The Vicarage Bench Anthology (3 page)

“Tough. Seems I’m stronger than you, so get used to it. Now shush and go to sleep. We need our beauty rest or we’ll look like hell in the morning.”

“You won’t be gone when I wake up, will you?”

“I guess not.”

A feeling of well-being settled over the pair and sleep followed.

Chapter Four

“This better be good,” croaked Jake. His voice reflected the vicious flu that had attacked his body just a few days before.

“It’s Marnie here, Jake. There’s something dreadfully wrong with Jenna.” Sobs were apparent in her voice.

“What is it? What the hell are you talking about?”

“Jake, she’s slipped into a coma. The doctors are stumped. They can’t find any reasons for her being unconscious.”

“What do you mean, she’s unconscious? Was she in an accident? Is she sick?” His voice roared through the transatlantic wires so clearly one would think he was in the next room.

Bringing the phone back to her ear, Marnie wailed, panic resonating in her voice, “I don’t know what happened. One minute she was sitting on the bench at the front of our rental place, the old vicarage, and by the time I’d joined her, she was slumped over and gone…”

“Gone?” He cut her off. His bossy, managing forcefulness steadied her as nothing else could have. She sniffed, gulped and cleared her voice.

“Marnie, for God’s sake.”

“I don’t know, Jake. I tried to wake her up, and I couldn’t. They’ve taken her to the nearest hospital and have started to run the whole gamut of tests. The doctors mentioned possibilities of infection, or diabetes, stroke—even a brain tumour. I’ve answered so many questions I don’t know if I’m coming or going. It’s all happening so fast.”

“When did this phenomenon take place?”

“Yesterday.”

“And you didn’t call me till now?”

“I knew you were sick, Jake, and I thought she’d snap out of it. I’m scared, Jake. There’s no response to stimuli at all. She’s comatose.”

He heard her sniveling again, and it frightened the hell out of him. Marnie was not a sniveler. She was the most calm, down-to-earth person he had ever encountered. She had to be, to put up with the nutcase she worked for. But then, he put up with the same nutcase and wouldn’t have it any other way. He lived for the time he spent with Jenna, even if she did drive him batty with all her demands. “I’ll be on the next plane. I’ll call you with my arrival time. And Marnie, don’t worry so. We’ll take care of our girl.”

“Don’t we always?” Marnie breathed a huge sigh of relief. “I’m so glad you’re coming—I never doubted it.”

The next day a disheveled, tired and cranky Jake stepped out of his rental car. Marnie hugged him in relief and commiserated with him on his tedious journey. She had continued the lease on the vicarage for the next few weeks as a place for them both to stay to be close to Jenna. She helped him in with his bag and plugged in the kettle. Most people on their first sight of the picturesque place stopped in awe to soak in the scene. He barged straight in without slowing down at all.

“Any change?”

“Nothing new since your last call, two hours ago, and the one an hour before that, and…”

He interrupted rudely. “Shut up! I’m worried. I want to see her.”

“You’ve had a long trip. Have some coffee first.”

“No! Now.”

“You’re dead on your feet, and she’s not going anywhere. Maybe you should grab a nap first?” His glare could freeze rocks. She gave up. “Fine. I’ll drive.” She unplugged the kettle.

In the car Jake rapped questions at her, the same ones she’d answered already. “I don’t know the answers. Ask the doctors when we get there. They can tell you much more than I can. All I know is, she seems peaceful enough. I’ve sat with her since it happened, and she hasn’t moved at all. The nurses have taken care of her like a baby. They’re very good with her.” She rattled on.

He barely kept himself under control, he was that anxious to see Jenna. As if the residents of the borough sensed their need to get to the hospital without delay, traffic was slight and they arrived in no time at all.

The doctors were notified upon their arrival. Jake spent the time waiting for them by devouring the sleeping princess with his hungry gaze. He even kissed her lips, something he would never dream of doing if she were awake. He sat by her side, her small hand cozy in his while he meditated. Marnie, stunned by his affectionate demeanor, left the room to give him privacy. Finally the medical team arrived and brought him up to date with their test results and treatment choices, all of which added up to very little.

Earlier, as he waited to be called for his transatlantic flight, he’d hooked up his laptop in the first-class lounge and researched all the information available on implausible comas. He’d learned very little, other than that it was a state of prolonged unconsciousness in which the brain functions at its lowest level of alertness.

Up to now all the tests they’d taken had proved inconclusive. They didn’t seem to know why Jenna was in this state. The only definite knowledge was that it would be necessary to maintain her respiration and circulation.

He dropped her hand and cupped his cheeks in his shaking palms, masking the wetness tracking his face. His slumped shoulders said it all. His heartbreak was obvious.

Chapter Five

Early next morning Jenna was up and forcing her new body into old practises.

“Ow! Stop that.”

“You are so out of shape, I can’t believe it.”

“Enough sit-ups! My heart is pounding so hard it’ll definitely stroke, my back aches—undoubtedly traction will be my only option—and my legs can’t handle so much running. I’ll surely get attacked with varicose veins.”

“You’re nuts. Stop griping. And by the way—we’re walking fast, not running, and it’s good for you. Exercise keeps the blood flowing, builds muscle and inflates energy, and that alone prevents problems. Your skin will benefit, not to mention your heart and lungs. Right now you’re breathing like a stuffed…”

“Don’t you say it. Don’t you dare.”

“Okay! Don’t spaz!”

“I’m hungry. Let’s eat now.”

“Right! One egg, a slice of twelve-grain bread and a small apple.”
This was typical of Jenna’s usual diet.

“Never heard of twelve-grain bread. One egg isn’t enough. I usually have three, with bacon rashers, steamed tomatoes, toast and jam—oh, yes, and a bowl of oatmeal. And of course two cups of tea.”

Sarcasm dripping, Jenna said,
“no wonder our arse is as big as an elephant’s. News flash! Lifestyle changes, missy, starting right now. We eat healthy as of this moment.”
And arguing all the while with her physical landlady about calories, metabolic rates, nutrition and energy, she strenuously suppressed Lucy’s habit of wolfing down every morsel on her plate.

After breakfast, Jenna convinced Lucy, under duress, to change her clothes numerous times, until Jenna was as satisfied as possible with her appearance. The baggy dresses were uncomplimentary to her body shape. The white sheer ruffled blouse, Lucy’s favorite wardrobe item, looked like hell with the yellowed camisole. Her skirts were too long, shoes the wrong color, everything was ugly—nothing pleased the fashion-conscious Jenna. Lucy was past caring. Then, hidden in the back of Lucy’s closet, tailored slacks were unearthed, and Jenna glommed onto them.

“Now we’re cooking. These are what I’m talking about. Now for a top to go with them. Do you have anything a bit longer and not too fitted?”
Jenna scrambled through the piles of clothing she’d flung all over the room, until her eyes caught sight of a lovely blue cashmere sweater she’d passed over earlier. Preening in front of the mirror, a pastime never enjoyed by Lucy, Jenna gave a last pat to the unruly curls and decided she’d done all she could with what she had.

“Are you happy, now that I’m exhausted and we still have the tea tray to prepare?”

“Happy? No! But it’s the best I can do.”

Not surprisingly, they weren’t quite ready when John appeared with the shrink in tow, Dr. Andrews.

Lucy slipped away as soon as John showed up, and Jenna, feeling startlingly empty and alone without Lucy’s presence, nevertheless took an instant liking to the English version of Dr. Phil. His questions were blunt and inspired her to be completely open, giving him a more frank window into the shallowness of her life than she realized.

Dr. Andrews was a bit crusty, one of those men who seem to be born old. His conservative clothes and mannerisms were those of a person well read and well educated. There was an old-world gallantry about him that Jenna brought to the fore.

To Dr. Andrews, Jenna was baffling, a complex creature he studied and questioned. Was she suffering a true out-of-body experience, or was her mind somehow broken? And what of Lucy? From all accounts, Lucy McGillicuddy had lived an exemplary life up till now. She was quiet and well thought of by her neighbours and the people at work, nothing at all like the person who was now in control of her body.

They met day after day and he listened to Jenna babble on about how successful she was and the money she drew.

She went on about her modeling career and the number of gigs she’d ruthlessly stolen from “lesser-known wannabes,” as she termed them. His normally direct eye contact glazed over when she tried to introduce him to Lucy, who remained stubbornly silent.

At first he wanted to believe her about two beings in one body, but it was finally becoming clear to him what an incredible actress she must be. If it weren’t for all the facts she could produce about the future, he’d have no doubts at all. Somehow she always managed to intrigue him, and so he let the days float past.

“I’ll meet Lucy at another time,” he’d say each day, consolingly. Always, at the mention of Lucy, his respectful attitude diminished and he would treat her like a child.

At her bidding, John sat in on the consults, silent and brooding, obviously intrigued and amused by the verbal exchange between two sharp personalities. He took notes of his own while Dr. Andrews set up his cumbersome reel-to-reel tape recorder, a machine Jenna laughed at.

When questioned, she explained to the two men that in her world she could hold a tape recorder in the palm of her hand. She rambled on about her favorite technological toy, called a cell phone.

“Phones that are calculators, contain address books, work as computers and can take photographs and moving pictures?” Dr. Andrews’ eyebrows could hardly have risen any higher.

“Videos.”

“Yes, videos. And it can be used as a computer to send messages to anyone, anywhere in the world?”

“Yes. It’s the handiest little gadget, and I miss mine like crazy.”

“You miss your cell phone? Don’t you miss your family and friends?”

“Of course! Of course I miss my busy life. I miss my agent, Jake. He’s an old mother hen, a real pain, but he looks after me very well. He couldn’t make this trip with me—he had a tremendous cold and a high fever. Normally, he’s with me all the time. I miss my secretary, Marnie, who did come with me and must be frantic to find out where I went. She’s sharp as a whip and, between those two, my hectic life runs smoothly.”

“What about your family?”

“I have a very busy life modeling all over the globe. I’m well paid and I like the travel. It takes me away from having to spend much time in Seattle, where my mother lives. She’s a famous clothes designer and has her own fashion house.”

“Don’t you like your mother? You don’t seem to be missing her very much.”

“Of course I like her, she’s my mother, but I disliked her husbands, all four of the losers. Most were bloodsuckers, after her money, and they lived on the edge of her success. She was their key into the world of the rich and famous.”

“Hmm. And are you anyone’s key?”

The silence was complete and lasted for long, intense minutes.

Her skin turned pasty white.

Chapter Six

“Dr. Andrews? I do believe Jenna needs a few minutes,” said a husky, hesitant voice unlike that of Jenna’s lighter, more firm tones.

Heads jerked up as the two men looked at each other, stunned, and then turned to the young woman with them. Finally Dr. Andrews spoke.

“Lucy? Is that you?”

Hesitantly, she said, “Yes. I suggest we finish this meeting for today.” A pleading look sent in John’s direction followed, and his nod of agreement closed the session.

From the day Jenna appeared in their lives, the worlds of both men had been wrapped up in hers. According to talkative Jenna, Lucy purposely retreated shyly before each of their gatherings. For weeks both doctors had tried to bring Lucy out, agreeing that either Lucy McGillicuddy was an incredible actress or she had multiple personalities. And what personalities! Jenna intrigued and excited them both. But to prove their case, they had needed to ascertain Lucy’s existence. What a medical miracle for them to witness!

However, the next day John appeared alone to confront Lucy. She felt pale and shaky and was her own normal prim self.

“Hello, Lucy?”

“Yes. Please come in.” He sat across from her, where the dim lighting in the room did little justice to his reasonably good looks. His receding hairline, chubby cheeks and rounded chin somehow fit with his compact body shape. His wire-rimmed glasses, perched over his insightful and demanding green eyes, allowed full view of their gentle golden lights.

“I’m sorry we upset Jenna yesterday. I’ve been worried about her and wanted to come and check on her before today’s appointment. I’ve been worried about you, also. How are you today?”

“I’m fine, but Jenna has shut down. She won’t even talk with me. I’ve tried begging and pleading, but nothing happens. I can feel her, her sadness, but she won’t open up. It’s no use.” Tears gathered and her now-slim fingers linked and covered her eyes.

He leaned over to pat her shoulder. She flinched. He hurriedly removed his hand. “Maybe it’s best if we give her a few days. I’ll telephone you tomorrow. And I’ll ask Dr. Andrews not to come for a while, to give you both a rest.”

“You’re so kind, Dr. Norman.”

“Please, call me John. Jenna does, and I’d like for you to, also.”

“Yes, Jenna is a free spirit and holds nothing back. Myself, on the other hand, I’m rather contained, if you know what I mean.”