Free In Full Bloom: Sequel to 'The Crying Rose': The Trilogy of the Rose (Volume 2) by B. A. Beers Page B
Authors: B. A. Beers
house.
***
SEVEN
D riving back to Grandma Jo’s house that afternoon, Mark was in a foul mood. He still couldn’t believe that being out of the office only a day and a half would have created so many little fires he had to extinguish himself. Of course, he reminisced that he had initiated the first fire when he hit the door of the clinic that morning, barking orders like a five-star general. Within minutes, he had most of the staff running around the clinic like chickens with their heads chopped off. At the memory of this fact, a devilish grin spread across his face. Mark, my boy, you, and only you were responsible for the havoc you experienced today . Demanding, like a mad man, to have your schedule for the rest of the week changed at a drop of a hat . He had even assigned dependable Mrs. Mills to the basement to verify all files against old appointment books, since he didn’t want a repeat of the confusion caused on Monday by Sami’s missing file. You brought this on yourself . The grin on his face was replaced with a wrinkle-causing frown.
Mark glanced at the time displayed on his truck’s radio. He swore under his breath, knowing that he was three hours late. He recalled his conversation with Grandma Jo around eleven in the morning when he informed her of his potential lateness. Her reassurance that all was fine did little to ease his feeling of dread. The longer he delayed, the feeling intensified to match. The knowledge of David’s expected arrival did not alarm her one iota. She, in fact, promised to use his muscle in helping them move things around.
With his thoughts returning to the day’s activities, he suddenly became aware of one pure and simple fact,. He had been totally worthless in all his sessions. His mind had been preoccupied with Sami. However, he surmised, none of patients had given him any indication that he had failed them in any way. Thank God that he had recorded every session for transcription purposes. He made a mental note to read them all later.
The vibrating of his pager brought him out of his thoughtful mood. He yanked it out of the holder and swore again. Now what , he thought angrily, fearing another fire would keep him away from Sami. Seeing the display made the hair on the back of his neck to rise. He pulled over into the nearest gas station. The number was not the problem, for he knew it. The added 911 at the end of the number caused the reaction. Placing the pager on the dashboard, he opened the center console between the seats and removed his cell phone. Numbly, he activated the phone and dialed the number. On the first ring, the phone was answered.
“Mark!” a frantic female voice, cried into the phone.
“What’s happened?” he choked out.
“She left.”
“What?” Mark was shaking.
“ Mrs. Carter retrieved her dog and stormed out of here.”
“How long ago?”
“Just moments ago.”
“Where’s David?”
“Here.”
“Have him follow her. I am close and I think I know where she is going. I’ll call you back.”
Tossing the phone on the seat next to him, Mark slammed the truck into gear and raced in the direction of Sami’s house. Honking his horn, he broke many traffic laws in the need to arrive there before her. He knew it would be difficult to gain access if she got there first.
***
Sami was running when she reached the end of Grandma Jo’s driveway. Each time her foot made contact with the pavement, she felt like spikes were being driven into her body, causing almost unbearable pain. She tried to slow her stride to relieve the intensity, but each step was still painful.
“Why?” The one word question screamed from her lungs. The word echoed in her mind repeatedly.
Fresh anger at everything surged through her at the repeating word, bringing with it rapid glimpses of her tragic life. The dreaded images blinded her, making her
***
SEVEN
D riving back to Grandma Jo’s house that afternoon, Mark was in a foul mood. He still couldn’t believe that being out of the office only a day and a half would have created so many little fires he had to extinguish himself. Of course, he reminisced that he had initiated the first fire when he hit the door of the clinic that morning, barking orders like a five-star general. Within minutes, he had most of the staff running around the clinic like chickens with their heads chopped off. At the memory of this fact, a devilish grin spread across his face. Mark, my boy, you, and only you were responsible for the havoc you experienced today . Demanding, like a mad man, to have your schedule for the rest of the week changed at a drop of a hat . He had even assigned dependable Mrs. Mills to the basement to verify all files against old appointment books, since he didn’t want a repeat of the confusion caused on Monday by Sami’s missing file. You brought this on yourself . The grin on his face was replaced with a wrinkle-causing frown.
Mark glanced at the time displayed on his truck’s radio. He swore under his breath, knowing that he was three hours late. He recalled his conversation with Grandma Jo around eleven in the morning when he informed her of his potential lateness. Her reassurance that all was fine did little to ease his feeling of dread. The longer he delayed, the feeling intensified to match. The knowledge of David’s expected arrival did not alarm her one iota. She, in fact, promised to use his muscle in helping them move things around.
With his thoughts returning to the day’s activities, he suddenly became aware of one pure and simple fact,. He had been totally worthless in all his sessions. His mind had been preoccupied with Sami. However, he surmised, none of patients had given him any indication that he had failed them in any way. Thank God that he had recorded every session for transcription purposes. He made a mental note to read them all later.
The vibrating of his pager brought him out of his thoughtful mood. He yanked it out of the holder and swore again. Now what , he thought angrily, fearing another fire would keep him away from Sami. Seeing the display made the hair on the back of his neck to rise. He pulled over into the nearest gas station. The number was not the problem, for he knew it. The added 911 at the end of the number caused the reaction. Placing the pager on the dashboard, he opened the center console between the seats and removed his cell phone. Numbly, he activated the phone and dialed the number. On the first ring, the phone was answered.
“Mark!” a frantic female voice, cried into the phone.
“What’s happened?” he choked out.
“She left.”
“What?” Mark was shaking.
“ Mrs. Carter retrieved her dog and stormed out of here.”
“How long ago?”
“Just moments ago.”
“Where’s David?”
“Here.”
“Have him follow her. I am close and I think I know where she is going. I’ll call you back.”
Tossing the phone on the seat next to him, Mark slammed the truck into gear and raced in the direction of Sami’s house. Honking his horn, he broke many traffic laws in the need to arrive there before her. He knew it would be difficult to gain access if she got there first.
***
Sami was running when she reached the end of Grandma Jo’s driveway. Each time her foot made contact with the pavement, she felt like spikes were being driven into her body, causing almost unbearable pain. She tried to slow her stride to relieve the intensity, but each step was still painful.
“Why?” The one word question screamed from her lungs. The word echoed in her mind repeatedly.
Fresh anger at everything surged through her at the repeating word, bringing with it rapid glimpses of her tragic life. The dreaded images blinded her, making her
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