Savage Love

by Jodi Woody

  “Well, I hope we can be of some help. He’s such a nice young man,” sympathized Samantha.

  Trisha started asking them questions about school and what had been going on with the two of them since they last saw each other and the rest of the trip went quickly with no mention of Daffyd or the truth of the situation. As soon as they pulled up, Bryce was out the door to help with the bags. He looked like the cavalry had just arrived in the nick of time. Bryce and Seanna were whispering as they followed behind the others.

  “Where is she?” Seanna asked.

  “Upstairs with Uncle Daffyd, she’s playing some kind of new age meditation music in his room and probably didn’t hear you guys pull up,” he answered.

  When they had all come into the house Bryce asked them to come to the media room right away, saying that he had something he needed to show them. Samantha gave her daughter a questioning look, but Seanna just shrugged and followed him down the hall. They came inside and he shut the door and asked them to all sit down. Nervously he paced around in front of them for a few seconds until Seanna got up and grabbed his hand, keeping him in one place.

  “Mom, we have a confession to make. I lied to you about Daffyd to get you here. He needs all of us right now,” she stammered.

  “What exactly did you lie about, Seanna?” she demanded.

  “My Uncle is here and if we don’t do something, he is going to die,” answered Bryce.

  “You two sit down, and I’ll try to shed some light on all of this,” offered Trisha.

  She proceeded to tell Samantha all about the way Daffyd took her letter and how they had left the house. Then she told her about the hospital’s answer to Daffyd’s condition, sending someone to help him give up and ‘die in peace’. Bryce took over then and filled them all in on the new young woman who had taken over the house and his uncle. He was at a total loss at what to do.

  “I know that I am a grown man and that I should be able to handle this, but you’ll see…something more is going on here than what it seems. She has brought all these crystals into his room, but she shuts out all the light. She plays this weird music in his room all the time, and keeps him so doped up, he doesn’t even know what’s going on. Something stinks about this whole thing…you’ll just have to see…” he finished lamely.

  “So where is this woman?” demanded Samantha.

  “She is upstairs with Uncle Daffyd,” Bryce answered.

  “I’m going up there right now,” Samantha said as she got out of her chair.

  “Mom, shouldn’t we pray first,” asked Seanna.

  “You guys pray. I’m going to see what’s going on. You dragged me here and got me in this mess, and I for one, am going to see, for myself, what is happening,” she stated.

  Samantha got to the top of the stairs with the others close behind her, deciding to pray on the way. Not even knocking, Samantha swept into the room, turning the light on as she came in. It only took a second for her to take in the condition of the room. The curtains had been replaced with some dark thick material so no sunlight would come in. There were both candles and incense burning on the end tables and there was a young woman sitting cross legged on the end of the bed. Her eyes flew open and she jumped up all flustered like a wet hen.

  “Who are you, and what are you doing here?” she demanded.

  “We, young lady, are his family. We belong here. You on the other hand are not needed anymore. Take all of this…junk and get out,” said Samantha using her best ‘teacher’ voice, as she stormed across the room and opened up all curtains.

  “My name is Miss Marsh, and I am not finished here,” said the woman, standing her ground.

  “You’ve done more than enough. It’s time for you to leave,” said Samantha as she walked around the room gathering up the offensive items.

  “You don’t understand. My job is to help Daffyd accept his passing and move on…” the woman tried to explain.

  “No, you don’t understand. We don’t accept death. We rebuke it! This man is not dying,” said Samantha as the others looked on in shock.

  “Amen!” said Seanna.

  “You can’t tell me to leave. I was hired by Mr. Sayvage and only he can tell me to leave,” she countered.

  Samantha went to the edge of the bed, took Daffyd’s hand and gently rubbed his arm. “Daffyd, I need you to wake up,” Samantha gently commanded.

  The nurse tried to stop her, but Seanna and Trisha both grabbed her by an arm and held her back. She shook them off, but stayed where she was. Finally, Daffyd got his eyes opened and tried to focus in on the face before him.

  “Hello, Daffyd,” said Samantha with a smile.

  “Samantha?” he croaked.

  “Yes, Daffyd, I’m here and I need you to wake up. Can you do that for me?” Samantha continued.

  “I’m so tired, Samantha…so tired…you didn’t come…” he whispered.

  “I’m here now, Daffyd. I’ve come for Christmas and Seanna is here, with Bryce. Can you wake up?” she crooned.

  “Where is Trisha and Leal…they’re gone Samantha…” he cried.

  “Oh, Daffyd,” said Trisha as she came to the side of the bed with tears running down her face, “we are right here. We are home again.”

  “You’re all here…all of you, and it’s Christmas?” he asked confused.

  “We are all here, and we all love you, Daffyd,” said Samantha with a catch in her voice.

  “We will all be here for Christmas, but right now there is something we need you to do. We need you to tell Miss Marsh that she isn’t needed now that we are here,” Bryce spoke up.

  “You’re right, Bryce, we only need each other…” he smiled with his eyes closing again.

  “Well, you heard him,” said Samantha. “Now Seanna and Bryce you help…Miss Marsh was it...gather up her things and get her on the road before that snow builds up.” The girl turned and walked out of the room knowing that it was no good to argue. Her big plans of comforting the hot young nephew and getting in on some of the old man’s money were over.

  “Leal and Trisha, you help me move Daffyd into my room until we get this one cleaned out!” she reached down and touched Daffyd’s sleeping face. “We are home.”

  Seanna and Bryce escorted the released care giver to her room. She assured them that she didn’t need help with packing, but Seanna had a feeling that their ordeal with Miss Marsh wasn’t over. Sure enough they found several items stashed away that didn’t belong to her. Bryce found his inner-lawyer and told her to keep the things as her final payment for services rendered and to count herself blessed not to have to face criminal charges. He was just thankful that the scheming young woman had never figured out who his uncle really was.

  Chapter 21

  It Was All a Dream

  Over the next few days they all cleaned the house, beginning with Daffyd’s room, while at least one person stayed with him at all times. Soon he was back in his sunlit room that had been aired of all things unwelcome. They played soft inspirational music at night when he seemed to be the worst. Samantha had taken control, bossing everyone around like she owned the place. They all happily did what she asked, amazed at the change. She even called the hospital and demanded they send a replacement nurse over. She specified an older, Christian nurse who wanted to see her patients live. When the chief of staff tried to defend his earlier actions she just interrupted him and said, “Dead men don’t make donations unless you are in their will…I’m pretty sure you’re not mentioned!”

  It took two days for the right nurse to be located. When she showed up, Samantha was so relieved to see a no-nonsense woman in her fifties, that she greeted her with a hug. She got, Mrs. Mallory settled and ended up telling her the whole story from when they first met Daffyd to the most recent events. The woman listened patiently with no emotion on her face whatsoever. When Samantha was finished, Kate, as she asked to be called, wanted to know more about the patient. Samantha went out on a limb and told her the whole truth about Daffyd’s
identity, his illness and the problem with the heavy medications that he was taking.

  “He can be quite the bully when he isn’t on drugs. I’m afraid he is not going to be easy to handle getting him off,” Samantha explained.

  “Honey, I grew up on a cattle ranch with three brothers and I raised two boys of my own. I know how to handle a bully! Let’s go take a look at my patient and see what they have him on.”

  Kate reduced Daffyd’s meds right away deeming him strong enough to handle the stress. It didn’t take long for him to become more lucid. He still was confused most of the time and was in and out of sleep for the better part of the day. Soon though, he was sleeping peacefully through most of the night. He repeatedly asked if they were ‘all really here’, not believing his eyes. Several times he mumbled ‘it was all a dream’.

  Kate took a nap during the day and insisted on being the one to sit with him at night, telling the other’s she was used to it and that they needed their strength. She was a blessing to them all not just her patient. She was quick with sound advice and just as quick to laugh at something that would tickle her. Time went on and Samantha had to call her principal and ask if he could get someone to fill in until January, telling him that it was a family emergency and asking him to pray.

  Once Kate stopped giving him all of the medications, except for the actual treatment of the cancer, Daffyd finally woke up completely. He behaved like a sullen child demanding that they give him the pills that they had taken away. Finally Samantha had had it. Even though Kate was true to her word and handled Daffyd quiet professionally, Samantha snapped. They had been at the table eating a late supper and could all hear him yelling from downstairs. Samantha stood up and mumbled under her breath, ‘That is enough,’ and rushed upstairs. The others looked at each other with raised eyebrows, Bryce was grinning, and all in one accord they followed her up. She went through the door and found him sitting on the edge of his bed yelling at Kate to leave him alone.

  “Daffyd James Sayvage, that is quite enough!” Samantha said using her teacher voice again.

  “This…woman is trying to kill me!” Daffyd yelled.

  “Stop yelling, Daffyd, we’re right here, and no, this woman is trying to save your life. The other one you allowed to come in and take over was the one trying to kill you, and she almost succeeded. Stop behaving like a spoiled rock star, Mr. Savage, and start behaving like a human being,” Samantha said calmly as the others came quietly into the room.

  “Oh great, now she’s gonna tell everyone who I am and ruin everything…” he cried.

  “For your information she has known all along who you are. Do you honestly think she would still be here if it mattered to her at all? Of course not, she’d be selling her story to all the tabloids and be sitting pretty, not standing here letting some petulant child try to bully her,” countered Samantha.

  “Samantha you don’t understand, I have cancer and am hurting! I need something to take away the pain,” he tried a new tactic.

  “I understand perfectly. You sang for years, making money off of your songs that glorified drug use, and now you are getting firsthand experience of what that is like. This isn’t the cancer, Daffyd, it’s the drugs…you’re going through withdrawals,” she tried to explain when he interrupted her.

  “Oh, and you’re all ecstatic to be able to watch me suffer through this…what…divine retribution, is that why you are here?” he said sarcastically.

  “Is that what you really think of us Daffyd? You need to grow up! We are all here because we love you. If you can’t see that…well, then I am done. Kate stays or I go.” Samantha looked over her shoulder to where the others were standing and said, “Do you feel like making a trip to the airport, Leal?”

  “Ok…” said Daffyd quietly. “She stays.”

  “No more bullying, of Kate or anyone else. You all will not let him ride rough shod over you. Trisha and Leal, you are no longer employees here, so he can’t fire you. You will pray for this man and you will be yourselves. Bryce, no more walking on eggshells, and Seanna…you just do what you always do,” she finished with her steam running out. “Now we are going to go and finish our cold meal, and, Kate, you come and eat with us. Daffyd will be fine for a few minutes alone. It might do him some good.”

  “Samantha, wait…” said Daffyd. She turned back and stood in front of the bed waiting with her hands on her hips. Daffyd was looking up at her face.

  “Did you just say that you loved me?” he asked quietly.

  “Oh, for goodness sake, Daffyd, of course I love you, why else do you think I would stay here and put up with your foolishness. Grow up!” and with that she stormed out the door while he sat there smiling.

  Chapter 22

  Peace on Earth

  Things began to look up at The Mountain Home. It was two days before Christmas and Daffyd was eating well, walking around a bit and was completely finished with all withdrawal symptoms. They had all discussed his treatment options, all six of them, and decided that Daffyd was not going to have anymore treatments for a while. He hadn’t yet surrendered his heart, or asked Jesus to be his Lord, but with all the prayers and Bible reading, he believed that God could heal him. The rest of them agreed that it was a good beginning. In fact Kate had gone home to spend the holidays with her family, now that Daffyd had become more stable. She told them she could come any time to help out. Samantha had taken the role of the head of the house and had told Daffyd that Trisha and Leal were back on the payroll.

  Bryce, Seanna and Leal had gone out for a Christmas tree, Trisha was in the kitchen doing what she did best, and was preparing all sorts of holiday treats. She even made some old fashioned Christmas cut out sugar cookies and was letting them cool for everyone to decorate together. Samantha was with Daffyd in his room wrapping a few things that he had ordered months ago over the internet.

  “I feel so bad, I don’t have anything to give out,” said Samantha.

  “I just feel blessed that I have someone to give gifts to,” said Daffyd. “If you all hadn’t come back to rescue me, I would be all alone with that crazy woman, or dead.”

  “I don’t understand how you allowed her to take over the way she did,” she said.

  “At first, I guess I really didn’t care. When you wrote me that last letter…well…I guess I just lost all hope. My life had been so much different since meeting you… and I guess I just couldn’t face going back to the way it was before,” he explained. “Then once she upped the dosage of all those drugs, I was too out of it to notice. I remember her asking me a lot of questions about Bryce, how old he was and if he would inherit everything. Now I can see she was scheming from the beginning. I think she had plans to live here nice and comfy until I died and then somehow snag Bryce and ‘win the lottery.’”

  “I am sorry Daffyd for the way I handled all of this, you know…between us. I guess we both fell back to our old standbys, me and my mask and you and your anger at God. We both just let our hearts harden again and were behaving selfishly.”

  “You’re right. Why do you think we are so slow to learn? I’m surprised that God continues to have any patience with us. Sometimes I feel like I’ve just screwed up too much for him to ever want me back,” he confided.

  “I guess we are no different than all the people in the Bible. They certainly weren’t perfect. David, the ‘man after God’s own heart’ had an affair with a married woman, and then had her husband killed. Abraham and Isaac both lied about their wives, saying they weren’t married just to protect their own hides. Peter denied Christ three times after Jesus even warned him. I could keep going, but the point is that forgiveness is just His nature. He is Love. He doesn’t just have it, or use it,” said Samantha.

  “Sometimes it just seems so overwhelming. I feel like I can almost hear Him, and then…I don’t know…I guess I get scared,” he said.

  “What are you afraid of?” she asked.

  “I don’t know…rejection, maybe. Maybe that I will expect too much
and be let down…” he said quietly.

  “I wish I had some easy answer for you, really I do. But we all have to come to the place where we need Him more than anything else, when nothing else will satisfy. I guess that’s where my problem was. I expected Richard to fill a spot that only a relationship with God could. Then when I discovered my feelings for you, I put those first. We need to love God more than anything and anyone, and that isn’t always easy,” said Samantha.

  “Don’t give up on me, Samantha. I may be taking a long time to figure this all out, but I want it to be real.”

  “I won’t give up on you, but seriously, you don’t have to ‘figure’ anything out Daffyd. You just have to believe. I don’t understand it all. I just know He loves me, and that’s enough for me,” she explained.

  “I guess that’s where I am having trouble, getting around my head and letting my heart take over,” said Daffyd.

  “Well…you’ve been able to let your heart lead with me, haven’t you?” she said with a smile.

  “I just couldn’t help myself!” he smiled back.

  “You’ll get to that place with God, too Daffyd. You will see who He really is, and you won’t be able to control it. You’ll fall madly in love with Him,” she promised.

  “You know, I’ve been thinking about my parents a lot lately. I guess I’m feeling guilty for shutting them out all these years. They are great people; they raised me in a home filled with love and acceptance. What I saw as controlling was really an attempt to protect me from all the junk that I ended up going through. I’ve been thinking of calling them and trying to repair all the damage I’ve done.”

  “Will you tell them that you’ve been sick?” she asked.

  “Before, I thought that I didn’t want to worry them, but now I think I was afraid that somehow their knowing would make it more real. That sounds so incredibly stupid, but it’s true. So…yeah, I think it’s time to come clean about it all. I wish I would have done it sooner and maybe they would have been able to come for Christmas. Now it’s too late, they always put on a big dinner at their house and invite people who don’t have families around. Every year they invite Bryce and me, but I have consistently turned them down. Bryce of coarse stays with me so I won’t be alone, which also sounds very selfish. I’m starting to make myself sick thinking of the way I have treated the people who love me…” he said sadly.