I must apologize for making you wait to read the final section of Chapter 1. The fall semester just started and there was a snafu getting the classes ready for the first day. I hope your summer is drawing to a pleasant close. Here's the final section of Chapter 1, *The Space Between Time*.

The train ride slipped by without Jenna noticing, not that she had far to go. She almost missed her stop. The short walk to her apartment was also a blur. When she came around the corner, she noticed Sam’s car with a small moving truck parked in the loading zone near their lavish apartment. Sam was still packing his things. He didn’t seem to notice that she was home early. “Oh, sorry, I thought we’d be finished before you got home. I hope it’s not gonna be too awkward, me being here.”
Not listening to him as he chattered along about how great it was going to be living in L.A., and that soon she’d see that this was the best thing for both of them, she hung up her coat and went to the kitchen to brew a cup of green tea. The moving men said nothing, only exchanged glances at each other, and nodded to Jenna as they took Sam’s desk, file cabinet, and the furniture that was his from before they’d purchased the new stuff.
Sam followed her into the kitchen. When she sat down to drink the tea, she looked up at Sam, who was still chattering. She blinked her eyes. What was wrong with her? For a moment Sam had been surrounded by a muddy brown and gray mist. The strain’s getting to me. I’m cracking up. Concentrating on her tea, she shut Sam’s monologue out. She didn’t want him to see that she was losing her grip on reality.
Finally, after two cups of tea, which helped her keep her emotions in check, Sam said, “Well, I’m off. Wish me luck as I do you. You’ve got a great career ahead of you. Oh, and will you tell Joan and Ben goodbye for me? I’m gonna miss them a lot.” What bull. You never liked any of my friends. He was filling the space with chatter to keep her from saying anything.
“Who knows,” he said, “maybe one day we’ll get back together.” What a crock! Keep talking. I bet you’ve been cheating on me.
Just then his phone rang. Answering it, he said, “Yeah, I’m just getting into the car. Okay, I’ll be there in a few minutes.” He hung up and turned to Jenna. “The office.” Something in the way he said it got Jenna’s ire up. “Well, Babe this is it. I’m off. You take care of yourself, and let me know how you’re doing, okay?”
“Just give me the key and go. No need to drag it out.”
He took the key off his ring and gave it to her. “I’m trying to be nice.”
“Why?”
“Okay, obviously you’re in a bad mood. Maybe this will cheer you up. I’ve been thinking about it. You were right to get upset about me asking for the ring back. Here, it’s the least I can do. It’ll give you more time to find another place. Goodbye.” He put a check on the table in front of her. Without saying another word, he turned and left.
Looking at the check, she felt her skin crawl. He was paying her off like a prostitute. She left the check lying where he’d laid it, and went to the front window to be sure he was gone. Finally! She’d have some peace and quiet to think. Fortunately he hadn’t tried to kiss her. The way she was feeling, she’d probably have smacked him.
With her head spinning from the events of the day, she sat in the chair facing the window overlooking the Willamette River, too numb to think or feel. Why is this happening? All her hard work and hopes for the future were destroyed.
Visions of all the ways she’d take revenge on Fletcher, his Uncle and Sam swirled through her head. The rage at what had happened finally burst out. She stood up and screamed at them using as many foul words as she could think of, pounding the sofa, the table behind it and the mantle.
After what seemed like hours, her rage was spent. She flopped down again in the chair near the front window. I’ve got to go home. Mom’ll understand what I’m going through. She thought about breaking the rule of waiting until after five to call. Her mom didn’t like to be disturbed at work.
Her stomach growled, and though she didn’t feel like eating she made herself a sandwich and ate it in a trance. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts all tumbling together…I’ll get revenge…the bastards… what am I gonna do? On and on.
As she rinsed the dishes and put them in the dishwasher, tears welled up in her eyes. These were the dishes she and Sam had purchased right after finding their apartment. It was the one time they’d made a mutual decision. They’d seen the pattern and both said at the same time, “I love these.” Then they’d laughed and bought twelve place settings. With her hands on the counter, waves of anger, grief and fear took over and the tears washed down her face. Groping as if she were blind, she found the stair railing and hauled herself up into the bedroom. She lay on the bed weeping uncontrollably for who knew how long.
Afterward, she went into the bathroom and washed her swollen face. The cool water felt good. She looked at herself in the mirror feeling empty. After several minutes, she wandered around the spacious apartment aimlessly, finally settling into the same chair she’d sat in after lunch. The clouds were clearing and the afternoon sun was sparkling on the water. Seeing the sun should have made her feel better, but she was irritated. How could it shine on such a black day? Every cell in her body was rubbed the wrong way by the bright beautiful visage. A few minutes later, the door bell rang.
Chuck, from the Mailroom, was standing there with a pained expression on his round face. He was such a nice kid. On of the many nice people at Columbia. It had been such a welcoming place to work, until recently. In a way she felt bad for those who were left. Who knew what was going to happen.
“Here are your boxes, Miss Holden. I wanna say again, I’m sorry this happened. You deserve better.”
“Thanks, Chuck. I’m gonna miss your jokes.” Tears welled in her eyes again. “I’m sorry. It’s been a really bad day.”
Chuck brought in the box he was holding and put it by the front door. He put his hand on her shoulder.
Wiping her eyes, Jenna said, “I’m sorry. Thanks for being so kind.”
“It’s okay. Joan told me about your fiancé. I’m real sorry. I wish there was something I could do.”
“You can come to my commiseration dinner tonight. It’s at Chin Yen at six.”
“Gee, that sounds great. We can pickle the bastards as we drink our ale. Oh, sorry. I don’t mean to make your bad day seem trivial.”
Jenna laughed. “You didn’t. Thanks for helping me feel better.”
“I’d better get back,” he said as he brought the other box in from the front stoop. “See you tonight.”
“Yep. See you tonight. And thanks.”
To pass the time until she could call her mom , she packed a bag for the weekend. At five-thirty, she was reaching for the phone, when it rang, startling her. She picked it up.
“Hello.”
“Is this Jenna Holden?”
“Yes.”
“This is Officer Parker from the Roseburg PD.”
“Yes. What can I do for you?”
“I’m sorry to tell you that your mother’s been in a terrible car accident. Can you come as soon as possible? She’s just gone by ambulance to the hospital.”
Trying to make sense of what the officer had said, she noticed a sailboat out on the Willamette, the white sail glowing pink in the glow of the descending sun. “What? What was that you said?”
“You’re mother has been in a terrible accident and is in the hospital.”
“No. It can’t be. Oh, God in heaven, Mom.”
“I’m so sorry Miss Holden. Can you drive yourself here or is there someone who can drive for you?”
“What? No.”
“Do you want us to arrange for a State Policeman or a friend to drive you down?”
“Um.” This was too much. She finally collapsed into a dreamlike comatose state. She made some reply, and the officer answered back, but his voice came to her through a fog. After she hung up she had no idea what they’d agreed upon. All she could do was sit in stunned silence, her head spinning.
Some time later, Jenna had no idea how much time had passed, her cell phone rang. The sound was distant, as if coming from another room. For some reason, she couldn’t make her hands work well enough to pick it up. When it rang for the umpteeth time, she finally managed to pick it up. It was Joan.
“Hey, where are you? We’re all getting drunk waiting for the guest of honor.”
“Oh, Joan,” Jenna couldn’t hold back the flood of tears.
“Sweetie, what’s the matter?”
“It’s mom. She’s been in a terrible accident.”
“Oh, man! I’m coming right over.” Jenna could hear the gang in the background asking questions.
“Okay. Thanks.” Jenna heard the end call beep and let the phone fall onto the table near her chair. She didn’t move until the door bell chimed. “Come in,” she tried to shout.
Then Joan was by her side. “Oh Sweetie, you’ve had one of the worst days in history. I told the gang, and Ben. Their praying for you and your mom.”
“Thanks.”
“Let me get you some water. I bet you’re dehydrated.” Joan knew where everything was in Jenna’s kitchen, since she and Ben had cooked with her on lonely nights, when Sam wasn’t home. Bringing back a large glass of water, she handed it to Jenna. “Drink it all. You need it.”
Jenna did as she was told taking lots of little sips.
“Tell me what happened.”
“I don’t know exactly. I was reaching for the phone to call mom, when the Roseburg P.D. called and said she’d been in a car accident and that she’d been sent to the hospital.”
“Is someone coming for you?”
“I don’t know. I kind of blanked out once I got the news. I think so, but I don’t know.”
“Who can we call?”
“Naomi.”
“Okay, give me your phone.” She checked Jenna’s contacts and found Naomi’s number. “Hello, Naomi? This is Joan.” Joan and Naomi had hit it off the moment they’d met at a Thanksgiving or Christmas gathering when Jenna had taken Joan home from college to meet her mother, Ella Holden. “Yeah, well, she’s in shock about more than just that. Yeah, we’ll tell you when you get here. Okay, so we’ll see you in about an hour. I will. Goodbye.” Joan ended the call and set the phone beside Jenna. “How you feeling? Any better?”
“A little. Thanks for the water. I needed that.”
“That’s okay. Now, I’m gonna to fix you something to eat.”
“No, I couldn’t eat a thing.”
“Just some soup. You can get that down.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“Good. Come with me.” Joan helped Jenna out of the chair and guided her to the kitchen.
Plopping down at the table, Jenna took a deep breath and started to talk, “You know, when Sam ended it this morning, part of me thought, good riddance. But another part of me felt like I was damaged goods. I couldn’t help thinking about all those other failed relationships. And that I’ve got to figure out why every one of them failed. Then when Mr. Drayton fired me, I felt even worse. When I got the call about mom, my brain shut down. I can’t see any reason for all this happening on one day. My mind’s a muddle. I can’t think.”
“I know, Sweetie. I don’t see it either. Right now you’ve just got to take it one step at a time. You’ve had a really bad day. It’s gonna take some time to sift through the rubble.” Joan set the soup and a box of crackers in front of Jenna. Then set the kettle to boil.
“I know you’re right, but right now I feel like one exposed nerve.”
“Oh, Honey, I wish I could change that for you,” Joan put her hand over Jenna’s. “For now, just eat.”
They sat in silence until Jenna finished the soup. Joan took the bowl and plate, rinsed them and put them in the dishwasher. The kettle whistle blew. Joan poured water over the bag of green tea and set the cup in front of Jenna. Sitting down opposite her, she took one of Jenna’s hands. “You know I’m here for you if you need me. I’ll call Ben and tell him I’m going with you.”
Jenna took a deep breath, “That’s so nice of you, but let me go see what’s happening. If the worst happens… I might need you to help me close up things here.
“Don’t think like that. She’s gonna be fine. But leaving me the extra key just in case is a good idea.”
“Sam’s and the extra one are on the key rack by the door.”
“Okay. I’ll get it when I leave. Do you need me to pack for you?”
“I started packing before I got the call. I was going home for the weekend.”
“Bring your cup and we’ll see what needs to be done.”
Jenna followed Joan upstairs to the master bedroom. The small suitcase was open on the bed. “I don’t think this’ll be enough in case you need to stay longer,” Joan said.
“Oh, a second bag.”
“I’ll get it. You just tell me what to pack.”
“I don’t know, jeans and shirts and, I don’t know. I can’t think right now.”
“Okay, I’ll take care of it.” Joan got out the extra suitcase, then gathered things she thought Jenna would need for a couple of weeks. When she was finished, they each took a bag downstairs and put them near the door. It was half past eight.
“Shouldn’t Naomi be getting here soon?” Joan asked.
“I don’t know what time she left, and it’s Friday night. Traffic could be bad on I-5.
Just then the door bell rang. They both jumped. Jenna went to answer the door. There stood Naomi, looking like a painting with her batiked shawl over flowing red slacks and tunic style shirt. Naomi reminded Jenna of a brightly colored butterfly. No matter where she went, people stopped to stare. She was small in stature, but big on personality, and every room she entered was illuminated by her presence. She enfolded Jenna a big hug. “Oh, Honey.” They stood like that for awhile. “Hi, Joan. I’m glad you’re here. And Jenna I see you’re all packed. Good, let’s hit the road.”
Taking the bags out to Naomi’s car, Joan said, “Keep me posted. You’ve got my number don’t you?” she asked Naomi. “Call anytime day or night.”
With her arm around Jenna, she directed her to the car. “Yep. I’ll call when we know something,” Naomi said.
“Thanks.” Joan hugged Jenna. “Take care of yourself. We’re all praying for you.”
“I know. Tell the gang thanks.” Jenna got in the car.
After she closed the door, Naomi said to Joan,“Quick, tell me, what else’s happened.”
“Sam left and Mr. Drayton fired her today.”
“Oh, my… Okay. Thanks. Gotta go. It’s bad.”
“I thought so. I’ll lock up.”
Naomi got into the car. Jenna turned and looked at Joan standing on the steps to the apartment.
Once on the road, Naomi told Jenna all she learned about Ella’s accident from the police. All Jenna really heard was that her mom was alive. Somehow that made her feel a little better. I’ll nurse her back to health. She clung to that thought. It was what kept her going after a day of so many shocks.
“This has been the worst day of my life.”
“Now, don’t say that. Your mom will most likely pull through.”
“I know. What I mean is that Sam broke our engagement and I was laid off today.”
“I know. Joan told me. Honey, I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah. I’m glad Joan came over. I really needed to talk. Though I didn’t know what to say.”
“We’ll get you back home and get through this crisis. Then you can figure out what to do about your future.”
That was Naomi. She was Jenna’s second mom. What would I do without her?
The rest of the ride was a blur. They rode in silence. Jenna was exhausted. She wanted to sleep and forget, yet she was keyed up. Her life was suspended in a nebulous no-man’s land with her confidence severely shaken. How was she going to cope? The accident was bad, Naomi’d said. She couldn’t imagine what life would be like without her mother. Ella was like an anchor holding her in reality. If her mother died, she thought she might fly away never to be heard of again? With her mother gone, she’d be a complete orphan with no roots. When they pulled up into the hospital parking lot, Jenna was surprised. Her mind had been rolling on a treadmill, like a hamster in a cage, going over and over the events of this devastating day. Would she ever be happy again?
Her senses were on overload. Everything that’d happened that day was imprinted on her mind in short video-like segments.
Sam’s expression of contempt when he told her he wanted to break their engagement. Then having the audacity to ask for the ring back.
Mr. Dayton’s face when he told her she was fired.
Telling her team she’d been let go.
Joan and her team at the elevator making plans for a commiseration dinner.
The boat out on the Willamette as she heard the news about her mother.
Joan sitting across from her as she ate soup.
Naomi coming to pick her up.
Even though she was now walking toward the hospital, her brain continued to record short segments starting with Naomi saying, “She’s in intensive care, Honey. Come on, the gang’s here.”
Her mother’s friends in the waiting room.
So many dear friends’ faces flashing through her memory.
Ross, her mother’s first boss, and his wife Charlotte.
Gabby, her mother’s friend from high school.
Reverend Peter, and his wife Marsha.
Fuzzy faces of a couple of people she didn’t know.
Feeling her friends surround and embrace her.
Reverend Peter saying, “Let me take you to see her.”
The corridor to her room. The floor undulating like a wave when he said, “I want to warn you, she doesn’t look like herself.”
Her mother lying on the bed, deep lacerations on her face.
The bandage on her mother’s head, and the cast on her left arm, the tent over her left leg.
The sob that escaped when she knew her mother wasn’t going to make it.
Sitting in the chair by her mother’s bed. Taking her mother’s hand.
Her mother’s calm expressionless face.
The machines clicking and beeping.
Saying, “Mom, I’m here. I love you.” The distinct feeling her mother was already gone.
The Doctor coming in. Peter introducing him. “Jenna, this is Dr. Naiobi. He was here when your mother was brought in. He’d like to talk to you.”
Dr. Naiobi’s young concerned face. His dark hair and chocolate eyes with the smile lines at their corners.
His voice coming from a great distance. “I’m sorry I don’t have better news…condition is very grave…she’s had surgery…damage to her internal organs…severe head trauma…we don’t know if she’ll recover…an injury like your mother’s, the patient did recover fully…lots of care…scan results to come in…what would you like to do if she’s brain dead?”
Here the video got fuzzy. She didn’t remember at all what he said after that.
Saying to Dr. Naiobi, “Thank you for being honest with me.”
Dr. Naiobi, putting his hand on her arm, as he left.
The look on her mother’s friends’ faces when the Doctor told them the test results were conclusive. Her mother was brain dead.
Signing the papers.
The increasing silence as each machine was turned off.
The group of friends gathered around her mother’s bed holding hands and Jenna in a cocoon.
Saying goodbye.
Leaving the hospital.
Being guided to a bed.
Oblivion.