The Woman Behind the Glass Wall Read online

  “Would you like some coffee?”

  “Yes, please. Would you mind putting extra sweet cream in it today?

  “Not at all. Would you like something to eat now, or would you rather wait?”

  “I’ll wait, thanks.”

  As Anna left the room, Sydney wheeled her chair to the closet and pulled out the clothes she was going to wear that day. “I suppose I should buy clothes other than sweat pants and big shirts. Oh, heck, I’m not going anywhere so what’s the point. These are comfortable to sit in while I work,” she whispered.

  She pulled out her dressing stick and the reaching tool that her old therapist, Sandra gave her and laid the clothes on the bed. Over time she had perfected the technique of using the stick, and maneuvers to dress. “I shouldn’t have to take therapy after dressing every day. It wears me out. I’m sure I’m using every muscle in my body.” Sydney sat for a moment and then easily slid her shirt over her head. Just as she finished, Anna came in with the coffee. “Here, see if this is okay?”

  “It’s perfect.”

  Anna sat down in the teal overstuffed chair on the other side of the room. “Syd?...oh, never mind.” She got up and started for the door.

  “Anna. What is it?”

  “Oh, nothing.” She bent down and kissed Sydney on the forehead, then left the room.

  Sydney watched as Anna slowly walked toward the French doors to watch the rain.

  “Something is wrong, but I’m not going to push.”

  She wheeled over to the bed, retrieved her computer off the bedside table and set it up on her desk. She had every intention of writing that morning, but she couldn’t get Doctor Thornhill out of her mind. “Why would a successful surgeon take on a patient he’s never met? I hope he doesn’t think I’m another charity case that he needs to mentor. Good grief, is that it? Enough of him Sydney, you’ve got work to do.”

  “Sydney, are you talking to yourself again, or to me?” Anna hollered from the other room.

  She turned her head and hollered. “I’m talking to myself so don’t interrupt.” She could hear Anna laughing from the kitchen. Well, maybe that helped her out of her gloomy mood,

  The rain blew sideways as it hammered against the window. It sounded like pebbles beating on a tin roof. It was loud but rhythmic. Sydney watched as the raindrops slid down the massive glass window in her bedroom, the glass wall that separated her from the rest of the world. No one was in the park that morning, not even the few joggers that normally ran regardless of the weather. “Where is everyone today? I’m sure Trent wouldn’t miss a day to strut his perfectly toned dark body around the park.” She didn’t know his real name, but that’s the name she conjured up for him. Then there were other regulars she’d given names like Heather and Luke, the couple she saw walking along the path during lunch time. And then there was sweet old Mrs. Foster, who fed the feral cats that lived in the park.

  She rolled her chair back and into position at her desk. Almost everything she needed was within reach from there. To the right was her plot board for her stories and to the left her drafting table that was set up at a slight slant and used to draw illustrations. Most of the time she’d have several projects going at the same time; pictures for her client's books and her novels, but that day she drew a blank. “I hate when this happens. What else can I do? I’m lucky to have my work of course, or I’d probably end up in some loony bin banging my head against a padded wall.”

  The rain subsided leaving a heavy fog rolling over the small pond in the park. Though the clouds were still heavy, some of the locals started showing up to run. Sydney grabbed her coffee mug and wheeled closer to the window and waited for her friends. A few drenched cats emerge from the bushes as the runners sped by. Not one person stopped, but the cats sat patiently waiting for Mrs. Foster. Then Sydney spotted an old woman, bundled up in a heavy coat with her head nearly covered by a paisley scarf came up along the pathway with a plastic tote bag attached to her walker. Sydney couldn’t tell who it was, but the cats knew. Suddenly, the old woman was surrounded by cats. Sydney smiled. “Good morning, Mrs. Foster.”

  All the cats sat at her feet waiting patiently until the old woman untied the plastic bag dangling from the other side of the walker. She pulled out several small containers and filled each with cat food and placed them on the ground. One by one the cats began eating until they had their fill, then turning away to let the next cat come to eat. When the cats finished, the old woman leaned over and patted each one on the head, turned and left.

  “I wish I knew where my Mrs. Foster lived?”

  “Well, why don’t we find out?” a voice whispered.

  Sydney turned around to see Doctor Thornhill standing in the doorway of her bedroom.

  “How long have you been standing there?

  “Not long. You didn’t answer my question.”

  “What question?”

  “Why don’t we find out?”

  Sydney spun her wheelchair around. “I didn’t think you were coming back so soon.” She tried looking past him. “Is Amy here?”

  “No. She’ll be here tomorrow.”

  “Then why are you here, Doctor Thornhill? I hope you don’t think I’m someone that you need to save. I’m quite happy continuing my life the way I have since I was a child.”

  He smiled at her. “I see that. No, I’m not here for that, but the other day when I was stretching your legs, you grimaced in pain.”

  “Of course I did, it hurt.”

  “That’s what intrigued me. You felt pain.”

  “Wouldn’t you if someone was jerking your body in all directions?”

  “Yes, I would. I apologize. My intention was not to cause you pain, but to see how much you could tolerate.”

  “Not much I’m afraid. I’m sorry I snapped at you Doctor, but I’ve been prodded and poked by so many doctors over my life that…”

  “I know, and I don’t blame you for not wanting someone new coming in and doing it all over again.”

  Sydney nodded her head. “So why are you here today? Certainly, not to try and talk me into going outside again, I hope.”

  Doctor Thornhill chuckled. “Not in this weather.” He walked over to her desk and glanced at her work. “Are these your drawings?”

  She wheeled back to her desk. “They are.”

  “Not bad.”

  “Not bad? What’s wrong with it?”

  “Nothing. I’ve just never seen a fantasy illustrator at work before. I think what you do is interesting.”

  “It keeps me from being bored, and it pays some of the bills.”

  “I’ll bet it does more than that,” he mumbled as he leaned down to get a better look at her drawings.

  “I don’t mean to be rude, Doctor but I do have to finish this work. Is there something you wanted?”

  He put his hands in his pant pockets and strolled across the room. “No, nothing particular. I just want to get to know you better and seeing you at work is a good start.”

  Sydney cocked her head and furrowed her brow. “You drove all the way over here in the rain from your busy day just to watch me work? Somehow, I don’t think so. Can you tell me the real reason you’re here?”

  “Why don’t we go into the other room?” He slowly walked toward the living room.

  She sat there staring at him as he made himself comfortable on the couch. Anna came in from the kitchen. “Doctor Thornhill, would you like some coffee?”

  “Thank you, Anna. I would. Black please.”

  Anna turned to see Sydney still sitting in her room and motioned her head for Sydney to come into the living room. “Sydney, would you like more coffee?”

  Sydney gritted her teeth. “Sure, thanks.”

  “Anna, do you need any help in the kitchen? Sydney hollered as she started to wheel her chair toward Anna.

  “No, thank you. I’ve got it.”

  Sydney started to the living room. “Doctor Thornhill, I don’t have much time to sit and visit so if you have a
specific reason for being here or something you want to talk to me about, can we just get right to it?”

  Anna walked in with two mugs of coffee. “Here we are.” She handed Doctor Thornhill a cup and turned to Sydney with a scowl on her face. “Syd.”

  Sydney took the mug trying to ignore Anna’s reprimanding look. She set the mug in her cup holder and slowly wheeled into the living room. She took in a deep breath and exhaled. “Okay, Doctor Thornhill, what’s the reason you stopped by?”

  He smiled, took a sip of his coffee then set his cup on the antique, black and gold oriental coffee table. “Ms. Parker, I think I can help you.”

  Oh, great. Here we go. Another doctor that’s going to save me. “How’s that?” Sydney leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest.

  “You mentioned that you had feeling in your legs. right?”

  “Yeah.” She started to roll her eyes when Anna punched her in the arm. “Listen to him, Syd.”

  “I am, but Doctor Thornhill, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’ve been down this path before. Every doctor that’s worked with me over the years seems to think their treatment will have me running marathons again. And to be frank, I’ve heard it all. I’m happy with my life, and I’m not looking for that miracle treatment, so please don’t waste your time or mine.” She backed up her chair and headed back to her room.

  Anna sat down on the couch across from Doctor Thornhill. “I’m sorry, Doctor, but Sydney has had her hopes up so many times over the years only to have them crushed. She doesn’t want to go through it anymore. I hope you understand.”

  “I do, Anna, but I still want to give it a try. I’d like Ms. Parker to have an MRI. If what I’m looking for isn’t there, then I’ll leave it alone.”

  Anna shook her head. “I’m not sure she’ll go for it. You can try, but if she throws you out, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “I won’t. Have a nice day.” Doctor Thornhill walked toward the front door.

  “Are you leaving?”

  “I’ll come back another time when the sun is shining.”

  “Huh? What does that have to do with it?”

  He shrugged his shoulders and grinned. “Everything.” He opened the door and left.

  Sydney heard the front door close. She spun her wheelchair around and hurried back into the living room. “Did he just leave?”

  Anna picked up the half empty coffee cup and started for the kitchen. “He sure did.”

  “Well, what did he say?”

  Anna turned on the hot water in the sink and rinsed out the cup, set it in the dishwasher, turned and leaned against the sink. “He said he’d see you again when the sun comes out.”

  “He said what?”

  “You heard me.”

  “He's supposed to be some genius neurosurgeon, and that’s all he had to say? He didn’t try and talk you into coming and getting me to return to the room?”

  Anna shook her head. “Not even a hint of it.”

  Sydney threw her hands up in the air and shook her head. “I don’t understand that man. You’d think he’d make an effort to convince me his treatment was going to work whatever it is.”

  “Sorry. He didn’t even seem concerned that you stormed out of the room.”

  “I didn’t storm out.”

  “Then what are those marks on the floor?”

  Sydney looked at the rubber marks on the floor where she made a quick hard turn. “My wheels must be wet.”

  “Okay, if you say so.” Anna turned back around and finished rinsing the dishes and loading them into the dishwasher.

  Sydney wheeled up to the fridge and pulled out some orange juice and poured a glass. She kept looking up at Anna.

  Anna cocked her head. “What?”

  “When did he say he was coming back?”

  “He didn’t say. Only that he’d see you on a sunny day.”

  “Well, that doesn’t make any sense. I’ll be in my room.” She returned to her room and headed for the window hoping to catch a glimpse of the doctor leaving. By the time she got to the window all she could see was a car pulling out of the alley alongside her place. “That can’t be his car. Someone of his caliber must be driving a more expense car, maybe a Porsche, or at least a newer car than that one.”

  CHAPTER 2

  “Doctor Thornhill, your first patient is prepped and ready,” the nurse said as Jacob finished scrubbing for surgery.

  Doctor Brian Payne stepped up beside him and began to scrub up to assist. “Jacob, how did it go with your new patient? I heard she’s a recluse and never leaves her place. One of Doctor Casey’s nurses told my nurse that she'd been cooped up in that home for over twenty years.”

  “You can’t believe everything you hear. I wouldn’t listen to the gossip if I were you. Are you ready for surgery, Doctor?”

  “Uh, yes.” Doctor Payne lifted his hands and followed Jacob into operating room.

  After the surgery, Brian approached Jacob. “Hey, Jacob, about what I said. I was out of line. I’m sorry.”

  “My patient has overcome some tremendous obstacles but is a successful woman. She just so happens to prefer to do it from the comfort of her home. I wouldn’t listen to the water-cooler talk, and that’s all it is.”

  “I get it. Hey, some of the guys are getting together for the Superbowl game at Suspenders. Why don’t you join us? It would do you some good to get out more. When’s the last time you had a date?”

  “Brian, I appreciate the offer but I’m in the middle of some research I want to finish. Catch me another time?”

  “Sure thing, but if you change your mind, Jenna is bringing her cousin. I hear that she’s a knock-out gorgeous woman.”

  Jacob smiled, changed out of his scrubs and headed back to his office. He opened the file on Sydney Parker that Doctor Casey left for him and studied the reports of her injury. There were copies of earlier x-rays done many years ago but nothing current. Doctor Casey accepted the fact of Ms. Parker’s paralysis and prescribed her treatment accordingly. “There’s not even an MRI of her spine but getting her to agree to that is going to take a miracle.” I’m not going to give up on her.”

  “Doctor Thornhill?”

  “Yes?”

  “It’s Friday night, and I need to get my babysitter home. Do you need anything else before I leave?”

  Jacob looked up at his clock. “I didn’t realize it was so late, Maria. Sure, you go ahead. I’m just wrapping up here myself. Have a nice weekend.”

  “Thank you, Doctor. Hope you do, too.”

  Jacob nodded as Maria closed the door behind her. He leaned back in his dark leather chair, crossed his hands behind his head and tightened his lips. “There has to be a way to reach this woman.”

  He stuffed all the files in his briefcase, grabbed his coat and left.

  Jacob opened the front door to his home, tossed his briefcase on the dining room table and popped open a beer. He rubbed his hand through his hair and took a large gulp of his drink.

  “I didn’t hear you come in, Son. How was your day?”

  “Fine, Dad.”

  “You don’t look fine.”

  “Oh, it’s this patient I have. I can’t reach her.”

  “Anything you want to talk about?”

  “Nah. I just want to put her case out of my mind for the weekend. I’m sure I’ll think of something. How was your day?”

  His dad sat down in the red leather recliner. “Getting harder for me every day. I’m thinking of retiring soon.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “I’m weighing my options. Surgery is taking a lot out of me. I don’t think I’m doing the best I can for my patients anymore. I’m considering finishing up the scheduled surgeries then turning over my practice to Tyler. He’s a good surgeon, and I could still consult when he needs me. What do you think about that?”

  “Dad, this isn’t because Mom died, is it?”

  His dad leaned back in the chair. “I don’t think so, but noth
ing seems to be the same since she passed. Your mother and I had made plans for our retirement, but I felt like I couldn’t stop working. Now, look. I’m living with you in your home. I don’t want you to put your life on hold to take care of me.”

  “I’m not taking care of you. You still have a lot of life left in you, but if you decide to cut back, or retire, I’m behind you. However, that doesn’t mean I want you to move out. I enjoy having you here. You’re all the family I have.”

  “Sorry about that. Your mother and I wanted more children, but with her working and my practice…”

  “I understand, more than you know. My co-workers are always trying to match me up with one of their friends, but I’m too involved with my research and practice.”

  “Son, don’t waste your entire life in work.”

  “I’m happy with my life just the way it is, at least for now.”

  “Okay, I’m not going to nag. Speaking of going out, I’m going out with the Danners tomorrow night for dinner and drinks. Would you like to join us?”

  Jacob shook his head. “No thank you. Tell them hello for me.”

  His dad headed for the bar in the den to pour his evening glass of scotch then returned to his suite upstairs.

  Jacob inherited the old family home built in the late 1930s. It belonged to his grandparents. It was a five-bedroom brick house designed similar to ones that architect John F. Staub designed. The interior had four fireplaces with original hand-painted walls surrounding the living room. It had two master suites. One with a huge balcony off the upstairs suite and a first-floor suite with a patio, each facing the small lake at the back of the property. Jacob made a few upgrades when he moved in. However, the majority of the home remained the same as it was in the 30s. The paneling in the den which he used as his office was dark Mahogany and the furniture was all in deep burgundy leathers. When his father moved in, Jacob let his father have the master suite upstairs, and he took the master downstairs. It was more convenient due to the odd hours he kept, and it gave each of them a sense of privacy.