The Farmer's Daughter: The Dragon Dream: Book One

by Robin Janney

  Angela sighed. “Dr. Evans thinks I should take this semester off.”

  “That’s your call, Angel. I’ll leave you to sort through your books while I hunt down an extra blanket for you since you’re still shivering.”

  Nodding, she tossed her dirty tissues into the trash can by the bed. “Did you bring everything?”

  “Everything you had on the table.” Craig stood, seeing for the first time the slew of flowers on the counter around the room’s sink. They hadn’t been there yesterday. “Wow. Who are all these flowers from?”

  “Everybody,” was her quiet answer.

  Why hadn’t he thought of flowers? He crossed the room and looked at the cards with the different arrangements. She wasn’t kidding. There were flowers from different branches of her family, and Maeve, and Nora. There was a bunch of sunflowers with everyone from the store listed on the card – he didn’t know they’d done that. There was even a vase of roses from Pastor Mark, which he rolled his eyeballs at. Doc Maynard and the vet clinic had sent her tulips. A little pot with yellow violets had a card from Everett Crane telling his ‘favorite deli attendant’ to get well soon. There were other cards without flowers; so many people sending her their get well wishes.

  “Angela?” he asked. “What’s your favorite flower?”

  “Daisies.”

  Her answer had been so soft, he turned back to look at her. She was laying back in the bed, covers pulled up to her chin. His Angel looked half asleep, but her eyes were on him. He crossed back to her bedside.

  “I’ll go find you another blanket and be back soon.” He pressed a kiss to her warm forehead.

  “Can…” She roused a little. “Can you find me a brownie too?”

  “I’ll do my best. Rest while I’m gone.”

  He found Judy in the hallway, who said she’d take care of the blankets for Angela. Downstairs in the hospital’s cafeteria, he bought them both brownies covered with a thick peanut butter frosting. He also called the florist in Sawyersville who promised to send over a bouquet of daisies as soon as she could.

  Walking back from the elevators to the hospital wing where Angela’s roomed was, he came across a shocking sight. Judy – who was shorter than Angela – was dragging Pastor Mark down the hallway – a man who was Craig’s height – by the ear. Her face was furious while the pastor looked scared and in pain. Craig caught a few angry words as the two passed by him.

  “…she nearly died a week ago and you make her cry? If she relapses I will hold you personally responsible. If I have my way…”

  Angela!

  Craig quickened his pace down the hallway and was met by the nurses on duty standing just outside her door. The two women stood with their arms crossed as they discussed the scene they’d walked in on. “What happened?”

  The taller one named Maris answered. “I don’t know everything he said, but he was yelling at Angela when we came in. Something about how ungrateful she is.”

  “That asshole,” cursed Craig.

  “You said it. We all arrived at once, but Judy reached him first. We calmed her down a bit, but she wanted to be left alone.” The shorter nurse nodded her head in agreement. Maris continued, “We’ll talk with Dr. Evans since he’ll have more authority to restrict her visitors. Hopefully she’ll settle down without needing a shot. Those brownies aren’t approved for her yet, but lucky for you we never saw them.”

  Craig nodded his thanks. They dispersed, and he entered Angela’s room. She was doubled over, hugging a pillow to her chest. Her back was heaving though her tears were silent. He dropped the wrapped brownies on her tray table and sat next to her. Whatever her confusion over the past few weeks of their relationship was, she didn’t hesitate to sit up and go into his arms.

  “What happened?” he asked softly.

  “He wanted me to break up with you. Said you were a bad influence, and he’d make a better match for me.” Her body was still heaving as though she were sobbing. It sounded like she couldn’t catch her breath. “He didn’t like it when I told him to go away and he argued with me. He’s been spying on me!”

  “I remember you said he’s called you before when you did something other than what he was expecting,” Craig replied. He began to rub her back with his hand.

  “He says he saw us New Year’s Eve. I don’t know how. He said he was going to tell my parents.”

  “Then he’s in for a rude awakening, isn’t he?” Angela seemed to be calming, and he pressed a kiss to her temple.

  “What…” She hiccupped. “What do you mean?”

  “You know your parents approve of our relationship. And…they know about New Year’s Eve. You brought it up a couple different times when the fever was high. I had to tell them what happened.”

  Angela moaned in dismay. “They weren’t mad?”

  “I think your mom was a little upset with us, but no – they weren’t really angry.”

  She nodded, pulling back a little. “I guess it could be worse. He could have threatened to tell Flo.”

  “Good point,” he said with a laugh. “We’ll leave him to your father. Hopefully he can talk Mark around to apologizing. He might have to wait until you’re home though, because I’m pretty sure none of those nurses out there will let him back in here.”

  Angela nodded. “They’re all nice.”

  “You should have seen Judy. She was dragging Mark out of here by the ear!”

  “I wish I could have seen that.”

  “You’ll have to start being nicer to her now.”

  Angela hiccupped again. “I have been pretty miserable, haven’t I?”

  “Mmm, maybe a little.”

  She rested her head against him again, relaxing in his arms. “I’ll try harder not to be miserable.”

  There was a quiet knock on the door, and Craig looked over to see Judy coming through the doorway. The aide approached and rested a hand against Angela’s shoulder.

  “Angela, I brought some extra blankets for you if you still want them.”

  “Thank you. I’m warm from being upset right now, but can we keep them in case I get cold later?”

  “Absolutely. Just to let you know, we’re spreading the word across all shifts and he won’t be allowed back to visit you. If you start feeling poorly, you need to let one of us know, okay?”

  “I will.”

  “Good,” said the aide with teasing in her voice. “I see Craig brought you a brownie to spoil your dinner with. Would you like a milkshake to go with it?”

  Looking up at Craig, Angela said, “You brought me a brownie? I thought I dreamt that.”

  “You asked, and I delivered.” He kissed her forehead and released her from his arms. Sliding the tray table over, he showed her the brownies.

  “Yeah, I’d like a milkshake. Vanilla, please.” She found the box of tissues and blew her nose again.

  “I’ll be right back.” Judy patted her shoulder and took off.

  “See, you’re winning her over already.”

  Angela smiled at him. “I figure if I’m too miserable, she’ll tell her aunt on me and then I’ll really be in trouble.”

  He laughed. “You’re probably right. Maeve is not a woman to be trifled with.” He began unwrapping their brownies. Leaving hers sitting on top of the plastic wrap, he slid down the bed to place the tray table in front of her.

  Angela toyed with her brownie. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Yeah.” He took a bite of his own, wondering what could be coming next.

  “The first day when you came to help me with my karate class, what did you and Maeve talk about in her office?”

  “Ah…” He wiped frosting from the corner of his mouth, laughing. “That.”

  “What’s so funny?” She pushed her fingertip into the frosting on her brownie hard enough to leave an imprint.

  Judy cleared her throat as she entered the room, with a knock on the door. The dark-haired woman carried a Styrofoam cup which she placed on the tray table next to Angela�
�s brownie. Craig wondered if it had already been made before she’d asked Angela if she wanted one.

  “Thank you,” Angela said to the other woman. She lifted the cup and took a sip, promptly wrinkling her nose. “Did you have to put the protein stuff in it?”

  “Until you start eating better, yes. I’m going off shift soon, but April is on the schedule to take my place. Don’t be afraid to call for anything.”

  And she was gone before Angela could respond.

  His girlfriend turned her attention back to him. “Well? What’s so funny about ‘that’?”

  It was hard for Craig not to laugh at her scrutiny. “Well, first she gave me the line about not undermining her teachings. Then I was told not to hold back because you could handle anything I threw at you.” He took another bite of brownie, swallowed it quickly. “And then she said if I did anything to break your heart, she’d be in the line of people kicking my ass.”

  Angela groaned and coughed, covering her face with her hands. “Oh my God. I’m amazed you came back.”

  “I was a little surprised I did too, honestly. You surprised me at how good you are, and all I was doing was defending myself. Are you going to eat your brownie?”

  She nodded and took a bite. “Mmm.”

  “I told Maeve I was just there to help you, and I would do everything you asked me to except pretend to attack you because the very thought made me sick to my stomach.” He took another bite of brownie. “And even though I wasn’t really ready to admit I liked you, I told her I was more interested in making you smile than breaking your heart.”

  Angela blushed and was saved from commenting by the ringing of the telephone located in the bed rail. “Hello?” she answered, with a cough. “Hi Dad. Yeah, I’m feeling okay. A little warm, or cold…it goes back and forth. Yes, he’s still here…Oh, okay.” She passed the phone to Craig. “He wants to talk to you.”

  He put the receiver to his ear. “What’s up?”

  “Craig, I just got off the phone with our pastor. I highly doubt his story, and I need to know if my daughter is really ‘okay’ like she just said.”

  Craig glanced at her, glad to see she was back to eating the brownie and taking sips of the milkshake. “I think so. A little shaky maybe. I don’t know what happened either, I was down to the cafeteria. The nurses told me he was yelling at her when they got to her, and I believe he’s been banned from visiting her.”

  There was a frustrated sigh on the other end. “I’m glad they made that decision without us having to ask.”

  “Was he surprised to find out you already know about what happened at New Year’s?”

  “Surprised is not the right word. He was also upset to learn we support your relationship with our daughter and outright called us liars about witnessing your recommitment to Christ. Apparently, we just want to take advantage of your generosity. Someone must have overheard us at the restaurant the other day.”

  Craig’s sigh echoed the other man’s. “What else is he saying?”

  “I don’t even know where to start. He admitted to spying on our daughter, citing how her daily routine has deviated since she’s started at the store. He claims to have seen into her living room after returning from a gathering he was at, from his porch…Craig, I have stood on that man’s porch and I don’t know who he thinks he’s fooling. He didn’t change his story when I challenged him.” There was a loud sound, like Philip had pounded something in anger. “I have done my best to reinforce my daughter’s lack of interest in him, but he cannot see past his infatuation. Maude and I have discussed this, and even though it will be messy, I’d like to take this before the church Elders.”

  “If you feel it’ll do any good.” Craig didn’t think it would, but then he knew little about church politics.

  “Son, I’m going to make a push to remove him as pastor. If the other Elders side against me, I won’t be able to go back there. The thing is, I need your and Angela’s support. If I do this, Pastor Mark is going to bring up New Year’s Eve and what he’s saying is vastly different from what you’ve told us. Unless there’s some way to prove the two of you didn’t have sex, it’s going to be a he-said/she-said situation.”

  Rubbing his forehead, Craig glanced over at Angela again. The brownie was gone, and she was pushing the crumbs around with a fingertip. It didn’t look like she was going to drink anymore of the milkshake, but most of it was gone. “I’ll talk with Angela about it. For myself, I called my friend Kevin when I got home that night. I’ve told you about him before; he’d be able to share what my state of mind was.”

  “That will carry weight with a couple of the elders. You two talk about it and get back to me. I don’t want it happening while Angela’s still in the hospital.”

  “Maybe it should,” suggested Craig. “Give them the chance to see how ill she’s been.”

  “Talk about it with her and let me know.”

  “Will do.” Craig handed the receiver back to Angela when the connection ended.

  “I take it Pastor Mark didn’t waste any time?” she asked as she wrestled the phone back into its slot.

  “Nor is he pulling any punches. Your dad wants to go to the church Elders. Honestly, I’m not even sure what that means.”

  Angela groaned in dismay and leaned back against the inclined bed. “He’s going to try to get the Elders to vote Pastor Mark out?”

  “I guess. He wants our support because he says your pastor will bring up New Year’s. And he’s saying we didn’t stop.” His eyebrows shot up at the slew of words which came out of her. “That’s an interesting combination I’ve never heard from you before.”

  She blushed to the roots of her hair. “Sorry.”

  “Hey, none of that Angela…this is me you’re talking to.” Her hair had popped out from behind her ear and Craig reached out to tuck it back. “We want to end the secrets, right?” She nodded. “Then that means we have freedom to say whatever we need to each other. To ask whatever we need to. It’s going to be the only way our trust in each other can grow.”

  His girlfriend nodded again, her hands finding another tissue for her nose.

  This was hard for him to ask because it was one thing they hadn’t discussed at all. “Your dad was wondering if there’s any way we could prove Mark wrong. I called Kevin when I made it home. Did you call your friend Michelle?”

  “No.” Her face fell, and she looked away from him. “I had a phone call after you left. It triggered memories from prom. It was intense enough that it woke Maggie. Our walls are thin. She’s come over to check on me before, when I’ve woken up from a dream a little too loud. Anyway, she came over and checked on me after you left. I don’t know how long afterward. I was…in the shower long enough to run the hot water cold.”

  “Oh my God, Angela,” he breathed, his eyes closing in guilt. Had he done this? “Are you sure it was the phone call and not what I did that caused you to climb in the shower?”

  “I’m sure.” She coughed, causing him to reopen his eyes.

  “Angela, please…if I did something to cause it, I need to know.”

  “You didn’t,” she insisted. She drew in a deep breath and started coughing. When it ended, she sat looking at her hands folded in her lap. “It was Derek who called. It didn’t really take much to bring the memories back, especially since he mentioned it. He wanted me to remember.”

  Some relief filled him at her reassurance, but it was hollow. “What do you want to tell your Dad?”

  She looked at her hands for a moment longer, her fingers interlacing and unlacing. When she looked up at him, her eyes were resolute. “Tell Dad he can do whatever he feels best because Mark is no longer my pastor.”

  Nodding, he reached for the phone, but her hand covered it before he could touch it.

  “Can you tell him later? I’m tired.”

  “Sure. You want to look at your schoolwork?” He looked around for her backpack and saw it on a chair by the window. He began to stand.

  “No, I�
�ll do that tomorrow. Can we just watch some TV for a while?”

  “Sure.” He found the remote on the tray table and handed it to her. “You pick.” While she flipped through the channels, he moved the tray table to the side as he pulled the folding chair close to the bed and lowered the upper rail. He situated himself so he could lean his head against her shoulder as she rested against the raised bed.

  “Home Improvement good for you?”

  “It’s fine.” When she lowered the remote, Craig took it from her hand and slid his hand into her grasp. She shifted in bed to rest her head on his. “Angela.”

  “Mmm?”

  “I love you.”

  “I know. I love you too.” Her hand squeezed his, and he could feel her smiling.

  In this moment, all was well.

  40

  “A

  ngela, more flowers arrived for you today!” Judy bustled into the room the next with the newest delivery. She was dismayed when Angela didn’t even look up from the book in her lap. “Angela! Hello?”

  “What? Oh, just put them with the rest. What day is it?”

  “It’s the twentieth, a Friday. You’re going to want to look at these flowers and the card.” Placing the glass vase on the tray table, she wheeled it to her patient’s bedside. Angela looked up, and the delight on her face pleased the aide.

  “Daisies!” Her hand came out and touched the bottommost row of flowers. “That’s why he asked me what my favorite flower was!”

  “And here’s the card.” Judy plucked the small rectangular card from its plastic holder and passed it to the other woman.

  Angela took it and read it, a blush spreading across her face. “Silly man.”

  “So, I was thinking we’d leave these flowers here for a while.”

  “I think so too.” Angela’s hand was a little shaky when she reached up to put the card back in its holder. “He’s almost a different man. Different, but not. I don’t know if that makes sense or not. It’s a good change though.”