Chapter 18
Chapter
Eighteen
Jinx was the first one to greet me the next morning, quickly followed by a text message from Dr. Adam to tell me that Ronald was awake and asking for me.
A tiny thrill shot through me as I raced to get dressed. I may not have stopped the Coranians for good, but Ronald was alive and well. That had to count for something.
I drove my golf cart to Terrapin at maximum speed, calling out greetings to Neighbors along the way. It was good to be home again.
To be safe.
I hurried to Ronald’s condo, eager to see the elf in reality instead of his dream.
“All hail, the conquering hero,” Ronald declared, as I entered the living room. The elf was fully dressed and had traded his bed for the sofa. There was a soft glow to his cheeks and the tips of his pointed ears. He looked like a new man.
“How do you feel, Ronald?”
“Alive, thanks to you.” He glanced at Dr. Adam. “Both of you.”
“And that cane of yours.” I sat on the ottoman and faced him. “I’d love to know the story behind it when you’re feeling up to it.”
He recoiled slightly. “Is it against the rules? Will you take it from me?”
“No one’s taking it from you,” I said. “I promise.”
Relief flooded his face. “I’m already grieving one loss. I don’t think I could manage another.” He averted his gaze. “Is it wrong to miss her, even knowing what she was?”
“It’s completely understandable.” Leanne had hooked him like a drug. It would take time to cleanse his system of all traces of the intoxicating faerie.
“It’s perfectly acceptable to grieve her,” Dr. Adam said. “She was important to you, and now she’s gone.”
“But she shouldn’t have been—important, I mean. Leanne was like worshipping a false god. She wasn’t who she claimed to be. The relationship wasn’t even real.”
“It was to you,” Dr. Adam said, “and that’s what matters.”
Ronald sniffed. “I appreciate you. You could’ve let me wither away to a shell, but you both stuck with me.”
“Have you considered Date Night at the clubhouse?” Dr. Adam asked. “It’s like speed dating, except slower.”
“Slower? Now you’re speaking my language,” Ronald said, brightening.
“There are two rows of participants,” Dr. Adam began.
“Depending on your social orientation, you sit down with someone for ten minutes each and continue along the row. By the end of the evening, you either plan a date with someone you’ve met, or you’ve spent a lovely evening getting to know your Neighbors. ”
“Ten minutes seems reasonable,” Ronald said, mulling it over. “I wouldn’t get past my name in two minutes.”
“Do you know Henry and Neera?” I asked. “That’s how they met. They were married last year.”
Ronald seemed to warm to the idea. “It would be nice to get out and talk to people again. I’ve spent too much time staring at these four walls. I know every crack and piece of peeled paint.”
Now Ronald was speaking my language. Between my office and my cottage, I knew all the details of both interiors, good and bad. Did I do anything about the imperfections, though?
Nope. Too much effort.
“Welp,” Dr. Adam said, slapping his thighs. “We’ll leave you to get reacquainted with the world.” The druid rose to his feet.
Ronald’s smile intensified to a beam. “You know what? I’m actually looking forward to it. I think I’ll check the volleyball schedule.”
“Take care, Ronald,” I said, following Dr. Adam into the hallway.
The healer turned to face me. “I was so excited to see Ronald that I skipped breakfast. Would you like to grab something to eat? My treat.”
As much as it pained me, I had to unhook the druid and toss him gently back in the water. “I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
“If you have plans, I’d take a rain check.”
“You’re very kind. It’s one of the qualities I like about you.”
He frowned. “Why do I sense a ‘but’ coming?”
“But I think you should pursue breakfast, lunch, and dinner with someone capable of sharing those meals with you.”
Amusement tugged at the ends of his mouth. “You’re not capable of sharing meals? I won’t eat off your plate, promise.”
“It’s not a reflection of you, Adam. Not in any way, shape, or form. You’re handsome and smart and compassionate. You have the best qualities a person can have.”
But I didn’t.
“That all sounds promising,” he said, forcing a smile. “Why not share breakfast, lunch, and dinner with someone like that?”
“Because it wouldn’t end well, and then we’d be constantly either avoiding each other or awkwardly running into each other. There’d be no escape from the pain.”
The druid’s face softened. “Maya, you don’t escape pain by physically removing yourself.
” He paused. “Well, you do if there’s an imminent threat of harm, but what you’re describing is an internal process.
The ‘escape’ happens when you deal with your feelings instead of suppressing them.
Anyway, you’ve gotten ahead of yourself.
You’ve skipped to the sad ending without acknowledging all the wonderful parts that can happen in between.
There’s a lot of excellent culinary experiences to be shared during those meals. ”
“And they would only make the inevitable end more painful. Better to skip them all together.” Despite my pushback, I knew he wasn’t wrong.
Stephen had suppressed his negative emotions and look how well that had turned out for him.
The last thing this island needed was a Shadow Maya running amok.
The Neighbors would be praying for a death like Darlene’s.
Dr. Adam cocked his head. “What is it, Maya? You look like you have more on your mind.”
I debated what to say next. I wasn’t in the mood to talk about myself, not that I ever was. Silence was my constant companion. It was safe, it was comfortable, and I saw no reason to invite discomfort for the sake of it.
Dear gods. Was I like Stephen?
No. I was suppressing information, not feelings. My situation was different. I had to believe that, because the alternative was too alarming to contemplate.
“I’m flattered by your interest, really, and I think you’re a catch.”
“But you’re not casting a net.”
“No.”
“All right, then. I respect ‘no’ as a complete sentence, so I’ll leave it there, but if you ever want to spend time with me as a friend or as a patient, I’m here for you, Maya. Always.”
“Thank you. I appreciate you saying that.”
A strange sense of grief rippled through me as we parted ways. I knew I wasn’t right for him, yet I still felt a pang of loss. I understood Ronald more than he knew.
A call from Justine slapped the self-pity out of me. “Do you know anything about the rainbow pinwheels that have popped up all over the island?”
I feigned ignorance. “Pinwheels? No. What’s a pinwheel?”
“Never mind. What happened in Savannah? I expect a full report by the end of the day.”
“You’ll have it, don’t worry.” I slid behind the wheel of my golf cart.
“And now for the big announcement.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. “You finally got that rose tattoo you’ve been talking about?”
“Even better. I’ve chosen your new assistant director of security,” Justine announced with uncharacteristic flair. “You can thank me profusely at the next board meeting.”
“Wait, what? I thought you were including me in the process.”
“That was my initial plan, but then you’ve been so busy, I figured I’d do you a favor and lighten your load. You’re welcome.”
“What if I don’t like them? What if we bicker?”
“You and Judd bickered like an old married couple. That didn’t stop you from being a dynamic duo.”
“I know, but that was part of our routine. I don’t know this new person.”
“You didn’t know Judd when you first met him either. A friend is just a person you haven’t met yet, right?”
“Have you met me, Justine? Someone I haven’t met yet is exactly the way I’d like to keep it.”
“I promise you’re going to be happy with my choice, Maya. And Judd would approve.”
Well, it was hard to argue with that. Judd had been a stickler, and Justine wasn’t one to blast sunshine up my ass. “When do I get to meet this new addition?”
“They’re on their way to your office right now, so if you’re not there, I suggest you make haste.”
“Make haste? Who are you sending—Shakespeare?”
“The Bard was only magical with his words, sadly.”
“I’m making haste right now,” I said, pressing down on the gas pedal.
“Good. You’re going to be thrilled with my choice, Maya. I just know it.”
I highly doubted it.
I sped to my office and unlocked the door with a shaky hand. I would’ve liked at least one full day to recover from recent events before Justine tossed a live grenade into my office.
A knock on the door immediately followed my entrance. Miguel popped his head inside. “Hey there. Sorry to bother you, but there’s someone here who says she works with you now. I didn’t want to let her in unless you gave the okay.”
“You’re the best, Miguel, thanks. You can send her in.”
“It’s true, then?”
“According to Justine, it is.”
“I guess she’ll be helpful to you. You’ve been so busy.”
“That’s what everyone keeps telling me.” I mean, it was true, but a part of me enjoyed the busyness. Less time to dwell on anything else.
Miguel continued to hover in the crack of the doorway.
“Is there something else?”
“I was wondering if you might want to fix yourself up first, before I introduce you. Maybe cover the stain on your shirt?”
“Always looking out for me, Miguel.” I grabbed a hoodie I’d left on the back of my chair and zipped it over my T-shirt. Classy as ever.
“I have a comb if you need to borrow one,” Miguel said. “Or you can wear my hat.” He removed his Eagles hat and offered it to me.
“Who is this new hire? A queen?” I waved off his hat and rummaged through my side drawer for a wide-toothed comb.
“First impressions are important,” Miguel said. “You only get one chance to make one.”
“Fair enough.” I dragged the comb through my frizz. “Send her in. I’m presentable now.”
Miguel disappeared from view. I scanned the office to see whether I could tidy up fast enough, but I decided it would have to wait. Too much mess, too little time.
Miguel pushed open the door wide enough to reveal the new recruit.
She was shorter than Miguel, maybe five foot four, with luminous golden-toned arms and brown hair fashioned in a French braid.
Her features suggested girl-next-door—a low-bridged nose with a round tip, wide-set brown eyes, and a set of rosebud lips slathered with pink gloss that probably tasted like bubblegum.
“Maya August, this is Penny Beaufort. Penny, meet your new boss.”
All the air left my lungs. I stared at her, unable to form words. Of all the possibilities Justine could’ve selected, Penny Beaufort was by far the worst one.
“I keep trying to figure out what she is,” Miguel said, giving Penny a good-natured nudge. “I think I’ve been through the whole roster of supernaturals, but I haven’t guessed right yet.”
“I gave him a couple hints,” Penny said. “Want to hear them?”
“No need,” I said, as my stomach twisted into a pretzel factory. This was bad, so very bad.
“You know?” Miguel asked, with a raise of his eyebrows.
Oh, I knew. And gods help us all.
Gods help me.
“Hey, are you a demon?” Miguel pivoted toward her. “I haven’t guessed a demon yet, have I?”
“Nope,” Penny said, grinning widely. “I’m rarer than that.”
I forced a welcoming smile. “She’s far more powerful than that too.”
The vampire looked at Penny with renewed interest. “You’ve got my full attention. What could be rarer and more powerful than a demon?”
The sound of my heartbeat pounded in my ears.
“Penny Beaufort is a fury.”