Unforeseen: A Novel

By John Callahan

AN UNFORESEEN INCIDENT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. IT CAN CAUSE DRAMATIC LIFESTYLE CHANGES AND IS DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT FOR THE PERSON IT AFFECTS THE MOST.

LIFE CAN BE UNPREDICTABLE, FULL OF CHALLENGES, FRAUGHT WITH DANGER, AND EVER-CHANGING. HOW COULD A PERSON PREPARE FOR AN UNSTABLE TOMORROW IF IT SHOULD OCCUR? MOST OF US EXPECT TOMORROW TO BE MUCH LIKE TODAY, BUT WHAT IF IT ISN’T?

UNFORESEEN…is all about Jim Turner, who is traveling to his Grandfather’s cabin in the North woods. Without warning of any kind, Jim’s life will change forever. His past will be erased and he finds a challenging new future.

As the pages unfold forward…Jim Turner meets his new life head on. Years fraught with danger lurking at every turn challenge his ability to survive, but survive he does, with the help of a very caring companion.

UNFORESEEN…is a page-turner, filled with action.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 31, 2020
• ISBN: 9781728371641

John Callahan

John Callahan (1951–2010) was a nationally syndicated cartoonist known for his frank portrayals of challenging subjects, in particular disability. Callahan, who became a quadriplegic following a car accident at age twenty-one, drew cartoons that touched upon addiction, ableism, and the absurd. He was the creator of the Nickelodeon cartoon Pelswick.

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© 2020 John (Jack) Callahan. 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 08/31/2020

ISBN: 978-1-7283-7163-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-7165-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-7164-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020916351

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

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

Chapter…1

Chapter…2

Chapter…3

Chapter…4

Chapter…5

Chapter…6

Chapter…7

Chapter…8

Chapter…9

Chapter…10

Chapter…11

Chapter…12

Chapter…13

Chapter…14

Chapter…15

Chapter…16

Chapter…17

Chapter…18

Chapter…19

Chapter…20

Chapter…21

Chapter…22

Chapter…23

Chapter…24

Chapter…25

Chapter…26

Chapter…27

Chapter…28

Chapter…29

Dedicated with Love

To my wife, Frances, my sons, and my extended family

CHAPTER…1

Jim Turner rubbed his eyes to keep awake. It had been a long drive. He was weary—no, he was drained, spent, and ready for a full night’s sleep. Driving long distances wasn’t something he would normally desire, or do, but determination to reach his destination was uppermost on his mind. He started driving around ten in the morning, and had driven this far while stopping only once to fill his tank and grab a bite to eat.

During his drive Jim reminisced about the last time he traveled to the State of Washington. It was so long ago he questioned if the special trip he’d taken with his father was an imaginary fantasy, or had it happened the way he now envisioned it? He was eleven, maybe twelve at the time, and he eagerly anticipated the adventurous ten days alone with his father. Jim and his father weren’t really close because his father worked long hours, and they seldom spent quality time together.

In the several months prior to the trip Jim had spent many lonely hours in his bedroom because his mother was working with house cleaning, and his father wasn’t home very often. Jim’s mother and father often talked about sending him to a Military Academy with little say on his part, as to whether he was agreeable to the change or not, but it never came to pass.

On the way to the cabin in the North woods, Jim recalled how many times he asked his father, Will it be much longer? And his father always replied with a grin, and without getting irritated, as he usually did when pestered about something so unimportant.

I already smell the pines surrounding the cabin, can’t you smell those pines too? And then, he would laugh loudly. On the trip, Jim and his father talked about subjects not discussed in the past, like what Jim would like to become as a grown adult, and where did his interests lie, and if he had an eye on a special girl in school or not.

Jim’s father was a successful businessman who spent little time with his family, but on the spur of the moment he wanted to take Jim to the family cabin in the Northern woods to experience the splendor of it all. They seldom spent father and son time, so Jim was eager to go with his father.

Jim’s mother heavily objected, but his father was persistent and wouldn’t budge from his desire to bring Jim along. At the time his father considered time shared together would be a most important experience for both of them. Jim’s feelings of being wanted were a new and anticipated experience, because his family had been falling apart for some months, and during that time his mother and father had little time to spend with Jim. He was left alone for untold hours and days because the family no longer did things together.

His father and mother hadn’t shared their differences with Jim about their pending divorce, and he always ended up being the center of their differences. His father knew that when the separation occurred he would be allowed little time to spend with his son.

Whatever his father’s reasons were to make this trip—Jim didn’t know— but he was determined to take Jim on this once in a lifetime venture to his Grandfather’s cabin in the Northern woods. At the time, Jim considered it to be the trip of a lifetime, and now, looking back—it was all of that and considerably more.

Driving became more difficult as Jim drove down the darkened highway. Each side of Interstate 5 was now covered with heavy forests, which made the road appear narrower and even darker. Jim hadn’t seen another car for quite some time. He slowed to 55 because of the repeated deer crossing signs posted along the highway. Each mile traveled he saw a new deer crossing sign, but seldom a deer. He slowed again and rubbed his eyes. He must stop. He checked to make sure his doors were locked as he fumbled with the radio to find something more interesting.

He glanced at his fuel gauge — only a quarter tank left. He knew it needed to be filled and soon. It was his nature to become nervous when the gauge fell below a quarter tank. He shook his coffee container—it was near empty too. The need to stop became ever more present on his mind. Jim rubbed his tired eyes knowing he couldn’t drive another mile without resting his eyes. He recalled a lighted park a while back where he should have stopped, but he hadn’t.

Jim had decided to take this trip to the family cabin for some time because his daily life had become a wreck with one disappointment after another happening in his life. His pending divorce, added pressure with his new expanded office, and his hunt for another associate to assist him with his overbearing surgery schedule continued to bother him.

And now, the thought of getting away to be alone for a couple of weeks to make plans for his future had become his number one priority. He recalled during his last operation he stopped for a moment to reflect on his future. It was a dangerous thing to do and his nurse and assistant doctor became disturbed with his unorthodox action. His life was in free fall and he needed to find a way to get it back to normal.

His thoughts turned to his Grandfather. He had lived his entire life in the Northern woods. Grandfather didn’t mix well with people so he chose to live away from it all. And this visit would be a special time for Jim and his Grandfather to exchange ideas, get acquainted, and enjoy the magic of the North woods together.

During the previous two years Jim’s life had dramatically changed. And now, he was hoping this time alone with his Grandfather would help him find a solution to his ongoing problems and help him find a way to restructure his life again. He deeply loved his wife Janna and son Jason, but Janna wasn’t showing him the affection they once shared. Many things that had been so important in the past twenty years had now become unimportant to him. His medical business had been the cornerstone of his ambitions, but as he aged, his family became more important. After he acquired a beautiful home, his wife had found other interests besides being a mother to their son and a dutiful wife for their family. He breathed deeply in an attempt to relieve his overpowering stress level. The thought of his family falling apart was more than he was willing to accept, or let go of.

A year ago Jim’s father passed from prostate cancer after many years of suffering. His mother passed six months later of grief over the passing of her second husband, and his wife recently sued him for divorce because their marriage no longer retained the spark it once had. Their marriage of twenty-seven years had come to an exhausting end with Janna ready to move on with a new life, but for the present, Jim couldn’t accept the major change in their family lifestyle, and he was looking for a solution to make it all right again.

Trips together to visit a marriage counselor always went awry when Jim would ask Janna to stay home more often.

Her reply would always be, I have a life to live too, a life with more meaning for me, or is that too much to ask of the too busy surgeon?

During the previous year Jim moved into a larger office requiring him to hire more people and spend more time at the office. His practice was getting to be too much for one doctor to handle, and the new partner he had chosen to welcome into his practice joined another firm, which greatly concerned him. Finding another doctor with skills close to his was going to involve months of searching, which would take a great deal of his time away from the family.

The thought of retiring had entered his mind, but only for a fleeting moment, and after careful consideration, he decided to find a new and better cause where he could continue to use his well-earned skills. Making large amounts of money was no longer a top priority like it had been during the previous fifteen years.

He sighed deeply to relieve the thought of it all, but it wasn’t enough to rid his thinking of the built-in problems that had befallen his life during this past year or two.

The darkness of the highway continued to plague him. He changed his radio station a number of times in the last hour, but he still couldn’t find a program that suited him. His mind had dulled from hours of driving.

Jim pulled over to the edge of the darkened highway to rest his eyes and to get his thinking back on a positive note again. He was startled when a four-point buck emerged from the forest and proceeded in front of his car. He shook his head in disbelief. All of the warning signs, and now a big buck walked right in front of his car like the highway belonged to him.

His mind had been wandering through his younger life when he graduated high school to when he chose to become a doctor, and then ultimately when he fulfilled his ambition of becoming a surgeon. And then, his marriage to Janna had become the foundation of a future happy life. All of his youthful ambitions were falling into place. He was so sure his medical success and his marriage would bring a lifetime of happiness, but it hadn’t turned out at all like he’d expected. Now, he was tired, bone tired, of nonstop operating, and coming hom late after an exhausting day only to find a note with instructions of how to reheat his dinner instead of being greeted by a loving wife and his son, who were already in bed for the night.

He had become a well-known orthopedic specialist, an honor few doctors were able to achieve. His success rate was far greater than many orthopedic doctors in the country, and he was consistently on-call for his well sought after services. He dozed off to sleep.

He woke to the flashing of a police cruiser behind him. A well-mannered policeman knocked on his car window and asked in a rhythmic tone, which he had practiced and used a million times, May I see your driver’s license and insurance along with an explanation of why you are parked on the side of this darkened highway?

A second officer, with his gun drawn, positioned himself behind his car, which added to Jim’s uncomfortable feeling, causing him to ask nervously, What’s wrong officer? (Pause) Did I do something wrong?

For starters —parking alongside this darkened road isn’t very wise or safe. Are you having car trouble of some kind? Asked the highway patrolman.

No particular reason. Just got too sleepy to drive. Been on the road for some eleven hours.

You appear to be extremely nervous. Could you be hiding something from me? Step out of the car please, the officer asked in a well-mannered voice, but his voice changed to a demanding tone when Jim was slow to respond to his request. Step out now! The officer bellowed loudly as he laid a hand on his weapon.

Officer, I haven’t been pulled over before. Your coming out of nowhere surprised me, and a policeman with his gun drawn has made me even more nervous. There is so little traffic on the highway this time of night I thought I wouldn’t be an obstruction to anyone passing me. Should I have pulled over further? Jim inquired.

The officer flashed his light around the interior of Jim’s car. Your license and insurance appear to be in order. I need to know your destination and why you are traveling at night in this heavily wooded area. It is dangerous stopping along this dark highway at this time of night. I suggest you stop at a park where it is well lit. There’s such a place about ten miles up the road. For your own safety I suggest you rest in the park areas only.

Jim nodded his response to the policeman’s request.

Satisfied, the officer left and Jim rolled up his window, locked the car door, and sat quietly while absorbing his latest experience.

Jim poured some water into his hands to wash his face to refresh himself. Ah! He felt instantly better and started the engine. He must find a restaurant and gas station where he could freshen up.

He drove about five miles and all of a sudden a thud hit the side of his car. He braked hard to stop. He hadn’t seen anything coming from the forest area, but something came out of nowhere to hit his car with a heavy impact.

Jim imagined it was a deer and swore to himself why he hadn’t been more observant. He retrieved a flashlight and pistol from the glove compartment to check the damage to his car and to finish off the deer if it was still alive. Something like what just happened was so different from his normal life. He looked at the right side of his car — sure enough— the back door panel of his car was caved in.

He shone his light down the highway expecting to find a deer—instead—he saw a groaning man lying in the gravel on the side of the road.

Damn it! How could this happen to me? What have I done? Jim declared loudly.

He rushed to the aid of the injured man. He carefully turned him over and shone his flashlight into his face. The injured man opened his eyes.

Where did you come from? I didn’t see you, Jim questioned.

Darn, I’m still alive. I was hoping I would be dead.

What do you mean by that? You mean you deliberately did this to yourself— and my car?

I tried to run in front of your car hoping it would kill me. My life isn’t worth living any longer.

That’s pure nonsense and you know it. I’m an orthopedic surgeon, there’s no way I can allow you to die, that is, if I can prevent it. Tell me where do you hurt? If you can move, tell me where it hurts the most.

Just back up and run over me. I want to die. This is an isolated area and no one will know it was you. Just run over me and leave. I can’t live without my lifetime partner.

You’re talking nonsense. I’m a doctor—I can’t let you die, that is, if I can prevent it. Is there a hospital close by where I can take you?

If you must know, the closest one is about eighty miles north of here in Roseland, but don’t take me there, because that would be one of the first places the FBI would be looking for me because I left signs I was badly injured when I burned down Irma’s farmhouse during my confrontation with them.

The FBI is looking for you? This sounds serious. Are you making all of this up, or perhaps you are hallucinating? Or are you really in some sort of serious trouble with the FBI? Frankly, I don’t know what to do with you.

Jim stood over the injured man not knowing what to do with him. He retrieved his medical bag from the back seat. He wanted to call Janna, but hesitated.

I have to work through this problem myself. There’s no one around to help me decide what to do. I can’t leave this man to die like he wants to do, Jim concluded.

He knelt down beside the wounded man.

Let’s not deal with your imaginary problems right now. I need to check your injuries. I am a well-qualified orthopedic doctor, so I need you to carefully follow my instructions. Do you understand? Jim emphatically stated.

Drive away and leave me. I want to die.

You’re my responsibility. I can’t leave you. I need to check you out. Move your arms—good—they are not broken. Let me check your legs—good— they are not broken. Can you sit up on your own?

There—I’m sitting up, but my back hurts like hell.

Sit still while I check your vertebras to see if you have a serious back injury. Also, I need to examine your arms and legs for major cuts.

No, no, no, never mind. Just leave me here to die. I want to die because I can’t live with Irma dead. They’re closing in on me, and I don’t want to be tortured like she was before they threw her limp body out the back door like a sack of trash.

Jim sighed to relieve his built in tension. The FBI wouldn’t do such a thing. You are becoming weirder by the minute. I’m a doctor. Listen to what I have to tell you. I can’t leave you here no matter what problems you have with the FBI. When you ran into my car you became my responsibility. Let me see your arm. You have a major cut on your arm that needs attention, hold still while I dress it and examine you for further cuts.

Jim helped the injured man sit on the passenger seat of his car.

I’m bleeding on your car seat. I need a bandage to stop the bleeding.

Hold my flashlight. I only have two hands. I’ll stop the bleeding in a moment. I need to get a larger bandage out of my bag, Jim replied.

Jim finished bandaging all of the open wounds, and he sat in the drivers seat. This was a whole new experience for him. He was a good doctor and his lifetime goal was to aid his patients without hesitation, but now he was faced with a most unique situation. They sat in silence for minutes while Jim decided what to do with his injured passenger.

His mind spun wildly with alternatives. It wasn’t his nature to pick up strangers, so what could he do with this man who wanted to die? He recalled Janna’s last words as he pulled out of the driveway, Don’t pick up any strangers.

Jim decided he couldn’t leave this injured man on this darkened highway, so what would his alternatives be? He questioned himself.

I’m getting low on gas, do you know if there’s a gas station up the road? If so, I can take you that far, and you can get someone to help you sort through your problems. That’s the best I can offer you. After all, you brought all of this misery on yourself.

There’s a gas station and a restaurant about ten miles north of here. For sure, they will be looking for me there. You must let me out a mile north of the restaurant, turn around and go back to the gas station. Could you do that for me? If so, I will be forever grateful. I haven’t eaten in over twenty-four hours, so will you get me a meal? I have no money because I left my wallet on my nightstand when the FBI came from nowhere to arrest Irma and me. You can leave the meal alongside the roadside if you wish to get rid of me.

Jim sighed…Let’s get this straight. I can’t help you with the problems you had before you ran into my car, but for now, I’ll do what you are asking of me. I haven’t completely made up my mind what I should do with you. Your fragmented story is so far from real I don’t know whether I can believe a single word of it or not.

It’s not my nature to lie. Everything I told you is the absolute truth. There’s a conspiracy in progress to kill the President and his family, and to overthrow our government. I’m in danger because I accidently became aware of their plans while doing my assigned job at the Embassy in Istanbul.

Jim pulled over to the side of the road.

Hold the talk. You’re talking crazy and I don’t want to hear any more of it.

It’s all true. I haven’t made it up. I need to stop the President and his family from being killed.

Jim’s life was unsettled and now he had an injured passenger who was in some sort of serious trouble— trouble he couldn’t completely understand. His mind ratcheted back to Janna’s parting words, It’s a long drive so don’t pick up any strangers to keep you company along the way. If you do, it will mean a lot of trouble for you.

Jim’s nervousness escalated because the passenger sitting next to him was injured and he couldn’t leave him by the side of the road. He must decide what to do with this uninvited stranger, so he could get on with his trip to the family cabin in the Gregory Mountains, where he needed time to be with his Grandfather to decide what to do with the rest of his life. It was his time to recapture the good memories of his past life, and to set a plan in motion for his future life. But now…

We’ve passed the gas station. Good. Let me out here by the signage so I can hide in the forest. Thank you for all of your help. Believe me, I appreciate it. Please get me a meal.

Jim looked at his passenger, unsure what he would do if there were law enforcement at the restaurant.

How do you know whether I will turn you into the authorities or not?

I wouldn’t blame you in the slightest because I messed up your car, but you could be in trouble for hitting me, but you helped me with my wounds. I trust you. As a doctor you surely must know what it means to have trust in the people you treat, don’t you? The injured man remarked.

Yeah. Jim chuckled. That’s the first thing they teach in medical school. Get your patients to trust in your skills as a doctor, and your patients will surely return for future visits, Jim chuckled.

Jim sighed and then hesitated for a moment. You’ve convinced me… okay… I’ll pick you up after I’ve filled my tank and eaten. Also, I will bring you a meal.

Jim stopped and helped