Samantha was stunned. Normally, that news
would make her the most wonderfully happy woman in the world. But she had a job
to do. She had to find this man, verify once and for all that this was or was
not Jeff. She had no time, right now, to be pregnant.
When
she found this man, it was sudden.
And shocking. Samantha was coming back into the hospital late one afternoon
from talking with the constable. She was completely worn out. She was heading
for her room, planning to catch an hour’s
sleep, before she started walking the halls that night. Once again.
She turned the corner close to her room,
and there stood Jeff.
Though this man looked half starved, wore
ragged clothing, a beard, appeared to be very dirty and exhausted, there was no
doubt. This was her husband, the love of her life.
Their eyes met. He did not run, as
Samantha had always expected he would, if and when that moment ever came. He
appeared to be even more shocked than Samantha. He could not take his eyes off
her red hair. Or maybe it was her dimples. Or, most likely, both. Slowly, Confusion
seemed to replace the shock in his eyes. Samantha knew she could never catch
him, if he ran. She did not know what to say. All she could think of, for the
moment, was smile, and talk gently to him. She did not try to approach him. She
just talked quietly and softly.
“Jeff, I’ve missed you so much. I love you
so. It’s time for us to go home. I know you don’t know who I am, right now,
because you’ve had an injury. But I want to take you to our home, so you can
rest.”
Samantha thought she detected one, very
brief, flash of recognition in his eyes, as he stared at her red hair. He
slowly took a few hesitating, short steps toward her. He was almost close
enough to touch her now. He slowly, very hesitatingly, reached out and touched
a strand of her beautiful hair. Then he took two short steps back. A word
seemed to form on his lips, but no sound came.
“Yes, my darling, it’s me. I know you don’t
know just who I am right now, because you’ve been hurt. But that’s ok, because
you will soon get better. I’m your wife.” Maybe she was moving too fast. The
confusion seemed to intensify in his eyes. “Come with me into our home. It’s
right over here. There, you can rest. I can see you’re very tired.” Samantha
took three very slow steps toward Jeff, held out her hand, and he hesitatingly
placed his hand in hers. Slowly, she led him to her room. She led him to the
patient’s bed, gently sat him down, pulled his worn shoes off, and lifted his
feet onto the bed. She sat beside him, stroking his hair. He didn’t try to
resist: he just looked at her face with wonder in his eyes. As she stroked him,
she sang gently.
“ Everything is going to be all right, my
darling. I’m here, and I will always take care of you. Go to sleep, now, sweet
Jeff. And rest.”
Slowly, his eyes closed. A peacefulness
seemed to wash over him; a peace he had not experienced in many, many days.
Samantha pulled a quilt over him. He
seemed to gradually relax. Soon, he was in a peaceful sleep.
As Samantha sat beside him, stroking his
hair softly, words came gently to her
lips. Words long forgotten. Words from far back into her dark past, words that could
only have come from the beautiful lips of her sweet, loving, mother…
Hush little baby don’t say a word,
Mama’s gonna get you a mocking bird,
And if that mocking bird don’t sing,
Mama’s gonna buy you a golden
ring…………
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