Chapter Forty

It was almost a replay of the other morning when Peter called. Henry was in a deep sleep when the irritating sound of the telephone rang again and again. He thought it was the phone ringing in his dream, when he finally realized it was the phone on his night table next to the bed.

“Oh, God, I hope that’s not Peter again.” Although he had spoken to Jenny just last night about setting up a meeting with Peter it was still far from being finalized.

It must have been on the eighth ring, when Henry finally picked up the receiver.

“Hello,” Henry said, still half asleep.

“Is Henry Pederson in?”

There was something about the voice that recalled an immediate unpleasant memory. Some conversations one never forgets. Especially when they have to do with a matter that involves one’s heart and soul. Instantly Henry recognized the voice. He tried to sit up, but the flexibility of the water bed made him lose his balance and he fell back onto the bed pulling the phone at the end of the cord with him. He quickly rolled out of the bed and sat on the edge, trying to untangle the cord from the phone.

“Sorry, are you still there? Hello…”

“Yes, I’m still on the line. Is this Henry Pederson?”

“Yes, this is Henry.”

“I’m James Hamilton, Jenny’s former husband. I phoned to thank you for helping to restore Jenny’s health, if not her life. I understand a lot of people prayed for a miracle and it happened. I saw it here on the estate as well when Jenny lived here. Some of the strangest, most unexplainable happenings occurred; flowers lasting for months without water, a statue her father commissioned turning up in the garden under the most unusual circumstances…”

James continued to ramble on about other incidences. Although it sounded like gibberish, Henry knew what James was talking about. He had seen the same kind of unusual happenings in Jenny’s home and yard as well. But Henry was no longer really listening to the man on the end of the phone. His mind began to analyze the motives for the call. What did James really want?

Henry didn’t have to wait long for the answer.

“What I called about was to try and get your help or better yet, your cooperation in assisting me to get Jenny back to her home in Ottawa. You may know that we divorced, but that was all my doing. Boy, I have made some mistakes, not too many mind you, but letting Jenny slip away was my biggest error and I want to correct it.

“She belongs back home here,” James said forcibly and went on, “She has a son and daughter-in-law, a grandson, a mother-in-law that’s aging and they all need her. I’m not trying to draw sympathy but I am suffering from cancer and the prognosis isn’t that good. It would be wonderful to have Jenny back here…who knows, maybe her presence will create another miracle and have me healed as well!”

Henry only heard bits and pieces of what James had said. As soon as he stated that he wanted Jenny back and that she belonged back home in Ottawa, a heavy cloud covered his thoughts.

“Are you there? Mr. Pederson…”

Fortunately, Henry had listened enough to grasp the gist of James’ rambling and slowly began to respond.

“I see…” said Henry, not really knowing what to say in the light of all this.

“I know, Marjorie, that is…Jenny, has fond feelings for you and may be interested in reviving an old relationship with you…I would like you to discourage that. If there is some money or anything you need or desire I will do anything to help you.”

Henry remained silent. This was such an unusual conversation and the furthest thing from his mind was to lose Jenny. She had come to Regina for her daughter, Camilla, but hopefully also for him. They had already expressed such love for each other that had never been lost. And yet, he was speaking to her former husband who had a right to express his desire to have her back…

“Well, really Mr. Hamilton—”

“Please call me James. Better yet, Jim, if you prefer.”

“I think this is all up to Jenny, James. You will have to ask her what she wants to do. I really have no say in the matter.”

“How long have you been seeing Jenny since she returned to Regina?” James wanted to know.

“Not very long; less than a week. I just discovered the other day that I had purchased her home and made it to the hospital just before she passed away.” Henry suddenly realized that he didn’t need to divulge that information. Yet, to give their relationship some depth, he quickly added, “We have known each other since we were fifteen, however.”

James couldn’t believe that Henry Pederson had purchased Marjorie’s home and yet he felt relieved that they had just started seeing one another.

“Like I said, Henry, since you’re only beginning to see one another, it should be easy for you to discourage her…you know, tell her that you are not interested; it will help sway her to return. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“I know exactly what you are saying, James, but I could never do that because I am very fond of Jenny…in fact, deeply in love with her. To be honest, I was hoping since she was no longer married that we might get together after all these years.”

“How could you and Mar—Jennifer possibly be serious? You haven’t been in touch for years. It should be easy for you to cut things off. You’re dealing with her husband who was married to her for twenty two years. Surely that should take precedence over just a few days?”

Henry could hear James’ breathing get heavier; his frustration and growing anger were intense. He fully expected to get a blast like he had years ago when James had called to speak to Jenny.

“It may be just a few days, however, our feelings go back a long way before you and Jenny met. Something…” Henry’s words trailed off. He didn’t need to explain how this relationship remained intact over all these years. He loved Jenny and wanted her more than anything…even more than considering her former husband’s desire to have her back. It felt right and yet it didn’t feel right…he felt confused and remained silent.

James had already gotten his staff to get some background information about Henry. James knew Henry was an artist and owned a gallery and gift shop in Regina. He now resorted to tactics he and his CEO’s sometimes used in their business dealings. James was reluctant to do this, but he was getting desperate.

“Look, Henry, I know a lot of people and have many connections. I could very easily stop a lot of product coming to your shop. I could do a lot to put you out of business… Look, I wouldn’t do that…sorry, it’s something I perhaps would have done.” James hesitated for a moment, to allow Henry to absorb what he could be capable of doing, just so he understood the gravity of the situation. It was a scare tactic that he never employed, but it sent a message of what could possibly happen. James went on.

“Look, Henry, I need your help and will do anything to get it…I don’t mean to sound tough but it’s a cruel world out there…”

“I told you before, it’s all up to Jennifer and I will do everything I can to win her love. You had your chance and obviously it didn’t work out. And please don’t call me again if it’s in regards to this matter.”

Henry hung up the phone. He heard James yell some profanities at him before the connection was terminated.

James stormed out of the house onto the patio. He failed to understand how some guy who had seen his wife for a few days could stand in his way to saving his marriage. Surely, their relationship of some thirty years ago couldn’t have any real value. It wasn’t as if they had been divorced and Henry had been seeing Jenny for years after the fact.

What could he possibly do?

He thought for sure if he got Matilda’s help, his son on board, and got this Pederson guy to lay off, that he could persuade Marjorie to return. But so far all of his efforts were failing.

He still hadn’t got the results back from the tests and x-rays he had undergone a week ago. He knew however what they would find. His cancer was returning. He could sense, it, feel it, smell it; he was in a race against time. Life support and freezing his body would buy him time if it came down to that. But how much time would it give him? And how meaningful would it all be?

Perhaps he would talk to Thomas some more on the matter. What was it that drew him back again and again to the gardener? It was difficult for James to accept the fact that his employee knew more of life than he did. And yet James didn’t feel he was lowering himself, in fact, just the opposite. The thought sent a soothing feeling through him, which he didn’t quite understand until his discussion with Thomas centered on pride.