Patience in Time of Trouble

By R. Hughes

Story Synopsis: Two individuals with honorable intentions and a heart to do whats right but life circumstances take them down a path of doubt and sometimes painful self exploration. Their paths eventually cross and the unfortunate events that set the stage for their meeting, ultimately provides them with a strong foundation to meet their future and gives them the sight to see from whom all blessing come.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 11, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477229514

R. Hughes

R. Hughes is a champion for children. She is a childcare provider residing and operating in Southern California. One of her greatest joys is watching children laugh; helping them grow in a healthy, safe, loving, and nurturing environment. She believes that a child who experiences genuine love will learn to love, and pass it on...

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© 2012 by R. Hughes. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 12/06/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-2950-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-2952-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-2951-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012911448

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

A Foreshadowing Phone Call

Section 1:     His Story

Chapter 1:    A Long Day

Chapter 2:    Flashes of A Good Husband

Chapter 3:    Work Even Harder

Chapter 4:    Memories of College Days

Chapter 5:    Its Not So Bad

Chapter 6:    The Unexpected

Chapter 7:    The Next Generation

Section 2:     My Story

Chapter 8:    Help Me Please

Chapter 9:    Rise and Shine

Chapter 10:  Going Forward

Chapter 11:  The Sowing of Seeds

Chapter 12:  Homecoming

Section 3:     Therapeutic Journaling

Section 4:     Healing Time

Chapter 13:   My Sabbatical

Chapter 14:   The Reunion

Section 5:     Our Story

Chapter 15:   Like Father Like Son

Chapter 16:   It’s a Date

Chapter 17:   A lesson in History

Chapter 18:   I Found My Smile Again

Chapter 19:   Closure

Chapter 20:   HE Answers

Section 6:     Author’s Note’s

Epiphany from Depression

I want to scream but his hand is over my mouth…"

A FORESHADOWING PHONE CALL

It’s 9:35 a.m., the phone rings three times. In a half asleep, reflexive motion, Dr. Torrance reaches for the phone. Hello? he says in a nearly inaudible whisper. He clears his throat then repeats himself, Hello. This time Dr. Torrance, who normally speaks in a pleasant baritone voice is easily heard by the caller.

The caller replies, Good morning. This is David Tomlin from the Fulton County District Attorney’s office. May I please speak with Dr. Torrance?

Dr. Torrance is a bit slow in letting go of his sleep. He yawns, wipes the sleep from his eyes and sits upright on the side of the bed. He looks towards his alarm clock. It’s only been two hours since the drive home from a night shift in the ER. Typically, it takes him a few hours to wind down and make it to bed. However, on this morning, after working a string of seven, twelve hour night shifts, it only took a few minutes for his eyes to close and sleep that was dearly missed to be found and welcomed by him. Within a few seconds, his wits return and he answers, Yes, this is Dr. Torrance. What’s up?

"Dr. Torrance, I hope I’m not interrupting but I’d like to speak with you regarding Ms. Angela McCoy’s assault case. If I’m not mistaken its been almost four years since we last spoke. At that time, you gave me a deposition as it relates to Ms. McCoy’s emergency room visit and the physical evidence you collected.

Yes, I remember.

"We’ve arrested Stacy Johnson based on the physical evidence you collected. It turns out that three days ago, a campus police officer recognized him and alerted the Atlanta police. The officer was able to detain Mr. Johnson until he was turned over to the Atlanta Police.

What took so long to catch him?

It just so happens, Mr. Johnson fled shortly after Ms. McCoy’s assault and had been living in Greenville, South Carolina with relatives ‘under the radar.’ He denies the charges but we have his DNA and its a match with the specimens you collected in the Emergency Department.

Oh really, how did you get his DNA?

Mr. Tomlin replies, "now thats an interesting story… about seven years ago, Georgia decided to collect DNA on all individuals arrested for felonies. We knew who committed the crime shortly after your samples came back from the state’s crime lab. Only problem, we couldn’t find Mr. Johnson. Coincidentally, it turns out that about two years before Ms. McCoy’s assault, Mr. Johnson had been released from his probation officer’s oversight.

Our office quickly filed for an arrest warrant based on the state’s crime lab findings. However, at that time, he no longer lived at the last known address listed in his records. Until three days ago, we couldn’t find him. Mr. Johnson was effective at being elusive.

As I said before, a campus police officer happened to see him around the same college, of all places, that Ms. McCoy was assaulted. We were very lucky this time. To this day, I don’t know what prompted the officer to recall Mr. Johnson’s face after nearly four years, nor do I have any clue as to why Mr. Johnson chose to return to this part of town, all things considered.

Surprisingly, he has admitted to living near the college campus around the time of the assault but denies ever encountering Ms. McCoy. Coincidentally, less than 48 hours after her assault, he uprooted himself and moved to Greenville. He told police that move coincided with a ‘good job’ working for his uncle.

In the course of his interview, there were a lot of inconsistencies and false truths. Catching him after all this time was a very fortunate break for us. I’m hoping to put this repeat offender in jail for as long as humanly possible. Hence my call this morning. When your schedule permits, I’d like to have you come by my office and review your deposition and discuss this case further.

Unbeknownst to Mr. Tomlin, Dr. Torrance already knew these details and was awaiting his call. Dr. Torrance replies—yes, we’ve been expecting your call. I’m available anytime over the next 4 days.

Good to hear… how does 2 o’clock tomorrow sound? I’m in suite 211, 136 Pryor Street. Please park in the parking deck across the street… it will make for an easy walk to my office.

No problem, I’ll see you tomorrow at 2 o’clock.

His Story

With every beat of my heart there is a pounding ache in my lower abdomen. I’m afraid of what’s happening with my body. I decide to get help. One way or another, I dressed myself and made it to my car.

CHAPTER

1

A Long Day

Dr. Torrance is sitting in his car in the doctor’s parking lot. It’s about 15 minutes before the start of his 12 hour shift in the ER. Lord, I thank you for all the blessings in my life. Please give me wisdom to take care of my patients today. And Lord, grant me the patience to be mindful of my thoughts and cautious with my choice of words when provoked by those that I may encounter this day. With a deep sigh, he opens his car door then makes his walk towards the ER. As he nears the entrance, he tells himself: God wouldn’t give me anything I can’t handle… ok T lets go to work.

He walks in, a hazel eyed man who’s more youthful appearing than his age. Outwardly, he appears to be a happy person who’s always smiling. Today is no different, everyone who crosses his path is greeted with eye contact, a warm smile and his caffeine charged way of saying good morning. He is well dressed, wearing a light blue polo shirt, charcoal grey slacks with pleats. His pants are cuffed with a full break and his attire is finished by his favorite pair of black Italian loafers. Dr. Torrance is a very charismatic man who wears a cologne that matches his personality. The combination surprises those that don’t know him: Is he really a doctor? And those that have become accustom to his persona have dubbed him the well dressed Dr. T from the ER. His admirers affectionately have nickname him Dr. Smell Good when he is not within ear shot.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen! This is the way Dr. Torrance addresses the staff as he enters the nurse’s station and has done so for the past seven years. However, on this day the equally chipper department secretary is not present at her desk. That’s peculiar? he thinks. She’s always here before me. He shrugs it off, thinking… maybe she had issues with her kids and its making her late for work today. Recalling her smile and bubbly ways puts an even bigger smile on his face.

By 6:15 a.m., he starts to question her absence, Dr. Torrance thinks, wow, did she take the day off? There’s a bit of commotion down the hall in front of the ambulance entrance. Dr. Torrance looks up in that direction and sees Tom the charge nurse, talking intently with one of the paramedics. Shortly thereafter, he walks towards Dr. Torrance and hurriedly declares, "you’ll