The Sea Glass Cottage

by RaeAnne Thayne

  “I have clothes. When Caitlin brought me my own pajamas to wear here in the hospital, I had her toss in a dress for the trip home.”

  “Smart. Much more convenient.”

  “I thought so.” Juliet seemed to become more awake from her nap. “You look tired. Are you sleeping all right?”

  Her mother was the one lying in a hospital bed with a broken hip and she was worried about how Olivia slept?

  “I’m fine,” she answered. “I was at the garden center late.”

  “Oh, right. Yesterday was Thursday. That must mean you had a new shipment from the wholesaler.”

  “That’s right. It took us past ten to unload the truck and organize everything.”

  “I never thought I could say I’m sorry I missed a Thursday-night delivery but I do. I wish I could have been there to help you.”

  “If you had been able to be there, you wouldn’t have needed my help,” Olivia pointed out.

  “True enough.” Juliet grimaced in pain but covered it with a little cough. “Besides the delivery, how are things going at Harper Hill?”

  “So far so good. We haven’t gone out of business yet, but then, it’s only been a few days.”

  She had been looking for a chance to broach the idea Cooper had suggested. It made all the sense in the world to hire Melody, but she didn’t feel right about making major personnel decisions without input from Juliet.

  “Mom, how would you feel about hiring Melody Baker to help out while you’re recuperating?”

  “Melody? Oh! That’s a brilliant idea. Do you think she might be interested?”

  “It was Cooper’s idea, actually.” He deserved credit where credit was due. “I wanted to talk to you first before I asked her.”

  “Yes. Absolutely. She has a beautiful garden and knows more than I do about some of the plant species. Oh, well done. I love it. She’ll be a wonderful addition.”

  Juliet simply glowed when talking about the garden center, likely the way Olivia did when proposing a social media campaign to a new client, she admitted.

  “I’ll give her a call, then.”

  “I always liked her. That poor girl. She deserves better than that fool she married.”

  “We definitely agree on that.”

  Though she didn’t want to bother her mother with more questions about the garden center, Olivia needed information. She and her mother talked details about inventory and staffing for a few more moments. She thought she knew exactly why her mother’s gaze kept drifting to the door.

  “So,” Olivia finally said. “Henry Cragun. What’s going on there?”

  Color climbed her mother’s cheeks. “Nothing! Henry is a good friend,” she said, rather primly.

  “A very good friend, apparently. He was at the cottage past one in the morning working on a ramp for you.”

  “Along with Caitlin and Jake.”

  “Right. But Henry was the one who instigated it. And he’s also the one who insisted on hanging around to make sure you can get home safely from the hospital.”

  “Don’t go getting any ridiculous ideas,” Juliet said, her voice stern. “Henry Cragun and I are friends and that’s all we’ll ever be. Is that clear?”

  “Perfectly,” a deep voice answered. With a sinking feeling in her stomach, Olivia looked to the doorway to find Henry framed there, his features impassive.

  Oh darn. This was her fault. She should never have teased her mother about him. Apparently Juliet didn’t have a sense of humor when it came to Henry.

  Olivia waited for her mother to apologize or say she didn’t mean her words, but Juliet only lifted her chin. “I cherish our friendship,” she said, stressing the last word.

  Henry didn’t look offended at all, which made Olivia wonder if she was imagining the entire thing.

  The nurse pushed her way into the room amid the awkwardness. “Sorry to interrupt,” she said. “I wanted to let you know the doctor has put in all the discharge orders and I’ve got a few things to go over with you about what you can expect after your release.”

  “Perfect,” Juliet said brightly, obviously eager to change the subject.

  The nurse pulled up a chair next to Juliet’s bedside and Olivia grabbed her phone so she could make notes about what might be required.

  Henry stood for a moment, then appeared to think his presence was superfluous.

  “I’ve got more phone calls to make,” he said.

  “You don’t have to hang around all day waiting on me.”

  “I’m here,” he answered, his voice just as firm. Without waiting for her to argue, he headed out the door.

  The nurse, going through papers in her hand and apparently oblivious to the subtle tension in the room, stood back up. “I forgot to add a couple of important contact numbers. Sorry. Give me a minute.”

  As soon as she left the room, Juliet turned on Olivia. “You don’t have to say anything.” Her mother looked rueful. “I know. I was rude.”

  Olivia raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t say a word.”

  “You were thinking it, weren’t you?”

  Olivia had no answer and after a moment her mother sighed. “He doesn’t mean it. Henry understands there will never be anything between us but friendship.”

  She wasn’t sure she wanted to have this conversation with her mother. She still couldn’t wrap her head around the idea of her mother in a relationship with anyone. If her goal was to improve her relationship with Juliet, though, she would have to be more open to the possibility.

  “Why, though? Henry is a terrific man. He’s good-looking. He’s hardworking. He’s a great father. He’s always been a good friend to you. What better basis can you ask for a relationship?”

  Her words seemed to distress Juliet further. “I can’t and that’s all I’m going to say about it.”

  Olivia blinked at her mother’s vehement tone. “Okay. Sorry. Forget I said anything.”

  The nurse came in right after that, holding out the papers. “All right. I think I’ve got everything now.”

  “No problem,” Juliet said with a smile that betrayed none of her earlier frustrated tone.

  While the nurse began going through the information they would need for Juliet’s care, Olivia listened with half of her attention, the rest of it focused on her mother’s love life. Or lack thereof.

  Her father had been gone a long time. A lifetime, it sometimes felt. Steve Harper’s death had devastated all the women in his family.

  His wife and his two daughters reacted so very differently to his death. Juliet became focused on saving the family business.

  Already hanging with a wild crowd before Steve died in that building fire, Natalie seemed to have lost all restraint afterward, burying her deep unhappiness beneath a crackly veneer of exuberance. She started staying out all night, partying hard with her friends, smoking, skipping school. Juliet and Nat would have big fights, which would usually end with Natalie slamming a door and leaving the house for a night or two or twenty.

  Six months after Steve died, Natalie announced she was pregnant and didn’t know who the father might be.

  Juliet had been devastated at her daughter’s choices but she had opened her heart to Natalie, who wouldn’t consider giving up her baby. Nat had sworn off drugs and partying and had focused on her pregnancy. The baby had at least given them all something else to think about during that painful, difficult time.

  “I’m just waiting for one more prescription to come up from the pharmacy and then we can get you out of here.” The nurse interrupted her thoughts. “Meanwhile, you can change into your own clothes. Unless you want to go home in our fashionable hospital gowns.”

  “I’m good. Thank you,” Juliet said with a grimace.

  “Great. You can go ahead and have your daughter help you change. I’ll let you know when the prescription ar
rives. It might be an hour or so.”

  After the nurse left, closing the door behind her, Juliet gave Olivia a rueful look. “You don’t have to help me, whatever she said. I’m still capable of dressing myself.”

  “I’ll be here if you need a hand with anything.” She sat down and opened her phone to catch up on business. She was scrolling through her clients’ Instagram feeds, lost in business, when a knock sounded at the door.

  “I’m decent,” Juliet said, and Olivia saw she had finished putting on a loose flowered sundress with cap sleeves in a sunny apricot. Olivia helped her up so Juliet could pull it down behind her.

  “There. Now you’re decent,” she said, not quite sure how Juliet still managed to look fresh and composed after four days in the hospital.

  The door opened and Caitlin burst through, all long limbs and energy.

  “What are you doing here?” Juliet frowned.

  “Early release Friday and I skipped my last hour. Don’t worry—I talked to Coach Landry and he was cool about it.”

  Olivia knew Coach Landry was Shane Landry, a former professional football player who lived in Cape Sanctuary. Last she heard, he was engaged to marry Beatriz Romero, ex-wife of Cruz Romero, the local celebrity.

  “You’re all dressed. Is it true? You’re going home today? I heard the nurses out there talking about discharging you.”

  “Yes. We’re waiting on some prescriptions,” Olivia said. She and her niece had achieved a détente of sorts while Juliet was in the hospital, mostly staying out of each other’s way.

  “Oh yay.”

  For the first time since Olivia had arrived, Caitlin lost her sullen, resentful look. If Olivia didn’t know better, she would almost have said Caitlin looked happy.

  “How soon can we leave?”

  “I’m sure it won’t be long now,” Juliet said.

  The words were no sooner out than the nurse knocked on the door, then pushed it open a moment later. Olivia could tell instantly by her expression that they were facing another delay.

  “I just heard from Dr. Hall. Your neurologist. Dr. Adeno wanted him to take one more look at you before we send you home, while you’re still an inpatient. He’s with another patient but said he would be in shortly.”

  “Why do you need to see a neurologist?” Caitlin asked with a worried look.

  “I had a concussion, remember?” Juliet said in a distracted tone, though Olivia was certain her mother had looked slightly panicked. “I’m sure Dr. Hall wants to be sure my head is all right after the fall. But it might take a while before he gets here. You don’t need to stick around. Why don’t you two go grab a coffee or something in the cafeteria while it’s still open?”

  Olivia had the distinct impression her mother was trying to get rid of them.

  “I don’t mind staying.”

  “Who knows how long he’ll be. You don’t want to be stuck here for an hour. Did you have lunch at school?” she demanded of Caitlin, who looked away.

  “I wasn’t hungry at lunchtime.”

  “You’re probably hungry now, though.”

  “Not too bad.”

  Olivia didn’t really want to go get coffee but she could tell Caitlin was hungry, despite her protests. She didn’t want hungry to turn into hangry.

  “I can wait,” Caitlin said.

  “Go on,” Juliet said. “Both of you. The cafeteria here in the hospital isn’t bad. I’ll be fine. I’ll text you when we’re finished.”

  “Okay,” Caitlin said, giving Juliet a quick hug and heading for the door. Her willingness to go after she had only just arrived seemed proof that she really was hungry. Stubborn girl.

  As soon as they walked into the cafeteria, Olivia knew she had made a mistake.

  The cheerful space decorated in brick and exposed walls wasn’t at all like the café where she had witnessed the attack, but it smelled the same, of coffee and pastries and, somehow, chicken soup, and was filled with the low clatter of dishes and conversation.

  Olivia froze in the doorway, suddenly shaky as a panic attack nudged at her.

  “Are you getting something?” Caitlin asked, looking back at her.

  She jerked her mind away, pressing it down. It wasn’t that café in Seattle. This was a cafeteria in a well-secured hospital. Nothing would happen to her or anyone else here.

  “Um. Yes. I could use some coffee.” And she would sit inside this cafeteria and drink it, if it was the last thing she did.

  “I don’t have any money on me,” Caitlin said.

  “I can pay.”

  “Thanks.”

  Caitlin hurried off to fill a tray while Olivia gave her order to the barista inside the cafeteria. As she stepped away, she had to fight the urge to rush back out the door again.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She had stopped stock-still inside the cafeteria, her mind awash in memories. The taste of fear was metallic, like blood.

  “Nothing,” she lied to her niece. How could she ever admit she was still fighting down panic from something that had happened days ago?

  “I’m starving. Right now, I could eat a whole pizza by myself.”

  “Get what you want. I don’t know what dinner will be tonight, especially since I don’t know when we’ll be able to make it out of here. We will have to figure out meals moving forward for the next few weeks.”

  “I wouldn’t worry about it. When word gets out that Mimi is home from the hospital, we’ll be deluged with neighbors bearing casseroles. You won’t have to cook anything for a while.”

  Olivia had missed that about Cape Sanctuary, the kind, generous nature of the people who lived here year-round. After her coffee was ready and Caitlin filled her tray with food, Olivia paid. Then they went into the dining area for a table. The cafeteria was busy with nurses, physicians and family members of those receiving care.

  She sat with her back against the wall, where she could see any potential threats. She had a feeling this would be her new normal. Caitlin ate in silence, most likely determined not to bend an inch and engage in anything that might resemble a polite conversation.

  A couple of newcomers entered the cafeteria and Olivia tensed, uneasy, braced for danger. The feeling did not abate when she recognized one of the newcomers as fire chief Cooper Vance, wearing a paramedic uniform and looking big and tough.

  He was holding a tray that held the special of the day, a smothered chicken burrito. The only empty table was, naturally, next to theirs. His gaze met hers, and with a rueful kind of look, he came closer.

  “Hey, Olivia. Hey, Caitlin.”

  “Hi, Chief Vance,” her niece answered, but Olivia merely nodded.

  “You must be visiting Juliet. How is she?”

  “Pretty good,” Caitlin answered. “She’s going home today.”

  “Great news.” He looked genuinely pleased.

  “That’s the plan, anyway,” Olivia was compelled to say. “I’m sure you know how long and complicated it can be to spring someone from one of these places.”

  “Yeah. It’s a process.”

  Another firefighter joined them, sliding into the chair across from Cooper.

  “I should have ordered the burrito like you did,” the guy complained. “That burger took forever and I’m still not sure it’s cooked through.”

  “Take it back,” Cooper advised. “Olivia, this is a new guy in the department. Mike Walker. Today was his first day. He’s transferring from the Bay Area. Mike, this is my friend Olivia Harper and her niece, Caitlin.”

  “Pleasure to meet you,” she said. “What brings you to Cape Sanctuary?”

  The man smiled at her and she didn’t miss the way his gaze flicked to her ring finger then back to her eyes.

  “I needed a change.” He had a deep, pleasing voice, and while his expression was light, almost flirty, she caug
ht shadows of something darker there.

  “It’s a nice town,” she answered.

  “I’ve only been here a few days but I like what I see so far. I sure can’t complain about the view.”

  “Olivia’s mother had a bad fall a few days ago,” Cooper explained. “That’s why they’re here.”

  “Oh, too bad,” Mike said with a sympathetic look.

  “She broke her hip and some ribs and is recovering from surgery,” Cooper said. “I’m surprised to hear she’s going home instead of to a rehab center.”

  “Doctors would have preferred that, I think, but Juliet is determined to go home,” Olivia said.

  “Of course she wouldn’t go to a rehab center.” Caitlin sounded as if no other option should have even been considered. “Sea Glass Cottage is her home. She loves it there.”

  “Unless things have changed since I was there, which was years ago, the house isn’t very accessible. Won’t she need a wheelchair for a while?”

  “She can get inside, at least,” Olivia said. “The house has a new ramp. Henry Cragun and his son and Caitlin worked on it last night.”

  “It’s awesome. You should see it.” Caitlin’s voice filled with pride.

  “I saw lights and activity at the end of my shift last night. Now I wish I’d stopped to check it out. I could have helped.”

  “We were fine,” Caitlin said with that nervous laugh she did around him. “Thanks, though.”

  Olivia was grateful he hadn’t stopped, she told herself. She had already seen him at least once every day since she’d been back in town.

  “Is there anything else I can help do with your mom?”

  “I don’t know yet. Henry Cragun is going to come over once we leave the hospital to see if we need assistance getting her inside and settled into her bed.”

  “That’s nice of him. He’s a good man, Henry. If he’s not around and you ever need an extra pair of hands to help her transfer or anything, give me a call.”

  His words warmed her, helping to ease some of her panic.

  For a crazy moment, she wanted to lean into those wide shoulders and let him take some of her burden. No. She was a strong woman. She could handle it.