Bouquet: Sequel to 'In Full Bloom': The Trilogy of the Rose (Volume 3) (10 page)

“Five Point,” Jan’s voice greeted him on the second ring. 

“Thought I instructed you to take today off,” Mark said, not saying hello.

“Dr.  Stevens?” Jan asked.

“Yes.”

“Couldn’t allow Dr.  Peterson’s first day back in the office to occur without me.  Guess you will have to fire me,” Jan quirked.

“I don’t think so,” Mark responded, laughingly. “Nice try.  But, you do need to schedule some days off this week.”

“How about half-days?” Jan offered.

“Are we negotiating?”

“Yes,” Jan giggled.

“Whatever, just take some time for you.  You will give the boss a bad reputation,” he countered.

“Yes, sir.  How’s it going?” she asked.

“Interesting, to say the least,” Mark acknowledged.  “I called for Sami’s home phone number.”

“Why?  She is with you, isn’t she?”

Mark sighed deeply.  “Just give it to me,” he directed.

“Okay,” she replied, keying-in Sami’s name on the computer and providing him the number.

“Thanks,” he said, disconnecting the line.  Quickly entering the number she provided, Mark was a bit disappointed when Sami’s answering machine picked up.  Not wanting to leave a message, he hung up. 
It was a long shot anyway
, he concluded.  Replacing his cell phone in his pocket, he spotted the snow-covered road ahead. 
Now, where to attach the ribbon
, he thought, looking at the pine trees’ position at the entrance of the path.   

Mark selected the trunk of a large tree to his left. Making his way over to it, he was hopeful to have enough ribbon to encircle the tree and still have enough to secure it to the tree.  Hugging the tree to enable him to grab the ribbon, he laughed at the picture in his mind of his circumstance.  He had never thought of himself as a ‘tree hugger’, but there was a first time for everything.

Securing the ribbon, he looked up and down the road.  Spotting only one set of tire tracks in the fresh snow, he was reminded of a poem he had to memorize in school.  Shaking his head, he suddenly heard the sound of an engine of a vehicle.  Scanning the road in the direction of the sound, he spotted an old beater of a truck slowly coming in his direction.  The truck was staying in the grooves of the tracks in the snow. 
Smart
, he thought, hoping David would do the same.

As the truck neared, Mark could see that the driver was an old timer and the other occupant of the cab was a large dog.  The man, by what Mark could make out, seemed to be in no better condition than the truck. Mark raised his hand in greeting as the truck stopped before him.  “Hello,” he called, smiling.  The old timer glared at him without smiling or offering a return greeting.  Lowering his hand, Mark asked, “You Gus?”

“Could be,” Gus replied.  “Who is asking?”

Mark continued to smile as he stepped over to the side of the truck.  “Mark Stevens,” he offered, sticking out his hand.

Gus stared at Mark’s offered hand and grunted. “Your business?” he asked.

Mark sensed that Gus was reluctant to offer anything.  “Here with Mrs.  Carter.  She is my patient.  I am a psychologist,” he stated.

The mention of Sami’s presence brought a smile to Gus’ weathered face and a twinkle to his eye.  “She is here?” he asked.  Mark only nodded in response.  “About time,” he stated, turning off the motor and getting out of the truck. Before closing the door, he signaled for the wolf-like dog to follow.  “Think I will go see for myself.”

Mark watched, baffled, as Gus and the dog passed him.  “Your truck?” he asked.

“It will be fine.  Don’t want to get stuck,” Gus answered, not turning.

“In the middle of the road?” Mark asked disbelievingly.

“Sure, no one in their right mind travels here during the winter months,” he stated knowingly.

Rural life, what a kick
, Mark thought, having to sprint to catch up with the old timer and his dog. Drawing up next to Gus, he asked, “Any insight you can provide me of her history would be helpful.”

“Hank and June?” Gus asked.  Unknowing of Sami’s parents names, he just nodded.  “Nice folks. Hank was a doctor, you know,” Gus stated, looking at Mark.

“I’ve heard,” Mark confirmed.

“Friends with Hank’s parents, also.  Good people, those Johnsons,” he commented.  “Sad state, if you ask me.  Don’t seem fit that I have outlasted them all.”

“Any other family?” Mark asked.

“Not that I know,” Gus admitted. “Hank’s younger brother, Robert, died in the Great War. Cece took it hard; made her old overnight.  Hank tried hard to step in, but she wouldn’t get over it.  Robert was her baby.”

“Tell me more about Hank and June,” Mark pressed.

“Well, Hank wanted to do it all.  It was probably because of Robert.  He just wore himself out; died way too young.  His heart took him like Rose.  I am sure he blamed himself for her condition.  Now June, what a loss. She was a really fine lass.  She, too, was taken before her time,” he said, shaking his head.

“Rose?” Mark prompted.

“Sami’s twin?” Gus asked.

“Yes,” Mark replied.

“Wee little thing, she was,” Gus recalled.  “Didn’t see them much during that time.  Rose couldn’t handle the air here.  June doted on her.  Felt sorry for Sami; she didn’t understand.  Poor thing.  Always felt June was wrong to forbid talking about Rose after her passing. Felt it had something to do with Robert and the way Hank carried it around with him.”  Mark nodded, understanding June’s decision to hide Rosemarie away.

As they entered the clearing in front of the cabin, Gus asked, “How is she, doc?”

“You’ll see for yourself,” Mark stated, looking at the large dog.  “She has a dog.”

Gus stopped and looked at his dog.  “Woof is gentle,” he replied.

“That is not it,” Mark admitted.  “Sami is emotionally attached to her dog.  Molly, her dog, has been isolated.  She did well with my dog, but he is the same breed.  I do not know how she will respond to your dog.”

“What do you suggest?” Gus asked.

“Wait here.  Let’s bring them outside,” Mark offered.

“Doc, that seems like a waste.  Woof’s scent is here,” Gus remarked.

“I hadn’t considered that angle,” he stated.  “You are here a lot?”

“Not a lot, but some.  Woof is always with me,” he answered.

Remembering Molly’s bandaged paws, Mark offered, “What the heck?  Come on.”  At the base of the steps, both men kicked the snow off their boots before ascending.  “Sami, you have a visitor,” Mark called.

***

TEN

M
ark heard Sami’s happy-sounding voice through the door.  “What have you found?  A wild animal to scare me?”

“No,” he answered, smiling and looking up as she opened the door.  His breath caught.  She was a vision in her pink snow bibs and yellow T-shirt sans the ugly coat. His eyes devoured her from the tips of her pink snow boots to her angelic, smiling face.

“Where in the world did you find this wolf?” she asked.

“He belongs to me,” Gus answered, stepping around the still-mesmerized doctor onto the porch. 

Mark’s focus on Sami’s face provided him the opportunity to witness her facial expression turn instantly from that of an angel to a fiery she-devil as she took two steps out on the porch to confront the old timer. “What have you told him?”  ‘Mrs. Carter’s’ evil tone was back with a vengeance.

Gus jumped at the viciousness of the verbal attack as Woof growled deeply.  “I beg your pardon,” he slung back at her.

Mark was thrown off balance by the exchange.
What in the world?
he thought, feeling the tension in the air as the two stared at each other.

“I asked you a question.  What did you tell him about me?” she stormed at Gus.

Taking steps backward to keep distance between them, Gus offered, “Very little.”

“Did you tell him?” she asked hotly.

“What?” Gus asked.

“Tell me what?” Mark heard himself ask.

Sami kept her eyes glued on Gus.  “About Adam,” she sneered.

“Your unborn child?” Mark asked, confused.

Gus looked at Mark.  “What did you say?” he asked.

“Her child that died in the accident,” Mark answered.

“What accident?” Gus asked, perplexed.

“The one that killed her family,” Mark replied.

Gus shook his head and looked back at Sami. “You told him Adam died in the accident?” he asked her.

Mark was lost.  Looking at Sami, he saw her eyes were the size of saucers.  “You lied to me?” he asked. “Adam is alive?”

Sami appeared frozen.  She showed no signs that she had heard him.  Mark looked over at Gus.  “Tell me. Is Adam alive?” he demanded.

Keeping eye contact with Sami, Gus replied, “Yes, very much alive.”

Gus’ admission to the fact resulted in Sami bolting across the porch and down the steps.  She was moving swiftly across the clearing in the direction of the lake with the bandaged-pawed Molly on her heels. 

Hearing the surprising news of Adam and observing Sami’s quick departure, Mark was momentarily stunned.  Woof’s deep bark vibrated the air around him and brought him out of his stupor. 

“Sami!  Molly!”  Mark yelled after them.

“What is going on?” Grandma Jo asked, stepping onto the porch.

“Stay here,” Mark ordered, taking off after the two females and dashing across the clearing.