Truths Unveiled

by Kimberly Alan

  Tom sent a wink in Pam’s direction and shoved a breadbasket in Eddie’s hands. “Here. Make yourself useful. Put this on the table.”

  “As you can see, Eddie is just as tactful as ever,” Rebecca teased, pushing her husband toward the dining room.

  “When’s dinner?” Eddie called out over his shoulder. “I’m starved.”

  “Everybody take a seat in the living room,” Tom called out. “Appetizers are coming out now. Help yourselves to ice tea and sodas from the bar.”

  Once everyone settled on the comfortable couches and chairs, Pam asked Rebecca how she and Eddie met. She remembered Eddie being a crazy, confirmed bachelor, second only to Tom. She knew he’d joined the fire department right after high school, and she’d sometimes see him at accident scenes when she rode for Hopewell’s ambulance company. Now, according to Tom, in addition to jointly running the restaurant he was a deputy chief and very active in county politics.

  Eddie plopped a cracker smothered with brie and raspberry sauce into his large mouth. After swallowing it in one gulp, he answered, “I got hurt on the job about ten years ago.”

  “And they still talk about him at the hospital,” Rebecca interjected, grinning at him. “I just finished nursing school a month before and he became one of my first patients. He chased every female in sight, on crutches, no less, and while hooked up to an IV bottle!”

  Feigning innocence, Eddie batted his brown eyes in his wife’s direction. “Yeah, but that stopped the minute I laid my eyes on you, darling. We tied the knot six months later.”

  ****

  To Pam’s astonishment, the evening flew by. It was after eleven by the time she and Tom walked the Cartwrights to their car.

  “Sorry we’re leaving so early,” Eddie apologized, opening the door for his wife. “Our babysitter has a midnight curfew.”

  Pam had loved hearing about their young children’s antics. In fact, she enjoyed the entire evening. She accepted a quick hug from Eddie, then felt Rebecca squeeze her hand. “I hope we see you again very soon.”

  “Yeah. I know this might feel like a big change from what you’re used to,” Eddie added. “But the new medical center is top notch, and I know the old man here,” he tilted his head toward Tom, “would love for you to stick around.”

  “Good night, Eddie,” Tom urged through a tight smile.

  A few minutes later, waving goodbye, Pam said, “I like them a lot.”

  Tom took her hand and headed back into the house. “I’m glad. Eddie can get a bit rowdy, but he means well.”

  The warmth of his touch soared up Pam’s arm and permeated throughout her entire body. She’d been waiting for this all day. Was last night’s flirtation simply that? She asked herself. Were they just setting the past straight? Or was it more?

  Reaching for the screen door, Tom said, “Though I tried to cut Eddie off, I hope you know he’s right.”

  “About?” Pam didn’t want to sound coy. On the other hand, she wanted to make sure they were talking about the same thing.

  “About me liking the idea of you coming back here. For good.”

  “That’s just because of that finder’s fee you’ll get if I take the job.”

  Tom tilted his head, considering the idea. “I forgot about that.” Then broke into a grin and mussed her hair. “Yeah.”

  They walked hand in hand to sit close on the couch. “I guess what I mean is…” He clasped both her hands in his and adjusted himself so that he could peer into her eyes. “If you’re interested, I’d like us to…” Again, he broke into a nervous grin. “Heck. I feel like we’re back where we started. Asking you out for a pizza and a movie with your father looking on.” He released one hand and wiped it on his pant leg. “My palms are even sweaty.”

  Pam arched a skeptical brow. “Really? If I remember right, you were quite the ladies’ man back then.”

  “Yeah, well, not where you were concerned. A guy still gets nervous when he’s talking to a girl he really cares about.” He paused. “And he’s not totally sure of her answer.”

  Pam found herself reaching for his free hand. “You were saying?”

  “You’re not going to make this easy. Are you?”

  Her smile broad, she shook her head.

  “Okay. Here goes.” He released a deep breath. “I’d like us to date.”

  “To date?”

  “Yeah. You know. Like tonight. I pick you up. We go out. Or stay in. We have a good time. Then I drive you home. Maybe we stop along the way. Or maybe you invite me in to your place for coffee, or something.”

  Hearing his words, Pam felt a warm glow flow through her. Before she could respond, he added, “And the offer isn’t strictly contingent on you taking the job. I’m willing to try the long-distance thing if you decide to go to Chicago or stay in Boston. It could get tough sometimes, trying to coordinate schedules, but it wouldn’t be impossible. And I think it’s worth a try.”

  Caught off guard, Pam took a quick breath. In her fantasies she had considered that possibility but then always quickly discarded it. Relationships were hard enough, even without that type of added complication. But looking into Tom’s blue eyes, she found herself hopelessly losing herself in this man.

  Pam thought about her previous relationships. She’d dated several men since Tom over the years. A few she had considered semi-serious, but none ever gave her the same feeling she experienced when she’d been with him. The kind where you can’t eat, you’re too excited to sleep, the sun rises and sets over him and you can’t wait until you see him again—that sort of feeling. Eventually, she reached the conclusion that those feelings were restricted to young puppy love. Now, to her chagrin, she realized they had returned in full force, even stronger than before.

  But fourteen years is a long time, her logical side warned. We hardly knew each other back then. And so many things have happened since. Today and yesterday don’t even add up to a full twenty-four hours. What if I moved here, started dating, and then we broke up? Where would I be then? Stuck here? It would be impossible to avoid each other. I’ll work in the ED. He’ll bring in patients. Could I handle that?

  But this may be my second chance, her emotional side countered. It wasn’t right, back then. Now, maybe it is. I’ve been praying for the perfect job in an ED. I’ve also been praying for the opportunity to make full use of your medical skills and abilities. In life, there are no coincidences. Something brought me back here. Something powerful and purposeful. If I reject this opportunity, I might wonder “what if...?” for the rest of my life?

  “And,” Tom said, bringing her back to the present. “I know I have some issues I’ve got to work on.”

  “Everybody does,” Pam concurred, thinking of her own. Then she looked to him. Susan and their two sons. Considering that, she recalled a phrase Aunt Carolyn often quoted. She grinned. “Some people enter relationships carrying a suitcase. Others drag along a truckload.”

  Half wincing, Tom rolled his eyes. “Let’s just say mine is equivalent to a tandem tractor trailer.”

  “Oh, my. Care to elaborate?”

  “No. Not now, anyway. I’ll handle it.”

  Pam pondered his words, trying to ignore the warning bells ringing in the distance of her mind. Common sense told her to inquire further, but she felt too happy to press. For now, she decided to go along with what Tom said. He’d handle his stuff. And she’d handle hers.

  Watching her intently, he whispered, “So what do you say?”

  Pam opened her mouth to speak, just as Tom’s cell phone ring pierced the air.

  He released a loud exhale and read the caller ID. “It’s the station. I told them not to bother me unless it was an emergency.”

  “Saved by the bell,” Pam giggled.

  Five minutes later, they sat in Tom’s Avalanche, heading toward her hotel. “I’m really sorry about this,” Tom repeated, maneuvering the dark roads. “Something’s gone wrong with the rescue station’s telephone lines. No emergency calls are getting
through.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Pam assured him. “This is what we do.”

  His cell phone rang again. She touched his arm while he spoke into the phone.

  “A virus?” Tom’s tone sharpened. “What kind of virus? Fine. Yes. I agree. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes. Call me if anything changes.”

  Disconnecting the line, he said, “The technician working on the problem believes the malfunction is somehow related to the computers. The entire system went down and the auxiliary power provides only half the capacity.”

  “That’s not good.”

  “My thoughts exactly. Hopefully the experts can fix it fast.” Then without warning, Tom switched subjects. “How about I drive you to the airport tomorrow? I’ll pick you up at around eight. We can get some breakfast along the way.”

  Pleased, yet surprised, Pam nodded. “Sure. I’d like that.”

  Moments later, he drove up to the hotel entrance.

  “Don’t get out,” she told him. “I know you’ve got to go.”

  “Not without a kiss.” When he leaned over, she met him halfway. As their lips met, her eyes closed, transporting her back to another time. Just like the night before. He felt new, yet so familiar.

  “I’ll call you later, if it’s not too late,” he promised. Then holding her face between his hands, he kissed her again.

  ****

  Unlocking her hotel door, Pam relived the past few hours. With everything else being equal, Tom Jarrod could tip the scales either way. On one hand, if she moved back here, and the past caught up with her, she’d lose. On the other, if she just left and didn’t return, she could be giving up the best thing that ever happened to her.

  For the most part, Pam never gave much consideration to a social life. Sure, in recent years there hadn’t been much free time. But now she realized that had been her excuse. More accurately, she didn’t believe she deserved a serious relationship. Yet, in these past twenty-four hours, Tom changed that.

  Getting undressed, Pam wondered, Can it work, God? Is Aunt Carolyn right? Is this why you sent me here? So I could learn to forgive myself, and for Tom and me to start over?

  The exuberance Pam began experiencing last night while with Tom doubled its strength. Smiling and feeling like a giddy teenager, she found the mystery novel she’d started reading on the plane. A long hot soak in the tub sounded great. Heading toward the bathroom, she noticed the bathroom light, glowing under the semi-closed door. No big deal. Maybe the maid forgot to turn it off when she cleaned the room. Armed with the book and a nightshirt, she opened the door. Then froze in terror.

  Taped to the large mirror above the sink, Pam saw what appeared to be the original newspaper article and photograph. There was no mistaking the headline. She recognized it before her brain registered the words: TWO TEENS DEAD IN FATAL CRASH! ONE DRIVER SURVIVED!

  Underneath the article, someone had written in red, YOU KILLED THEM! LEAVE HERE NOW OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES!

  Unable to breathe, Pam sank to the cold tile floor. Sights and sounds, long buried, flashed before her eyes, swirling in circles like a fiery tornado. Hot tears, filled with anger and frustration, grief and unbearable pain, poured down her cheeks. She hugged her knees and rocked back and forth, wracked with sobs.

  Soundlessly, she screamed out, “MEGAN!!!!”

  Truths Unveiled

  Truths Unveiled

  Chapter Sixteen

  With two hours of sleep under his belt, Tom knocked on Pam’s hotel room door. After a moment, he frowned. That’s odd. Why isn’t she answering? He thought about the prior night’s hectic events. The technician had been right. Somehow, a complicated virus entered the rescue station’s main computer system and corrupted a large part of their files. He didn’t get a chance to take a second breath and pick up the phone to call Pam until way after two. Deciding not to wake her, he’d delved back to work until four.

  “She checked out, sir,”

  Tom turned to find the chambermaid at the entrance to the room next door.

  “Excuse me?”

  “She checked out. There’s no one in there.”

  Confused, Tom frowned, “When?” To himself, he asked, Why?

  “Late last night,” she replied.

  Too impatient to wait for the elevator, Tom tore down the five flights of stairs. Out of breath, he reached the front desk and found only one clerk on duty. Three people stood in front of him, waiting their turn. Biting back his temper, he scanned the room. Why did she do this? Everything was going so well! There must be some mistake!

  Indecision weighed heavily on Tom’s shoulders. Should he wait here and see if she left him a message, or go directly after her? He’d left his house in a hurry this morning. Maybe she called and explained on his voice mail.

  Once in his truck, Tom pounded his home number on the cell phone.

  “You have one message,” the mechanical voice mail responded.

  “Ugh!” He wasn’t sure if he should feel relieved or filled with dread.

  Accessing the message, his pulse raced.

  “Tom? It’s Pam. I’m sorry to leave things this way but I’ve decided to take the job in Chicago. Thank you for this weekend. I wish you all the best. Goodbye.”

  She sounded flat, he noted. Like she’d turned into a zombie. Did something bad happen? When he left her last night, he felt certain the odds were in his favor. He pictured her face. Her smile. The way she touched him. What could it be? What made her change her mind? Did Susan contact her and fill her with lies? Or threats?

  ****

  At two-twenty-five that afternoon, Tom boarded a plane to Newark, New Jersey. Taking his seat, he glanced again at the remaining ticket in the blue and white envelope. The connecting flight to Boston’s Logan Airport left at six.

  “I should have gone to her years ago,” he repeated for the thousandth time under his breath. Tasting a familiar bitterness in his mouth, he thought about his sons. Contrary to his original belief, marrying Susan hadn’t made any difference in the way things eventually turned out. Well, he’d learned his lesson. Given this second opportunity, he wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.

  But what could have happened? He asked himself again. What made Pam run? He wracked his brain, rewinding the past thirty-six hours. Did he miss a clue? What went wrong? Why did she leave like that? Excuse me, Lord. Hello? What’s going on?

  ****

  The seven hour trip back to Boston whizzed by in a total blur. After driving through the dark, early morning hours, Pam arrived at the airport and paced the length of it, waiting for the first flight to Boston. Thank God for an available seat.

  Exhausted, she unlocked her condo door, threw the bolt behind her and disconnected the telephone. The red message light on the answering machine blinked wildly, but she ignored it and pulled the plug out of the wall socket.

  Finally safe, the devastation Pam fought to suppress while out in public immediately overtook her senses. A sudden wave of nausea sent her head and her stomach reeling. Reaching for the couch, she collapsed, keeping one foot on the floor in the hope of stopping the room from spinning. At the same time, she heard and felt an uncontrollable sob erupt from deep inside her soul.

  “Dear God, please make this stop! I can’t fight it any more. Show me what to do to fix it. Please!”

  At the same time, Pam called upon the concentration skills she’d perfected during medical school and tried to compel her mind to gain control. It didn’t work. Images of the accident, so vivid she could touch them, invaded her thoughts. They forced her to relive that horrible nightmare again and again and again. Eventually, she cried herself to sleep.

  For a blissful moment, in between sleep and waking, Pam’s mind blocked out the details of her dilemma. All that remained was a nagging knot in the pit of her stomach and a dull buzzing sound in her ears.

  Inevitably, like most mornings, scenes of the accident came rushing back into Pam’s consciousness. Sometimes it came like one huge w
ave crashing down upon her. Other times it came in quick glimpses. Either way, she’d grown accustomed to them and managed to escape their paralyzing hold by bolting up from bed and whisking through her morning routine. Then she’d race to the hospital to immerse herself in her work. Only there, in the emergency room, could she clear her thoughts. Only there did she feel her life produced any value.

  Over the years, the wound that had shredded Pam’s heart and soul finally began to heal. But now it felt raw again, as if savagely ripped open once again, exposing even the tiniest nerves.