The Vicarage Bench Anthology by Mimi Barbour Page B

possible. Don’t look so worried, Carrie. We’ll take good care of Mr. Parks.”
    “But, a coma! What causes them?”
    “There are many reasons, a few being heart problems, stroke, and diabetes—in fact, we have many avenues to search.”
    “It sounds serious.”
    “Yes, Carrie. It certainly is. In the meantime, I want to check you out. I’m concerned with your handling of the situation. You seem quite stressed.”
    “Dr. Gray, I feel fine. There’s no need to examine me.”
    “On the contrary, my dear, I believe there is every need, and I insist.”

Chapter Two
    “I wanted to stay at the hospital. Why in blazes are we leaving? Go back there at once.” Carrie was waiting at the hospital entrance for a taxi, a luxury in which she seldom indulged.
    She experienced his frustration and antagonism throughout her system, with the most brutal of the emotional tempest swirling in her stomach, where acid churned painfully. If she didn’t get relief soon, she would scream.
    “Look I’ve had about enough of you. You have invaded my space. I’ve tried to be accommodating, but I’m more tired than I can ever remember. I’m scared, but I’m hanging on with the last itty-bitty piece of sanity I have left. Because of you, I’ve undergone a physical, which I hated. Dr. Gray’s now positive I’m addled and my mental state needs further investigation. Worst of all, my stomach has flames shooting everywhere, like a lightning storm is rampaging through my tummy, and if I don’t get antacid relief soon I’ll be fainting. We can come back to the hospital tomorrow if you like, but tonight—I’ve had all I can take.”
    Rhett explored his clairvoyant abilities. If he melded his senses with hers, he had the ability to pick up on her physical traumas and could feel her pain. Her complaints were justified. The woman was in extreme discomfort.
    “You silly girl. Why in the world didn’t you say something before this?”
    “I tried to. When I wanted to go and eat, you threw a fit. I told you I was hungry.”
    “You whined, you didn’t tell.”
    “You didn’t listen. All you cared about was tormenting the poor doctor with questions he couldn’t answer, and then you started yelling at him—using my voice, I might add—and you scared him silly. I was never so embarrassed. Under no circumstances would I act in such a manner. And then, not satisfied in upsetting Dr. Gray, you had to tear strips off the other doctors he introduced us to. Everyone looked at me like I was daft.”
    “A bunch of incompetent professional morons, if you ask me. They had no answers. Did you notice that? Not one could give me a credible reason for my passing out. Not one!”
    “I don’t want to hear about it anymore. I’m finished. I’ve had it up to here with this whole business.” Her right hand slapped her forehead, her right foot stamped the ground, and a scowl settled over her face. Just then Carrie spotted a woman staring at her, an expression of bewilderment clear on her features. The stranger backed away and quickly retreated to the hospital.
    “Oh, God! All I want to do is go home and go to bed. I only pray that when I wake up from this nightmare, you’ll be in your own body and I’ll have my peaceful life back.”
    “So peaceful you instantly jumped to the conclusion you were having a much deserved breakdown? I remember how you reacted when you first realized I was inside your head.”
    Vexation stirred her nervous system. Heat flared and her insides clenched and tightened. She was jumpy, on the brink of a major fit, and she knew he felt it when he said, “Oh, hell, do what you will. I haven’t much say in the matter, now do I?”
    He pouted! She sensed it. He had the unmitigated gall to pout. She ignored him. The taxi ride turned into a tranquil oasis for Carrie. Curled into the black cab’s back seat, she closed her eyes, blanked her mind and almost fell asleep. Far too soon they arrived at her address, where she paid the