. After retiring three years ago, they had moved to Arizona. She was happy to know that they were living the life that they had dreamt of. Both had worked hard all of their lives and she had encouraged them to spend their savings on a home in Arizona. The climate was dry and much healthier for her mother’s arthritis. Christine had only visited twice since they moved, and she missed them. The next few hours passed by quickly and soon she was finished the research and the letter. She packed up her laptop and papers and left the library, waving to Mary as she passed. Stopping at the postbox, she pressed the envelope to her lips, and dropped the letter to Arizona into the box. She made her way across town to meet Sarah, arriving at the café first.

  Sarah’s meeting went well and she walked into the café at exactly noon. Christine laughed when she saw her. “Never a minute late, I could set my watch by you! I ordered coffee for both of us. How did the meeting go?”

  “Actually, I think I am finally getting somewhere with the summer promotion, but those academics are a hard nut to crack, they’re so traditional. My campaign is all fun, young and appealing, but they want, old, tried and true.” She shook her head in exasperation. “I’ll convince them in the end.” The waitress brought two cups of steaming coffee. Sarah thanked the waitress and picked up the coffee mug encasing it in both hands. She let the aroma of the rich Columbian coffee penetrate deeply before taking a sip. The dark rich coffee was hot and satisfying. With her napkin, she quickly wiped the ring left by the cup and set the coffee cup down on the napkin.

  “Your reputation in the business should be enough to convince those stuffed shirts. What are you going to have?” Christine looked over the menu, as Sarah concentrated on her coffee, using it as a way to help her relax. Her menu remained on the table, unopened.

  “The usual, a small salad and a bowl of soup, the same thing I have every time I come here. How boring!” Sarah laughed at herself. “Jack would call me ‘consistent.”

  “You’re going to have to get more adventurous, how about the fajitas?”

  “No, soup and a salad suit me just fine. You can have the indigestion from the Mexican food.” They laughed and when the waitress appeared, they ordered. The friends made idle chit chat and waited for their meal.

  “When you see Jack, tell him I’ll be there tonight.” Sarah finished her lunch and savored her second cup of coffee. Christine watched her friend when she mentioned Jack noticing that Sarah’s face showed both worry and confusion.

  “Jack is going to be home soon, you know. Once he’s better, you two can work out exactly where the relationship is going. He loves you very much. I really think you are just going through a rough patch.”

  “It all started when I applied for the contract with Martin and Schultz Chemicals. I just wish he would understand that it’s just a job. He is so righteous when it comes to the environment.” Sarah rested her head on her hand in resignation.

  Christine patted the back of her arm sympathetically. “I’m going to ask him about the animals of ancient Scotland when I see him. He is the only zoologist that I know and I can’t start on the next chapter until I get more information.” She wanted to keep the conversation light, but it wasn’t working.

  “He has an infection now. If you can believe this, he got it in the hospital. I think they call it “C-diff” or something like that. His surgery went well, but now the infection is causing complications.” Sarah put her cup down, “I hate hospitals.” She looked at her hands. “I do need a manicure, thanks for taking the afternoon shift.”

  “I need to see him anyway, so it gives both of us a chance to do what we need to do. Can he eat chocolate? I will buy one of those dark, organic bars that he likes.” Christine patted Sarah’s hand. “Now run along and fix those nails, they really are disgusting.”

  Sarah looked at her hands again, anxiously, “Are they that bad? Oh dear, I never let myself go like this. I should get a pedicure and a haircut while I’m there.”

  Christine laughed at her. “I was teasing, now go, relax and enjoy.” She brushed at a stain on her jeans. “Look at this. I slopped fajita all over my pant leg.” Sarah just shook her head at her messy friend and laughed.

  When Christine arrived at the hospital, she stopped at the gift shop and purchased two organic chocolate bars and one Green Planet magazine. She opened the door to Jack’s room just as the doctor was leaving.

  “Good afternoon Doctor Phillips, may I ask how the patient is today?” Christine inquired in a relaxed and friendly manner. She had known Doctor Phillips for years.

  “He is much better, the infection seems to be under control with the antibiotics. He should be up and about in no time.” Doctor Phillips smiled at the attractive, young woman with the long brown hair; watching her as she walked over to the side of the bed. He set the chart on the side table and left them alone.

  A young man, with smooth, olive skin and short jet-black hair lay in the bed with an IV tube connected to his arm. Jack smiled when he saw her. “Chris, it’s great to see you. Where’s Sarah?”

  “Taking the afternoon off, since I needed some information and you are the only one that can tell me what I need to know. So, here I am and here are your goodies.” She handed him the bag from the gift shop. He reached in and removed the magazine first.

  “Green Planet June edition, thanks Chris. Now I can see what our government and the rest of the world leaders have been destroying while I have been in here.” He reached back into the bag. “And organic dark chocolate, my favorite!” His smile broadened.

  “How are you feeling? Sarah told me you had “C-diff” or some kind of infection.” She sat in the large chair by the window, turning it toward him. She pulled her clipboard and notepad from her well-worn attaché case and put it on her knee.

  “Better than I was yesterday and grateful to be alive, imagine getting an infection in the hospital. The kidney transplant went well and Doctor Phillips is pleased.” He looked pensive for a moment, “Something should be done about the cleanliness in these places. There goes our government again, cutting healthcare costs and, of course, cleanliness is the first thing to suffer. Now the patients are getting infections and it is costing more in the long run- bloody government!” Jack’s voice was filled with passion and intensity.

  “Jack, don’t even start. I’ve heard enough of your opinions on the government cost cutting, environmental screw-ups and other wrongdoing. What exactly is C-diff?”

  “Clostridium difficile, actually a species of Gram-positive bacteria of the genus Clostridium; it causes severe diarrhea when the gut flora bacteria, are wiped out by antibiotics. In hospitals, patients can ingest the spores, which release toxins and it can be life threatening. They treat it with metronidazole first and if that doesn’t work, vancomycin is the second treatment.”

  “Yikes, I didn’t want a biology lesson! I want to talk about ancient Scotland.” They both laughed. “I see you have a bowl of fruit and some yogurt, did Bernie bring them in?”

  “Yes, he knows I won’t eat the processed, chemical filled food they serve in here. The words ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ are never spoken in hospital kitchens. No wonder we are all sick and being pumped full of drugs, making the pharmaceutical companies richer by the day.”

  “Enough now Jack.” Christine rolled her eyes.

  “Sorry, I do ramble on. By the way, you have a big stain on your jeans.” He pointed to her leg. She scowled at him. He laughed returning to the subject she asked about. “Ancient Scotland, what do you want to know? My specialty is zoology, not history.” He took a piece of chocolate and let it melt in his mouth, savoring the flavor. “Want one piece?” He held it out to her.

  “One! How very generous of you.” She took two, popped t
hem in her mouth and stuck her tongue out at him. “Now tell me about the wolves and bears in Scotland before the fourth century A.D.”

  “Funny you are asking about that. I was supposed to go to Ireland, England and Scotland with the World Wildlife Federation on a fact-finding mission. There is talk of reintroducing wolves, bears, lynx and wild boar in areas of the United Kingdom. As you know, I ended up in hospital and someone else took my place.” He popped another piece of chocolate in his mouth.

  “That would have been a great assignment for you, Jack.” Christine sat with pen poised over her notebook; she accepted another piece of chocolate gratefully. “Now as you were saying.”

  “Wolves became extinct in Scotland and Ireland in the 1700’s and even before that in England. The original wild boar population disappeared in the 13th century and brown bears disappeared before the Romans. The last Lynx was seen two thousand years ago and if you are interested, beavers disappeared in the 16th century after being over hunted for pelts and meat.”

  “Excellent Jack, I knew you were just the person to talk to.” She scribbled in her notepad. “I can continue with the next chapter of my novel now. Thank you.”

  They wiled away the afternoon as Christine made notes for her book. Jack told her what he could about the subject and finished all of his chocolate.

  Meanwhile, Sarah sat in the spa enjoying a totally relaxing afternoon. She walked out feeling like a new woman. Her blonde hair was cut shoulder length and the stylist had added some highlights. Her nails were done to perfection on both her hands and feet. She felt much better than she had since before Jack’s surgery. She would buy something to thank Christine for giving her the afternoon off. Stopping at a small boutique on Bridgetown’s main street; she picked out a pale blue scarf that she knew would look lovely with Christine’s brown hair and eyes. She had it gift-wrapped. She knew her friend would make fun of the gift-wrapping, but Sarah liked nice things and the wrapping was very pretty and feminine. It made the gift special, like her friendship with Christine. As an afterthought, she picked up a new pair of pajamas for Jack. Thinking of Jack, reminded her of her meeting with Martin and Schultz Chemicals tomorrow morning. Why does Jack have to be so difficult? I have to make a living, but he doesn’t understand. It’s all or nothing with Jack. I really need this contract. When she paid the salesgirl with her visa, she cringed remembering that the Visa bill was due in a week and her bank account was short. Here I am spending more, yikes!