Together Again: Spirit Travel Novel - Book #4 (Romance & Humor - The Vicarage Bench Series) (16 page)

“The poor wee darling!” Mrs. Dorn’s heartfelt pity had the other two again smiling at each other. This time their cheek went unnoticed by the woman who sat shaking her head, the growth on her nose seeming more exposed on a face filled with pure sympathy.

****

In the bewitching hours between late night and early morning, Dr. Andrews and Nurse Joye cowered in the staircase exit directly across from Dani’s room. They peeked through the upper section of the door, their images distorted by heavy, mottled glass. Five minutes before, the big clock over the nurse’s station had shown four-thirty.

The ward slept, as did the nurse sitting at the desk, her face cupped in her supporting hand, elbow propped on the blotter, cap askew.

The other nurse, holding a small torch, made the rounds at the far end of the hall. Her light glowed faintly against the white walls. Her uniformed figure illuminated in the shadows looked to be much larger.

Carefully Dr. Andrews had twisted the knob and pushed the door open slightly, enough for them to be able to hear the anticipated ruckus. The humming of various types of machines echoed as the background music to a sleeping ward. A cough sounded and turned into a hacking gargle, then quieted.

The minute hand crept to the next digit, and then the next, which prompted the two to look at each other enquiringly.

Dr. Andrews’ perplexed frown asked the question. Grace, in her nurse’s uniform, shrugged and turned back to see the minute hand flip once again, and then again. Muscles already tense became sore as the two bent figures strained to hear something—anything—to indicate Mrs. Dorn hadn’t fallen asleep.

First came a mighty crash. Then a wailing curse as the words “Bloody Hell,” screamed in a furious male voice, exploded into the silence.

“Uh-oh!” Dr. Andrews whispered, and then he watched.

Sleeping Beauty at the desk flipped the chair backward with such force that she ended up rolling into the filing cabinet behind her and banging her head on an open drawer. “Ow! Blast and damn,” she said, restraining her hand in midair before she slammed the cabinet shut and woke the ward.

With one final rub to the wounded area, she straightened herself, patted her cap back into place, and bolted, reaching the area across from 405 at the same moment the other nurse arrived. Both entered and were lost from view. Dr. Andrews and Nurse Joye scurried out of the stairwell and into Dani’s darkened room.

“It were a woman, a bloomin’ ghost. Godforsaken thing looked mad.” The enraged male wouldn’t be soothed. His voice carried quite clearly to where the two kidnappers were at work. They also heard the murmuring sounds from both the nurses, obviously trying to calm the enraged fellow.

“Don’t shush me. She stood right there, I tell you. Batty thing wanted to kiss me. She swelled up and started flapping all over the place. For the love of God, I’m not making this up. It happened just like I said.”

Nurse Joye crept behind Dr. Andrews and helped him unhook Dani’s hospital equipment. Angry exclamations could still be heard from the other side of the partially opened door.

She whispered. “What in the world has Mrs. Dorn managed to do?” A giggle burst through, and she slapped a hand over her mouth.

He looked up and noticed the gleeful expression she wore. “I can’t begin to imagine.” He chuckled, sounding very much like a young lad engaged in a prank. “Why, you little devil, you’re enjoying this whole adventure, aren’t you?”

“I’ve never had the opportunity to be involved in such tomfoolery before. I must say, it’s great fun—as long as we don’t get caught.”

“Bite your tongue, my dear.” He scooped Dani’s slightness into his arms. Wrapped carefully in the hospital blanket, she lay inert, looking endearingly helpless. He waited for a signal from Nurse Joye, who peeked out the door to make sure the path was clear.

“This blasted hospital promised me peace and quiet. I’m at the end of me tether, I tell you.” Irate, and letting the world know it, the angry sufferer ranted on.

The nurses seemed to be losing their patience. Aware that the uproar would affect others if they didn’t soon put a stop to it, they spoke firmly. “Sir, quiet down. There is no one in your room. You must have imagined it.”

“Right! Tell that to the spook—”

His tirade ceased to matter after the stairway door closed behind the two body snatchers.

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Troy, quit acting like such an ass. We’ll be together again a week from now at my birthday party. You do have my uncle’s address in your pocket?”

“It’s engraved on my—”

“And don’t be snippy.”

“Yes, your royal highness.”

“You’re impossible! I’ve tried talking with you all morning, and you won’t let me in. What is wrong with you? First you allow me a glimpse of what’s in your heart; then you act like a moron who’s sorry for sharing your sensitivity. I thought I was the kid here! Can’t our last few moments together be happy ones?”

Troy sat on the vicarage bench, one ankle resting on the opposite knee. His arm lay along the bench’s back. To an onlooker he resembled a confident man at ease, mellow.

Inside, he endured a mishmash of anxieties, stomach-eating fear and enough sorrow as to swallow him whole. Hiding his feelings from Dani had to be the most difficult task he’d ever taken on, but he knew how important it was that she be worry-free when she left him. His extreme unhappiness would only add to the already full load of despair she’d be carrying back with her. A bit of healthy anger towards his behaviour appeared much more appropriate than heartbreak.

She stopped speaking.

He waited, hating the silent treatment.

The breeze picked up, rustling the foliage around him. The rosebush’s dark leaves stirred overhead, creating a perpetual melody as the wind blew them every which way. Sunlight streamed through the canopy, dappling the ground below—shadow, then light. All three colours of the roses, red, pink, and white, bloomed with brilliance against the emerald background enfolding them, nestling them, emphasizing them.

He breathed in deeply, enjoying the aroma and atmosphere of the garden as much as the busy butterflies attracted to the petals’ landing strips.

Finally, he cleared his throat, a hint. Still she refused to answer.

“Okay, you’re right! I am being a jackass. I guess I’ll miss your nagging, and I’m too damn stubborn to admit it.”

“Be still, my heart. How can you expect a mere girl to be able to withstand such touching sentiments and overwhelming gushiness?”

“Listen here, Brat. You’re lucky I’m even talking to you. First you invade a guy’s privacy, you take over his life, and then you leave him broken-hearted. And I’m supposed to be nice?”

“Oh, Troy, you do have a way with words.”
The edge left her tone as she melted.

“Seriously, sweetheart, take care when you get back to your old life. I know your mother worries you, but since you’ll soon be a mother yourself, you’ll have to stand up to her. Be your own boss as much as possible. It’ll be difficult, there’s no doubt, but I also have no doubt of your abilities.”

“Difficult? You have no idea. Thank God I’ve learned some very good lessons from you.”

“You have? What?”
His pleasure could be heard in his voice.

“Let’s see. There’s stubbornness, great swear words, how many beers it takes before you get a buzz—”

“Smarty-pants! You just wait till next Saturday. I’ll teach you a lot more things.”

“Things like what?”
She crooned the words, picking up on his sudden switch from friend to lover.

He opened, allowing the sexual craving that pulsed in his system to rampage throughout his entire self. The image of two people entwined and making
love, swept from him to her. His body, now fully aware, swelled and became involved.

“Oh, God, I can’t wait.”
Her voice broke.

With Dani, the sexual pull felt different for him, more intense. There was a flagrant need, absolutely, but also much more of an emotional affinity. Probably because this time he loved.

Troy realized he’d gone too far. How could he get through this next week if he didn’t control his yearning? He had to let her go. He firmly steered the conversation back to where it had been.

“Baby, your family loves you, especially your mother. She’ll do what’s right in the end because you’re what matters, you and the little miracle in your tummy.”
Firm words she’d need to remember when she faced her mother alone.

He looked at his watch and noted the minutes galloping by.

“I can’t bear to leave you.”

“Dani, it’s only one short week. We can do it.”

“No, wait—”

“We have to start the magic.”
So saying, he reached up to the roses above and hesitated.
“What’s your favourite colour?”

“I don’t want to go back yet. We can have one more week together. You don’t know everything about me—”

“Not a good idea, Babe. Your family will be destroyed if you don’t show up today. They don’t know what’s happened to you.”

“I don’t care. My uncle is a very determined man. He’ll be here next week, and the one after that, if necessary.”

“Dani! You’re not thinking clearly. Now, what’s your favourite colour?”
He heard her sigh long and low.

She finally answered,
“Red. It’s the rose that symbolizes love.”

He reached up and plucked a perfect red bloom with a wicked-looking thorn exposed on the crooked stem.

“Until next Saturday—be good, sweetheart.”

He jabbed.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Nerves clamoured all Saturday morning as Dani’s caretakers pulled off her kidnapping without a hitch.

When the appointed hour arrived, the garden was a riot of colour. Busy birds hoping for lunch tweeted and whistled, creating a lovely atmosphere. Sunlight streamed through the branches overhead and left a variety of shifting designs on the worn cobblestones of the patio floor.

Dr. Andrews, tired and drawn, supported Dani’s body while Nurse Joye fussed about with the intravenous paraphernalia. Finally, with everything in order, she sat, the teen on the bench sandwiched between her and the doctor. Reaching up, she gently pushed the wind-blown curls behind ears too small to restrain such weightiness. The fragrance of the teen-trendy shampoo and crème rinse used just that morning tickled her nose as a few red strands flicked past her cheek. She caressed the girl’s face and then leaned back against the bench with a deep breath, purposely folding her hands, relaxed.

The picture of Dani’s head nestled against her uncle’s chest loosened something in the young blemished nurse. Restraints she hadn’t know existed were unravelling. Normally she’d have sat with the right side of her face toward the doctor, but numerous tasks had kept her too busy to worry. Her hand started its automatic ascent, but at the last minute she stopped. Instead of covering her face, she pretended to straighten her cap.

“Don’t worry so, Robert. I’m sure this week the magic will work, and Dani will be back with us.”

“She could be anywhere, in any time period, in any body. What’s been so difficult for me is that I have no idea if she’s safe, unhappy, in danger… Do you know how frustrating it’s been, not knowing? This whole bizarre state of affairs has been perfectly hellish, Grace.”

Having been with him since the beginning, she knew what he’d gone through. She supposed he felt responsible for planting the bush in his own garden. If haggard features and pain-filled eyes were any indication of his inner apprehension, then the way he swilled indigestion medication was understandable.

“I do understand. We’ve been forced to use these underhanded tactics, and it’s made life rather difficult.”

He groaned and looked even worse. “I know.”

“If you’re worried about your sister returning, Mrs. Dorn has gone to make sure the doors are locked. We shan’t be disturbed.”

“Locked doors wouldn’t stop Marion if she truly believed we had Dani in this house. But her two earlier searches convinced her we didn’t. Now she’s terrorizing the police station, stirring them up, driving them crazy.”

“She’s a mother with a cause. She loves her daughter.”

“Cor, you’re right there. And I love her. I’ve hated lying to her all this while, listening to her heartbreak, watching her fall apart.”

“Yes, I know. I’ve seen the torment on your face whenever she’s called. The last few days have been awfully hard on all of us. This latest debacle has been the worst, both for you and your sister. And for Mrs. Dorn, I wager.”

A reluctant smile replaced the frown he’d worn. “She’s a wonder. Imagine her accosting that patient last night, then hiding behind the curtains until the nurses calmed him down. She said it took hours.”

“Maybe ten minutes.”

“Not by Mrs. Dorn’s timer.”

“Whatever possessed her to try and kiss him?”

“Seems that didn’t actually happen. She leaned over him to whisper the word ‘boo,’ hoping he’d wake up. When he did, he jumped, instinctively raising his head, and their faces collided. Her story.”

“Wrapping herself in a sheet was a stroke of genius.” Nurse Joye openly grinned at the man grinning back, two conspirators enjoying a moment.

“Mrs. Dorn’s eccentricities have earned her a big raise and a week’s holiday. I don’t know what I’d have done without her.”

Just then Mrs. Dorn appeared. She’d obviously overheard his last words, but she said nothing. She didn’t have to. Agreement was expressed by her crafty half-smile and nodding. She pulled out a garden chair to perch on and then pointed at her watch.

The lovely red rose, lying innocently on the garden table, beckoned. Dr. Andrews lifted it and pricked the girl’s limp finger. All three people held their breath. Whispers of disjointed prayers floated between them.

Dr. Andrews crossed himself, held up his watch arm and said, “Our Father—”

Nurse Joyce also crossed herself and repeated for what seemed like the hundredth time, “Holy Mary—”

Mrs. Dorn raised her hands prayer-like, and kicked in with, “Now I lay me—”

Dani did nothing. Not a movement, not even a sigh!

One minute passed. Still nothing. The second hand on Dr. Andrews’ timepiece crawled. He gave up staring at his watch and instead checked Dani’s eyes, looking for some sign that she’d returned. Nothing! He looked at the other two anxiously watching, waiting, and shook his head.