Bouquet: Sequel to 'In Full Bloom': The Trilogy of the Rose (Volume 3) (12 page)

Mark backed away from her and collided into the couch on which Sami had been placed. Startled, he viewed her deadpan eyes.  Silently, he stood, watching her and willing her to blink to moisten her eyes.  He was not an advocate for taping the eyelids closed to protect the eyes from dryness.  He knew blinking was a reflex and for some, a gauge to evaluate the extent of her withdraw.  Reaching over the back of the couch, he snapped his fingers above her face.  He watched as she closed her eyes.  He drew in his breath, wondering if her actions were a response or was it just timing on his part. “Sami?” he asked softly.  Her eyelids did not move; they remained closed.

“Anything?” Grandma Jo asked, coming up beside him and looking down at the comatose girl.

“No,” Mark frowned.  “She is out.”

“I must admit, I do prefer her eyes closed instead of the wide-eyed stare.  It was spooky looking,” Gus offered.  “She looks like she is asleep, instead of dead.”

Mark cringed at Gus’ observation.  He had felt the same, but didn’t want to voice it.  “It might not last for long,” Mark offered, sighing. 

“What?   Her current state or her closed eyes?” Grandma Jo asked.

“Both,” Mark answered truthfully.  “There is no way to know.  The mind is a remarkable agent.”

“Is she playing games with us?” Gus asked.  Both Mark and Grandma Jo looked at him intently.  “I had to ask,” he defended his questions.  “To me, it just doesn’t seem possible.”

“What?  Withdraw into yourself or escape from reality?” Mark asked.

“Yes,” Gus answered.

“It is more common than you may believe.  It is extreme, I admit.  We are dealing with a disturbed mind — one mired in emotional turbulence.  Researchers are constantly exploring the capacity of the brain on not only the bodies’ requirements, but also the psychological needs. I understand the logic behind your question, but in a disturbed mind, logic is not a factor.  The simple truth of Adam’s survival was too much for her to process.  The body reacted by going into a protective mode. . . much like she did when the package arrived, Grandma Jo,” he educated them, looking at Grandma Jo.

“Is she in a hypnotic state?” Grandma Jo asked.

“No, this is different.  Under the trance, she reacted to me,” Mark answered.  Seeing Grandma Jo’s look, he continued, “When I moved her to the bedroom, she reached her arms around me, she reacted to my touch.  This time, she has not.  If she was playing games, as Gus had wondered, her body would respond.  Her eyes would betray her.  Her body would show signs of awareness.  Right now, she is unaware.  For example,” Mark offered, walking over to Grandma Jo’s knitting needles on the chair next to the couch.  Returning, he lowered the blanket to reveal Sami’s hands.  Taking the needles, he poked her right hand — not hard, but with enough pressure to have caused a reaction.

Receiving no reflex movement to his action, he looked at Gus.  “An aware person would automatically flinch away from the needle,” he stated.

“How is that possible?” Gus asked. 

Mark shook his head and pulled the blanket back over Sami.  Placing the needles back on the chair, he replied, “Some say the brain releases a chemical to bring on this self-induced coma.  Others say the mind is so focused on protecting the psyche that there is nothing left.  Still others say that the spirit is in God’s hands.  I, for one, believe they are all correct.”

“How do you get her out of it?” Grandma Jo asked.  “Molly brought her out before.”

Mark looked at Molly and smiled.  “Yes, she did play a vital role, but it was Sami herself who brought her out of the trance.  This time is different.  A separate mental trigger is required; my goal is to find this trigger. I could pump her full of drugs to find the right combination to reverse the imbalance, but it could be more harmful than good.  What she needs is to heal herself,” he stated.

“So, you are suggesting you do nothing?” Gus asked.

“Far from it.  Her physical needs will need to be monitored and controlled, while we use every means possible to stimulate her mind,” Mark countered.

“How?  She is unaware?” Grandma Jo asked.

“Appeal to all of her other senses, primarily her auditory function — talk to her, utilize her music.  I also favor the sense of smell — her paints, flowers, your baking skills, Grandma Jo.  Basically, give her a reason to mend, a reason to return,” Mark offered.

“Tall task,” Gus stated.

“True, but in my opinion, the only option,” Mark affirmed.

Woof’s deep bark caught them off guard.  “What is it, Woof?” Gus asked as both dogs raced to the door, barking.  “Must have heard something.”

Mark hurried to the door.  “It could be David,” he suggested, reaching and opening the door around the two barking dogs.  The dogs darted out before him. “Stay on the porch,” Mark ordered as he spotted his red truck slowly traverse the deep snow into the clearing. Both dogs stopped barking and looked at him.  “You heard me,” he said forcefully, moving to the top of the steps. Keeping his eyes locked on the windshield, he viewed not only David and Ollie, but a woman in the passenger seat.

“Reinforcements?” Gus asked behind Mark.

Without turning, Mark replied, wondering about the unknown passenger.  “You could say that.  It is our ticket out of here; my 4X4 truck can handle the deep snow.”

“It is more than that.  That is Linda,” Gus said, walking down the steps followed by the dogs, then Mark.

“Linda?” Mark asked.

“Yes, sir,” Gus replied.

***

TWELVE

M
ark watched the strawberry-blonde, petite woman as she climbed out of the passenger side and waved to Gus.  “Thought that was your truck blocking the road,” she stated, stepping into the snow. 

Nodding, Gus responded, “Didn’t expect company.”

“Where is she?” Linda asked, looking at the porch and seeing Grandma Jo and then, Mark.  “Dr.  Stevens?”

“Yes,” Mark answered, looking at David sternly.

“Don’t get all bent out of shape.  I am Linda, Sami’s friend,” she directed.  “I didn’t give him an option.”

“I. . .,“ David started as he shrugged his shoulders, opening the wing door to release Ollie from the cab of the truck.  “She was at Sami’s house this morning.”

“Explain,” Mark directed as he bent down to greet his anxious dog who was being checked out by Woof. “Tell Woof to back off, Gus.”

“Woof,” Gus called.

“I suggest you all come inside,” Grandma Jo called.  “You’ll freeze out here.  I’ll make more coffee.”

Mark looked up to see David move to the bed of the truck.  “Leave it.  We are not staying,” he ordered, turning to the cabin.

“Why?” Linda asked, stepping over to him.

“You’ll see,” Mark replied.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Linda asked in an annoyed voice.  “Where is Sami?”

“Inside,” Mark stated, not looking at her.

“What happened?” Linda asked as she rushed ahead of him into the cabin.

“She is on the couch,” Mark called out to her, seeing her disappear into the cabin.

“What’s up?” David asked.  “Do you know about her son?”

“Yes,” Mark replied, pointing to Gus.  “David, meet Gus.”  As the two men exchanged nods, Mark added, “Gus is a friend of Sami’s and caretaker of this cabin.  David is a member of my support team.”  He entered the cabin and saw Linda on the floor in front of Sami. 

“Sami?” Linda called softly, reaching out to touch Sami’s face.

Mark watched for a response from Sami to her friend’s voice and touch.  Witnessing no visible response from Sami, he shook his head.  A feeling of disappointment cascaded over him.  He hadn’t realized that he had hoped Linda’s presence would awaken Sami.  Linda wasn’t the trigger.  “Let’s all sit,” he directed, taking off the coat and hanging it on the peg near the door.

“What is wrong with her now?” Linda asked, gaining her feet and walking over to the table.

Moving to the table, Mark sat and sighed deeply. “Let’s start with what is right with her,” he suggested.

“Right?” David asked.

“Yes,” Mark said, watching the others settle down around the table.  “I feel the negativity around us.  If I can sense it, so can she.  I know that I am the biggest cause of it.  We need to change that right this minute.”

“I don’t think I could do it.  I am too worried,” Grandma Jo stated, coming around from the kitchen with mugs and the coffee pot in her hands.

“You can,” Mark offered as she placed the items down on the table.  “Switch your worry to hope.  Her body is unresponsive, but she hears us.  She is only lost. We need to help her find her way back.”

“I see your point, Dr.  Stevens, but why is she lost?” Linda asked.  “What brought about this current episode?  David informed me she was normal.”

“Normal?” Mark asked, eyeing David.

“I didn’t say normal,” David quickly defended himself.  “I said she was recovering.”

“True, he did say that.  I assumed she was acting more normal,” Linda admitted.

“Normal is a very subjective word.  Granted, her behavior has been, at times, acceptable or normal over the past few days, but one word, action or discovery will send her into her altered state,” Mark informed them.

“You have seen that side, I take it?” Linda asked.

“Yes,” Mark answered, rolling his eyes.

“Not her best side,” Linda remarked.

“I agree,” Mark affirmed.

“Her current state?” Linda reminded him.

“You can thank Gus for it,” Mark answered.

“Wait,” Gus stated.

“I didn’t intend for it to sound negative,” Mark assured him.  “The minute she set eyes on him, it brought what I call her ‘Mrs. Carter’ personality to the forefront.”

“AJ?” Linda asked.

Mark looked at her strangely.  “AJ?” he questioned.

“Yes, Adam James, her son.  We call him AJ,” Linda informed him.