Diamond in the Rough: Chapter 45

The snow continued to fall, now at a heavier rate.  The flakes had become smaller and falling faster; the visibility was not much past the garden as Sister Rebecca Katherine looked out.  Bea was intent on finishing her drawing of her Angel, the way she remembered him when she saw him last.  The two of them were engaged in the completion of the task as well as the storming outside.  In all it's power, the storm was also beautiful, and Bea suddenly stopped drawing, and looked out toward the garden.  Her eyes became dreamy and she watched the snow fall, as if she had never seen it before.


The nun looked at her, and smiling, pushed the paper with her writing on it toward her.  Bea took it and wrote, It's been years since I saw snow.  There were no windows in my room at The Jail.  Snow is beautiful and white.  It's clean fresh and no one can hurt it.


"That's right," the clergywoman said.  She patted Bea's hand, and Bea went back to her art.  It was then that the power at St. Anne's went out, which sent Sister Rebecca Katherine into a series of things that she would not soon forget.


As soon as the power died, the lights in the solarium went out.  Bea, looking up, seeming slightly frightened, but the light from outside was still enough to keep it from being entirely dark, though the constant, heavy fall of the snow was making the dimness more evident.  Looking up, they saw a thick blanket that had formed on the glass part of the roof, and Bea seemed to be entranced by it.


The rest of St. Anne's became a bustle of activity.  Since Bea had just recently run, Father MacNamara, passing by the door, shouted, "Sister, you're on Ms. Bea, keep her calm and here," and continued on his way.  Several patients were upset; the nun could hear some of them crying or carrying on loudly, the lights were out throughout the home, and staff was scrambling to organize the staff.  She could hear the priest shouting, "Good Lord, where's the generator, people?"


Tina, who had been at the bingo game was shuffled back to her room, like the others, and in the confusion, Sister Elizabeth Mary had lost track of her when two residents bumped into each other and began to tussle and argue.  Tina, in her most sincere tone, said, "Sister, I'll be fine, you go ahead," and headed to her room. 


As soon as she rounded the corner to her room, she hastened her pace, and going inside, she packed everything she had into her bag, threw on her coat, and red hat and scarf, and raced to the doorway.  Hearing two nuns coming toward her, Tina ducked into an alcove, after closing her door and locking it behind her and hugged the wall silently.  In their concern for the patients, their amazement at the lack of lighting (the generator had still not kicked on), and their haste to get where they had to be, they did not even notice her bag jutting out into the hall.  Tina, peeking around the corner carefully, continued en route to the lobby of St. Anne's, hoping that when she got there, everything would be free and clear and she could finally make her escape.


Not truly ready to find Dorian's, she had altered her plan.  She would go as far down the road as her feet could carry her and use the pocket cell phone to call a taxi.  Then, she would take a cab as near to La Boulaie as she could get without being too close, until she sized up the situation.  Hearing more voices coming toward her, she searched the area for a place in which to duck, and located a small broom closet, and put herself inside it.  Due to her bag, heavy coat and the contents of the closet, she could not close the door all the way.  Damn it, if I lose this chance . . . she held her breath waiting for them to pass.  It was a custodian and a nun, discussing the generator in high voices.  As they passed, she let her breath out, and went along the hallway toward the lobby.


Pulling into the drive at St. Anne's, Williams had begun to go slower and slower, and now was creeping along to find a space to park the limo.  The drive was clear until they been about 15 minutes out from St. Anne's and the snow started falling again.  Timothy, Todd and Blair were peering out windows, and Blair, said, "A winter wonderland."


"Hope we can get back home," Todd said.  "I'm not spending the night in St. Anne's, I'll tell you that."


"Well, Todd, I seem to remember a time when we were here quite often," she said.


"Yeah, but we don't have our habits."


She smiled, and Timothy said, "We can always call for the copter, if the snow stops."


"That's true," Todd said, looking at Timothy, "but to hear you suggest it, Old Man, just gives me renewed faith in technology and your generation."


The car finally came to a stop, and Todd said, "Williams, you okay?"


"Yes, sir."


"All right."  He leaned across Blair and opened the door.  As they disembarked, they all took in the pure white surroundings.  


Timothy took in a long breath of air.  "It's beautiful when it snows.  I've always loved it.  Creena was the summer girl.  I always preferred the cold."


"Well, let's get a move on to help her," Todd said.


"Before we do that, my boy, I must hit the loo," Timothy said.  "Too much of that good coffee."


Blair, who was looking at the building inquisitively, said, "Todd, I think something's wrong.  It looks dark in there."


He examined the building as well.  The windows were dark; there were no warm glows from any of them.  He said, "Did they lose power?  Talk about timing!"


"We'll soon find out, Lad," Timothy said, pushing ahead of them and they followed, Todd's arm around Blair's back.


Tina, creeping into the lobby was just about to make a run for the front door, when she saw it open and not taking note of who they were, knew there were visitors at St. Anne's.  "Everybody and their brother are here today!" she said aloud softly, and hid behind the family room archway wall.


Watching the three guests come in, she covered her own mouth to stifle her reaction.  Wait.  That IS my brother and his gold-digging wife!  Who's the guy with them?  Shit, now what am I going to do?  Tina, stay calm, just wait it out.  Wait it out.


There was one staff member in the lobby, and she greeted the trio, and after a short interaction, Todd, Blair and Timothy signed in as guests, and she said, "Follow me.  There are no lights, and some of these hallways are not safe in the darkness.  I'll lead the way," and proceeded out of the area.  Timothy followed, with Todd and Blair behind.  


Tina, peeking out from her hiding place, decided to make a run for it.  Tiptoeing as quietly as possible, she made her way for the entrance, and just about reaching her hand out to open the door, she heard Father MacNamara behind her, and had no choice but to run behind the reception desk and hide.  


"This is ridiculous, Clarence.  You must find a way to get that generator to kick on.  This is not safe for the residents."


"I'm trying, Father.  It's just not clicking on.  Pat's working on it now."


"I certainly hope so."  Father said.  Tina's heart beat faster in her chest as the reception nun came back into the room.  The priest said, "Sister, I am sorry, I'll need your hands somewhere else, we have to assess the location of all of our patients, and I am going to need you to do that.  With this storm, we won't be receiving any more guests."


Tina held her breath from behind the desk.  The woman said, "Yes, Father, wherever I can be of the most help."


The woman exited, and Tina breathed a silent sigh of relief, until Father MacNamara moved toward the desk and she held her breath again.  Turning, he leaned up against it, backward, and continued his talk with Clarence.  "How long are we looking at?"


Clarence said, "Not sure, Father."


"Hmm.  Let's go take a look, maybe we can put our heads together and solve it."  


The two of them ambled off, and she let air rush out of her lungs.  Whoa.  That was close.  I just had better get out that door before someone else comes!


Tina stood, looked both ways, and seeing that the area was clear, she raced to the door, opened it, and closed it behind her, silently, and no one at St. Anne's was any the wiser.


*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Your comments are 'payment' for the work of the authors. Our writers like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment when you read.