Chapter 9
MAE
‘I can’t talk long,’ I mumbled into the phone, my mouth full of peanut butter toast.
‘Let me guess,’ Holly drawled. ‘You’re running late.’
‘Maybe.’
‘It’s your first day of proper work, Mae.’
‘I’m well aware of that.’ I rinsed the crumbs off my plate in the sink and left it on the bench to deal with later.
Normally I didn’t leave dirty dishes because I loved nothing more than coming home from work to a tidy and clean house, but Holly was right.
I was already running late on my first day out in the field.
‘It’s not my fault,’ I protested, lifting my warm parka jacket off the hook by the door and shrugging into it an arm at a time, swapping the phone from one ear to the other.
‘Alarm didn’t go off?’
‘No, the alarm went off just fine. That wasn’t the problem.’
‘Don’t tell me, the fisherman came back and you spent the night in bed together, deep sea diving for his treasures.’
I snorted. ‘He’s a lobsterman, not a fisherman. And no, sadly that did not happen.’
‘Still haven’t heard from him?’
‘No.’ I sighed. ‘Probably for the best. He went running as soon as he got that angry message from Anna, whoever she is. Knowing my luck he’s probably got a wife and six kids, couldn’t face going home that night, and thought a stranger in town would be an easy distraction.’
‘Maybe. It’s weird though. You’re normally such a good judge of character. Did you get any sleazy vibes from him?’
‘Nope. Not a single one. Maybe I’m so lonely that I subconsciously chose to overlook any red flags because at least he was someone to talk to.’
‘I hate the thought of you being lonely and in a strange place all by yourself,’ she said sadly.
‘I’m fine,’ I said brightly. Maybe if I said it convincingly enough I’d believe it myself. ‘My new colleagues have been great. Had a welcome morning tea the other day. Muffins and cheese and crackers. And the orientation went well. They all seem very nice.’
‘Not nicer than me though, right?’
‘Of course not. That’s not possible.’
‘Correct answer. OK, so if it wasn’t a faulty alarm, why are you running late?’
‘It’s this place, Holly. The sunrises are like nothing I’ve ever seen before.
Colors that I didn’t even know existed in nature.
And the ocean, the beach. It’s all right there.
I’m literally right on the shore. This morning, I took my coffee out to the front porch and I sat and watched the sun come up over the water and I just couldn’t believe that I’m really here.
I was so caught up in how amazing it all is that I completely lost track of time. ’
‘Sounds incredible.’
‘It is.’
‘I just got off a night shift where I was puked on, propositioned for sex and blamed by a man for the death of his girlfriend who overdosed on fentanyl that he administered,’ she said, ‘so I guess we’re both living the dream.’
‘I don’t miss that at all.’
‘But you miss me though, right?’
‘Always. But I’ve really got to go.’ I blew her a kiss and disconnected the call.
I had one last, quick look around the cottage to make sure I hadn’t left anything open or forgotten anything I needed to bring with me, then pulled the door shut behind me, hurrying down the steps to my car. The new tires mocked me as I unlocked the door and threw my purse over the passenger seat.
Six days. Six days since I’d arrived in Pine Harbor and met Jonah.
That whole night now seemed like a dream, or something that had happened in a parallel universe but had somehow intruded into this universe’s memories.
I hadn’t heard from him since that night, although he’d at least kept his word and sorted out his friend Connor to come and put studded snow tires onto the car for me, which I appreciated.
I’d tried to subtly probe Connor for information about Jonah while he’d worked, but the man was an impenetrable rock.
In the hour that he was here, he’d said maybe twenty words all up, fifteen of which were: ‘you’re damn lucky you didn’t drive off the road in that snow the other night.
’ He’d frowned at me like I was an idiot, and after that I’d retreated into the cottage and stayed out of his way.
The cottage was everything the photos promised it would be, and more.
Simple, with a navy and white wooden exterior.
It wasn’t very big, but I didn’t need big.
All the necessities were there, just compact.
Just 228 square feet, according to the real estate brochure.
The interior was tastefully decorated in a beach theme, with white pine walls and white and blue accessories, and consisted of a small bedroom with a king-sized bed, a bathroom with a stand-up shower, toilet and small vanity, and a lounge/dining/kitchen that was small but functional, with all the modern essentials I needed to cook meals, that is once I managed to find the supermarket and do a big shop.
For the last few nights I’d eaten boil-in-a-cup noodles, thinking wistfully of the lobster stew that Jonah and I had eaten my first night in town.
I typed the address of my first job of the day into my phone and hit start, swearing when it told me how long the journey was going to take.
It wasn’t that long, fourteen minutes, but considering the fact I was supposed to have been there two minutes ago, I was most definitely going to be late.
Not a good start on my first day on the job.
I followed the voice directions through town and out the other side, up a hill on a on a road nestled between plantations of pine trees that filled the air with the scent that reminded me that Christmas was almost here.
I loved Christmas. I loved everything about it.
The lights, the tinsel, the baubles in all the shops and houses.
The carol songs that drove everybody mad through November and December but which I never tired of.
Curling up on the couch with a blanket and a mug of hot chocolate and watching cheesy Christmas movies without an ounce of guilt.
Usually I’d spend the day with my sister Casey, her husband Alastair and my nephews, Logan and Blair.
Our parents would also be there; flying out from Florida and staying with her for a few weeks every holiday season.
My sister was an incredible chef and would effortlessly rustle up cinnamon buns for breakfast and a Christmas lunch that would rival any top restaurant.
My contribution was always my signature sundried tomato and bacon pasta salad, about the only thing I knew how to rustle up with any great confidence that was dinner-party-worthy, and a packet of buffet rolls.
This would be my first Christmas without them. The thought made me feel like crying, so I pushed it to the back of my mind.
You have reached your destination on your left.
The automated voice brought me back to the present and I slowed the car down.
The only thing on the left was a driveway that led up a steep hill, disappearing around a corner.
I debated whether to park on the road and walk up in case there wouldn’t be enough room at the top to reverse the car around. But in the end, I decided to chance it.
After almost a kilometer of driveway, I was beginning to think the robotic voice had done me wrong and led me on a wild goose chase.
Then I turned another corner and my mouth dropped open.
Literally. I pulled the car over to the side of the driveway and scrambled in my purse for the piece of paper with the address on that my new employer, Pine Harbor Nursing Association, had given me, checking it against the address I had typed into my phone while leaving the house in a hurry.
They matched. I looked up at the house in front of me again.
It was less of a house and more of a mansion.
Classic New England in style, the exterior painted a mixture of gray and white.
In front was a curved driveway with a manicured lawn roundabout in the middle, and in the middle of that was a fountain.
An actual, water fountain. Around the house there were expansive lawns, and gardens.
I slowly drove around the roundabout and stopped in front of the white marble steps, conscious that I was already late, but also wanting to take it all in.
‘I’m definitely not in Chicago any more,’ I muttered to myself as I got my nursing bag out of the trunk and made my way up the steps to the large front door, framed on each side by ornate white columns.
I reached out to knock, but as I did the door opened, leaving my hand hanging in mid-air.
The woman who had opened the door frowned at it with distaste.
‘You’re late,’ she said, then turned on her heel and stalked off inside.
‘I’m so sorry,’ I called after her, stepping inside and closing the door behind me. ‘I’m new to town and I completely underestimated how long it would take for me to get here.’
‘I don’t want your apologies, I want you to show up when you’re supposed to.’
‘Of course. It won’t happen again.’
I followed her across the foyer and up a double staircase, then down a long hallway, where she paused in front of a wooden door and gave me a sharp look. ‘I hope not. Otherwise I will be asking your manager to replace you with someone more reliable.’
I gave her a warm smile, the one that had always put patients and their families at ease. ‘That won’t be necessary.’
She sniffed, the smile clearly having zero effect on her. ‘I’ll be the one who decides that.’
Opening the door, she stepped to one side to let me through.
‘I am Eleanor Sawyer,’ she said. ‘And this is my husband, Gray. I assume the nursing association has filled you on our situation?’
I nodded, placing my bag down on the floor.
‘They have, yes. Hello, Mr. Sawyer.’ I held out my hand to the man in the bed wearing royal-blue pajamas.
He smiled, and I was relieved to know that at least one person in the house appreciated my presence.
‘I’m Mae. Your in-home nurse for the foreseeable. ’
There was another sniff behind me.
‘Unless your wife decides otherwise,’ I added. ‘In which case the agency will happily assign you someone else.’
He clasped my hand with both of his and gave it a weak squeeze. ‘Don’t worry about her. She likes to fuss over me.’
‘Someone has too,’ Eleanor stated bluntly. ‘You haven’t been looking after yourself very well, but now I’m in charge. Things are going to change.’
‘I don’t suppose you have any whiskey in that bag, do you?’ Gray asked me mournfully in a loud whisper. His speech was slow and slightly slurred, and I could tell every word was a bit of an effort for him to get out.
‘Sorry, no,’ I whispered back. ‘But if you do as you’re told over the next couple of months and your recovery goes well, I’ll see what I can smuggle in.’
‘You’ll do no such thing,’ Eleanor growled, and Gray grunted with laughter.
‘She has hearing like an owl,’ he told me. ‘You’d do well to remember that.’
I winked. ‘Duly noted. Thanks for the heads up.’
‘I like you,’ he said. ‘You have a sense of humor. So many people don’t these days.’
‘Shouldn’t you get started?’ Eleanor asked pointedly. ‘You’re already behind schedule. I’m afraid that doesn’t bode well for the rest of your patients.’
‘Of course.’ I opened my bag and pulled out what I needed, placing my stethoscope, thermometer, oximeter and blood collection kit on the bed.
‘The agency has been kind enough to ease me in gently though. I only have Mr. Sawyer this morning and another patient this afternoon, so as long as I’m not holding you up, we’re OK. ’
He pulled a face. ‘Please call me Gray. Mr. Sawyer is too formal. You’re seeing me in my pajamas after all.’
‘OK.’
He held out a hand towards Eleanor and she took it. ‘I’m sure you’ve got plenty of other things you need to be doing.’
She hovered, unsure, as if she didn’t quite trust me. ‘I think I should stay.’
He gave her a soft, tender look. ‘Allow me some dignity, please. It’s bad enough you’ve had to help me with dressing and going to the bathroom.’
She tutted. ‘You would do the same for me. In sickness and in health, remember?’
He nodded. ‘I would. But please, Mae and I will be fine. I promise.’
She gave me a hard look. ‘Very well. But I won’t be far away.’
‘I’m not sure if that was to reassure you or threaten me,’ I mused after she’d gone, as I wrapped the blood-pressure cuff around Gray’s upper arm.
He chuckled. ‘Probably both. I know my wife can be intimidating.’
I inflated the cuff. ‘She is. But I’ve met worse.’
‘Her heart is in the right place, especially when it comes to her family.’ He looked over my head towards the door and his eyes lit up. ‘Speaking of which, here’s one of my sons now.’
I turned with a smile ready on my lips to offer a greeting, but it slipped as soon as I saw who was standing in the doorway.