Part 4

Part 4

As she stops outside her apartment Jane realises how tired she is. The lack of sleep has made her a little reflective. She thinks of Helen's caring parents. The tall slender Margaret, with the once dark hair now stylishly gray, her expensive clothes and her loving husband, Frank. Her first meeting with Margaret and Frank so many years ago had surprised her. To have strangers welcome and accept her so openly was something so new, so foreign to her that Jane had cried with joy. They were the closest she had known to experiencing a happy family life. She had often wondered why they had taken a strange child into their home for a holiday but had been afraid to ask.

Meeting Helen years later had answered that question. Sitting side by side in class the first day of their university lives, names being called out, they turned to each both smiling as the memories of that wonderful summer returned.

Shaking herself from her daze, Jane runs up the stairs, waving to her neighbour as she passes their open window. So much to do she thinks as she drops her bag on the chair, walks into her room to strip the sheets from the bed, gathers up her discarded clothing then runs to the machine. Picking up an item here, moving something there, she has her apartment neat and tidy in a short time. Selecting brightly striped sheet over her favourite soft forals is an unconcious choice. Lifting the cover she realises they have taken the feminine edge off her all white room, making it look stronger, more like a room Margaret and Frank would enjoy.

Packing takes little time. Her frequent and often urgent trips on business has necessitated being able to leave on very short notice. Sorting her washing, the clothes she puts still wet, into a large plastic lined bag, the sheets into the dryer. Looking out the window she sees a profusion of colour from the open blooms on her small but lush balcony. Picking a selection, she arranges and then places the two vases. Glancing around she feels the Winter's will feel comfortable in her home.

Cursing the truck as it stops, blowing the horn, when swinging her small car into the parking space Jane realises she is angry. Not with the truck driver, but with herself. She could not have prevented the accident but somehow feels responsible. She has felt this way many times. No matter how often her friends and collegues have told her things are not her fault, still she believes they are. Memories, long ago memories of a painful childhood haunt her.

Looking around the doorway, not wanting to disturb Helen if she is sleeping or talking to her parents, Jane is greeted by a deep warm voice:
"There you are Jane." says Frank as he steps forward to wrap an arm around her thin shoulders.
"Helen was telling us you might have fallen asleep. You look as tired as we feel." She feels his deep laugh as she hears it. Margaret steps forward to kiss Jane lightly on the cheek, then smiles as she brushes a strand of hair from Jane's elfin face. These small gestures almost bring tears to she eyes. So open and warm is their affection for other people that she always feels safe in their presence.

"Glad your back Jec. So you have any trouble? Get all those things done you needed to?" says Helen with a smile.

Jane understands the code. Remembers it from so long ago. JEC, her intials, Jane Elizabeth Carson, on every item she carried on that very first holiday at the seaside. A timid 10 year old who had lived with an ageing aunt who neither loved nor cared for her.

Shortly after her seventh birthday her parents and brother had been killed when flood waters swept over their property. The tiny Jane was found days later clinging to a tree branch. Her survival was a true miracle. A tear in her dress had caught on a breaking branch which floated up to catch higher in the tree as the water rose. Weakened by the day and night alone and afraid, she had been stranded in the uppermost branches as the water subsided. She may have died in that tree had it not been for a farmer checking the flood damage with a very old and tired dog who picked that particular tree to lay against. At the same time a bird chose that very tree to perch upon. The tiny frightened whimper was enough. The barking dog saved Jane's life.

"Yes, all done and my apartment is ready for your parents so they can come and go more easily. I think Spot will be happier if I stay at you place." she replied, keeping to the code of JEC and HAW, for Helen Amanda Winter, meaning this is secret to be kept from anyone.

"That is kind of you Jane. Are you sure we won't be putting you out?" Margaret says.

"No not at all. I'm driving all over the city each day anyway so I can just as easily stay over there. Anyway Spot and I will have fun. She's already freting a little so my being there might help her." she says a look to Helen. "Now don't you worry. I'll try to smuggle her in here one night."

"Can you imagine her running amok here?" laughs Helen "Only if she really frets badly which I don't think she will. I've seen her reading the paper with you. She never plays that game with me."

"Game? She rips it as I turn the pages. She just wants editorial control." laughs Jane as they all smile on the verge of laughter.

"We might pop out for some lunch and a walk so you two can catch up." says Margaret as she picks up her bag.

"Here's the key if you feel like going over to my place. Traffic was light when I came back. There's almost a whole chicken and a bowl of vegetables in the fridge and plenty for a salad. I'll be here awhile if you want to freshen up."

"That sounds so wonderful Jane, I would love a shower and change of clothes. Is there anything we need to bring back Helen?" asks Margaret.

"Just yourselves mum." says Helen as her mother leans forward to kiss her.

"Bye love." says Frank as her walks around the bed having kissed his daughters cheek and stroking the side of her face not covered with a dark bruise.

As Helen and Jane wave to the departing figures, Helen moves slightly causing her to wince in pain.

"They gone? Have a look." says Helen. As Jane nods a yes, "Well? Did you get in okay? What happened? Did you leave a message? Did you have any trouble?"

"Well first. Sam sends you the biggest kiss and hug but I'll give you that when I can find a place that isn't sore. I got in fine and sent the email to Sam and then your voice told me there was mail. I almost jumped out of my skin when that happened." she laughs, "Then I answered the email telling Sam what had happened and he sent back a message about ICQ. So I looked it up and clicked on it. You've got a lot of flashing little yellow messages and a few emails that I didn't touch. Then Sam made a chat box thing and we were talking. Oh, Helen I'm really sorry I didn't let you show me again how to do it. It wasn't anything like before, it was so easy to do. Not rushed, proper talking. Whats wrong? Are you okay? Should I get the nurse?"

Helen is shaking her head no, her body trembling slightly, then she lets out a series of giggles, followed by more head shaking no.
"Your hooked! I'll never get time on my puter again." she laughs. "So what do you think of Sam? Can you see why I love him now?"

"Helen he is wonderful. He's very worried about you. We talked and talked. I haven't talked to a man like that for a long time. I usually let other talk but with Sam I was rabbiting about all sorts of things. He showed me LOL and S and all sorts of things. At one stage I think I almost did pee my pants."

"Told you Jane, your addicted now. When are you chatting again?" says Helen with a big smile.

"I have to report to Sam at 6 pm. Why are you laughing now? He asked me to." Jane replies with a hurt look.

"Good, just time to go get a Thai Curry. This hospital food is too bland. Already I'm craving spices. You better get extra. If your chatting all night you'll get the munchies about 2 or 3. Keep a bottle of water on the desk too. All the cigarette you smoke will kill your throat." laughs Helen.

"That's another thing. I was so nervous, I didn't even take my cigarettes out on my bag. Pity I'm not so nervous now, I could have given up."smiles Jane.

"When pigs fly backwards over the moon" they laugh in unison. Having both tried to give up smoking many times and not succeeded, they had agreed some time ago, when in silly mood, to quit on the spot the day they saw pigs flying backwards over the moon.

As the nurse appears at the door Helen turns to Jane to say,
"You better go get those things now so you can show me before you go home."

"Okay, anything else you need me to do?" says Jane gathering her bag.

"Just take the Boulevarde" laughs Helen, meaning don't drive over the interesection where I had my accident.

Waving goodbye and shaking her head as she leaves laughing, Jane is so please her friend has not lost any of her humour or spirit.