Chapter 3
Daisy was up early the next morning to get ready for work.
Since Mrs. McCarthy had put her in charge of the housekeeping department on a trial basis earlier in the month, she was trying to get there early every day so she was ready when the others arrived.
She only had the job at all because Maddie had put in a good word for Daisy with her mother-in-law, but Daisy was determined to do the best job she could and earn the position permanently.
Emerging from the house, she was dejected to realize it was raining. Normally, she walked the mile and a half to work every day and enjoyed the exercise and the scenery along the way. But with the rain coming down hard, she went back for her umbrella and headed to the ferry landing to hail a cab.
Ned Saunders waved her over to his cab, running around the front to open the passenger door for her.
“Thank you so much, Ned,” Daisy said as she got in and shook off her umbrella before Ned closed the door.
“Not a good day fer walkin’ about, doll,” Ned said as he fired up the old station wagon and took off toward North Harbor without even asking Daisy where she was going.
Such was life in a small town. Everyone knew your business, which wasn’t always a good thing. However, since the awful night with Truck, the island community had been extra nice to her. She hadn’t heard a word of derogatory gossip about her, though that didn’t mean there hadn’t been any.
“How ya been feelin’?”
“Much better. Thank you again to you and Francine for the casserole and the brownies. That was very nice of you both.”
“I gotta give my gal credit for that. I was just the delivery boy.”
Daisy smiled at him. He was so damned cute and crazy in love with Maddie’s mother. They gave romance losers like her hope that there might be someone out there for everyone. “Just the same, it was nice of you, and I appreciated it.”
“Our pleasure, honey. Glad to see ya up and around and back ta work. I hope yer not lettin’ Linda push ya around at the hotel. She runs a tight ship, but she’s a lot more bark than bite.”
Daisy had learned as much since she’d been promoted. “She’s been very nice to me, especially since I had to call in sick for a whole week right after I got the new job. And she brought me dinner, too.”
“That sounds like the Linda I know and love.”
He was quiet for a moment but glanced over at her twice.
“What is it that you’re dying to say to me, Ned?”
“Tisn’t my place to interfere.”
Daisy smiled at him, well aware of his sweet yet meddling propensities. “And yet…”
“I’m concerned ’bout yer new friend, Dr. David.”
“What about him?” Daisy asked, not wanting to hear anything about David that would change her opinion of him.
“His track record ain’t the best. I’d hate to see ya git hurt again, ’specially after what happened recently.”
“That’s very nice of you, Ned, and I know there are things in his past he’s not proud of. In fact, he’s going to tell me about it himself the next time I see him. If it’s all the same, I think I’d like to hear it from him.”
“Fair ’nough. So long as ya know there’s somethin’ ya need to hear. And fer what it’s worth, it’s good he wants ta tell ya ’bout it. Says somethin’ ’bout him.”
“I agree.”
“Sorry to be nosing in where my nose don’t belong.”
“You were looking out for me, and that’s very sweet of you.”
“Aww, shucks, t’ain’t nothing I wouldn’t do fer my own girls.”
Daisy thought it was doubly sweet that he thought of Maddie and her sister Tiffany as his girls, especially since their own father had been a total deadbeat until recently.
Anxious to change the subject as they approached the last intersection before the hotel, Daisy tried to think of something else to talk to him about.
And then she knew what she wanted to ask him.
“How does Maddie seem since her dad came back around? She told me he set up college funds for the kids.”
“Yep. Too little too late, if ya ask me, but ain’t no one askin’ me.”
“It’s something, anyway, but I do see what you mean. I can’t help but wonder if he did that to guilt them into spending time with him.”
“’Twas my thought as well.”
“Hmm, well, we’ll have to keep an eye on her and make sure he can’t hurt her again.”
“On that we agree.” He brought the car to a stop at the bottom of the grassy hill that led to the hotel. “If it’s still rainin’ this afternoon, I’ll be back to getcha at four.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want ta do it, so don’t give me no sass.”
Daisy laughed and shook her head at him as she reached for her wallet.
His hand covered hers. “Keep yer money, doll. Tain’t no good here.”
Charmed by him, Daisy leaned over to kiss his cheek. “You’re the best. Thank you.”
Daisy scrambled up the hill under the umbrella, thinking about her chat with Ned and more concerned now about whatever it was that David had to tell her.
She tried to push those worries aside as she got busy preparing the schedule for the next week and organizing the supply order that was due by noon so the delivery could make the Friday ferry.
At nine-thirty, she met with “her” team of housekeepers, which still made her feel like an imposter.
What was she doing overseeing Sylvia, Betty, Sarah and Maude, who, along with Maddie, had taught her everything she knew about hotel housekeeping?
When their old boss Ethel retired, Maddie had been promoted.
After Hailey was born, she’d decided to stay home with her kids and had recommended Daisy for the job, which Daisy still couldn’t believe.
She’d cried like a baby when Maddie first told her that she’d encouraged Mrs. McCarthy to put her in charge.
And she’d totally understood when Mrs. McCarthy asked for a summer-long probationary period so they could make sure it was a good fit for both of them before they made it permanent.
Daisy had never had a job with benefits or paid vacation or the kind of salary she was earning.
Even with the increased salary, however, the cost of living on the island was rising all the time, and she was constantly short on cash.
However, she had health insurance for the first time since she left home ten years ago at eighteen, and she was going to do this job brilliantly even if it killed her.
Some days she wondered if it would actually kill her, because she was working as hard as she ever had, even if the labor wasn’t as physical as it used to be.
As the manager, she still ran up and down three flights of stairs all day long and was wiped out at the end of every shift—more so since she’d been injured.
She didn’t want Mrs. McCarthy to think she couldn’t handle the job, so she’d been pushing herself since she’d come back to work.
As she returned to her office at noon, her entire body ached, and she was anxious to take a painkiller to get through the afternoon.
Two pills would be ideal, but the second one would put her to sleep.
One pill would take the edge off the pain radiating from her ribs.
Daisy popped the pill and chased it with a drink of water.
Maddie came to the door, looking a little bleary-eyed, which was to be expected after her big night out.
“Hungover?” Daisy asked with a cheeky grin for her friend.
“Maybe a little.”
“I’m surprised you can move today,” Daisy said, inviting her into the office.
Maddie slid into the visitor chair and took a closer look at Daisy. “Are you okay? You’re pale.”
“Little bit of pain, so I just took a pill. It’ll be better soon.”
“I hope you’re not pushing yourself too hard, Daisy. You were seriously injured, and you only took a week off.”
“I’m fine. I promise. I love the job, and I want to be here.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
“I hired two new girls for the summer. They’ll be here next weekend. My first hires. Fingers crossed.”
“Look forward to meeting them.”
“I can’t thank you enough for giving me this opportunity. You have no idea what it means to me.”
“Yes, I do. It wasn’t that long ago that I was living on a shoestring. I understand how new opportunities can change a life. And you don’t have to keep thanking me, Daisy. I recommended the person who I thought would be best for the job.”
“It feels weird sometimes, being the boss of Betty, Sarah, Maude and the others. They’ve been here forever.”
“And they don’t want to be the boss. I had the same concerns, but Linda told me they didn’t want the job. They were nothing but supportive of me when I was in charge.”
“They’ve been great to me, too. They kept me in food while I was recovering.”
“It’s a nice group, and they’ll take good care of you.”
“Keep the assurances coming. I need as many as I can get.”
“You won’t believe what happened last night after you left.”
“What?”
“Thomas caught us… you know…”
“No way.” Daisy laughed at the tortured look on Maddie’s face. “What did he say? What did you say?”
“It was awful. He wanted to know why Daddy was hurting me.”
Daisy laughed so hard tears ran down her cheeks.
Maddie balled up a tissue from the box on Daisy’s desk and threw it at her. “It’s not funny!”
“Yes, it is.” Daisy wiped her face with the tissue. “You must’ve been dying.”
“I still am. He doesn’t understand why mommies and daddies like to snuggle without their clothes.”
That set Daisy off all over again.
Even Linda McCarthy’s appearance at the door couldn’t stop the laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Linda asked, bending to kiss her daughter-in-law’s cheek.
“I can’t tell you,” Maddie said. “It’s too embarrassing.”
“Can I tell her?” Daisy asked, wiping her face again.
Maddie put her hands over her ears. “If you must.”
“Thomas caught them…” Daisy rolled her hand, encouraging Linda to fill in the blanks.
“Daisy’s right. That is funny.”
“Glad you think so,” Maddie grumbled.
“Tell her the part about mommies and daddies snuggling without their clothes,” Daisy said, losing it all over again.
Linda joined in the laughter, clearly enjoying Maddie’s dismay.