The Vicarage Bench Anthology by Mimi Barbour Page A

it gently as she shook it. Since he was leaving, she wanted him to be aware of her sincerity and her gratitude. He was a dapper little man, fussy, talkative, but also extremely caring, and he’d always been kind to her and her grandmother. She waved to him as he turned back, hesitation registering in his face. He moved on.
    “Humph! Old fool!”
    “Stop that. He’s a sweet old man, and he did try to help us.”
    “For all we know, he’s the one who put a hex on us and left us in this condition.”
    “Don’t be daft. Why would he do that?”
    “I don’t know. Why has this happened? Nothing adds up. Look, let me do the talking when the doctor arrives.”
    “Only if you make sense and keep calm. Remember, it’s my mouth the words will be coming out of and me who’ll wear the disgrace if you lose your temper.”
    “I never lose my temper. I’m a rational, controlled man.”
    “We’ll see.” She waited by the open door of the office the vicar had indicated.
    A distinguished older man with short white hair and bushy eyebrows approached. His white coat flapped open with every step as he rushed toward her. “I wondered if it was you, Carrie, when I saw the name on the accident report. How’s your grandfather? Has he been following my instructions and taking his medication?”
    She grinned, raised her eyebrows and twisted her head to one side. She didn’t need to say a word.
    The doctor grimaced, shook his head, and then gestured her into the small office. He waved at her to take the chair while he perched on the edge of his messy, paper-laden desk.
    “I understand you were with Mr. Parks this afternoon when he collapsed?”
    It was time for the switch, and Carrie figuratively stepped back and let Rhett use her voice.
    “Yes, doctor. We didn’t know each other. In fact, I’d never seen this woman before in my life. I…”
    “Excuse me? Did you say ‘woman’?” the doctor interrupted. Carrie’s voice had lowered and become unexpectedly harsh, a change that tweaked the doctor’s interest. His eyes were now riveted to Carrie’s face.
    “Sorry. I’m a bit flustered. I meant to say ‘man.’ I’d never seen the man before. I, uh—he was sitting, minding his own business, happy with his own company, feeling perfectly healthy when she, uh—I came along to cut a silly twig from the rosebush behind the bench. I felt faint and sat down on his bench, and the next thing I remember is, uh—reviving, with everyone gathered around us, uh—me.”
    “Miss Temple. Your voice has changed dramatically, and you seem flustered. Give me your arm, and we’ll take a blood pressure reading. How is your general health? Any problems lately?”
    “She—I’m healthy as a horse, no problems. Doctor, what is happening to Mr. Parks? I want to see him. Now!”
    The doctor’s eyebrows rose. “I’m sorry, Carrie, but it’s out of the question tonight. We’ve slated him to be examined by some specialists. He’s in ICU and will most likely be moved to a ward tomorrow. You can see him then.” His soft tone indicated a soothing response to her curtness.
    “Intensive care? Is his condition serious? What in the world would cause a perfectly healthy man to pass out?” The sentence ended with the last words being shouted.
    The doctor continued to stare at Carrie, concerned by her strange behaviour, while within herself she smirked at just how well her new, very close friend was handling the situation.
    “Miss Temple, if you just met this man today, how would you know about his health?”
    “He—he looked healthy. Good God, man! I have eyes. He looked to be in his prime.”
    The doctor’s eyes narrowed as he stared at her. “Yes, actually, I think you’re right. So far we can’t see any reason for him to have passed into a coma, but I assure you, we will be running a lot more tests, and I’m confident the answers will be found. Meanwhile, I’ve contacted his brother, who is making arrangements to get here as soon as