by DB Jones
She pushed her plate to the center of the table and motioned for them to take a seat. “Okay, out with it.”
Anna smiled and looked at Teddy. “Should we tell her?”
“Nah.”
Sydney slapped her brother on the arm. “Out with it. What are you two up to?”
Teddy reached across the table and took Anna's hand, and Sydney screamed again. “Well, it’s about time! I can’t believe it took you two so long.”
“So you’re okay with it?” Anna asked.
“Okay with it? I’ve been trying to get both of you to admit your feeling for each other since we were kids. Who had the courage first?”
Anna’s face flushed, and Teddy twisted his mouth. “I did.”
“Why now?”
“Now that you’re independent, I was afraid Anna would leave, and I’d lose her. I couldn’t take the chance.”
Sydney laughed. “I thought it would be Anna. She’d been avoiding the conversation, but every time she knew you were coming she’d tear the house apart for you. I’m happy for you both. Anna, are you planning to move?”
“No, not unless you throw me out.”
Sydney crinkled her nose. “Long-distance romances aren’t good.”
Anna turned toward Sydney. “This coming from someone who never leaves the house.”
“I guess I’m not one to be giving relationship advice, am I?”
“You would if you’d give yourself half a chance.”
Teddy interjected. “How did it go with Jacob?”
“It didn’t. He discharged me. I’m on my own now. I guess I won’t be seeing him again unless I have a problem and make an appointment like anyone would.”
Teddy glanced over to Anna and back to his sister. “That’s a good thing, right?”
“I suppose so.”
Teddy quickly changed the subject again. “Are you ready for me to make that appointment with my doctor?”
“Sure, why not? Don’t you need to get back to your practice?”
Teddy grinned. “Well, that’s the other news.”
“What?”
“How would you feel if your brother lived in the same town as you?”
Sydney reached over and threw her arms around Teddy’s neck. “Are you serious?”
Anna nodded. “He is.”
Sydney’s smile spread across her face. “I can’t imagine anything I’d like better. Of course, I’d love it.” She glanced at Anna who was beaming. “I guess that answers the question about the long distant relationship.”
Anna looked over at Teddy. “It sure does.”
Teddy got up from the table. “This calls for celebrating. I’ll order us some Italian food from Sal’s. You do have some wine here, don’t you?”
“You know I do.” Sydney couldn’t wipe the smile off her face.
Teddy left the room while Anna sat with Sydney. “Are you sure that you’re okay with Teddy and me?”
“Anna, I couldn’t be happier. It’s about time you two had some happiness in your life.”
“What about your happiness, Syd?”
“I’m happy now.”
“Not completely. You will let your brother make that appointment soon, won’t you? The sooner you get to the bottom of what’s going on, the sooner you can move on with your life, too. You know that, right?”
Sydney took Anna’s hand. “I know you want only the best for me, and I am going to give this a try, but I have everything I need right here. I’m happy now. Look, I’m walking again, and I never thought that would ever happen. Please, you and Teddy get on with your lives and quit worrying about me.”
Teddy entered the room with a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and three glasses. “Let’s have a glass now and then I’ll run and pick up dinner.” He poured the wine, and they toasted their glasses. “To a new beginning.”
Sydney laughed.
“Why the laugh?”
“I just finished reading a book called A New Beginning, by Brenda Kennedy.”
Anna smiled. “This is a new beginning, not just for Teddy and me, but for us all.”
“Yes, it is,” Sydney agreed.
Teddy finished his first glass and looked down at his watch. “Got to go. It’s time to pick up our dinner. You two try and stay sober until I get back.”
“We’ll try, brother.”
Jacob pulled up in front of Sal’s and saw Teddy entering the restaurant. Jacob opened the restaurant door, and Teddy was standing in front of the glass case of deserts. “Hey, Ted.”
Teddy turned around. “Oh, hi Jacob. Are you coming for dinner?”
“No. I’m just picking up something for Dad and me.”
“Your Dad?”
“Yeah. Neither of us wanted to cook tonight. How about you?”
“Well, we’re celebrating, so I offered to spring for dinner.”
“Celebrating?”
Teddy tilted his head. “You know, Sydney’s discharge from therapy.”
“So she’s happy about it, right?”
“Jacob, do you have a minute?”
“Sure.”
They took a small table in the bar area. “About my sister.”
“What about her?”
“She should have been ecstatic about being discharged, but I’m not sure she is.”
“What gives you that idea? She sounded happy about it this afternoon.”
Teddy leaned in closer to the table.“Confidentially?”
“Of course, Ted. That goes without saying.”
Teddy glanced around to make sure no one was listening. “Sydney promised me that when she finishes with therapy, she’d see my doctor.”
“Is something else wrong? She never mentioned it to me.”
“Not physically. But this fear about going outside is holding Syd back, and I wanted her to see my hypnotist. Remember me mentioning it you a while back?”
“Yes, but I though she was looking forward to it.”
“I thought so, too. Sydney said she’s ready, but I sense a reluctance.”
“Why do you think that?”
“To tell you the truth, I think my sister is afraid to find out. I’m not sure if it’s because she believes it will set her back or feels she’ll discover something she’d rather not know.”
“Ted, those are legitimate fears when there’s an unknown. Give her time and patience. Look how long it took us to get her to agree to the surgery.”
“You’re right.”
“Is she getting out of the apartment at all?”
“A little. Anna and I came home this evening to find her sitting on the balcony. To my knowledge, it’s the first time she’s done it on her own, and that’s a big step.”
“It’s going to take time. I’d love to see Sydney embrace life to the fullest, but it has to be her choice. I learned over the past months that your sister could not be pushed into anything until she’s ready.”
Teddy chuckled. “Yeah, my sister can be a bit stubborn. I’d invite you for dinner tonight, but it looks like you have plans; another time?”
“I’d like that. Tell your sister…”
Sal approached the table with two bags of food. “I didn’t know you two knew each other.”
Jacob nodded and took his bag. “Yes, Ted and I are friends. Thank you for dinner, Sal.”
Sal winked at Jacob. “Tell your dad that I added a little something extra.”
Sal handed Teddy the bag of food. “Nice to see you again, Ted. How’s your sister doing?”
“Sydney is doing great, thanks to Jacob.”
“Jacob?”
“Yes. The good doctor is responsible for my sister finally getting out of her wheelchair.”
Sal turned to Jacob. “So you are Ted’s sister’s doctor.”
“I confess. Have a nice evening and thanks again, Sal.”
“My pleasure as always.”
Jacob followed Teddy to the car. “Ted, can you keep me posted on Sydney’s progress?”
“Oh cours
e.”
“I’d like to know how it goes with the hypnotist, too. If there is anything she needs, don’t hesitate to call me.”
Teddy nodded. “Thank you. I will.”
Jacob started to walk away, stopped and turned again. “Hey, Ted.”
“Yeah.”
“Do you like grilled steaks?”
“Huh?”
“Do you like grilled steaks?”
“Yeah, why?”
“When Sydney is ready to venture beyond her glass walls, I’d like to invite your family over for dinner, and that includes Anna.”
A grin beamed across Teddy’s face. “Looking forward to it.”
Teddy kicked the front door. “Hey, I could use a little help here,” he hollered.
Anna hurried to the door. “We were beginning to think you got lost. What took so long?”
Teddy could not wipe the grin off of his face. He opened the bags of food and set them buffet style on the kitchen counter. “You can’t rush good food.”
Sydney pulled out three plates. “I was about to pour another glass of wine if you didn’t show up soon.” She leaned over the food and took a big whiff. “Sal’s food is worth the wait, but I can’t wait any longer, I’m starving,” she said as she started filling her plate with Lasagna and salad. She carried her plate to the dining room table, poured another glass of wine and waited for Teddy and Anna to sit.
Anna sat across from her and Teddy took a seat between them. He lifted his glass of wine. “Here’s to moving forward.”
Anna and Sydney tapped his glass, and in unison, they said, “to moving forward.”
Sydney was about to put a forkful of salad into her mouth when Teddy nonchalantly said, “I saw Jacob at Sal’s.”
Anna’s eyes widened, and Syd nearly dropped her fork. Anna looked at Teddy. “What was he doing there?”
“He was picking up dinner for him and his father.”
Sydney turned to Teddy. “His father?”
Teddy took a sip of wine and lifted a forkful of lasagna to his mouth. “Yeah.”
Sydney set her fork down and took a sip her wine. “That was nice. Does his father live in town?”
Teddy didn’t answer immediately. He continued chewing his food then took another sip of his drink. He started to pick up another forkful of food.
“Teddy, did you hear me? Does Doctor T’s father live here in town?”
“Oh, yes, he does.”
Anna shoved her plate forward and put her elbows on the table. “Teddy Parker, you are such a tease. What did Doctor Thornhill say?”
“I thought you two were hungry?”
Anna reached over and slapped him on the arm. “Out with it.”
“Ouch!”
“I barely touched you. What did you two talk about? You certainly were gone for a while, so I know you must have had a conversation.”
“As I said he was picking up dinner for him and his father, who happens to live with him.”
“His father is the one living with him?” Sydney blurted. “I mean…”
Teddy grinned. “I know what you meant. You thought Jacob was living with a girlfriend, didn’t you?”
“I could care less who he’s living with. He’s just my doctor. However, it does clear up the mystery. He mentioned the word us in a conversation about doing some renovations to his home.”
Anna twisted her mouth. “Like heck, you don’t care.”
“Let’s just drop the subject and eat. I’m hungry.”
Teddy waited until both of them started to eat. “As I was leaving Sal’s, Jacob asked me if I liked steak.”
“Why would he ask you that?”Anna asked.
“Apparently, the new renovations included a patio with an outside grill and he wants to invite us all over for grilled steaks.”
“When?”
Teddy turned to Sydney. “He wants me to keep him posted on your progress and when you’re ready, Syd, he’d like to have us over to grill out.”
“I told you so, Syd,” Anna shouted. “He does care.”
“He's just being kind. He’s not interested in me in that way.”
“Sydney Parker, is it going to take a head slap to knock some sense into you? Can’t you to see that the guy is interested?”
“Anna, I’m not ready to think about such things. You know that.”
Teddy reached over and touched Sydney’s arm. “Don’t you want to start getting out?”
“I will. Don’t push me.”
“I don’t want to push you, but the longer you put off the next step, the easier it would be to retreat to your old way of life.”
“I told you that I would. Now, can we just enjoy the evening? I thought we were celebrating you and Anna.”
“And you, too. I love you, Sis, and just want you to be happy.”
“I know you do. Okay, call your doctor tomorrow. But if this doesn’t work, I don’t want either of you to nag me anymore about my life. It’s my life, not yours.”
Anna looked at Teddy and back to Sydney. “Agreed.”
CHAPTER 10
“Okay Sydney, I want you to close your eyes and focus on the sound my voice. I’m going to take you back in time, but if at any time you’re uncomfortable you will awake at the touch of my hand on your shoulder. Do you understand? Are you all right with this?”
“Yes,” Sydney whispers softly.
“I want you to go back to a time when you can remember doing something you enjoyed with your mother.”
The doctor watched as Sydney’s face softened. “What are you doing right now?”
The pitch in her voice got higher, like that of a young child. “I’m in the kitchen with Momma, and we’re making cookies.”
“Can you tell me how you feel?”
“I’m happy because they’re going to be a surprise for Daddy. You’re goin’ get in trouble.”
“Who’s going to get in trouble, Sydney?”
“Teddy is. Every time Momma turns her back, Teddy keeps sticking his fingers in the cookie dough. Momma told him not to do that.”
“How old are you?”
Sydney holds up her fingers. “I’m this many, but my birthday is next week, and I’ll be this many,” she smiles as she holds up five fingers.
“Sydney, I’d like you to move forward in time to your tenth birthday and tell me what you’re doing.”
Her voice changes again. “I’m sitting at the kitchen table watching Momma make me a cake.”
“What kind of cake is it?”
“It’s my favorite, strawberry cake with white frosting. Momma always decorates it with fresh strawberries on top, and when she’s done, she lets me lick the bowl. I like that the best, but I have to share with Teddy and Rosa.”
“Sydney, I’d like you to go back to that night before Thanksgiving when you and your brother snuck out of the house.”
Sydney began to squirm and ball up in the fetal position.
“What’s wrong Sydney?”
“I know we're not supposed to go outside in the rain and if Momma finds out, me and Teddy are going to be in big trouble, especially if she tells Daddy.”
“What happened next?”
Sydney’s mouth started to twitch, and she looked from side to side. “We’re sneaking downstairs to the basement so Momma can’t see us. Now we’re climbing out through the door where Daddy brings in the wood for the fireplace. I put on that blue raincoat that I got for my birthday, and Teddy puts on his bright yellow one. It looks like it might rain, but I think we can get back before it does. Come on, Teddy, hurry. We need to get behind those trees before Momma sees us.” Sydney starts to laugh. “I told you, Teddy, Momma wouldn’t catch us.”
“Sydney, can you tell me what you and your brother are doing now?”
“This is an adventure. We’re going through the woods to see if we can see any ghosts. Daddy told us that the ghosts come out in the woods at night and we shouldn’t be out there without a grownup to protect us, but since I’m ten now,
I can protect us.”
“I’m sure you are a great protector. What do you two do next?”
“It’s starting to get dark in the woods. Teddy’s getting scared so I’m holding his hand as we follow the path to the church shelter. Oh, no, it’s really raining now, and Teddy want’s to go home. Daddy always says whenever it rains, if you wait a few minutes it will stop, but Teddy won’t wait.”
“Do you leave?”
“No. Teddy. Don't go. Stay here with me. The rain will be over in a minute,” Sydney cries. Tears run down her cheeks.
Teddy holds his head in his hands to hold back his tears as he watches Sydney relive that night. I hate seeing her go through this. I wish I had stayed with her.
The doctor leans in closer to Sydney. “Sydney, are you okay?”
“I’m afraid Teddy’s going to get all wet. Maybe I should go after him, so he doesn’t get lost. I’m sure the rain will stop in a minute then I’ll go get him.”
Sydney looks up at the ceiling while she’s lying on the couch. “Uh, oh, I don’t think the rain is going to stop. I think it’s raining harder. I’d better go.”
Her head is turning from side to side. “What are you seeing, Sydney?”
“I can’t see anything. It’s too dark. I have to get back on the path. Oh, I’m going to be in big trouble when I get home.”
“Where are you now?”
Her body begins to tremble. She hunches her back and puts her hands on the top of her head. “I don’t know where I am. It’s too dark.”
The doctor looks over at Teddy and mouths, “We can stop for today if you’d like.”
Teddy shakes his head. “Not yet.”
“Sydney, I’m right here with you. Nothing can harm you. Continue.”
“I see the path, and I start running. Something is wrong. This doesn’t look like the path that takes me home, now what am I going to do? Wait, I think I see a light. That must be the one on our front porch. Momma always leaves the light on for Daddy. The path is muddy, and it’s hard for me to run. I can see the edge of the woods now. I must be close. Oh dear, am I going to get a whippin’ when I get home.”
Perspiration covers the top of Sydney’s blouse, and her hands are flinging from side to side.
The doctor leaned in closer. “Sydney, can you see anything else on the road?”
She turns her head and jerks. “What is that light?”
