Together Again: Spirit Travel Novel - Book #4 (Romance & Humor - The Vicarage Bench Series) (3 page)

She was a glimmer of sunshine in his otherwise bland life and workaholic schedule. He knew he’d never have children of his own; the time for him had long passed. But if he had been so blessed, he’d have wanted a child exactly like this smart, inquisitive, spunky girl.

She appeared very young in her present condition, tiny and weak, an impression he knew to be untrue. Dani had developed quickly, retaining her slenderness through athletics, and even at her tender age, she carried herself with attitude.

A knock sounded a moment before Dr. Andrews’ housekeeper, Mrs. Dorn, peeked around the large fern near the garden’s entrance. “I don’t wish to intrude but—Good grief, Dr. Andrews, what’s happened ‘ere?” She lumbered toward him, her massive body swaying from side to side in a comic kind of wiggle.

“I’m afraid that Dani has slipped into a coma. Nothing to be alarmed about, Mrs. Dorn. I’ve seen these situations before, and they have a tendency to resolve themselves. We’ll be looking after her for the next little while until the effects fade away, but I suggest we tell her mother a bit of a fabrication. I don’t think she’d take it too well if we were to admit the truth.”

“What is the truth, Doctor?” Inquisitive to a fault, his housekeeper would not be put off easily.

“I believe Dani has had an allergic reaction to the—the rose she pricked her finger on. I’ve seen it happen before. The effects will wear off in time, but she must be treated specially. By keeping her here, we can give her better care than the overworked staff at the hospital—where, I have no doubt, my sister would demand she be taken.”

“Cor, you’re right there. What’ll you be telling her so she’ll leave the child with us?” Mrs. Dorn moved with surprising speed to sit next to the sleeping girl in order to peer more closely.

“There has been a strain of highly infectious flu going around lately. Using that as the explanation for her illness, I can hint that Dani became violently ill while here and mustn’t leave and—and spread the germs. You know how Marion is about infections and disease. I think I’ll just tell her that the best medicine for the child is for us to keep her here, in a light sleep to, ah, to stop her from scratching and marring her skin.”

“Ohhh, that’s a good one.”

“You think so?”

“Yes sir, it’s brilliant, and it’ll work with your sister.”

“Good. That’s got it, then. I’ll fib and caution her not to visit. I can tell her that since I’ve been inoculated, because of working at the hospital, I’m the perfect person to stay with Dani. But for anyone else it would be too dangerous.”

A bit thick, Mrs. Dorn’s face scrunched up, her head quickly swivelled back and forth, and she said, “‘Ere now! This flu the child has is hazardous? I haven’t had a shot…” One glance at the doctor’s questioning look and raised eyebrows, and the lights came on. “Right-o! I knows how to keep me mouth shut, don’t you fret none. We’ll take care of our little miss between us, and mum’s the word.”

So saying, she leaned over the cradled girl who’d always treated her well. Her fleshy fingers gently brushed the ringlets away from Dani’s brow.

“A right proper darling she is, Dr. Andrews, always a friendly word and a smile to cheer up me day.”

Dr. Andrews looked at the kindly face and, for the first time ever, didn’t zero in on the large wart protruding near the end of her nose, but gazed instead into her damp eyes. He smiled reassuringly.

“It’ll be simply a matter of time, my dear Mrs. Dorn. We’ll have to be patient. I loathe having to lie to my sister, but we wouldn’t want to worry her unnecessarily. Come now. You take her feet, and I’ll carry her upper half. We’ll have her comfy and tucked up in no time. I’ll hire one of the nurses from the hospital to stop in each day to do for her, and we’ll take care of her the rest of the time between us.”

“God love ya, sir, we’ll be just fine.”

Later, as Dr. Andrews sat near Dani’s bed rereading the notes he’d left in the garden, he came to realize that the mixed-up pages were his only hope. He prayed that she’d read them in their entirety and had understood the most important detail—how to get back home.

From now on, until she returned to herself, he would have her body on the bench at twelve noon every Saturday to prick her finger, and hope she was doing the exact same thing wherever she might be. If things worked in the similar way as they did with Lucy McGillicuddy’s case, where both people had to prick their fingers at the exact same time, then it should also succeed with Dani.

The crunching noise, of papers being annihilated, had him unclenching his hands. Worry ate away his ability to concentrate and his mind jumped from subject to subject. It finally came to rest on how upset his niece had seemed earlier.

Up till this moment, he’d forgotten about the troubled note in Dani’s young voice and the pleading in her eyes. Now the memory plagued him, and he realized she’d never gotten around to confessing her problem. What could have caused her so much distress?

Such a muddle! The anxiety he felt had little to do with him knowing how to look after her, and a lot to do with worrying about whether she might be able to look after herself.

What struck him as most significant was that one of his ongoing questions had been answered, but only in part. Whether or not his private rose bush—the one he himself had propagated from the mother bush near the vicarage—contained the identical formula of the supernatural. He’d wondered and even made some experiments with John Norman’s assistance from time to time, but until today the flowering bush had graced his garden as a beautiful decoration with no sign at all of anything unusual. Obviously, it did harbour a similar magic, but he had no idea if that magic would work in the same way as the original rose bush.

His hands went up to link behind his head, knuckles clenched and pure white. The sigh that escaped lasted a long time and echoed back to him, forcing tremors of apprehension.

Chapter Four

“Yes, Yes, Yesss!”

While her host shut himself off, Dani celebrated. The magic had worked. She’d abandoned her troubles, her home, and even her body to lurk inside another’s. A break from the predicament she faced couldn’t have come at a better time. The fact that she’d ended up in a man’s body didn’t fluster her; it only added to the excitement.

She knew from looking at his long-fingered hands—through his own eyes, mind you—that she resided in a younger man somewhat fastidious about nail care.

His jean-clad legs seemed to be muscular, and she did like the stylish shoes he wore. But she couldn’t wait to see what he looked like. Faces interested her—they represented possible characters in future stories. She wrote constantly and liked to make up adventurous backgrounds for those people who attracted her most.

Apparently, he could close himself off from her by blanking his thoughts, exactly what he was practising at the moment. Interesting! Could she do the same with him? She’d have to try it.

It felt strange to be a thought process without any power over the muscles of the body. Wait a second. She should test it before taking anything for granted. She lifted his hand to his face and stuck his finger in his nose. He pulled it out and waved it around as if clearing a swarm of mosquitoes.

“Stop that! Look, let’s get one thing straight right from the start—”

“You’re attracting attention again, talking out loud.”
Either her words or her sweet tone angered him, because she sensed a quick rise in his inner temperature. Actually, he became quite hot inside. At least he took the hint and clamped his lips shut.

“Quit interrupting me, and quit telling me what to do, and for the love of God give me a break and get the hell—heck—out! I need you here like I need a hole in my head. I can’t believe my rotten bad luck—”

“You’re rambling and using profanity. But I don’t mind—the swearing, that is. Go ahead if you want to.”

“Hey! Even if you’re only sixteen, you’re a female, aren’t you? And I’m not a callow kid. I do not swear in front of females.”

“Right! You only cuss away inside your mind.”

“Right!”

He groaned so loudly that the young biker passing by became distracted and had to swerve at the last minute to miss the bushes.

“How about if I promise to censor your language myself when you mess up. Would you relax then?”

“No! I can stop the habit altogether. It only takes a bit of will power.”

She waited, sensing he had more he wanted to say.

“One question, little girl. Do spirits smile?”

“ Why do you ask?”

“I’ve had the urge to say ‘wipe that smirk off your face’ ever since this conversation began.”

He found out to his dismay that spirits also laughed.

As Dani felt him loosen up and his anger recede, she decided enough time had passed for him to get over his snit.

“I suppose we should introduce ourselves, since we’ll be living together for a while. My name is Dani.”

“Isn’t that a boy’s name?”

“It’s a nickname I made from my real name, Daniell, which I dislike terribly. Names with consonants on the end are not at all attractive. I love names that end in ‘ie’ or ‘y.’ Girls called Julie and Christy are always so much cuter than girls with names like Marion or Elizabeth, don’t you think?”

“I never thought of it. My mother’s name is Elizabeth, and she’s beautiful.”

“What does everyone call her?”

“Lizzie.”

Dani also found out that a chuckle from inside a person is a very warm sound.

“What’s your name, and where do you live?”

“Troy Brennan, ma’am. Chicago born and bred.”

“I live here in Bury, finished my sixth form just last week, and will probably go on to university next term.”

“Why do you say probably? Don’t you know for sure?”

“I know what I want, but my parents have other ideas.”
He sensed her vexation for just a moment, and then she tamped it down like a pro.
“I won’t fret about it now, as there are always special circumstances that can bring about changes to the best-laid plans, aren’t there?”

“You mean like having unexpected visitors?”

His sense of humour tickled Dani.
“You’re being very reasonable about all this bother.”

“I’m hoping lack of sleep is making me hear voices.”

“I’m afraid that isn’t what’s happening. Why do you keep looking at that woman in the cemetery? She’s very beautiful. Is she your girlfriend? Or your wife?”

“No. I’m not married. She’s the person I’m here in Bury to interview, but I doubt the moment is right, so I’ll wait around.”

With him, Dani watched the elegant blonde, who, in the distance, wove in and out of the lush vicarage gardens. When the woman stopped and looked towards where he sat, they could see her expression, lonely and a bit sad until a voice shouted to her from behind the wall. A pretty girl of about nine or ten years old, a petite, golden-haired doll whose ringlets flew in every direction, bounded into sight. She never slowed her racing steps until she’d flung herself up into the waiting arms with a glad cry of “Mummy!”

Following close behind were an older couple, arms linked and strides matching. They didn’t rush ahead but drew near in a leisurely manner, as if to give the excited twosome a moment to get caught up with their kisses and hugs. Upon approaching, they sedately greeted the woman before they all turned, clinging together, in the direction from which they’d come.

The blonde stopping to pick up a small case hidden behind some bushes, gave one last glance in Troy’s direction, and hurried to catch up.

Troy rose to follow. Sauntering, he stayed many steps behind the laughing, happy group ahead until they slowed for the corner.

As they closed in, Dani recognized the group in front.
“Why are we following these people?”
For the first time her voice seemed oddly constricted, as if tears clogged her throat.

“You okay? You sound funny. I just want to know where she’ll be staying, so I can return another day to request an interview.”

“I see. Don’t you know her name?”

“Yes, it’s Ellie Ward, and she’s a very well-known author.”

“An author. How lucky she is. One day I want to write books myself. The little girl is wonderful, isn’t she? Will we meet her?”

“If things go my way, then it’s a sure thing.”

“You are very presumptuous.”

“Do you even know what that big word means, little girl?”

“Yes, big man. It means this tenancy could prove to be rather difficult.”

“Go ahead and break the lease anytime you want.”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? I’m afraid, since it’s only Monday, you’re stuck with
me for a few more days.”

Dani had carefully read all the notes her uncle had left in the garden, and she knew her only escape would be on a Saturday at twelve noon.

Earlier, she’d recognized her very own parents, and seeing them interact with the person Troy followed had thrown her into a tailspin. She felt as though she’d looked into a mirror at her own future self, where her stylish silhouette was years older and a whole lot prettier.

The little girl calling her “Mommy”—she didn’t even want to go there. It was clear she must have travelled into the future. How confusing. Could she possibly be in the same place at the same time without there being repercussions? Would the universe allow this? Just in case,
s
he’d have to stop him from catching up to the group ahead. At that moment, like a direct answer to her prayer, Dani heard a bawling noise.

“Troy, listen! Can you hear it? Someone in the lane here is crying. Something must be wrong.”

“None of our business. I need to follow Mrs. Ward. I’ve been on her trail since Chicago, and I’m not going to lose her now.”

Mrs. Ward? She was married?

“It’s a child’s voice, Troy. A child is in trouble, and we need to check it out.”

Troy stopped in his tracks. She used every bit of yearning, persuasive power she had to influence his decision.

“For pity’s sake.”
He slapped his hands against the sides of his legs, swivelled, and took off down into the shadowy, dark lane.

Three bigger males, teenagers by their appearance, surrounded a small boy who clung to a cowering puppy. The terrified canine, intent on hiding his muzzle under the lad’s arm, appeared to be the object of the skirmish.