by Hall, K R
“I don’t want you to be afraid,” Victor said. “I want you to be comfortable and happy at all times.”
Her eyes were filled with a kindness that seemed so genuine. It made him happy.
~ ~ ~
Alana heard the piano playing very softly as she started down the stairs. She followed the sound to the music room. In one corner sat a piano. It was a grand structure: shiny, pitch black, beautiful, and breath-taking. Along the wood that lined the top of each key, curling golden letters spelled “Steinway & Sons.”
She always liked to stand by the piano when someone was playing. Victor coaxed one melody after another from the old piano. He was an accomplished pianist.
“What’s that piece you’re playing?” Alana asked. “It’s beautiful.”
“This is 18th-century music. Romania’s Heart Waltz, Op. 51 composed by Ion Ivanovici. He is best remembered for his waltz Waves of the Danube. In his lifetime, he composed over three hundred fifty dances,” explained Victor.
He stopped playing, turned on the piano bench and pulled Alana close by her waist. They sat embraced on the piano bench for a few minutes more. Leaning over, Victor kissed her temple.
“The lyrics swim through me like a wakeful dream, the notes relaxing me, enabling the song to call to my entire being. Music could never be something unneeded to me; it is medicine delivered most divinely,” Victor explained. “It’s as if the slowly changing tone touches different parts, a sort of auditory massage for my mind. Today is a day of music, to feel the soul within.”
“I know what you mean. Music is the rhythm of my soul. It flows through my veins and swirls in my head,” Alana said.
Chapter 6
It was time for the annual Carver Cranberry Harvest Festival with live entertainment, a crafts fair, cooking demonstrations, hayrides, wool-spinning demonstrations, and tastings of cranberry-infused goodies. The committee arrived after lunch to discuss the festival.
“The first day of the three-day festival begins with the Blessing of the Harvest and continues with the opening of Cranberry City and the Cranberry Food Fair Queen of the Kitchen contest. Cooks of all ages are invited to register their food creations— which must include cranberries— and are judged in several categories including appetizers, relishes, entrees, and desserts,” Victor said. “The pony rides will be next to the petting zoo for the whole weekend.”
“The Harvest Triathlon will take most of the afternoon with the swim part at Timonen Pond. The second part is the biking course which is one loop and travels through the back roads of Carver, Plymouth, and Wareham. Finally, the run will go around cranberry bogs on cleared trails with a rural feel,” explained Bobby Fayer.
“The festival’s first day ends with the long-awaited Cranberry Court coronation,” added Sammie Eriston.
“I think that covers everything. Does anyone else have anything to add or did we forget anything?” Victor asked.
When no one responded, Victor closed the meeting. He was eager to see Alana after being separated from her for so long. After the festival, Victor needed to explain in detail what it meant when he told Alana she was his mate.
~ ~ ~
Alana was walking in the woods on Victor’s property. The wooded area was like a droplet of paradise. She felt her mind drift away with the colors of the leaves. With each stride, her mind became clearer, more resolute. This was what she needed to find herself again and being a little shy and introverted woman wasn’t helpful. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath of dewy air before she walked on. She walked as her hair fluttered in the gentle breeze and the leaves cascaded down from the trees.
Her relationship with Victor was a friendship. She knew they were mates, but Victor was letting her get used to him and her new surroundings. She was setting the pace for their relationship and she was grateful for that. With each stride, Alana felt more in charge, in command of her own mind, body, and soul. She was a woman walking into her destiny, a destiny that lay squarely in her own hands. Determination drove her on. Alana was ready to take the next step of their relationship. If only she knew what that was.
With all this tumbling through her mind, Alana turned around to go back inside. As she headed toward the house, she saw Victor walking to the garage. He hadn’t seen her. She caught a glimpse of his face, his stubbled jawline, erect posture, and long gait; he was instantly recognizable. Strength emanated from the broad swell of his back.
A shiver went down Alana’s spine. She was delusional thinking she was ready to take the next step. She was dreaming like always. She knew deep down that they were meant to be together, but what on Earth did he see in her? Alana felt she was not good enough for Victor.
~ ~ ~
Carver Cranberry Harvest Festival was finally here. Alana had been busy the last few weeks helping prepare booths, prize packages, and ensuring every little detail was handled with care. Alana often felt someone was watching and following her. She never saw anyone, but the feeling never went away.
It was almost time to leave for the Cranberry Festival. Alana wore a sweet, cranberry-colored flare dress in floral lace with short sleeves that scalloped off-the-shoulder and an interior lining with a sweetheart neckline. The dress hugged her curves and when she saw Victor’s eyes roam over her, Alana felt beautiful.
“Simply stunning, Alana,” Victor breathed, trying to keep his inner beast under control.
“Thank you, Victor,” Alana said, blushing.
“Are you ready to go, my dear?” Victor asked as he held out his hand.
Alana nodded and took hold of Victor’s hand. They were going to drive Victor’s beautiful 1947 MG TC in Burgundy with a cream leather interior, which he would enter the Cranberry Classic Car Show. Only ten thousand were made until the model was discontinued in 1949.
Victor preferred old vehicles because he felt classic cars were unique, possessing the power to stop people in their tracks to stare at it. Victor appreciated its styling to such a degree that it truly brought him joy just to look at it. Somehow, at that moment, the problems of the day receded to the back of his mind and he felt more optimistic than he had just minutes before. Even though today’s late-model supercars were capable of performance levels that eclipsed those of vintage muscle cars, the earlier cars’ styling and exclusivity and nostalgia ensured that most vehicles remained highly collectible.
The burgundy 1947 MG TC cruised down the road with the soft top fully opened, traveling south. Alana was sitting in the front passenger seat with so much soft leather around her that she could barely hear the engine. She enjoyed the wind running through her hair. Victor swung the car off the road and under an arch that read “Carver Cranberry Harvest Festival.” Maneuvering the vehicle around skillfully, he parked in the assigned spot at the car show.
The Lions Club Cranberry Run had finished their events by the time Victor and Alana arrived. The award ceremony was in progress when Alana and Victor arrived.
“The air smells like the festival already,” Alana said. “I think I smell cotton candy.”
“Yes. Funnel cakes as well,” Victor said as he looked around.
“I would like to find a booth that has cranberry lemonade first. I’m thirsty,” Alana said as they continued walking hand in hand.
“I cannot even begin to describe how much enjoyment the Cranberry Festival brings to me each year. I love it here. The scenery, the smell in the air, the friendly people. Hands down, it’s my favorite weekend of the year,” said Chloe Wilbourne as she joined them.
“Shopping at the Cranberry Festival is amazing! I usually start my Christmas shopping here and I have never been disappointed with the variety of vendors, even after forty years,” said Simion, sidling up and grabbing Chloe’s hand and pulling her away. “Come on, Chloe, and let’s have some fun!”
~ ~ ~
Chloe tried to wrench her arm free from Simion, but he was stronger. Even with her keshalyi powers, she was no match for Victor’s brother. Reluctantly, Chloe gave up and allowed
Simion to pull her away to the Cranberry Food Fair Queen of the Kitchen contest. Chloe clenched her hands into tight fists, her well-manicured nails leaving deep impressions in her palm. She was going to have to do something about Alana and soon.
~ ~ ~
The festival was always a place of unrestrained joy. The costumes lit up the fall day, a riot of color to rival any gardener’s paradise. Music filled the air, festive beats lifted the spirits and made the people want to move, jump, and sing. It was a time to celebrate being alive, celebrate the wonders of cranberries, and be one with the community. The air tasted heavenly with the chef’s booths alongside the parade route, every delicious thing ready to be shared with friends. The crowd sang songs that belonged to the joyful.
Children would reach up to hold their parents’ hands, and their smiles shone through their elaborate face paints of butterflies, frogs, nymphs, and woodland sprites. The music floated on the unusually warm fall breeze. The stilt walkers marched down the middle of the crowd, blowing bubbles or waving as they went. In the center of the street were performers of every type: jugglers and magicians, mime artists, and dancers. Children’s and adult’s smiles and laughter were heard and seen everywhere; they danced, skipped, jogged, jumped, hopped, and wiggled.
Alana watched as a little girl hopped on top of a tall brown pony and smiled wide as the pony began to walk. She laughed as she swayed from side to side with each step the creature took.
“A lot of kids come over here rather than go to the Pumpkin Patch stables,” said Edward Greene, owner of the Ride ’em Partner Ponies attraction. “They love it.”
“Edward is the new owner and has nine ponies, which will suit riders of all shapes and sizes— even adults can ride if they choose,” Victor said to Alana, introducing Edward.
“It’s a kid magnet,” said Edward. The day started slow, but now children surrounded the attraction, begging their parents for just one more ride as they saw other children take their places on the ponies, each being led around a big loop by a worker.
~ ~ ~
The Annual Rubber Duck Race had thousands of spectators watching over fifty thousand yellow rubber ducks splash into the river in downtown Carver and race downriver toward the finish line. Basic decorating supplies were available for those wanting to make their duck unique. Decorated ducks would be judged and prizes in various categories awarded.
While spectators waited for the duck race to begin, they went to the Fire Department’s Fish Fry for lunch. Available food included all-you-can-eat chicken, fish, fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, coffee, tea, and lemonade. Kids were delighted to see the fire trucks and talk to the firemen.
Victor guided Alana to an empty picnic table and went to the food booth. He returned with fish, fries, coleslaw, and lemonades.
He had been in love with her for months. Each day with her was another day he fell more for her smile, her laugh, her easy-going personality, and everything else about her. Alana was quite shy in the way she moved, but he couldn’t help but imagine them being intimate together.
~ ~ ~
Chloe finally managed to give Simion the slip when she pretended to need to use the lady’s restroom. When she saw another door on the other side of the bathroom, she made her escape. She had only come to the festival to begin driving a wedge between Victor and Alana. Or get rid of Alana. Either way, Chloe would have Victor to herself. She was pleasantly surprised to finally see Alana without Victor. Realizing that Alana was heading to the bathroom and Victor would not be joining her, Chloe came up with a spur of the moment, brilliant idea.
~ ~ ~
Alana tripped over her shoelace, falling flat on her face. She started to get up when she felt something smash into her hip, forcing her back to the ground with a sharp crunching sound. She never saw the car until after it hit her. It was a dark Toyota Corolla with tinted windows and no license plate. It was a very common car for the area. The car sped up and spun around the corner. Its engine gunned as the driver hit the gas pedal with a great stomp. Then everything went black.
~ ~ ~
“Oh, God, Alana,” Victor yelled, catching the smallest blur of the driver as they sped off and dropping the sodas he had just bought and scrambled to get to the side of his mate. He could hear people around him screaming and shouting. He lifted her hand and screamed to the crowd, “Someone call 9-1-1!”
“Oh, God,” Victor said again, immediately glancing back down to Alana. There was blood making its way down the curve of Alana’s cheek. “Oh, God. Alana, dragă, please open your eyes. Please speak to me.”
Alana’s eyes fluttered before they slowly opened. “What… happened?” Alana whispered. “I hurt.”
“You were hit by a car. Did you see the driver?” Victor asked.
“Umm, I don’t think so. It all happened so fast,” Alana replied.
Victor looked over Alana’s body. She had the cut over her eye that was bleeding down her cheek. Her left leg appeared to be at an odd angle. There was the jagged white end of a broken bone cutting through her skin and blood ran freely in thick scarlet rivers down her leg, soaking into the dirt parking lot. He kept his face free of emotions as to not worry Alana.
“Victor, do you need any help?” Chloe asked as Victor saw her approach. Her face was full of concern.
“Will you please call an ambulance?” Victor asked.
“I called as soon as I saw you both,” Chloe said. “What happened?”
“Someone deliberately hit Alana and sped away,” Victor said, gritting his teeth to keep his temper under control.
“My head and leg hurt,” Alana said before she closed her eyes again.
The ambulance finally arrived.
Chapter 7
The ambulance arrived at the Plymouth Carver Primary Care as quickly as possible, seeing as it was ten miles away. The paramedics rapidly parked the ambulance in the parking spot at the emergency entrance and carefully took her out. They hurried through the double doors, the wheels of the stretcher and the pounding footsteps the only thing Victor could hear.
“Mr. Marinescu, you cannot follow them.” The receptionist stopped him with a manicured hand. Victor’s heart sank into his chest as the stretcher disappeared from view.
“Why?” was all he could choke out as his mind filled with a succession of horrible outcomes, each worse than the last.
“You must wait in the waiting room like everybody else,” she said in educated but clipped tones and gestures to where she was talking about. She watched as Victor sat dejectedly in one of the hard, plastic chairs.
Detective Charlie Feeney arrived and met Victor in the waiting room of the emergency department. Victor told the detective everything he had seen. He hoped the detective would leave quickly so he could get to Alana’s side once the doctors were done.
The hospital corridor was stuffy and the air had an undertone of bleach. The walls were green and scraped in places from the hundreds of trolleys that had bumped into them over the years. The pictures on the walls were cheap, benign prints of uplifting scenes, and above the tan double doors were large, black, plastic signs with white lettering no fancy fonts, just bold and all-caps with the areas of the hospital that were ahead.
~ ~ ~
Time moved slowly. The day finally turned to night when Victor’s family came, bringing dinner for Victor.
“I can’t eat,” Victor grumbled. “Not while Alana is still unconscious.”
“You need to keep your strength up,” said Irini.
“You will be of no use to her if you are too weak from hunger and loss of sleep,” said Atanase.
“Both of you are right,” Victor reluctantly admitted, taking the offered food. He sat in the chair closest to Alana’s hospital bed.
“How about I go get some coffee,” Simion said as he quickly left the room.
“He still can’t tolerate being inside a hospital,” said Irini. Their mother had never disclosed what happened to Simion that made him stay away from hospitals.
&nb
sp; “Alana has a broken leg and a fractured skull,” Victor told his family what the doctor had said to him earlier.
Several hours, three Hershey bars, three and a half cups of coffee, and one trip to the bathroom later, the doctor came back into Alana’s room to tell the amassed crowd of anxious family members that Alana would be all right. Her concussion and head fracture were severe but not threatening enough for a hospital stay. The MRI and CAR scans had come back showing a small hematoma. Alana had regained consciousness and exhibited no symptoms that the hematoma was problematic. Alana’s broken leg was a severe fracture and had cut nerves and tendons and would require surgery in the next twelve hours.
“Nerves and tendons can mend. So can a broken bone. Alana will be just fine,” said the doctor. The doctor was nervous with several fretful eyes looking acutely at him. “The break is severe, as I’ve said. Alana’s a tough cookie and I believe she’ll be just fine. She’ll be moved to a private room after the surgery.”
“Thank you, doctor,” Victor said, shaking his head before he left the room.
~ ~ ~
On the private ward where Alana was moved after her surgery, the atmosphere was completely different. The air had a fresh scent, not medicinal like the other wards, and the seats were plush. Every surface was dustless. The nurses were unhurried and moved with purposefulness from room to room on their rounds. There were vases of flowers and beautiful framed pieces of art on the walls. In the corridor was a coffee machine and water dispenser and, in most rooms, could be heard the noise of a television.
Alana was in more pain than she could have ever imagined was possible. Every thought she had become confused as the burning pain licked up her leg like a scorching fire. She tried to recall what had led to this, how she was here in a hospital. Her last memory was of Victor going to get drinks while she went to the bathroom.
Alana rose unsteadily to her feet, it was against doctors’ orders to be moving right now, but she needed the bathroom and she’d have to have both legs broken before she’d ask for assistance with that. Alana took in her appearance in the bathroom mirror. She felt she looked ghastly. Her bruises were still dark from where the car hit her as well as where she hit the ground. She looked like she could appear as an extra in a zombie show.