Authors: Pamela Carron
Sang-mi, who now watch you from the other side.
Jacks folded the paper back and returned it to the envelope. He then placed it in the bottom of his bag and zipped it up. Looking around the room with dry eyes, it was his heart, which cried the tears for the only mother figure of his entire life.
“Oh, but you are wrong Sang-mi! It was my lucky day when I was the only one you caught as we tried to sneak out of your place.”
He remembered vividly the horror of her hand catching hold of the back of his shirt. The others had run, leaving him behind to wash dishes the rest of the night. At the end when he would have left to sleep in a park nearby, the little Korean lady had taken him home with her and handing him a clean set of clothes left behind by a son, insisted he bath before crawling into a wondrously clean bed. It was the first he had slept on since running away from the last foster home at sixteen. She then insisted he go back to school for his diploma and she funded his college. He owed her more than he could ever repay. Now, she was gone. He thought about scriptures he and Honey studied about where the dead were and fully believed that they were not in a grave somewhere, but present with the Father.
“Be happy Sang-mi and see you soon!”
With this, he walked out of the room and out of the house to the garage where Sang-mi stored a car for visitors to use. Not sure, of where he was going, he found himself headed to the offices he last knew Garrett to work and though he had no idea what he would do when he got there, he felt a certain peace within his soul.
19
T
he doctor arranged for Honey’s transfer to the mountain village of Canadensis. It was located only forty miles from Manhattan, going across a tip of New Jersey, before crossing the Pennsylvania state line and up into the Pocono Mountains. Jean surprisingly took charge and Dwight felt she was more than competent to take care of everything and made flight plans to leave the next day for home. He wanted to leave immediately, but Sheila insisted that if she did not see Jean and Honey settled in, she would do nothing but worry them both miserable. He knew she spoke the truth. It was easy enough to wait one more day. They would leave from an airport closer to Canadensis after spending one night to make sure everything went smoothly.
They rode with Jean, as she still had her borrowed vehicle. Though her friends, the owners of the house she had been staying at had returned, they insisted she keep the car until she was ready to leave. Along the way, Jean filled them in on her friendship with
Romona
and Hidey, never realizing there was a new sparkle, which entered into her voice as she spoke of them. Sheila suspected Hidey was the one responsible for the difference and wondered at the man who could cause Jean to blush just by talking about him. She had to ask,
“Jean, is there something between you and this guy?”
Dwight scolded her,
“Maybe you should not ask such a personal question.”
“Why not?
I want to know. Jean?”
Jean’s face now an even brighter red, concentrated on her driving.
“No.”
They neither one believed her nor after the word was out of her mouth, did she. She was quiet the rest of the drive as the realization that forbidden feelings had sprung forth and was spreading, so that she felt totally out of control.
Romona
met them at the door and directed them to a downstairs room she had organized for Honey. Everything needed was set up and ready. Another nurse was there but left after she helped get Honey settled comfortably. She would return if needed, but
Romona
was confident that she, with Jean’s help, could manage. Her heart was full of pity for the young woman who looked so pale, as the paramedics lifted her into the hospital bed.
Heavy medication kept her sedated for the transfer but after talking personally with the doctor,
Romona
was sure she would be sitting up soon in a wheel chair. The country air would do wonders for the patient and now Jean was going to be living under the same roof as Hidey. God sure did work in mysterious ways.
She took Dwight and Sheila upstairs to the bedroom next to
Hidey’s
where Dwight ordered Sheila to rest in preparation for the trip home. It was hard not to be in the thick of things, but she determined to please her husband. She felt fine and there was no sickness.
She hoped this meant the morning sickness had now passed and she could enjoy the rest of the pregnancy.
She must have been more tired than she thought for not five minutes passed before she fell sound asleep.
Dwight found Honey sleeping the drugs off and the others in the kitchen. They were putting together a salad and some sandwiches to hold them over until dinner. There was a light banter amongst them and he had no problem joining right in. He found
Romona
delightfully refreshing and Hidey reminded him of an old school friend he graduated with, so he felt very comfortable. He noticed that Jean was quiet as they made casual conversation. He also noticed that Hidey would occasionally look at her and look away quickly. When
Romona
offered to show him her prize roses, he accepted and they left the other two alone, to Jeans dismay.
“I am sorry Jean, that was kind of obvious wasn’t it?”
Hidey apologized, feeling that the last thing Jean wanted was to be alone with him. Jean shrugged it off as if it made no difference to her, but inside she was quivering and embarrassed, she felt heat spread up to her cheeks.
“It is fine. She means well.”
“Maybe this is as good a time as any for me to assure you that I have no intention of causing you any unhappiness while you are here. I appreciate the fact that you have been honest with me about your feelings and I hope we can have a cordial relationship anyway, while your friend recovers. I promise I will not be bothering you.”
His attempt at reassuring her failed, for Jean abruptly put down the knife she was using and hurried from the kitchen. Speaking to no one but himself, he grumbled,
“Now what did you do?”
The morning brought about Dwight and Sheila’s departure. There were many mixed emotions as they said good-bye to Honey, who was not surprisingly awake having slept all the way through the night. Then to Jean and
Romona
, who followed them out to
Hidey’s
pickup. He was going to drive them to the airport and do some shopping while in the city. Sheila hugged Jean for the third time before Dwight firmly placed her in the pickup and reminded Jean to keep them posted on Honey’s progress.
“Call.”
“I will, but you know the phone service up here is not the best. Have a safe flight and kisses to Gem for me!”
Dwight started rolling the window up with her still talking.
“I will and Jean…if you should hear from Jacks, I would like to talk with him. Tell him to call me, night or day.”
Jean nodded and the pickup moved forward down the drive. After it disappeared, the women went to check on Honey. Her eyes were still open but she still could not speak. There was damage to her larynx and the doctors said it might take some time, but there was no reason to presume it was something permanent. To Jean it was the saddest of anything she ever experienced…except for AJ.
She squeezed her eyes so tight pushing away the memories, that
Romona
asked her what was wrong. A bit sharp and unexpected, she exclaimed,
“Nothing!”
Then feeling full of remorse for snapping, said quickly,
“
Romona
, I am so sorry. Please forgive me for being so hateful!”
“You are already forgiven, dear. It has been a hard couple of days for you. Why
don’t
you go and lie down and I will bring you a cup of my special tea. You will feel much better. I will sit here with Honey.”
“Are you sure? I do have the beginnings of a headache. If you are sure you do not mind.”
“Of course, I rarely say things I don’t mean.”
Jean admitted,
“I know
,
you are the most straightforward person I have ever known. Thank you.”
Romona
was sure it was something and that it was an important something, but it was not her place to probe. She had the assurance that in good time Jean would come to trust her. She left Honey for just a minute to run and make Jean’s tea and after taking it to her, she sat by Honeys side talking softly to her, telling her a story from the Bible. The story of Ruth and Boaz lulled her patient back into a sweet peaceful sleep where she dreamed of a beautiful place full of flowers with Jacks there giving encouragements to her. She also dreamed glorious heavenly beings surrounded them both and she felt safe and happy.
20
T
he man sitting in Garrett’s office stood when Jacks was brought to him. It was not someone he recognized.
“It is good to meet you Jacks, I have heard a lot about you from Garrett. My name is Carman and I have taken over Garrett’s practice for him.”
Jacks wanted to know,
“Where is he?”
At first, he ignored the extended hand, but then took it thinking that the old Jacks would appear friendlier than he was feeling.
“He has taken an extended leave for travel and will not be back for some time. What can I do for you? Take a seat, please.”
He took his place behind the too modern desk, indicating a chair in front of it, which Jacks sat before replying,
“I need to talk with Garrett. You could put me in touch with him.”
“I am sorry, but there are strict orders not to disturb him for any reason other than a major emergency. If you tell me what it is you want to speak with him about, maybe I can help.”
The game was on. Jacks first leaned back in his chair and then forward. If he wanted to make progress, he would have to be more like the old Jacks.
“I will tell you this. I was in an accident and the last person I remember talking to was Garrett. Evidently, that was more than a year ago and all sorts of changes have happened since then. I do not know who to trust, where to go or what to do now. Apparently, I have a wife I do not know, and Sheila…she was my secretary… has married a preacher! These people insist that I live in Mississippi, of all places and I need answers. Garrett is the only one I trust to give them to me. Could you please, at least contact him? I feel sure he would want to talk to me if he understood my dilemma.”
Jacks pretended not to see the glimmer of satisfaction in the man’s eyes. Instead, he shook his head and uttered a word he never used anymore and urged,
“Please. You must have some way to contact him in case of an emergency. I just want to talk to him.”
To his surprise, the man nodded and admitted,
“True, I do have a contact number for him, but I am sure you will understand that I will have to clear it first before I can let you speak with him.”
Jacks agreed eagerly,
“Of course, I know Garrett will not let me down when he learns of this mess I seem to have gotten myself into. We go back a long way. I am sure he told you that too.”