Chapter 22 #2
I believed what she said about Baird, but I was worried about his temper. I texted Ewan that Jasper would be fine. I wanted to tell him about Isobel, but it was too much for a text.
After making some notes on Jasper’s and Isobel’s files, I checked on everyone again. The patients were asleep, and Abigail was stretched out between two office chairs with a blanket over her.
“I’m awake,” she said. “Just resting my eyes.”
I grinned. “No worries. Come get me if you need anything.”
“All good,” she said sleepily.
It didn’t seem right to leave her, but she would give me a hard time if I didn’t.
“I’m going to watch TV for a bit,” I said.
In the living room, I settled on the couch and turned on the television.
Thanks to Mara and Jasper, I had a new thing for holiday baking shows.
We’d been trying to convince Jasper to try out for one.
I tuned into an American Halloween one where they made gruesome cakes and goodies.
I wasn’t much good in the kitchen, but I appreciated those with that talent.
I was definitely a foodie. I ate all the food.
The next thing I knew, Abigail gently touched me on the shoulder.
I popped up. Years of long shifts in the ER gave me the ability for instant alertness. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s eight,” she said. “Jasper is doing much better. No fever. And our other patient is still resting comfortably. I think she was exhausted. I need to go get Tommy. Will you be OK for a bit, while I leave?”
“Did you get any sleep at all?”
“You know I don’t need much.”
“Go get Tommy and head home. I’ve got the patients. I had no idea I slept so long. I’m sorry. I meant to relieve you after a few hours.”
“I’m really fine. They slept most of the night, and so did I. That, and I promised Tommy he could work in the garden today. He’s determined to check on his pumpkins.”
In addition to flowers and animals, the young man had a thorough knowledge of gourds.
“Promise me you’ll catch a nap in the guest room.”
“Deal,” she said.
Her phone dinged. “Henry’s here. I’ll be back soon.” She took off with a smile on her face. That romance was so sweet, and I loved that Henry was a big fan of Tommy, as well.
After making some coffee, I took a small carafe with cups back to the surgical suites. I put on a mask and gloves. Jasper was up and smiled when I entered his room. “Coffee?”
“Gasping,” he said.
I poured him some. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better thanks to you lot. Can I go home?”
“Pretty soon.”
I shut the sliding glass door and went to check the computer.
“Excuse me, I need the loo,” Isobel said.
I may have jumped and squeaked.
She seemed surprised. “Did you forget I was here?” she asked.
“I thought you were still asleep. How do you feel? I brought some coffee,” I said. I had thought to add an extra cup, just in case she woke up while I was back there.
“I’d love a cup, but after the loo.”
“Right. Just down the hall, on the right.”
She rolled down the hallway, her knee up on the scooter we’d provided the night before.
I turned back to Jasper. “OK, Mr. Baker, you can go home, but another forty-eight hours of rest, and no work. You’ll be fine in twenty-four, but this infection spreads like crazy. I don’t want to take a chance with your customers.”
“Understood. My staff, and it sounds fancy to say that, has it well under control. We’ll be closed today, anyway, to get ready for the masquerade ball at your boyfriend’s house. I’m sad to miss that one. I had a tux and a date.”
“Soup and soft foods,” I said, ignoring his jabs about Ewan.
“No reason to irritate that throat any more than necessary.” My phone dinged.
I glanced at it. “And right on cue. Mara has chicken and rice soup ready for you. She’ll send it over when you’re ready.
I’ll give you a ride home, let me check on my other patient. ”
“I’ll be fine. It’s just down the row. I can walk.”
“Nope. I’ll be giving you a ride. You drink your coffee.” I slid the door closed again, just as Isobel came back around the corner.
“OK. Let’s take a look at your ankle,” I said. I followed her into the suite. She sat up on the bed.
“That cheek looks bad, how does it feel?”
“It’s not hurting. I checked it in the loo mirror. It looks far worse that it feels.”
“That happens a lot with facial injuries. The blood vessels are so close to the skin.”
I unwrapped her ankle. It was swollen and blackish blue. “This one on the other hand is going to need a few weeks.”
She sighed. “I have so much to do making plans for my brother.” She blew out a breath. “I hope Baird is OK. I tried to text him, but he didn’t answer.”
“I—I’m sure he’s fine,” I said.
She smiled. “I know what you think. He was just upset, and I didn’t handle it well. We’re both too emotional right now. I tend to go inward emotionally and right now, I need peace. And he expresses his feelings differently.”
“Yes, but he scared you. Even if he didn’t touch you, that’s never OK.”
“I know that. Truly, I do. And I probably wouldn’t take it from any other man, but I know he would never hurt me.
He wasn’t mad at me. It was all about Robert.
” She held up a hand. I did that all the time.
“But I hear you. What he did was wrong, and I’ll be more than happy to tell him so.
He’s going to feel bad. I promise. He’s never done that around me.
Though my brother has always said he has a temper. ”
She frowned.
“What?”
“The woman who was the witch, Marigold? Do you think she hurt my brother?”
“Why would you think that?”
“I remember she was upstairs before everything started that night. They were talking but I couldn’t hear what they were saying. They didn’t seem upset. I’m beginning to think everyone is the enemy,” she said.
“No one could blame you.”
“I hate being so paranoid. I’m usually easy going.”
“Please, give yourself some grace. You’ve been through so much and I know people say that. But it’s true. I’m here for you, though.”
“I—uh—”
“What?”
“I have a huge favor to ask you.”
“Of course, you know I’ll help.”
“Would you go with me to the caravan park? I need to get my stuff from my brother’s place. And I need some space. I think I’m going to go home to Edinburgh until the services. I need my own things around me.”
“That’s understandable. I’m happy to go with you, but I think we should take the Constable or one of his team with us.”
“No. It isn’t like that. I’m not afraid. It’s that if Baird asks me to stay, I can’t say no to him. I care about him, and he’s lost his best friend. But I need to be by myself. I know that makes me sound awful.”
“It makes you sound smart,” I said. “You don’t need more emotional upheaval. You are allowed to put up boundaries whenever you need them.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“No problem. I need to run my friend Jasper home. It will take me five minutes. Then we’ll grab your things. Do you have a car? It’s going to be difficult for you to drive with that ankle.”
“No. I took the train. Does it even run today? I could use some of those wonderful stories. It’s a magical ride.”
“Agreed, and it does, but not until one. You are welcome to stay here, and then I’ll run you up there in time to head home. Do you have someone who can pick you up on the other end? The scooter is great but not meant for long distances.”
“I do.”
“Alright. I’ll be back in a bit.”
After depositing Jasper at his place and making sure he had everything he needed. I sent Mara a text to check on him in a bit and to bring him soup. She sent a thumbs up emoji.
Then I headed to the caravan park with Isobel. I made sure I had my pepper spray in my bag. One could never be too careful in these situations. I almost texted Ewan, but Isobel appeared calm and unworried about what we might find. She swore it was just about moral support.
I’d been called out to the park a few times to do some home visits.
Several older patients had caravans that looked out onto the Highlands.
I never minded coming up here. It was beautiful and wooded, with caravans spaced on paved spots and walkways.
The pavement made it easier for Isobel to get out of the car. I handed her the scooter.
The caravan we had pulled up to appeared fairly new and was attached to a big truck, or a lorry as they called them here.
She made a face.
“What?”
“I forgot about the stupid stairs.”
“Right. I’ll go in, and you sit on one of the steps. Tell me where your stuff is, and I’ll get it bagged up for you.”
“I can’t ask you to do that. I just need my purse. I can get the rest later.”
“It’s no problem.”
She knocked on the door. “Baird, are you in there?”
“Would he be here? Doesn’t he have his own caravan?”
“He does. It’s across the way. I just thought he might have waited for me to come back.” She handed me the key. “Are you sure about this?”
“We’re friends. I would do this for any one of mine.” I used the key to unlock the door. Then I stepped inside. It was clean. As if someone had gone overboard scrubbing with lemons. The way she’d said he’d acted, I figured there would be a mess.
“Huh.”
“What? Is he in there?” she asked.
“No. But it’s very tidy.”
“It is?” She sounded as surprised as me. She maneuvered so she could sit on the top step, and leaned back, her eyes growing bigger. “He must have cleaned up.”
“At least, he didn’t leave a mess.”
She made another face. “Um. Doc, can we check on him? I’m worried. He was in such a state. I should have come back.”
“Don’t panic. I’m sure he’s sleeping it off.”
“Please,” she said. “I can’t leave unless I know he’s OK.”
“OK.”
She scooted over on the step so I could pass.
“It’s that one?” I pointed to the caravan on the other side of the sidewalk.
“Yes.” She followed me.
This home was smaller, but he was used to living on the rig. It probably didn’t bother him.
I knocked on the door. No one answered. “He doesn’t seem to be home.”
“He sleeps hard. Go on in, he won’t mind.”