The Book Keeper
Page 19
DATE: December 31 2012 15:10
TO: Georgia Harrison
Dear Georgia,
I am old fashioned in some ways of the world. I can’t have dinner with you at 8pm because I am working on a case till late. You have no idea how much I would love for you to track me down. I hope that the gingerbread man and woman make thousands of babies. You can talk to me in real time on one of the numbers listed below, anytime x.
xCohen #Ihavebeenthinkingaboutyouallday<3
Send ……
FROM: Georgia Harrison
SUBJECT: Rejected
DATE: December 31 2012 15:13
TO: Cohen Darcy
To My Cohen,
Sigh……
xxxxxxGeorgia #youareforeverinmyheartandmindx
FROM: Cohen Darcy
SUBJECT: Sigh
DATE: December 31 2012 16:30
TO: Georgia Harrison
To My
I am sorry to disappoint you.
xxCohen #stillreminiscingaboutseeingyoutoday
Send…
FROM: Georgia Harrison
SUBJECT: Disappointment
DATE: December 31 2012 16:32
TO: Cohen Darcy
To My Cohen ,
Which night are you free to dine with yours truly?
xxxxxxxGeorgia #willwebeabletohavedesert?
FROM: Cohen Darcy
SUBJECT: You can’t have your cake and eat it to
DATE: December 31 2012 16:45
TO: Georgia Harrison
Dear Miss Harrison,
Work commitments come between us right now We are about to make a break through in solving the case.
xxxCohen #waitingforthecollisionofourlifedestinies……
Send….
FROM: Georgia Harrison
SUBJECT: One Day
DATE: December 31 2012 16:52
TO: Cohen Darcy
Dear Mr Darcy,
Biding my time until we meet again. The Excellence Awards in Medical Innovation is this Friday, 8pm. You did say that you would go with me….
xGeorgia #hope:tolookforwardtowithdesire
FROM: Cohen Darcy
SUBJECT: My Word
DATE: December 31 2012 16:57
TO: Georgia Harrison
To My Dear Georgia,
I never go back on my word. I will be there with you. Give me more details. It will be the highlight of my week.
xxxxCohen #special:distinguishedfromwhatisordinary.
Send…
FROM: Georgia Harrison
SUBJECT: My Prince
DATE: December 30 2012 17:00
TO: Cohen Darcy
To My Dear Cohen,
8pm. City Hall Restaurant. Creative Black Tie. Can’t Wait.
xxGeorgia #ihavememorizedyourfaceyoureyesyourlips
FROM: Cohen Darcy
SUBJECT: My Princess
DATE: December 31 2012 17:03
TO: Georgia Harrison
Miss Harrison,
8pm. City Hall Restaurant. Creative black Tie. Can’t Wait Either.
Back to work for me
xxxxxCohen #justthesmellofyourperfumeacceleratesmyheartbeat
Send……
A gentle tap on my shoulder brought me back to reality.
Crimes to solve. Suspects to interview. Minds to read.
Dreams to dream…later.
The next four days dragged along painfully, like the pulling of a tooth at the dentist in slow motion. Friday arrived delayed. Well it felt that way anyway.
I hadn’t heard from Georgia since Monday, and it bothered me. I missed her quirky emails. I missed our back and forth cajoling, innuendos and heart x-rays.
I pulled out my blackberry.
FROM: Cohen Darcy
SUBJECT: 8pm
DATE: January 3 2013 10:03
TO: Georgia Harrison
Miss Harrison,
8pm. City Hall Restaurant. Creative Black Tie. Counting down the minutes.
xxxCohen #Ihavegotmydressreadywithmatchingshoesandearrings
Send……
No reply.
Chapter 22
Coloured lights decorated the arched windows of the exterior of the City Hall Restaurant. Planter boxes of dark green foliage plants bordered the historic frontage leading to the main entrance.
The large glass door was closed, lest the coldness from the outside world enter the cosy inside world of the restaurant. I entered, enjoying the décor and memorabilia, and headed towards the Granite Room.
The stately Matradee greeted me with impeccable manners, checked my ID, and welcomed me into the function. The Granite room was abuzz with atmosphere. Men and women everywhere beautiful in their creative black tie.
I smelled her sweet perfume first, and turned towards her. She stood by the grand piano. I stopped and breathed in deeply. Her beauty had taken my breathe away. She wore an elegant black satin evening gown. It was sleeveless with a round neckline revealing a little of her breasts. The bodice had ruching in a cross over effect.
Her wavy brown mid length hair was tamed in a flattering updo. She looked pure, noble, sophisticated.
My Georgia. My. Georgia.
I grabbed two flutes of champagne as I strode towards her, taking my time, drinking in her beauty, her presence. As I came closer to her, I could she that she was engaged in a conversation with a dark haired man. He kept touching her.
MY Georgia.
I changed my tact, and approached her from behind. I stopped directly behind her, then leaned in to speak into her left ear.
‘I could smell you as soon as I entered the Granite Room Miss Harrison. You look stunning,’ I whispered for her ears only.
She turned her head slightly to her left as I spoke to her, then turned around and faced me. Her eyes smiled first, and then her face lit up in happiness.
‘Cohen,’ she whispered, and then hugged me, longer than I thought that she would. She stepped back away from me then, her eyes drinking me in, from head to toe.
‘Mmmm….classic tails Mr Darcy. Suits you, very suave,’ she stated, taking the champagne flute from me.
I dropped my head and smiled shyly.
‘Thank-you. Dance with me Georgia,’ I said, my voice low, holding out my hand for her to take.
My senses heightened as I felt her finger tips touch mine. I took a deep breath to settle my hyperventilating mind.
I looked deeply into her eyes as I pulled her towards me slowly and held her close as we danced. Her breath was warm, gentle against the skin on my neck.
‘Have I told you how beautiful you are Georgia ?’ I whispered into her ear. I felt her smile against my skin.
‘I recall the word stunning Mr Darcy, ‘ she whispered back at me, kissing my neck lightly, instantly sending tingles throughout my body.
I moved my lips toward her bare shoulder and kissed her lightly. Then I rested my head against hers.
‘Georgia,’ I whispered. I love you……I want you……
‘You smell delicious Cohen. Are you armed tonight?’ she asked.
‘No. I didn’t want to scare you Miss Harrison,’ I said quietly.
‘You could never scare me Mr Darcy,’ she replied looking into my eyes.
‘Good,’ I replied, and then kissed her lips lightly, lingering.
The music stopped and we were seated for the Ceremony.
The awards were detailed, structured, grouped. I sat amongst gifted doctors, surgeons and medical researchers, both men and women. Their united goal to help, to heal, to honour, to give hope.
I was humbled by their presence, their knowledge and discoveries of the human anatomy, and the dedication to their profession that reached out to others.
And I was mesmerised…..by Georgia. She made my soul sing, my heart melt, and my brain buzz with the liquid of the love potion. The strength of my love for her was unbreakable. I had to tell her. I couldn’t keep my feelings for her inside me any more. It was time to bare my soul, expose my heart,
and make the connection of hearts and minds with her.
But after the ceremony, she was taken away from me. A tall dark haired doctor stole her away. He took her by the hand, and pulled her into a close embrace on the dance floor. He held her like she was his, and my heart hurt.
I leaned back in my chair and breathed in deeply, running my hand through my hair. I wanted her back with me. But perhaps she did not feel the strength of love for me as I felt for her.
Don’t overthink Cohen, I told myself.
I closed my eyes, I could not watch him look at her full of lust anymore. She was mine, wasn’t she?
Loud screams forced my eyes open. I looked over and saw Georgia standing alone on the dance floor, her partner gone. To her right a masked gunman stood.
I flew over to Georgia and hurled her from the dance floor and backed her up to one of the walls, covering her body with mine. Fear lived in her eyes, in her heartbeat.
‘Don’t move. If I get shot, stay under my body like you are dead as well. It is your only chance of survival,’ I whispered into her ear in a calm voice.
‘You would take a bullet for me?’ she asked, her voice shocked, surprised.
‘Without a second thought Georgia. I will protect you with my own life. I lo…..’
I sucked in a sharp breath.
The entry of the bullet into my body was different to what I thought it would be.
I thought that I would feel a sudden intense, sharp and unbearable pain. But it was not like that at all. At first I felt a very soft poke. It was nothing really.
And then the intense painful burning sensation hit me, like a hot searing knife moving about inside of me. I held Georgia in my arms as we fell to the floor. I tried to cushion her impact as much as I could as the blackness overcame me, and my lifeforce left the strength of my muscular frame.
Then there was nothing, no memory, no thoughts, no pain, just……………nothing.
Chapter 23
Brain fog. A muddy, sludgy weight holding my eyes closed, stopping my brain from gaining access to control my body. I badly wanted to open my eyes, but I couldn’t. They wouldn’t move. They were too heavy.
But I could hear. I think. Or was I dreaming?
Judging by the sound of the beeping, the smell of disinfectant, and the background quietness, I was in hospital. It had to be hospital.
Heaven would be entirely different to what I hear and smell now. Heaven would be pure happiness, pure peacefulness, pure love, freedom from the bondage and restrictions of the human body.
Yes. I was in hospital. I survived. I gained my life.
But what have I lost?
Voices. They are here. More than one.
I can hear Georgia’s voice. She is here. And somebody else.
A man. He sounds vaguely familiar. But I can’t put a name to him yet.
‘How is Cohen progressing?’ she asks.
‘Well. We are reducing his medication to bring him out of the coma. It shouldn’t be long now until we can assess neurological damage. His surgery wound has healed well. He has one last obstacle to overcome……Georgia, I missed you last night,’ he said to my Georgia.
What? Who are you doctor? And why are you speaking to Georgia like that?
‘Mmmmm. I needed time to myself, to think, you know…..’ she replied to him.
Then nothing. Uninvited sleep had stolen my consciousness again…….
Warm skin touched mine. I hoped it was Georgia’s hand. The fingers made circles around my knuckles, tickling me. Then the fingers traced down each of my fingers the whole length to the tip of my fingernail. Only Georgia had ever touched me like this. It felt so good.
‘Georgia…..you haven’t answered my question,’ the male voice said.
So it was Georgia touching me. I smiled inside my mind. My Georgia. I love you.
‘Georgia……. marry me. I love you,’ the voice was broken, pained, pleading.
My body shuddered, and I sucked in a huge breath. The machine alarms sounded, and the room became busy with medical staff rushing around me.
Then I opened my eyes. The ceiling was white. The light was bright and my eyes pained. I closed them again and the sting lessened. Then I opened them again, with less haste this time.
Faces hovered over me. Stethoscopes attached themselves to my chest. Hands touched my wrist.
‘Mr Darcy, squeeze my hand, wriggle your feet, blink,’ commanded a gentle female voice.
‘Welcome back,’ she said, her voice smiling. I looked at her and smiled back. It wasn’t Georgia. I did not know of this person.
The medical staff stood around me, crowding me, their serious faces focused on me, worrying me.
‘Georgia….’ I whispered, “Georgia.’
Then she appeared in front of the doctors. Her face shined inside of me. Her eyes strengthened my life force. She placed her hand onto my shoulder.
‘Cohen,’ she whispered, and a tear rolled down her cheek. I lifted my heavy hand and brushed her tear away, as a tear fell from my eye. Then my hand dropped back to the bed. I had used up all of my energy.
I started to shake my head at her.
‘Don’t marry him, please don’t marry him,’ I said weakly.
She smiled, and kissed me lightly on my lips.
‘So that’s why you woke up Mr Darcy!’ she teased. I smiled weakly at her.
‘Only the medical staff on Cohen’s care are to stay. Would others please leave the room so that we can complete observations on our patient, thank-you,’ a deep voiced commanded.
Only three white coats remained in the room with me. We played a game of twenty questions, twenty requests of movement, twenty neurological checks.
I became exhausted and receded into the peacefulness of sleep again.
Exhaustion wasn’t my friend. I wanted to be awake. I needed to talk to Georgia before it was too late. Before I lost her to another man. But I couldn’t fight the sleep. It was too powerful for me. I could do nothing but surrender to it. In time I would wake again. At least I had spoken to her. At the very least……sleep to heal……
The voices woke me again. Georgia’s and irritating male.
I could smell her perfume. I forced my eyelids open and looked straight at her. She wasn’t far from me.
She tilted her head on the side as she looked at me, but didn’t speak at first. She looked happy. Peaceful. And it worried me.
‘You look worried Cohen. Are you okay?’ she asked, touching my hand.
‘Physically yes. Mentally yes. Emotionally – you tell me,’ I answered. She looked at me and then at him. I still couldn’t see him. Georgia was blocking my view of him.
‘Cohen…..I want you to meet….. Ethan,’ Georgia said nervously. Did this mean that she was going to marry him? My heart started to accelerate.
And then I saw him.
He was me. I was him. He was an exact copy of me, except for the style of his hair.
No wonder his voice seemed familiar to me. It was in fact my voice coming from his body.
‘Hello Cohen,’ he said simply. I frowned at him, shocked. Two of me? I didn’t know what to think. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t move. I found it hard to breathe.
‘How…’ I managed to splutter whilst shaking my head.
‘Remember the book Cohen. Ethan from the book….’ Georgia said, trying to jolt my memory.
‘No…..no,’ I said, shaking my head, my voice quaking. I squeezed my eyes shut. I wanted him gone. This was a living nightmare. Beads of sweat broke out on my forehead.
‘I’m sorry Cohen. I will leave the room. I’m sorry,’ Ethan spoke quietly. He looked to the floor, disappointment on his face, and left the room in silence.
I put my hands up to my head and then cried, heavy sobs escaping from my chest. Georgia put her head onto my chest and wrapped her arms around me.
‘You can’t marry him Georgia. Please don’t marry him,’ I blurted out in between my chest heaving gulps of air and my outpouring of gri
ef.
‘I said no Cohen. I am not going to marry him,’ she said quietly.
‘Good,’ I replied, feeling my body relax, and a burden lifted from my shoulders.
‘You need to talk to him. Technically he is your brother,’ Georgia said.
‘He is my clone Georgia. He is more than my brother. He is me,’ I replied angrily.
‘No. You are wrong. Yes, same physical body, same DNA, but a different mind, a different personality, a different soul. He is more like an identical twin brother,’ she elaborated with presence of mind, expression of thought and the voice of her heart of compassion.
I looked at her, contemplating her words. Could she be right? As scary as it seems that there are two of me, he is in fact a different person entirely, we share nothing but identical DNA.
‘Georgia, when I regain my physical strength I ….,’ I said, but could not finish the sentence as the colour drained from my face.
‘You should Cohen. He was the doctor at the Ceremony who saved your life. The least that you could do is to thank him,’ she suggested.
I placed my hands on top of my head, and looked up at the ceiling and closed my eyes. It was a lot to take in.
It was like the three rings on the leather cover of the bloody book, three interconnecting rings. Was that representational of Ethan, Georgia and me?
Bloody book!
I looked back at Georgia, and then took her hand in mine and pulled it over my heart.
‘Thank-you Georgia…..for staying by my side through my recovery. Thank-you,’ I said. I could feel my heart breaking. Our connection felt broken in some way. Love didn’t do this did it?
‘I need to be alone now……if you don’t mind,’ I said, my voice uneven.
Georgia leaned into me and kissed my lips, and then my forehead. She looked into my eyes and nodded. Then she turned and left my hospital room in silence, without looking back at me.
My entire life was in a spin. An out of control spiral dive into darkness.
Chapter 24
Springtime is glorious. The warm sun. The flowers. The new life. New beginnings.