1) Paper Snowflakes (the original, isn't a sequel)
2) To Dance In An English Garden
3) A Night To Remember
4) The Trick Is To Keep Breathing
5) Life In A Heartbeart
6) With Me (the last in the series)

*Disclaimer: I don't own "The Pretender" or any of its characters. Thanxfor not suing!   ~Oriana
 
 

~~~~~~~~~
 
 

Miss Parker slammed the front door behind her, and immediately regrettedthe action as the noise increased her headache. Tossing her keys on thehallway table, she made a beeline for a glass and the cold bottle of vodkain the kitchen, a welcome treat after the blazing July sun outside.

With a moan she willingly curled up on the sofa, trying to mentallyerase the entire day. She hadn't been sleeping well all week, and lastnight she'd only managed two hours. Lyle'd had the nerve to meet her rightat the door to the Centre, and start in on his newest whining. They'd beenbickering on and off all day, allowing just enough time for people to keepdropping paperwork off at her office. Around one, after taking her irritationout on Syd and Broots (more than usual) and downing enough aspirin to tranquilizean elephant, Parker decided it was time to go home before she killed someone(where was Brigitte when you needed her?).

Parker was just beginning to doze off when the cordless phone a fewfeet away began to ring. Much as she wanted to ignore it, the shrill ringingwas killing her. Rubbing her temples, she walked over to the phone, pickedit up and retreated back to the sofa before bothering to activate it.

"What?" she snapped.

An accented voice stuttered on the other end. "H-hullo? Um, you, youdon't know me, b-but..."

Parker looked up to the ceiling and rolled her eyes. This lady was asmuch a stutterer as Broots. "If I don't know you, then how did you getthis number? It's unlisted."

"I didn't--get your telephone number, that is...I mean, you were thefirst t-that..."

Parker was fed up with this. "I'm hanging up now--"

"No, wait! Please, it's very important." Parker hesitated just longenough for the other woman to continue. "There's a man here...he's notwell. I believe you should know him—his name is Jarod."

Parker shot up, and ignored the shots of pain in her head, the otherwoman suddenly having her full attention. "Jarod? What is it? What's wrongwith him?"

"Well, to be honest I don't know. None of us do. But his behavior...ithas us all very concerned."

"Who's 'us'?"

"The other workers and I here at the Swan Inn of Lavenham."

Parker reached over for a pen and pad of paper, and quickly scribbleddown the name. "I don't recognize the place. Which state is that?"

"State? Oh, you're mistaken. Lavenham is in England."

"England!" What the hell was Jarod doing in Europe?

"Y-yes miss. Eastern England, Essex County."

A thought came to Parker, and she asked urgently, "Did Jarod ask foryou to call me?"

The Englishwoman replied a little guiltily, "Well, no, miss. If I'vedone anything wrong, I'm terribly sorry--"

"No," Parker quickly cut her off. "I'm appreciative, really. I was justwondering how you got my number, is all."

"Well, he left his cellular at his table after dinner last night. Iwent up this morning to give it to him along with his breakfast tray, andthat's when I saw how bad he'd gotten."

"What do you mean?"

"He was pale, dark rings under his eyes. Seemed to be tremblin' a bit.Something told me to hang on to the phone. And then, later when I wentto fetch his tray, I found it outside his door. Not a crumb of that foodhad been touched, miss. And I knocked on the door, to see if he neededanything else, but he didn't answer."

"Maybe he'd just gone out."

"No, miss. He hasn't left the inn since he arrived, two days ago. Anyhow,it got to me so much, I thought I'd try his speed dial, see if someoneshould come up here. And you're number one on his speed dial, so..."

"You were right to call. Listen, can you give me the inn number?"

"Of course. From the US you can dial 1-800-225-5843. Just ask for Mary,and I'll give you any help I can, miss."

"Okay, thank you. I'll call back in just a few minutes, all right?"

"Right, miss." Parker hung up, then reactivated the phone and dialedSydney's number at the Centre. After two rings, he answered.

"Syd, it's me. We've got a problem..."

~~~~~~~~~

It had been a long and complicated trip, getting from Blue Cove to Lavenham.After driving to New York's JFK Airport, she'd flown overseas to England'sHeathrow Airport, having to put up with some bratty kid kicking the backof her seat the whole way. From there, she'd had to catch the HeathrowExpress to London, and find a cab to take her to the North Street Station.The train there took her to Colchester, then there was the connector toSudbury. At Sudbury, she eventually found Beeston's Coaches, Ltd., whichoffered buses to Lavenham. Traveling from London to Lavenham alone took2 1/2.

By the time she arrived at the Swan Inn, exhausted and irritable, Parkerhad decided that if Jarod wasn't on his death bed, she was going to puthim there.

"May I help you?" a kindly man offered as she tossed her luggage downnext to the front desk.

"I certainly hope so," she sighed. "I'm looking for an employee of yours,Mary James."

A petite woman with mousy brown hair approached the desk. "Miss Parker?"

"Mary?"

"Yes, miss. I'm glad you've arrived."

"Where is he?" Parker asked, looking around expectantly.

"Upstairs still."

"Still?" she echoed in disbelief. "You mean he hasn't left at all sincewe last spoke?"

"That's right."

"But it's been nearly 24 hours!"

Mary nodded. "I'll take you up to his room." She led the way up to thesecond level, explaining as they went, "The second-story bedrooms openonto a tiny cloistered garden, so he requested one of those." Stoppingat a door, she turned to Parker. "Here it is. I'll go downstairs and seeto your luggage, miss. I've reserved the room next door for you, so I'lljust leave the door unlocked."

"Thank you, Mary."

"Yes, miss." Mary headed off down the stairs. Parker took a deep breath,then knocked. No answer. Feeling increasingly concerned, she gave anotherknock, longer and louder. Still no answer.

"Jarod? Are you there?" There was no reply, but she could sense thathe was inside. Trying the door, she was surprised to find it unlocked.Jarod was not the careless type.

Slowly, she opened the door and walked inside, shutting it softly behindher. The room was quite large, but was in a sort of L-shape, so that shecouldn't see anything but the bed in front of her. It wasn't until sheturned the corner that Jarod came into sight. He sat, with his face onlypartially in view, in one of two wicker chairs set down near the balcony.His eyes were in the direction of the garden, but he seemed unfocused.Jarod was just a few feet from Parker, but it felt like he was a thousandmiles away.

For a moment, it seemed as if she couldn't even breath. She understoodnow why Mary and the others had been so concerned. His shoulders were slumped,his hair was unkept, and it looked as if he hadn't changed in days.

It was his face that was the worst, though. His eyes, red and puffy,as though he'd been crying for hours on end, were hollow, completely lackingof that warm twinkle Parker had accepted as Jarod's signature. A thin stubblehad begun on his chin.

"Oh, god...Jarod." Her voice was just above a whisper, and quivered.This person was nothing more than a shell of the man she knew. His troubledmind was tangible, making the air somehow seem thick.

At the sound of his name, he turned slightly in his chair. Jarod lookedat her, but it was a moment before he actually focused, and really sawher. He didn't say anything, but his eyes began to water.

"Jarod...what's happened?" she whispered. She reached a hand out, andhe jerked away. Parker withdrew her hand, and took a few steps back, wantingto give him room. Jarod turned his attention back to the garden, and hisown brooding thoughts. Unsure of what to do next, she looked about theroom, hoping for some sign of what had brought him to this point.

She gave a silent gasp when she spotted what was on the dresser. There,on its own, was a gun. Parker hurried over to it instantly, expertly checkingthe clip and relieved to find all bullets accounted for. Still, she wasshook just by the sight of it. Jarod detested guns. It didn't make sensefor him to have one right here in his room.

Trembling, and scared for Jarod like she'd never been before, Parkerjust stood, watching him. He was crying, not a loud sob, but quiet tears.She needed to do something, take action. She couldn't just stand here,watching her childhood friend fall apart.

Parker's mind raced over ideas, something, anything. Then her mind struckupon something. Before heading out the door, she said gently, "Jarod, I'mgoing downstairs, just for a moment. I promise I'll be right back."

He didn't reply, and as much as it hurt her, she hadn't expected muchelse. Moving quietly out of the room, she headed downstairs and found Mary.

"Mary, could you get a tray put together, and have it brought up toJarod's room, please?"

"Of course, miss. Anything in particular?"

Miss Parker thought for a moment. "Nothing too heavy, I don't think.Some juice, a couple sandwiches, anything light."

"Right. I'll get it from the inn's cafe instead of the dining room.They've got a wider selection of light foods."

"Great. Has my luggage been taken up yet?"

"Yes, miss, your things have been placed on your bed." Parker noddedand turned to go, but Mary stopped her. In a low, confidential voice, sheasked, "Is he any better?"

Parker sighed. "Honestly, I haven't a clue. In a way, I hope not. I'dhate to think that he was worse than this at some point." Wearily, shewalked back upstairs, this time stopping in her own room. She didn't sparetime to put her things away, just took out a very small jewelry box. Openingit, she withdrew the necklace Jarod had given her seven months ago, asa Christmas gift. Parker slipped it on, pulled her hair back into a ponytail(Lavenham was as hot as Blue Cove), grabbed her cell phone and headed backover to Jarod's room.

She opened the door, and was surprised to find Jarod curled up on thefour-poster bed, sound asleep. Sighing and rubbing her temples (she wasdetermined not to let a migraine divert her attention from the problemat hand), Parker closed the balcony doors and dragged one of the wickerchairs close to his bedside. Outside, it was nearing dusk, and the roomwas lit with the dulling light of the falling sun.

There was a gentle rap at the door, and Parker hurried to answer itbefore the noise awakened Jarod. After taking the food tray and thankingMary with a silent nod, she slid the door shut, placed the tray on thedresser, and returned to her post.

Parker watched Jarod for nearly half an hour, the only illuminationnow from the old-fashioned lamp posts scattered throughout the garden outside.It was just enough to see his outline. A few times she indulged the needto place a hand on his side, just to make sure he was all right. He seemedso still, it frightened her. This was a sleep of utter exhaustion.

Finally, she reached for her cell phone, then walked to the farthestopposite corner of the room and dialed Syd's number, praying Jarod wouldn'thear the noise of the phone.

Syd didn't even give the phone half a ring before picking up. "Syd,it's me."

"Thank goodness. I've been worried. How's Jarod?"

With a shaken sigh, Parker replied, "I don't know, Syd."

"Well, have you been to see him?"

"Oh, yes. I'm in his room right now, watching him sleep."

"Have you two spoken?"

Parker gave a small, sad laugh. "I spoke. He just stared outside."

"That certainly doesn't sound promising," he remarked with concern."Perhaps I should fly out there."

"No, that's not a good idea. Centre's two biggest workaholics takingvacations at the same time is bound to raise some suspicions. Besides,I need you to help out Broots. Try and figure out just what the hell happened."

"I have the feeling this isn't medical."

"Physically, I'd say a day of rest and plenty of good food would doit. But mentally..."

"Jarod's strong," he assured her. "I'm sure he'll pull through this."He was much more convincing than he felt.

After a pause, Parker replied, but her voice was shaky. "Easy for youto say. You're not here, Syd. God, he used to look so...young, innocent."He was surprised at the emotion in her voice. And, if he wasn't mistaken,she sounded as though she were on the verge of tears. "Now..." She stoppedagain, try to get control, but didn't succeed much. "I'm afraid to evenleave him alone in the room. The way he is, I'm terrified he's going toslit his wrists or something."

"Jarod's been through hard times, but he's never seemed a likely candidatefor suicide," he quickly pointed out.

"Yeah, and he's never been big on guns, either, yet there's one notbut three feet from me." Sydney couldn't think of a reply to that. Hervoice was quivering now, and her eyes were watering. "Listen to me, Syd.I need to know what's going on. Find out whatever it is--a pretend, maybe.Something's affecting him, affecting him badly. Call me when you get something."She deactivated the phone without waiting for his answer.

As she sat there with the phone in her hand, Jarod began to whimperin his sleep. Reaching forward, she brushed a reassuring hand across hisforehead. "Shh, shh. It's okay, I'm here."

He settled down, became still again, but not for long. Soon he was cryingout in his sleep once more, and as before she comforted him. And so thenight continued on, as Parker kept her vigilance over Jarod.
 
 
 

Please send any feedback to: angelheart15@hotmail.com
 
 

Part 2