by Jack Dey
"Hello, Tom. Sorry about my attire," she said sheepishly. "It has been a long day."
"I won't keep ya. Your tests were today and I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Thank you, yes, I am alright, just tired."
"Well, we had better mosey along then and let ya get your rest."
"Tom!" she called after him. "Would you like to come for dinner tomorrow night? I would be much better company then."
Tom's face lit up. "We would be delighted."
"Six o'clock?"
"Sounds wonderful," Tom almost appeared excited as he bid her goodnight and disappeared into the darkness.
By the time she made it back to her TV show, it was half over. She pointed the remote at the screen and pushed the off button, while the screen flickered and blinked out. She walked into the kitchen and turned the kitchen light on, then returned into the lounge and flicked the side light off. Leaning over the lounge where Lord Nelson was asleep, she felt through the drawn blind and checked that the window locks were in. Satisfied, she double checked the front door lock, made her way into the kitchen and poured her usual glass of orange juice before bed. Carrying the glass into her bedroom, she flicked on her bedside light and placed the glass down beside her favourite new book, Mahina by Jack Dey.
Returning to the kitchen she called out, "Goodnight, Lord Nelson," and flicked the kitchen light off. The duplex was in darkness, all except for her bedside light. Leanne climbed into bed, drained the remains of the glass and picked up her book and began to read.
Without warning, the room began to tilt and spin. The book slipped from her hands and landed on the floor, with a plunk. She felt herself drifting, as if she was floating. Waves of darkness and light rolled over her like heavy, sea mist. She grasped at consciousness, like a drowning man grasping for a life ring before the water overtook his efforts and swallowed him up. She could see a misty figure leaning over her and then everything blacked out.
*~*~*~*
Dean Porter had lost his licence to drive, three months ago, while repeatedly driving under the influence. The police had been showered with Porter’s abuse, as they forcefully removed his right to drive and for his troubles, he spent the night in the lockup. His dilemma hadn't ended there. His girlfriend, tired of his unimpressive behaviour, had given him the brush off, too. He had become a burden to her party image and she’d let him know in no uncertain terms.
Porter's bicycle turned unsteadily into the darkened street, nearly collecting the kerb as he recklessly made his way towards his duplex. He was drunk, as usual, trying to drown his troubles at the local hotel, until the licensee had kicked him out.
As he approached the shared driveway, he noticed a dark coloured sedan parked opposite his duplex. The window was down and in the half light, he noticed a man smiling at him. He lifted his hand to give him a gesture of annoyance and in so doing, collided with the kerb, lost his balance and went head first over the handlebars. Rolling down the driveway, he came to rest against Leanne's car. Anaesthetised with copious amounts of alcohol, he wobbled to his feet in time to see the sedan speed away. Feeling a bump on his head, he kicked Leanne's car forcefully and with all the indignation he could assemble, slurred at Leanne’s front door.
"My name is not Edward Scissor Head!" he yelled, spitting his words in garbled confusion.
Staggering to the front door on his side of the duplex, he dropped his key. Grovelling around on the ground in the dark, he retrieved it and finding the lock, he finally completed his mission and opened the door. He flicked on the light and launched a pile of rubbish lying on the floor with a swift motion of his foot, sending it spraying in all directions and out of his way. Locating the stereo, he switched it on and cranked it up until the walls and ceiling were shaking.
"Let's see how you like... that!" Porter yelled at the wall dividing his home from Leanne’s. Falling down onto his torn sofa, he fell into a drunken sleep, with the stereo still at full volume.
Several hours later, he awoke with a start. His head was aching and he felt bilious. Diving for the volume knob, he reefed it in an anticlockwise motion, until the high velocity music faded into insignificance and with a final stab at the off button, the stereo obediently returned to a silent and inoffensive part of Porter’s furniture. The only sign of life remaining on the stereo was a tiny, defiant digital clock, smiling at Porter and proclaiming 0200. Desperately trying to think through his aching head, it seemed odd that Leanne hadn't been for her usual fight over the volume.
*~*~*~*
Tom and Jessup ambled down the sloping driveway, while sporting an armful of chocolates and flowers. The intentions of the old man were friendly, not amorous. He walked up to the door and knocked loudly, balancing his armload and expecting to hear Leanne's voice. Carefully, Tom checked his watch: 6 pm on the dot. He waited and knocked again, and then tried to look around the drawn blinds, but it was dark inside.
That's odd, he thought, beginning to worry.
After fifteen more minutes, he went next door and banged on the neighbour’s door, hoping Leanne’s neighbour could shed some light on her strange behaviour. Dean Porter’s face, full of metal, took Tom by surprise as it appeared around the partially ajar door.
"What?" Porter’s sickly tone matched his appearance.
"Have you seen Leanne, next door?"
"Ain't seen her," Porter said, holding his head and gawking at the flowers and chocolates. "You her boyfriend?"
Tom smirked; Leanne would take exception to the juvenile’s description. “No, I’m just a concerned friend."
Tom excused himself when it was obvious he wasn't getting anywhere. He walked the short distance back to his place and picked up the phone. The phone rang off, again and again as he tried to contact Leanne.
Reaching another number, the phone clicked and a voice answered, "Good evening, Police Communications. How may I help you?"
*~*~*~*
Chapter 30
Life in the Freeman household was starting to take on a surreal normalcy without their daughter. It was just over six weeks since Gracie had disappeared, leaving no trace. There weren’t any ransom demands or clues of any kind.
She was just... gone!
The police were no further advanced with their investigations and made contact with the family through Dan, on a regular basis, to update them on any new developments. Under Dan's and Linda's guidance, Juliana had moved back into her bedroom with Des and tidied up Gracie's room. Things were amiable between Juliana and Des, like two strangers sharing a house.
*~*~*~*
Juliana wistfully contemplated two little girls playing with a ball in the neighbour's front yard. From her second floor window, she could see them clearly across the street. Her demeanour slowly sank into a pensive stare, feeling a stab of remorse as she remembered Gracie's childhood and how much the little girls looked like her at their age. She had to shake herself from her memories. Dan and Linda were due at any moment.
All of a sudden, the sound of a car racing up the street caught her attention. As if in slow motion, she watched the vehicle enter her field of view, while the sickening sound of tearing rubber on the road surface heralded an approaching disaster. As the racing car desperately tried to stop, Juliana saw a body dive in front of the car and then heard a hollowing crunch, as the body broke the windscreen and rolled over the roof and onto the ground behind it. Peering in absolute horror and desperately trying to hold down her stomach, she heard the horrible sounds replayed again and again in her mind, while she gawked down at the scene.
Meanwhile the victim lay motionless, facing the ground, away from her. In a matter of moments a crowd gathered around the chaos, and although her legs were shaking, she carefully picked her way down the stairs and out the front door. In the distance, a siren was wailing, getting closer. She raced down to the horrific scene and joined the gathering crowd. That’s when she recognised the man, laying bloody on the road surface.
"Des!... Oh my God.
.. no!"
She was shaking intensely and dropped helplessly to her knees beside her motionless husband, crying over the unconscious, bloody mess.
As the ambulance arrived, she heard someone say, "He dived out in front of the car and literally shoved the little girl out of the way. If he hadn't done that, she would've been history."
Juliana's head was beginning to swim as the ambulance officers lifted Des onto the gurney. She tried to stand, but her legs buckled and she collapsed. Just before she hit the ground, Dan caught her and supported her, while Juliana eyes flickered shut in shock and she fainted. After carrying Juliana’s unconscious body into their house and recognising the gravity of what had just taken place, Dan glanced at Linda.
"I will go with the ambulance and you take care of Juliana and bring her up to the hospital once she has time to recover some."
Linda nodded, trying to put together Dan’s plan in her shocked and confused mind. Now was the time to be strong for Juliana and clear away the shocking trauma that had just occurred. Linda whispered a prayer for strength and then kissed Dan, following his steps with her eyes as he hurried away to climb into the back of the ambulance.
*~*~*~*
Juliana’s pale figure lay unconscious on her bed while Linda sat close by, holding her hand, as the tears welled up in her eyes.
"Oh Lord, haven't they suffered enough?!"
Somewhere, in the quietness of her spirit, Linda realised Father was in this also and He knew what he was doing.
Linda jumped, as the bedside phone rang. She grabbed at it, vehemently trying to silence the intrusive noise before it woke Juliana.
"Hello, Linda Harop," she whispered, trying not to seem annoyed.
"Linda, it's me, Dan."
Linda sighed in relief. "How is he?"
"It is a bit touch and go. He’s in surgery, but they can't tell me anymore than that at the moment. How's Juliana?"
The defeat in Dan’s voice was sounding through; he was struggling with the situation too.
"I think her body has shut down at the shock. The doctor has just been and given her a sedative and she is sleeping," Linda replied, with a telltale sniff.
"I have been onto the prayer team and they’ve started praying for Des, too," Dan whispered.
"Good!" Linda sighed. "I think I will stay here tonight with Juliana. As soon as she comes around, I will bring her down to the hospital. Some of the church ladies are on their way to help, as well."
"Okay, I guess I will stay here at the hospital then, just in case. I love you," Dan assured.
"I love you too, sweetheart." Linda hung up the phone.
*~*~*~*
It was early morning and Linda was trying to catch a few hours sleep on the Freemans' lounge. The table lamp gave a warm glow, allowing her to snooze and keep an eye on any developments.
Tonya Philips was asleep, sitting in another armchair opposite her, her head tilted back against the headrest. Tonya was no stranger to trauma either. She had lost her husband in a car accident five years ago, and as he was the cornerstone of her family, she was only now, just getting her life back together. As time went by, Father had given her a new husband and together, they doggedly trusted Him, and that resolve made them valuable people in an emergency.
Linda’s gaze turned away from Tonya as she rolled on the lounge chair, trying to find a comfortable position again, when Juliana’s disturbed demeanour appeared on the stairs.
"I need to go and see Des," she said, tiredly.
Tonya stirred awake, while Linda climbed the stairs to meet Juliana.
"Yes, of course. Are you okay?"
"Yes," she replied flatly.
Juliana dressed quickly, while Linda went to prepare the Freemans' car, reversing it out close to the front door. Juliana gave Tonya an appreciative hug, grateful she was there to stay with the boys.
Linda drove sedately down the quiet street, trying to shake the fatigue from her mind. Juliana sat silently next to her, staring out the window.
"Are you okay?" Linda whispered.
Juliana turned to Linda. "If Des hadn't jumped in front of that car, that little girl would have died. I saw the whole thing from the window."
"He's quite a man," Linda said. "I don't think I could have done that."
There was a long silence and then Juliana spoke again. "I have spent so many years hating him and forcing him to be the man I thought he was, instead of allowing him to be the man he really is."
Tears streamed down Juliana's face in the half light, as Linda remained silent and let Juliana muse.
"I think I need to be a proper wife to him, instead of always thinking of myself. It doesn't matter what condition he is in. If God gives me another chance, I will take care of him and his needs, for the rest of my life," Juliana decided, whispering her confession to the woman of God sitting beside her.
Not long after, Linda reached over with her free hand and rubbed Juliana's shoulder. "And what a woman Father is making you into."
Linda parked the car in the hospital parking area. The hospital covered a large area, with individual buildings resembling giant, rectangular boxes. The car park was almost deserted and parking near the Intensive Care Unit entrance was easy. Large flood lights, high on metal poles, illuminated the whole area, covering it in counterfeit, orange daylight.
The two women walked up to the desk, shaking a sleepy receptionist from a semiconscious state and asked for Des Freeman. After a while, they were directed to the service lift and the ICU floor. The service lift pinged, announcing its arrival at the intensive care floor and as they exited, they caught sight of Dan's figure, curled up uncomfortably on a lounge. The audible ping had woken him and he unsteadily untangled himself, ready to meet the two women. He took Juliana into a big hug and then hugged Linda.
"What's happening?" Juliana enquired apprehensively.
"He's still in surgery. The doctor said he would let us know as soon as he is out. That's all I know."
Juliana flopped down on the lounge. She quietly asked if Dan and Linda would pray. They all joined hands and committed Des into Father's hands.
*~*~*~*
The sun was starting to peek in through the ICU windows. The fledgling day was just beginning, when a tired surgeon made his way out of the internals of the hospital and sat down with the three anxious people. He could see the fear written across Juliana's face.
"He has a broken leg and arm and he is pretty beaten up. The worst of it is, he has a head injury. We’ve had to relieve the pressure on his brain, after it started swelling, and that’s the unknown part. We think we have stopped the swelling, but we won't know how much damage has happened to his brain until he wakes up, and then we can test him. All we can do is wait, I'm afraid."
"When can I see him?" Juliana whispered tearfully.
"Are you his wife?"
"Yes."
"You can go and see him for a few minutes now, Mrs Freeman. But he is in a forced coma. Just one visitor at a time, please, and for no longer than a few minutes."
Juliana pushed the door open into the ICU room where Des was lying, his head wrapped in bandages, while the ECG beeped rhythmically, keeping in time with his heart, tubes and pipes hanging out of him everywhere. As Juliana entered the room, her heart swelled for her brave knight and she chided herself for never giving him a chance. She placed her hand on top of his and began to weep.
"I am sorry for being such a horrible wife. Please give me a second chance, Des; please don't leave me!"
An ICU nurse touched her shoulder. "He can hear you, sweetheart, even though he is comatose. Keep talking."
Juliana nodded, wiping away the tears and blowing her nose on her handkerchief. Her heart was breaking, as she remembered her improper description of the man she had never really known.
"Please forgive me, Des. I..I..need you…I..I love you," Juliana pleaded, the tears streaming in an unprotected show of emotion.
When Juliana finally left Des' side and fo
und her way back out into the lobby where Dan and Linda waited, she sat down next to Dan, staring at the floor.
"I am going to be a wife to Des, no matter what," she spoke with whispered conviction. "He deserved better than what I gave him."
Dan put his arm around Juliana. "I recognise Father's hand on your heart, Juliana. You have just uncovered one of Father's greatest secrets."
Juliana glanced up at Dan with questioning eyes.
"Love is a choice, Juliana. Just like you chose to hate Des and with that choice, came far reaching consequences. Most people can't get past the idea that love is romance and warm feelings. Don't get me wrong; that’s part of Father's plan, too. But when the warm, fuzzy feelings become tired over the years, a new love takes its place. The love of a best friend and a comfortable trust that is full of soul, instead of emotion. But you must choose it, and the consequences of choosing it. It's the same with Father; we can choose to love him... or not. He will not force us. It has to be our decision, but we must live with that decision and its far reaching consequences."
Juliana settled back on the lounge, her thoughts turning over in her mind and spoke with a whispered conviction. “Then I choose to love Des. And Father."
*~*~*~*
Chapter 31
A lone figure, sweating profusely in the humid atmosphere, leaned back against a dank stone wall separating the landing from the dirt street above. The sounds of lapping river water hypnotised his senses, adding to the burden of trying to keep his sleepy eyes open in the late hour. One leg supported his weight, while the other folded neatly under his buttock, with his foot flat against the wall behind him. At the same time, he felt his eyes succumbing to the need for sleep. His head plopped forward momentarily, losing the battle with consciousness, while his chin rested on his chest.
A sudden clunking noise coming from the area of the boat moored in front of him, disturbed his catnap and he pushed himself away from the wall with his folded leg, to check it out. Walking around the dock, trying to shake off the sleep that numbed his mind, his eyes rested on a log trapped against the boat’s hull, being shuffled violently by the outgoing tide. The area around him was dark and it was early morning. Losing interest in the log, he walked over to the old wooden boat and half-heartedly kicked the side with the toe of his shoe. He hadn't seen anyone since Cong had sent in a search party several hours ago and although they had turned the boat upside down and found nothing, he was left there to keep guard and deter anyone from attempting to steal aboard.