Chapter Eighteen – No Time Like the Present
/One week later/
It was a sad yet beautiful moment that he would remember for a long time to come. Bernie Scripps hadn't always been the Aidensfield mechanic and undertaker but he'd attended a lot of funerals to realize that this was something more. The young practicing doctor who originated from a farm just outside the village was being put to rest on a slightly inclined hill at the back of the churchyard. There was an ocean of flowers sitting on top of the polished bright white coffin with silver handles. It was a stark contrast to all the people surrounding it, all dressed in black. The sun was shining, its rays warming, welcoming even, after the rain that had fallen the night before.
The murder case had held the whole village in fear and no one was happier once the case had been resolved. Unfortunately Jeremy Watson was still deceased and the grief it caused his immediate family members was still prominent. However, on this day it felt like the whole village was mourning one of their own. Many villagers had come to the funeral to show their respect and to offer a silent apology by their presence to his father and uncle.
Joshua Watson was silent, all dressed up in the finest suit he could find and had arrived as fast as he could when the news had reached him down in the London suburban, where he had relocated and slowly started to build up his life once again. He had always missed his little boy and been proud of him when he got the news that Jeremy had made it to medical school and started an internship down in Liverpool. He had wanted to call him, take up on his acquaintance but he had hesitated, thinking Jeremy wanted nothing to do with him and had let it be – now it was too late.
Jack Lane wiped his red rimmed eyes dry – for grown men didn't cry, that's what the army had taught him, and stared at the white coffin in the glinting sun. So much had happened, so much damage, that he had a hard time to forgive and forget, even after the doctor' help, but today he would try and do just that. Had Jeremy been with them and not being laid to rest he would have told him life is too short to bear any grudges. A cautious smile crept upon his lips as he spotted both Joyce Jowett and Angelica Nolan among the crowd. Lord Ashfordly nodded at him from a slight distance as he too had come to pay his respect.
Jack had a long way to go and needed a lot of help from friends and neighbors to get his place back to its former glory but this time he chose to look at the bright side. Doctor Liz Merrick's friend down in London, an expert in psychiatry and also a mentor when it came to AA had been there for him and he'd already made excellent progress. He had a lot of things to work through and as a man of the army he'd considered those therapists and psychiatrics a little weird, doing no good. He was doing this for Jeremy and for his brother Joshua. Seeing that Joshua had managed to turn his life around and live with a wonderful woman now made him hopeful that one day he could do the same. As for his farm the village council had helped him with some of the costs for the renovation of the place courtesy of Doctor Merrick's stubbornness.
New goats where on their way and everything seemed to be clearing up. Jack felt light-headed just thinking about how everyone that had turned their backs on him and his relatives so long ago had come around and decided to help him instead and all because of the new influences through the village, the doctor's help, Ashfordly's right hand man, the police and Oscar Blaketon. It was just a shame that the man that had set the ball rolling was to be buried before his eyes this very moment.
The priest nodded at him and his brother as he stepped up next to the coffin to begin his speech.
A warm feeling spread through Jack's body when he glanced around a second time, taking in all the people that had gathered today and more importantly his long lost family consisting of his brother and Jeremy's three brothers and two sisters.
As the father began his speech Gina and Phil locked hands with each other. Gina tilted her head upwards and to her right to look Phil in the eye. He looked sad but as his blue eyes met hers a smile began to play on his lips. It was a cautious smile but it was a gesture that told Gina that they were on their way to maybe not fix their broken relationship but to repair it so that they could enjoy each other's company again as good friends.
As they stood there with hands intertwined they both remembered the despair caused by losing Daniel. The plummeted mood and the abyss that seemed to have swallowed them whole at the time was slowly fading away, releasing them from its grip. Gina could still remember how it felt to hold the little baby in her arms, to rock him back and forth in her arms, Phil's glowing eyes as he looked at their child. They had felt like a unit back at the hospital that was strong enough to take on the whole world. It was amazing that such a small guy could cause so much joy and yet so much sorrow to them despite his short time spent with them.
Gina began to understand the grief that the Watson's had endured while living outside the village and when she glanced sideway to Joshua and Jack she came to realize how strong they both were. Joshua had lost his wife and all his children and Jack had never discovered how loving life could be.
It was by looking at them she also realized that life wasn't over because you lost your child and that life goes on whether with or without you. She and Phil had to move on, had to deal with their emotions in a way that didn't break them and, here on the churchyard, in the glittering sun, they had come a long way.
On the opposite side of the congregation from Phil and Gina stood a blonde woman all dressed in black with a beautiful black hat complimenting her attire. Her arm snaked around the arm of a taller well-dressed man, also in black, although his attire not civilian but of the law force. His other arm was tightly secured to his chest, fixed there by a medical strap. Jenny squeezed Dennis' hand softly as she turned her head discreetly toward him. He mirrored her move and they shared a comforting, soft yet tight, smile as the father finished his speech.
Jenny had picked up Dennis from the hospital only three days prior and he was still pale and tired although he didn't like to admit anything that could be considered a weakness. Jenny was reminded of his accident every time she looked at him and it unsettled her just to think about how he could easily have lost his life. He was her soul mate and she would be lost without him. During the first few days when she'd been alone back home she'd cried herself to sleep when she'd finally convinced Liz and Ben to go home. She'd awakened in the middle of the night in confusion at the emptiness on the other side of the bed before she remembered why Dennis wasn't there.
Every time she'd taken the Rover to the hospital she'd fought the urge to cry and she'd admonished herself for being so silly. Liz had assured her, and Doctor Smith as well, that her husband would be fine given a little downtime. She was being the worst mother hen in the world, Dennis had told her so, although with an appreciative smile, and Liz had teased her about it. However, she just couldn't help it. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined a call from the police station telling her to go to the hospital because her husband had been shot in the line of duty. She had her fears of him being in danger but Dennis had usually pointed out that she was being silly when she'd voiced that to him and told her that he was mostly behind his desk or in the interrogation room.
Frustration had been running high at first after Dennis had come home and she'd caught him stepping out of the house ready to call for a taxi that would take him to the Police Station. After a long and hard argument she'd un-expectantly won and he'd walked into the house again. He settled for talking on the phone with PC Crane but he wasn't happy about it. In an effort to cheer him up she'd invited Liz and Ben to share a meal with them and had ended up admonishing all three of them for discussion the latest events.
Then the day before the funeral Jenny's presence was requested by Liz at the practice as she was to set out for house calls. Jenny had tried to get out of it but Dennis had insisted that she'd help out considering Liz was her best friend and colleague. After all she couldn't see to him all the time and she couldn't, no matter how hard she tried, keep him from harm's way while at work. Dennis was a police sergeant and she'd very well known it entering their relationship.
This morning she'd felt a little guilty for always nagging at him being late home or working late, arguing with him. She'd placed herself first not considering his situation and his other obligations. She'd taken him partly for granted, it was clear to her now. Thanks to the tragedy avoided, if something good could come out of being shot, they'd actually begin to see each other in a new light. They still had their arguments, they would always have them, but they managed to do more together and enjoy it more than before. Of course it was easier to do things together while Dennis was cooped up at home, not yet cleared for even light duty but she had always liked a challenge. When things returned to normal she would drag him out of his office if necessary and instead of being overly frustrated and angry at him for taking his job so seriously she would remember this time. Because it could have been worse – she could have lost him altogether – and she knew that had that become reality it would have dragged her down, made her unrecognizable to the rest of them, caused a hole in her heart that couldn't be replaced and it would have killed her.
"If you squeeze any harder I'll lose any feeling I have left in that hand," Dennis said softly, gently breaking through her reverie.
"Oh," she said sheepishly. "I was thinking."
He let out a sigh as he turned toward her, the priest having ended his speech and was now shaking hands with the closest family. "No happy thoughts I gather?" He asked cautiously.
She couldn't look up at him to face him.
"Jenny, please," Dennis began softly as he gently squeezed her hand. "Come on, we've talked about this so many times. You can't protect me from everything, you can't check up on me all the time, I'm not made of glass you know?" He finished with a twinkle in his eyes.
Jenny had a faint smile on her lips as she finally tilted her head upward to look at him but her eyes was moist and a tear threatened to escape her eye. "I know I can't and I know you're not made of glass," she said.
He chuckled slightly. "Good. Now, when are you going to get it into your pretty little head that I'm fine and that nothing is going to happen to me at work?"
It was Jenny's time to chuckle. "I'm sorry, Dennis. I know I'm the worst mother you've met but I love you – so much. I can't bear to lose you."
"You won't lose me, I promise you," he said seriously.
"I know, I'm just being silly –but this could have been your funeral," she returned, fiddling with her wedding ring, her eyes fixing on a spot between her black shoes.
"Listen to me. You won't lose me," he countered seriously. "I will always be the cause of your frustration, being late coming home, working long hours, declining to go on some of your arranged restaurant visits –" He trailed off with a soft laugh and Jenny found herself laughing too.
"Oh, Jen, I've missed that smile," he said as Liz and Jack was approaching them.
"Sergeant Merton," Lane said in acknowledgement.
"Mr. Lane," Dennis returned politely. "I've been meaning to talk to you but I wouldn't intrude on your family gathering."
Jack waved his hand. "It's all right, I'll have plenty of time to catch up with them," he said with a careful smile. "Look, I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier –"
"Let's forget about that," Dennis interrupted. "Anyway, I think you'll be pleased to know that the money found on Nichols at the time of his arrest will be considered Jeremy's property and therefore yours since he made you the heir."
Jack's cautions smile widened into a grin of gratitude and, smitten by the mood, Dennis couldn't help but give a smile.
"The sum of money will be enough for you to make some hefty restoration to your property, Mr. Lane, and I think this time the locals will help you anyhow they can. If not I'm sure Doctor Merrick can persuade them," he suggested looking at Liz, standing next to Jack.
Jack chuckled. "She and your wife have turned my farm upside down, in a good way," he let on.
"I'm glad everything will sort out for you," Dennis said. "Also I'd like to thank you for your contribution to cracking the case. Jeremy's letter will be the – he caught himself as he was about to say the nail in the coffin – last piece of evidence making the puzzle whole."
Jack nodded sadly. "I just wish it had ended differently," he said.
"We all do," Dennis returned as he extended his good arm to shake the goat farmer's hand.
Jack gently shook hands with the sergeant and excused himself. Jenny, Dennis and Liz watched him go as the faint sound of Amazing Grace reached their ears.
"Now," Jenny spoke up suddenly with finality as a cunning smile spread over her lips. "Where's Ben?"
"Right here," a familiar voice returned and they all turned around to see him approaching.
"Everything set?" Jenny asked him cryptically causing both Dennis and Liz to frown suspiciously.
"Yes, four tickets to the Castle for a little wine and dine, two bookings at the adjoining Hotel and SPA -" he said triumphantly as Jenny jumped slightly in delight.
"Since you two are such workaholics we thought we'd surprise you," Jenny explained. "Don't you worry Liz, the surgery is being taken care of by Doctor Smith from the Hospital. He'd always wanted to try his hands at a country practice so he jumped at the opportunity."
"I see, Liz returned slightly baffled.
"And the Police Station can do without you my dear sergeant for a little while longer. They know where you are going to be, besides you're not cleared for duty," she said.
Instead of being angry for making plans over his head like he might have been earlier Dennis found himself laughing softly, while Liz shook her head with a smile.
"I believe, Doctor Merrick, that we've been outplayed," Dennis said with a smirk.
"It appears so, Sergeant Merton," Liz concurred cunningly. "I don't think we should keep them waiting."
"Absolutely not. Who are we to say no to something like that?" He returned as Jenny slid her arm around the small of his back, gently pushing him toward the direction of the waiting cab.
Liz walked ahead to catch up with Ben who was standing talking with the cab driver already.
"I suppose there's no time like the present," Dennis said softly as Jenny leaned toward him, to whisper in his ear.
"I love you, Dennis Merton."
"I love you too, Jenny Merton," he said, looking genuinely happy, his smile and the mischievous gleam in his eyes taking her back to their wedding day; back to that moment which had been the happiest in her life.
OOOOOO
The end
/ I don't know when I'll be back writing Heartbeat – if I'll be back, but I want to thank you, all of you, who's been reading and reviewing ;) I've enjoyed hearing from you and loved your encouragement.