by JoAnn Durgin
“Why would he? You’ve never met until tonight.”
“True, but I look very much like my dad.”
She’d never looked at his scrapbook to know that important detail. It didn’t matter now.
“I gave him the caption from my dad’s court case, Caroline, and he still didn’t make any sign of recognition.”
“I’m sorry, Seth. How do you feel about that?”
“How do you think I feel about it?” She’d never heard him raise his voice in anger. She understood he wasn’t angry with her. “Your father couldn’t even remember my last name!”
“There’s probably a valid reason for that.”
Seth turned to face her, still leaning against the side of his truck. “Right. I have a few words that could describe him right now but I’m sure you don’t want to hear them.”
“Try Alzheimer’s Disease. How about that one?” A tear streaked down her cheek.
Seth’s eyes widened and he stared at her, slack-jawed. Putting his arms around her, he gathered her close and gently stroked her hair. It wasn’t long before her shoulders shook with quiet sobs.
“I can’t believe it,” she murmured over and over, clinging to him.
“How far along?” he asked once her sobs calmed.
“A few years, they think. The symptoms have apparently been increasing in frequency. Sid and Bryce have pretty much taken over dad’s cases now. They’d planning on keeping him as a figurehead in the firm, but they can’t allow him in a courtroom again.” She shook her head. “For a man who always told me not to allow anyone to see your weakness, this has to be the ultimate humiliation for him.” Another small sob escaped. “How ironic is it that he won’t even be able to remember?”
“I’d say it’s actually a mixed blessing,” Seth said. He pulled her close again and held her as she cried softly, her anguish laced with sadness now more than anger. “I feel your pain. It’s not easy, but I’ve watched my mother suffer with it for years now. That’s a horrible path, too. I’m here for you, Caroline. Whatever you need.”
“Don’t say that. I might very well scream.”
“Then scream.”
“Right here in the parking lot of The Evergreen Inn?” She stared at him.
“Why not? Go for it. No one’s around.”
“No!” Caroline screamed, raising her face to the sky. Her voice was carried off by the wind but echoed like a bad nightmare. Clamping her hands over her ears, she shook her head from side to side, her eyes squeezed shut. Seth—dear sweet Seth—continued to hold her. Silently enveloping her in his warm, strong embrace. And she knew he’d continue to hold her as long as she needed.
Looking up at him through blurry eyes, Caroline balled up her fists, flailing them blindly against his strong, firm chest. Her blows weren’t purposely hard or with enough force to hurt a man as physically conditioned as Seth. He didn’t even flinch. Stopping and finally surrendering, she leaned against him. She felt completely vulnerable, limp and weak as she allowed him to hold her in the circle of his arms.
“It can’t be, Seth,” she said quietly, her voice muffled against the fabric of his jacket as she burrowed her head against him. “Tell me it’s a mistake. My dad’s fine and everything will be okay.”
“I wish I could. I can promise you that I’ll be there and the Lord’s beside you every step of the way. I hope you’ll take great comfort in that.” He leaned his forehead on hers. “Peace I leave with you.”
“My peace I give to you,” Caroline murmured.
“Not as the world gives do I give to you.” Seth once again tightened his hold on her.
“Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. Thanks for letting me beat up on you.” Caroline finally disengaged herself from his arms. The man was a saint and had held her for a long time even though the night had grown long and they both needed to get home.
“Not a problem. But first, I’d like to do one more thing.”
She tilted her head and eyed him. “I sense we need to pray.”
He took her hands in his and they bowed their heads together. “Heavenly Father,” Seth began in a quiet, reverent voice, “We’re here today to pray for Caroline’s father, Duncan. We know that man says there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease even as we acknowledge you as the Great Healer. Help us to share the message of your word with Duncan to let him know he is not alone in this battle. Help him to understand that he has a loving Savior willing to take every step with him, a Savior who cares about his every breath, every thought, every deed. Duncan needs to know you, Father, and that is our most fervent prayer.”
Caroline waited a moment, and when she was certain that Seth’s prayer was ended, she continued, “Dear Lord, I love my father. We’ve had our times of trouble, but you know how much I respect and admire him.” Her voice cracked, and she swallowed before continuing. “Open his heart, Father, to the truth of your Word and your message so that he might come to a saving knowledge of you and rest assured that his place in eternity lies safely with you. And if I may be your instrument, please, Father, let him listen to my words. And for my mother, too. She needs you every bit as much as my father,” she added. “We ask these things in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.”
When Seth squeezed her hands, she whispered, “Thank you.” She glanced up at the night sky. “I can feel rain coming.”
She hadn’t realized how physically tired and mentally exhausted she was until now. After he’d climbed into his truck, Seth honked his horn and motioned for her to fasten her seatbelt. Nodding with a grateful wave of acknowledgement, Caroline did as he asked and then started the engine. She waited until he’d started his truck before she pulled out of the clearing and headed back onto the main road with Seth following close behind. The bobbing of the headlights of his truck in her rearview mirror gave her sweet comfort.
Five minutes later, the heavens opened in a torrent of rain. Caroline gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white as she tried to see through the blinding sheets of water. She hated driving when it was raining this hard. If only there was a place to pull off and wait it out, she would, but the mountain road was rather steep, winding, and quite dangerous. She was thankful her parents had started out long before them and should be safely back at Landon’s by now. Where were Bryce and Tiffany staying? Had Liesel met her brother by now, too?
Red brake lights appeared directly in front of her and the vehicle seemed to be at a complete stop in the middle of the road. Gasping, Caroline slammed on the brakes a little too late. The Pathfinder skidded and swerved, rocking violently even though she knew her speed couldn’t be any higher than 35 mph. She tried desperately to gain control of the vehicle, knowing a steep ravine lay on the right side.
“Lord, keep Seth safe.” She could only pray he wouldn’t slam into her with what she was about to do. She had no choice and she screamed as she slammed into the vehicle in front of her. The sickening crunch of metal filled her ears and jolted her.
Caroline slumped forward in her seat and blackness completely enveloped her.
Chapter 31
~~♥~~
Caroline moaned and struggled to sit up. The airbag. She needed to get away from it. Needed to get out of her vehicle. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t move. She was immobilized, and it scared her to death. “I can’t…I can’t,” she muttered over and over, bringing a hand up to her aching head.
Vaguely aware of activity, Caroline opened her eyes. Seth. He was kneeling on the ground beside her, saying something to her. But what? The oddest sensation—like she was underwater and her words and actions were in slow motion—overtook her.
“You’ve alive. Thank you, Jesus.”
Tears streamed down her face. She reached for him, his beautiful face, so thankful he hadn’t been hurt. “Seth, I can’t move. Help me.”
His face was next to hers. He was telling her to do something. But what? His words made no sense. She struggled to open her eyes even more, trying to focus on wh
at he was telling her.
“Hang in there, baby. The EMTs are here now. They’re taking good care of you.”
“My brake lights were workin’ fine,” a man with a craggy voice complained. He sounded so defensive. “I’m telling you, she just slammed into me! Ain’t nobody here wonderin’ if I’m okay?”
“You appear to be fine, sir.” Seth’s voice.
Caroline heard them talking, Seth in low tones and the other man in loud, overbearing tones. She could tell they were both heated and was aware when Seth guided the man a short distance away. Occasionally, the man’s voice rose and he spewed a number of foul, abusive words. Seth somehow managed to keep him calm without resorting to physical restraint.
Others moved about and then Caroline heard a beeping sound and the sounds of the engine and a radio in the emergency vehicle. She lost all sense of time but was aware when she was being lifted onto a stretcher, strapped on, and then covered with a light sheet.
You’d better not put that sheet over my head! I am not dead, people! Delusional maybe but she was nowhere near dead.
“Seth.” It was barely more than a whisper. Caroline stretched her hand in the direction where he talked with a state trooper. Closing her eyes to block out the bright, blinking red lights and the sounds, she dropped her hand. It’s so noisy. Too noisy. Yet it was also eerie with a hushed quiet.
“I’m right here.” In the next instant, Seth was beside her again, holding her hand. “You’re going to be all right, baby.”
“I hope so,” she murmured. Her words sounded slurred, groggy, as if she’d been drugged. Goodness, hopefully no one would think she’d been drinking. Seth was a witness that she’d only had lemonade at dinner. “Seth.” Grabbing hold of the collar of his jacket with both hands, Caroline pulled him close. “I realize I must look pretty horrible about now.”
He kissed her on the lips. Sweet but firm. “Nonsense. You’ve never looked more beautiful.”
“You flirt.” Her tongue felt heavy, her mouth like she had cotton in it. “Do I have all my teeth, and my arms and legs are intact?”
“Yes.”
“Goob. Lisshen,” she said, frowning. Why were her words slurring all of a sudden? “You-u lishen, I’m not goin’ ta kick off anytimsh soon until I can marrrry you-you and h-have you-your babishes.” Okay, that was weird. She hoped he’d understood the basic gist of that crazy sentence.
“Like I said, I’m not going anywhere. I’m also going to hold you to that promise. I’m going to follow the ambulance to the hospital. You rest and I’ll see you when you get there.” Seth smoothed her hair back from her damp face and kissed her gently on one cheek.
“My-my c-car.” She released another long, slow groan of misery when she spied her poor smashed Pathfinder. It wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Caroline gasped. She survived that?
“Young lady, you oughta thank your lucky stars you got out all right without being more seriously hurt,” one of the EMTs told her. “Thank God you had on your seatbelt and the airbag deployed.” He nodded to Seth. “And this guy watched over you until we arrived on the scene.”
“Thank you.” Caroline squeezed Seth’s hand and shifted under the uncomfortable restraints on the stretcher.
“Okay, guys, on the count of three we lift,” the paramedic instructed. Seth stood aside as the men lifted the stretcher and moved her into the back of the ambulance.
You’re going to be fine. It was as though someone in the ambulance spoke the words, but she knew the words came from somewhere else. Somewhere she couldn’t see, somewhere she couldn’t define.
I am with you.
Caroline looked around, her eyes growing heavy after the paramedic quickly injected her with something and began a portable IV drip.
Thank you, Lord, for keeping me safe. “My seatbelt,” Caroline murmured, shaking her head back and forth as her eyes closed once more, surrendering to the overwhelming exhaustion. “He told me to put it on…”
Seth saved my life.
~~♥~~
“Ohhh…” Caroline moaned, bringing a hand up to her aching head. “What happened?” Opening her eyes, she glanced around the sterile room. Alarmed, she opened her eyes wider, searching for the sight of something—anything—familiar and comforting. The bed on the other side of the room was empty, and she detected the distinct smell of pine cleaner mixed with some kind of antiseptic. Lovely. Caroline wrinkled her nose but it served to effectively wake her.
Turning her head, Caroline spied a nurse coming into the room. After checking her pulse, she gave her an encouraging smile. “I’m glad to see Sleeping Beauty finally decided to wake up.”
“It’s not polite to make fun of the injured,” Caroline said, wincing with pain. In the background, she heard a few beeps. She must be connected to a machine or two. But she was alive and breathing. “Just assure me I’m not in heaven yet.”
“Not quite yet, sweetheart. You could have been, though, from what I heard about the accident.”
Caroline shook her head, groggy and feeling annoyed. “What happened?” All she remembered was her crumpled Pathfinder and Seth calling her baby. The beginnings of a smile curled the corners of her mouth, and the nurse nodded.
“That’s better.” After opening the blinds to allow a sliver of light to filter into the room, the nurse walked back over to the side of the bed. Compassion shone in her deep blue eyes. “You were in a car accident not far from The Evergreen Inn. I understand you’d had dinner there. From what I heard, the man in the vehicle in front of you stopped for a deer, and then you hit him from behind.”
“Rammed was more like it, but I couldn’t help it.” Caroline closed for a moment before reopening them, focusing on the woman. “Was the man hurt?”
“A few scrapes and bruises is all. Afraid you got the worst of it, but you’ll be fine. No major damage. Just a few bruised ribs and a slight concussion. The doctor will be in shortly to talk with you.” With a smile, the nurse tucked the sheets tight around her. “I’ll be in to check on you again later. If you need anything, you push this button right here”—she showed her the button on a cord on her right side—“and someone will come.” She gave her a smile. “There’s a handsome young man who’s been waiting for you to wake up.”
“What time is it?” Caroline glanced at the clock on the bedside stand.
“It’s two o’clock, Miss Prescott.”
“Okay,” she said slowly. “What day is it?” She’d never been unconscious before. This was weird.
“Hello, gorgeous. It’s Sunday afternoon.” Seth leaned his head around the corner of the room. He nodded at the nurse as she exited the room, the rubber soles of her shoes squeaking on the highly polished floor.
“About time you got here,” she said, reaching for his hand. “What took you so long?”
He chuckled. “I’ve been here. May I?” When she nodded, Seth perched himself on the end of the bed. She shifted her position, trying to get comfortable, but every muscle in her body ached. Even so, Caroline’s heart quickened at the sight of him. He looked tired, the slight lines surrounding his eyes were etched a bit deeper, and he obviously hadn’t shaved. But, as always, he was the most handsome man in the world. The man she loved.
“You look tired.” A shock of his chestnut hair fell across his forehead. She wished she had the strength to raise herself up from the bed, gather Seth in her arms, and kiss him soundly. “I can’t seem to get the energy to move, but you’d like to know what I was just thinking.”
Seth’s grin emerged and, along with it, that precious, endearing dimple.
After a long moment, his smile sobered. “You scared me, Miss Prescott. The state trooper said it’s a miracle your SUV didn’t go down into the ravine.”
“No more than I scared myself, trust me. And you don’t know how grateful I am that I didn’t tumble down into that ravine. Someone needs to be around to keep a certain mineralogist in line.” Caroline groaned as she shifted again.
“What’s w
rong? Does something hurt?” Seth slid down from the bed and reached for the call button.
“No, no, I’m fine,” Caroline assured him. She coughed and the effort elicited another low groan. “For one thing, I don’t want everyone in this place to call me Miss Prescott. I know that’s my name, but it’s too formal. It’s bad enough that I’m confined,” she pouted. “I think the accident has taken the wind out of my sails.” Collapsing back against the pillow with a sigh, Caroline motioned for him to sit back down on the edge of the bed again and he complied. “I can’t believe I’ve been asleep for so long.”
“It was the best thing for you,” Seth said quietly.
Caroline fixed Seth with an intense stare. “Tell me the truth, Seth. What’s wrong with me?” Struck by a sudden thought, she opened her eyes wide. Lifting the sheet, she peeked beneath it and wiggled her toes and lifted both legs. She released a long sigh of relief. “Thank you, Jesus, I am still intact.”
“You have a pretty nasty concussion, some bruised ribs and a sprained wrist.” At Seth’s words, Caroline lifted her left wrist. Well, look at that. She hadn’t even noticed.
“Seth, you saved my life.” She hoped her tone conveyed her extreme gratefulness for this man.
“I can hardly take the credit, Caroline. You had the hedge of the Lord’s protection around you.”
“Let’s recount the facts, shall we?” Even though Seth shook his head and started to protest, Caroline continued. “You reminded me to put on my seatbelt. I hate to think what might have happened if I hadn’t been wearing it.” Caroline closed her eyes and a tear rolled down her cheek. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Noting that the doctor waited patiently in the corner, studying the chart he held in his hand, Seth leaned over and brushed her hand with his lips. “I’ll be right outside.”
Twenty minutes later, the doctor had checked her over and pronounced she’d live. That’s all she really needed to hear. The good-natured nurse had returned, carrying a food tray. “I’ve got some food for you if you feel like eating, young lady. I should imagine you’ve worked up quite an appetite by now.”
