A Healer's Touch Read online

  “What happened?” Groggily she muttered the words.

  “You lost consciousness. There was an accident and a little girl was hurt, do you remember?”

  Gasping she became more alert. “My son, where is my son?”

  Fabian responded as reassuringly as he could. “He is in your car, he is alright. May I drive you to the hospital?”

  She gazed up into his eyes. Fabian felt fascinated by the depth and dimension of the unique light color of her eyes. He didn’t even realize he was still holding her until she whispered, “Could you please put me down?”

  Clearing his throat Fabian set her on her feet. She wobbled and he quickly steadied her. Taking a few steps, she began to walk away. He grabbed her arm and she looked up at him fearfully.

  Backing off, not wanting to scare her, he spoke with authority, “Please, Ms. Penn, let me take you to the hospital. I don’t think you should be driving in your condition.”

  “I am going to be fine. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Sterling. Oh, wait could you please come over here a minute?”

  He followed her unsure of what she wanted. In a few steps, they were at her car, if you could call the hunk of junk a car. She rummaged around for a moment and then stood up. Happily, Phoebe handed him an envelope. With a quick small smile, she answered his confusion.

  “Here is the rent, six days early, and thank you for allowing the extension and for not making me pay for the plumber. Also, thank you for helping me today. Anyone else would have just left me.” She got into her car as if nothing had happened and turned on the ignition. He just stared dumbly as he watched her leave.

  What was Phoebe Penn?

  Chapter Three

  Phoebe took her groceries home, she was still a little wobbly. No matter how wiped out she felt she wanted to go to the nursing home. She just couldn’t let those sweet people go another week without a visit. Re-bundling up her son, they left again.

  Guilt twisted at her heart when Simon whined about the cold, she wished she could afford to fix the heater. She buckled him in and quickly tucked more blankets around him. During the short drive, he was quiet and sulking and it made her smile, three going on thirteen for sure, she decided.

  The drive was short and she hurried to get inside out of the cold. As she walked inside carrying her son, a chorus of joyful exclamations greeted her. Betty, her favorite resident, came up to them and Simon hugged her happily around the waist. Phoebe warned him to be careful and Betty made a disapproving noise at her and looked at the boy when she spoke.

  “You can hug this old lady anytime you like. Y’all been gone too long, I thought you’d forgotten about us old folks.”

  “We would never forget about you. This little guy had a terrible cold and I didn’t want to bring it to you. I’ve missed you. How are you feeling today?”

  Phoebe hugged the spunky eighty-year-old and she let all the love inside of her heart soothe the aches of the old woman’s joints. Betty sighed and Phoebe knew her healing touch helped. Betty had tears in her eyes when Phoebe pulled back.

  “What is it, sweetie, are you still hurting?” Phoebe couldn’t hide her concern.

  “I missed you so much, both of you. You don’t know what you mean to us around here. I don’t care what folks say about you honey, you’re an angel.”

  Phoebe hugged the woman again and they walked down the hall together. People began coming over to touch her and she pushed the warmth of her affection towards them. As they moved through the eager people, Phoebe felt herself weakening, but she refused to deny any of them the slight comfort her magic could offer. Simon squeezed his mother’s hand and she looked down at him. She felt his little heart sending her waves of love and healing and she gave him a small smile, he was so very much her child. He had the gift too, and as much as she wanted a normal life for him, she knew he’d never have it.

  Slowly, she journeyed down the halls, touching the hands reaching out to her, even a brief contact could ease them for hours and they knew it. One of the aids came over to her and handed her a glass of water, the woman had seen her working her magic many times and knew it taxed her physically. The robust aid patted Phoebe on the arm as she gratefully downed the drink.

  “Did you know in the years since you have been coming the life expectancy of our residence has increased. We have more residence seeing ninetieth birthdays than any comparable facility in the nation. I know it’s what you do. There is something special about you. After you visit, people sleep more peacefully and ask for less pain medication. I don’t know if it’s true about you being a witch, but I know you’re a beautiful person. Please rest; I don’t know what we would do without you. You look sick, sweetie.” The aid took the glass from her hands. She looked so worried and her words had been genuine.

  She just shook her head no. She didn’t want to rest until she’d touched every patient. Her son never let go of her hand and she knew he was somehow giving her strength, as if he too sensed the necessity of this visit.

  ****

  “Grandfather, please take your medication the doctor has said it’s the only thing that’ll help your pain.” Fabian pleaded.

  “No, I’ll not take that pill boy; I can’t think clearly when I take that retched poison.” Stubborn as a mule the elder Sterling wouldn’t give into his grandson’s demands.

  A commotion in the hallway captured Fabian’s attention and he peeked his head out the door of his grandfather’s private room, completely shocked by what he saw.

  “What in the hell…” He never finished the thought as he saw the elderly patients reaching for Phoebe Penn as if she was some sort of patron saint of the old and infirm. Even from a distance, he noticed how tight and drawn the skin around her mouth and eyes looked. She’d been through a trauma, why was she walking through the old folk’s home patting the residence. He saw her duck into the room of a woman he knew was isolated due to contagion and then she came right back out. None of the staff chastised her for not washing her hands and he noticed how they looked at her. Reverence. He noticed his grandfather getting agitated and he turned to try to calm him.

  “Out of my way boy, I want to touch the healing witch. They told me about her my first day here. I hear she takes away the pain. Wheel me out to her now.”

  Fabian knew his grandfather was suffering, the cancer was past the point of treatment and at his very advanced age, there was nothing to do but make him comfortable until the end. He loved the fierce old man dearly.

  Glancing at the beautiful and ethereal Ms. Penn again, watching the people, he knew she had some real effect over them. Mass hysteria or the power of suggestion or whatever it was seemed to be causing a riot. He watched her stumble; she looked terrible, even worse than she had after the accident. He had to do something to make her see reason and go home. It wasn’t good for her solemn little boy to see such a hoax perpetrated by his mother. Fabian was just about to go to the woman and physically remove her. His grandfather pushed past him with more force than he would’ve suspected the man had left.

  “Get out of my way boy.”

  She was passing, just then, and his grandfather knocked an elderly woman out of the way so he could grab her arm. Fabian watched as his grandfather clutched her arm desperately. She had been looking away, but the moment his grandfather touched her with such desperate force it made her cry out, falling to her knees. Her little boy dropped her hand as if it was fire and began to cry. Elderly people began to pull at his grandfather’s arm and the rabble demanded he release the girl. One of the nurse’s aides arrived and pulled the man away. Fabian saw the difference in his grandfather immediately; he looked far healthier than a man in his condition should look. It was as if the old man had somehow drained the vitality out of the young woman.

  Without thinking about what he was doing, he picked her up into his arms. When he looked into her almond shaped light blue eyes his breath caught. Had he ever seen such perfect features on a woman before? Full small lips and an adorable upturned freckled
nose were set on a face with high cheekbones and a strong stubborn chin. She was as light as air in his arms and he felt an instant need to protect her. He thought about kissing those soft red lips and then his mind came to a screeching halt. What was he doing thinking about kissing this woman? He gazed into her angelic face feeling a longing he’d never experienced before. He was drawn to her, just as the people who wanted her strength and help seemed to be. He wanted something much different and he felt himself growing hard just looking at the woman in his arms. Quickly and with embarrassment, he set her on her feet and managed to regain his control.

  Fabian began to help her leave, but she stopped and reached for the few people who she’d not yet touched. He saw the gratefulness in their eyes and saw the added impact to the woman. This was no act. When he looked at his grandfather, he noticed the man had far more color in his face than he’d seen earlier. Getting up out of his chair and standing, the old man looked almost healthy. Fabian was shocked. Had his grandfather been faking the severity of his illness or had the woman really restored him so greatly? Wobbling she led her child through the crowd parted respectfully as she passed. He heard murmurs of thanks and murmurs of encouragement as she passed. Even so very weakened, he saw her smile kindly and uttering her small thanks for the words. He felt torn between wanting to believe she was a fraud and believing what he was seeing.

  He followed her out and took her by the arm. When she looked up, he spoke with all the authority he could muster.

  “I’m taking you home, Ms. Penn, or if you will allow to the hospital. You are not fit to drive.”

  To his surprise, she nodded her agreement. He’d seen her fire and spunk earlier. Her quick acceptance did not bode well at all. Worried now, he directed her to his shiny new car and opened the door so she and the boy could get in. He suspected she was in a far worse condition than she was showing him. When her knees buckled, it confirmed his suspicion. Catching her, he swept her up into his arms. He was going to put her in his car and drive her to the hospital. She came to and when she saw he was heading to his own car she struggled a bit, he stopped and looked down at her.

  “No please, Fabian, my car please.”

  “I am taking to the hospital, Ms. Penn, you are not well.”

  “No hospital, no insurance, they can’t fix this…I need to sleep…just sleep.”

  Her head lulled back and he knew she was unconscious. He felt torn, take her home or take her to the hospital. He could certainly pay for the bill if that was her worry, but she was obviously different, what if the hospital hindered her recovery? He looked down at the boy and his big blue eyes looked scared, Fabian sighed and gave into her request. He had no idea what the hospital would do with the boy and he hated the idea of her waking up fearful for her child. Sighing, he put her in her junker and he buckled the little boy up. Her keys were dangling from the ignition, this was definitely not a car likely stolen, even in desperation, and as it was a small town, he was not surprised to see she’d just left them there. It was a very cold day, and when he realized the car had no heater, he became angry. She had such power she should have more to show for it. She could make money with whatever it was, she’d used in the nursing home.

  Driving the short distance to her apartment, he unbuckled the child and left the woman in the passenger seat. Seeing the door key on her keychain, he hurried to the door and tested it. Fabian was glad to see she at least had the good sense to lock her apartment. Unlocking the door, he urged the little boy to go inside and he hurried back to the car and got the woman out. When he picked her up and carried her inside, she moaned and gave no indication she was going to be waking up anytime soon. What was he going to do about the child? Leaving such a young child with an unconscious woman was not a good idea, did she have family in the area that could come and help her, he wondered. When he got into the apartment, he took her immediately to her bedroom, all the units were of the same floor plan and it was obvious which room was hers. He lay her down on the bed, removed her tiny shoes and left the room. Looking up at him, the little boy’s sad wide eyes tore at his heart.

  Gruffly he spoke to the child, “It will be alright, buddy. Do you have a grandma or an aunt I can call to look out for your mommy?”

  “No, I never had a grandma or an aunt. I have a friend named Ivory who takes care of me.”

  “Alright little guy, I guess I’ll just stick around until your mom wakes up.” He had no idea what to do; he had no experience with children or unconscious women.

  Walking around the small apartment, he was amazed at how tidy it was. He smelled natural herbs and flowers and it just felt so fresh, as if a spring breeze had just passed by, and as it was December that was quite an accomplishment. He turned on the small television and sighed, no cable, he should have guessed. Noticing a stack of books, he was delighted to see many of his favorite classics, she had a vast range of taste in literature and he was quickly seeing she was full of surprises. Fabian almost missed seeing the child looking up at him with quiet expectation, but the little boy tugged on his hand, desperately. Looking down at the boy, he had no idea what the child wanted.

  “I’m hungry,” wailed the boy. It was the most words he had heard him speak.

  Looking at the clock, he realized just how late it had gotten. She was bound to have something he could cook for them.

  When he opened the pantry, his heart sank. She was not living well at all. A mouse would starve on the pathetic amount of food. When he opened the refrigerator, it was empty except for a half of gallon of milk and the freezer was empty. How could she raise a child like this? She should be selling her talent to provide for her child. He found a can of shaped spaghetti and opened it and as she had no microwave, he grumbled to himself, forced to heat it on the stove barbarically. Fabian shook his head; she had a very simple life style.

  Somehow, the pixie was getting to him. He had never really associated with someone of her class and he was realizing he’d never considered how someone like her lived. While he cooked, the little boy watched him with fascination. Fabian realized the boy must have a father; perhaps he could come and watch over them, the man must surely care for them.

  “Simon where is your dad? Does he come around? Do you know where your mommy keeps his phone number?”

  “My daddy doesn’t come here. I don’t know where he is.”

  Fabian felt torn between despair he wasn’t getting off the hook and a strange happy flip of his heart. The idea of a man in her life bothered him for some unexplainable reason.

  He dished the boy up the meal and Simon greedily began to gobble up the canned pasta. While he ate, Fabian began to look around for an address book, or phone list, or anything providing a contact that would come and care for her. After an exhausting search, he had found nothing. She did have a photo album and he saw pictures of a little girl he assumed was Phoebe with a happy couple and then nothing until she appeared pictured with Simon. It was obvious something tragic had taken place in her life.

  A loud frantic knocking on her door startled him. He went to the door and when he opened it, a tall dark haired woman looked at him with wide-eyed surprise. Simon rushed past and out into the cold shouting, “Ivory.”

  The woman ran in pushing past Fabian as she ran into the bedroom. Her gasp of alarm made him wonder if he had made the wrong choice, should he have taken Phoebe to the hospital.

  He popped his head into the room. Phoebe’s eyes remained closed. The strange woman looked at him with curiosity and annoyance. “When Lavern called and told me what happened today I didn’t believe it, she knows better than to do this. This is how she lost her father; he died trying to heal her mother—in vain, they died together when he couldn’t hold the magic. I can’t believe she would risk herself when she has Simon to think about, too.” She moved closer to the bed, shaking Phoebe. “Wake up now, honey, Ivory is here.”

  Moaning, Phoebe stirred and opened her eyes. Gasping when she saw Fabian, she sat up too quickly and he watched her gra
b her head in pain. She mumbled for her son.

  “Where is Simon? What happened?”

  Fabian spoke up. “He’s fine. I brought you home and don’t worry I used your car. I will call my assistant, he can come and get me and take me to my car. I’ll be going, as it seems you’re safe.

  Weakly, he heard her call after him, “Thank you, Mr. Sterling, I’m grateful.”

  He just grunted roughly in response.

  ****

  Phoebe was delighted to see her son bounce happily up on her bed, obviously fine. Fabian had done a good thing for her and she vowed to repay his kindness. Ivory got up and returned with a glass of water. Water seemed to energize her after she had used her healing magic. Ivory sat down on the bed and handed the glass to her friend and when she spoke, it was with humor and surprise.

  “I know you don’t leave dirty dishes around. Did you happen to make Simon a can of spagettios today?”

  “No, why do you ask?”

  “I see a pan is half full of spagettios and a bowl your son obviously emptied; your “awful” landlord made the kid a meal.”

  “Oh, I am so embarrassed; I can’t believe I let this happen.”

  Clucking her tongue, Ivory just patted her arm reassuringly.

  Phoebe lay in her bed pondering why Fabian cared what happened to them.

  Chapter Four

  Phoebe rested all of Sunday morning and when it was finally time for her to go to work, she got out of bed sore and exhausted. Ivory voiced her concern. “You should just call into work Hun.”

  Phoebe needed the tips. “I have to work. I don’t have a choice.”

  Simon hugged his mother tightly. As Ivory closed on Sundays, she had stayed the night with them to make sure her friend was going to recover; she told Phoebe she was just going to watch Simon at the apartment so she could be sure Phoebe arrived home in one piece. Rolling her eyes, she loved how much her friend cared but knew how the woman could be as bad as a mother hen.