by Beers, B. A.
When he reached the first doorway on his left, her craft room, he stopped dead in his tracks. Making a quarter turn to the left, he now faced her painting of the crying rose. Again, the painting reached out to him, and touched his soul. He hated to do it, but he had to take the painting off the easel and hide it for now. Picking up the painting, he knew that someday and somehow this painting would be displayed, but not at this time. Reversing the painting, he leaned it against the other canvasses on the floor. He scanned the rest of the room, satisfied that the lids on the two matching cedar chests here were closed. As Mark headed for the door, he saw something shining on the floor in front of one of the chests. It was the broken glass that had fallen out of her deceased mother’s purse, Sami had opened the night before, he surmised. He made a mental note to pick it up on his way back.
He left the room, taking a few steps farther down the hall to reach her bedroom. Mark hesitated a moment, surprised by the room’s appearance. Grandma Jo had been busy, he deduced, for Sami’s bed appeared exactly as it had been yesterday when he first stepped into the room. She had even removed the extra pillows that had been required last night. On the end of the bed, neatly stacked, were clothes, some that Mark had seen in Sami’s dresser drawers. Next to the clothes, Mark noted Grandma Jo’s empty tote bag. On the floor below were tennis shoes. “Grandma Jo, you are an angel,” he said aloud. Mark again found himself awed by her insight. His focus was drawn away from the bed as he saw his intended destination, the open cedar chest, on the far side of the bed.
Stepping around the bed and the office chair that Grandma Jo had fallen asleep in the night before, he moved to the chest. The items within, Mark knew now, were memories of her life with J.W. He had to move a few things around in order to make room for the box, but he was able to do it quickly.
Closing the lid, he moved to the chair and lifted it easily. Carrying the chair back into her office, he took his time not wanting to damage either the chair or the walls. In the office, he had to maneuver around her journals, which were still spread out in front of the open cedar chest. With the chair back in its proper position, Mark turned and gazed at the journals. Getting down on his knees, he started gathering them together. Placing them neatly back in the chests, he knew that these had held the key which let him into her world. He found himself wishing for more time so he could read them all, but that wish would have to wait. After placing the last journal into the chest, he closed the lid.
Returning to his feet, he reached down and picked up the framed portrait of Sami and J.W. on their wedding day. When he saw the photograph last night, his focus was on the man in the picture, but now, he was able to see Sami. The camera had loved Sami, Mark thought. She just radiated the true feelings of love and happiness, so young and so full of life. He studied the photograph as he made his way back to her bedroom. He recognized her potential and a new determination awakened in him to reach her. He was going to bring that woman in the kitchen back together. Needing and wanting this woman to glow again, he opened the cedar chest and placed the portrait on top of the box. Closing the chest, he moved to the end of the bed.
He roughly started stuffing the clothes in the bag. He noted that behind the clothes were her toiletries, which were laid out on a towel. Grandma Jo, you are truly amazing. He rolled up the towel and jammed it on top of the tote.
Before he picked up the bag, he stepped into the bathroom and removed several sheets of tissues from the box on the counter. He returned to the craft room, and squatting in front of the broken glass, proceeded to carefully pick up the pieces. Now with the glass securely wrapped in the tissue, he pondered whether he should keep it, but knowing that it was unnecessary, he tossed the tissue into the nearby waste paper basket. Wiping his hands on his pant leg, he exited the room.
Re-entering the bedroom, Mark saw Sami standing at the end of the bed staring at the tote on the floor.
***
When Mark approached Sami, she caught his movement out of the corner of her eye. Not looking at him, she rushed to the master bathroom. Entering the door, she closed and locked it.
Caught off guard, Mark heard the door lock. Great, he thought, wondering if he was going to have to break it down to get to her, and knowing that right now he was just crazy enough to do it. He sized up the door, and patted his shoulder a couple of times to prepare it for the impact with the door. Moving around the bed, he readied himself. At that moment, he heard the door unlock. Greatly relieved, he stepped back a few feet.
Exiting the bathroom, Sami made eye contact with Mark, pointing to the tote bag at end of the bed. “I gather that I’m packed,” she expressed. Mark nodded his affirmative response, feeling tense at her statement. “Then, I am ready.” She reached for the tote bag and her shoes, and left the room. Mark felt the tension slowly drain from his body as he watched her leave.
Gathering himself quickly, he followed her to the living room. She placed the tote on the couch, which he noticed already held her coat and purse. She sat down and put on her shoes.
Keep the flow going smoothly, Mark thought and walked over and picked up Molly’s leash. “I’ll go and get Molly and her things. Meet you out front,” he proposed to her in an upbeat tone. She only nodded her head in response to him. As he entered the kitchen, he heard her voice reminding him not to forget Molly’s brush.
“I’ll get it,” he answered back as he picked up the two bags of Molly’s food. He noted that the cordless phone was gone. She must have replaced it back on its base in the living room where the package had been moments earlier. He suddenly felt overjoyed knowing that his removal of the package and its contents was completed just in the nick of time.
As he exited the back door, he had an overwhelming urge to whistle a happy tune. What the heck, he decided, and the tune filled the air around him. Picking up the brush, he secured Molly’s leash to her collar and made his way to the gate still in high spirits.
Coming around the corner, he spotted Sami standing in the middle of the driveway holding the handle of the tote bag in her right hand. The lost expression on her face took the air out of his lungs. Steadying himself against falling into her trap, he picked up the tune where he had left off, and walked directly to her. Hearing his whistling, Sami glanced up and saw them coming toward her. Her lost feeling evaporated into thin air. Smiling, she realized that the man’s sheer presence was calming to her.
Mark handed Sami the leash and took the tote from her hand as he passed. “This way, little lady, your chariot awaits.” Still whistling, he walked directly to his truck on the street. He did not peer back, hoping she would follow. He dropped the items in his hands over the tailgate of his truck. Retrieving his keys from his pocket, he pressed the proper button on his car alarm remote to unlock the doors. Stepping to the passenger door, he opened it, and still holding onto the door, glanced back. He was pleased to find Sami and Molly directly behind him. He opened the wing door of the extended cab and signaled Molly to jump. Sami held Molly back.
“Molly should ride in the bed of the truck. I don’t want to damage your truck,” Sami explained.
“Nonsense,” Mark retorted, pointing to the area behind the seats. “As you can see, it has already been initiated by my own dog.”
Sami saw that the floor of the area was covered with a large comforter. She gathered that whatever vehicle seating should be there, either had been removed or folded-out to make the area one level. She giggled a little, thinking that this man spoiled his dog worse than she did Molly.
“Okay, if you say so,” she said, releasing her grip on Molly’s leash.
Mark smiled and directed Molly up into the truck. Closing the wing door behind her, he reached out for Sami’s hand. Sami took his offered hand, and he guided her into the vehicle. Mark closed the passenger door and almost sprinted around to the driver’s door. Getting in and starting the truck, he glanced over and saw Sami staring straight ahead, down the street, not at the house. Good, one hurdle over successfully, he thought, as
he drove away from the little, white, house with the light blue trim.
***
FIVE
It took a total of fifteen minutes for Mark to turn Sami and Molly over to Grandma Jo’s care. He informed Sami that he would be back later, after he had seen his patients that evening. She nodded, but he felt she had already dismissed him, as she searched through the kitchen cabinets for Grandma Jo’s cleaning supplies.
Chuckling, Mark looked up into Grandma Jo’s worried face. He signaled her to follow him as he walked out of the room. At the front door, Mark turned. “Grandma Jo, don’t look so concerned and stressed. Please, let Sami clean if that is her thing. Besides, it will keep her day occupied and hopefully should keep her ‘evil twin’, Mrs. Carter, buried within her. You can always return your house to its normal state after the treatment program.” Mark watched Grandma Jo’s face as she pondered his reasons.
Finally, her shoulders relaxed. “Mark, I am uncomfortable with her doing this project, but I can see your point.” Scanning the cluttered room, she continued more cheerfully. “I have been meaning to give this old place of mine a good overhaul; maybe, this is the kick in the seat, I need.”
Mark held out his arms to her, and smiling, she walked into his embrace. “That’s my girl,” he said, as he lovingly patted her back. “Page me if you run into difficulties. I am going home now to get some much needed rest and gather my things for the stay here. I’ll be back tonight after I am finished at Glendale. Do you want me to bring anything?”
“I’m fine for now, but I might need to get some items tomorrow from the store,” she replied.
“It might be easier to shop at Sami’s,” he said, remembering the loaded shelves. He felt her giggle in his embrace, and her head nod against his chest.
“I do believe you have a valid point there,” she said, breaking the embrace. “Now, get out of here. I’ve got work to supervise,” she declared.
Mark laughed and opened the door. Hearing Grandma Jo advise him to be careful, he waved his hand without turning around as he headed for his truck.
***
The buzzing of the alarm clock brought Mark out of his dreamless sleep. He was dazed and confused. Hitting the button of the alarm clock harder than he intended, he sent the clock crashing to the floor. Great, he thought, I could swear that I had just crawled into bed. Angrily, he sat on the edge of the bed, reaching for the blasted clock. Before he made contact with it, Ollie stepped into the path of his outstretched arm.
“Hey, boy,” Mark greeted Ollie. Immediately, his enraged spirit was calmed by the dog’s gentle presence. Ollie’s muzzle was inches from his face, and Mark knew what was about to happen, but was slow to react. The side of his face was the target for Ollie’s tongue. The residue of the sleep’s cobwebs was swept away by this action.
“Okay, boy,” Mark said, wiping the side of his face with the back of his hand. “I love you, too. Thanks for the reminder to take a shower.” Giving the dog a big rub on his back, Mark kissed the top of Ollie’s head and got out of bed.
Half an hour later, Mark placed his packed suitcase near the front door. Ollie approached him, wagging his tail. He turned and patted Ollie’s head. “I’ll be back for you later,” he reassured the dog.
Closing and locking the door, he headed for his truck. He tapped his jacket pocket to reassure himself that his recorder, with a fresh tape, was there. Feeling the familiar bulk, he hopped into the truck and headed to Glendale.
***
After seeing his patients, Mark returned to his house and picked up his suitcase and Ollie. With these items securely in his truck, he headed back to Grandma Jo's house. Peering into Grandma Jo’s living room as she held open the door grinning widely at him, he was flabbergasted. He had expected to find the place cleaner, but the transformation was nothing short of a miracle. Not only was the room where he was standing free of clutter, but it was squeaky clean. It was so clean that the lamp's light, reflecting off the surface of the table, nearly blinded him. Even the furniture had been moved to a more fitting arrangement that enhanced the appearance of the room.
“You two have been busy,” he said truthfully, after taking in the scene. He stepped back a few feet from the doorway and scanned the front door for the house number. “I do believe that I have the wrong house. This can’t be Grandma Jo’s house.” The laughter from the two ladies in the house drew his focus back to them.
“Don’t fret,” Grandma Jo explained, “the rest of the house is still normal. It took us all day on just this room. God forbid that you should see my bedroom or the trash barrel. All the stuff that was out here has been gone through. Sami informs me that it might take months to whip me into shape.” As Grandma Jo spoke, she gazed over at Sami. Sami nodded excitedly in agreement, and her eyes were shining brightly.
Mark could not believe that Sami was the same woman he had left here this morning. Her long hair was wet and tied back in a ponytail. She had changed into the other sweat suit.
Grandma Jo noticed Mark’s appraisal of Sami. “We finished about an hour ago. We have been getting cleaned up ourselves and have just now sat down to admire our efforts.”
Not taking his eyes off Sami, Mark finally stepped into the house with Ollie right beside him. At Ollie’s entrance into the room, Sami’s eyes dropped to the dog. Mark saw the surprised expression cover her pretty face as she immediately crouched to the dog’s level. Being free from a leash and without any encouragement, Ollie approached Sami swiftly.
“Oh my, you are a cutie,” Sami spoke softly to Ollie, stroking the dog’s sides.
Mark was about to warn her of Ollie’s quick tongue, but he was too late. Ollie was already in the process of covering Sami’s face with doggy kisses. Mark stood there mortified at his dog’s behavior, but Sami didn’t react negatively. In fact, she let out a belly laugh.
“I’ve got something to show you,” Sami spoke softly to Ollie. Without looking at either Mark or Grandma Jo, she regained her footing and almost skipped out of the room with Ollie right behind her.
“So much for the howdy-do to me,” Mark said laughingly to Grandma Jo.
“Oh Mark, she has been in the best mood all day.” The rush of words came quickly from Grandma Jo. “We even went for a drive, back to her house for supplies. I’m guessing that what I had was not to her liking. I have not had one problem with her, but I must admit we didn’t talk about anything important. We mostly stayed busy cleaning. She even brought some of her music back with her to keep her motivated, or so she said.”
Mark eyed Grandma Jo’s entertainment unit, knowing that her equipment was old and out-of-date. He had believed that it didn’t even work. Grandma Jo caught his expression. “I know, I didn’t think it worked either, but she had it cleaned up and blaring music in less than ten minutes. I must admit, she is real handy to have around the house.”
***
Barking interrupted them. It was coming from the back of the house. Concern made him run in the direction, dropping his suitcase on his way. Smart move, dummy, Mark scolded himself for not following Sami immediately, leaving her to fend for herself with the two large spaniels that had never met. With the help of his long legs, Mark reached the back door in record time. He stopped just in time to avoid running into Sami. Her back was to him with her hands clasped behind her, leaning up against a post at the end of the patio. Mark’s attention was drawn away from her by the excited yapping of the two dogs in the yard.
The two animals were in the process of circling the backyard, running side-by-side countering each other’s moves as if they were one. Mark watched fascinated. All at once, Molly and Ollie were acting like puppies again instead of old codgers. He knew that both of them were considered senior citizens in dog years, but neither was acting their age.
“I’ll have to give him a pain pill tonight if he keeps this up for much longer,” Mark spoke his thought aloud. His attention was drawn away from the playing animals by Sami’s movement. Her watery eyes shined in the light
coming from behind him.
“They hit it off at first sight,” her voice held a hint of melancholy in her words.
“It appears so,” Mark answered.
He wondered why the scene made her appear blue. He had not planned on starting her treatment tonight, but this development needed to be explored. “What’s happening, Sami?” he asked switching to his professional voice.
