“You’re welcome. How is she?”
“Fair. They want to do an ultrasound to check on the baby.” She turned and walked back to the window overlooking the parking lot. “I hate hospitals.”
“Huh?”
“They remind me of the night Bill died. I can’t help thinking about it when I’m in a hospital. The smells, the sounds—everything reminds me of that night. I’ve been trying to put it out of my mind so I can concentrate on Brianne.”
“What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”
She turned and faced him with a sigh. “He lost control of the car, and we flipped over a couple of times, so they tell me. I don’t remember the accident itself. The police said it was a combination of wet roads, tires with a little less tread than they should have had, and driving too fast for the weather. It was one of those roads you know real well if you live in the area—so much so that you have a false sense of security about just how fast you can travel. Bill wasn’t speeding, just not going slow enough for the weather conditions.”
“I’m sorry.”
Dena clung to him one more time. “Thanks. I really don’t think too much about it, except for when I’m in a hospital.”
“I understand. Would you like to get something to eat?”
“Sure. I don’t recall when I ate last.”
“Not good. Lead me to the cafeteria. I’ve never had hospital food.”
Dena looped her arm in his and led him down the hallway. “You know, you’re adorable.”
“Naturally, makes me more kissable.”
“Hmm, speaking of which…” She leaned closer and kissed him on the cheek.
He stopped. “Not good enough. I’ve driven six hours. I want the full treatment. On the lips, dear.” He winked.
“With pleasure,” she obliged.
“Mom?”
Fourteen
“Amber? I didn’t see you.” Dena’s cheeks sported a nice hue of pink.
Reluctantly, Wayne took a step back.
“Obviously,” Amber chided.
Wayne had never met Dena’s daughter. He’d seen pictures but never had the pleasure. Did she know about Dena and him dating?
“Amber, this is Wayne. Wayne, this is my daughter, Amber.”
“Hi, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Wayne extended his hand.
Amber narrowed her gaze on him and slowly shook his hand. “You’re Jess’s father?”
“Yup. Have you met Jess?”
“Nope, only talked on the phone with her when she was staying with Mom.” Amber turned toward her mother. “Mom, I think we need to talk.”
Dena looped her arm around his and patted his upper arm. “Wayne and I were going to the cafeteria for something to eat. Would you like to join us? We could talk there.”
“Uh,” Amber stammered, “sure.”
Okay, she didn’t know about Dena and me. Lord, give me a calm spirit after driving six and a half hours on little sleep, he prayed.
Wayne offered to go through the cafeteria line for all of them. Dena hesitated but took him up on his offer. She and her daughter were in a deep discussion as he approached. He set the tray down on the table. “I’ll be right back with our drinks.” At the beverage counter, he poured their coffees, adding enough cream and sugar for Amber’s taste. She seemed to enjoy it very sweet—more like coffee-flavored cream than a regular cup of coffee. Of course, he’d been drinking the stuff black for years. It was another thing he and Dena had in common.
He watched the two women carefully as he made his way back. Dena caught his glance and smiled. His steps surer, he sauntered up to the table. Whatever Amber’s concerns, Dena had obviously dealt with them, at least to her satisfaction. “Here ya go, Amber. That was two heaping sugars and a quarter cup of cream, right?”
“Right, thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
He set Dena’s cup in front of her and sat down beside her. “It’s a fairly fresh pot,” he offered, trying to make conversation. “At least, I think it is. It was nearly full and didn’t smell bitter.”
Dena reached over and placed her hand on his forearm. “Amber’s going to use the cottage in Maine next week, unless it’s a problem with the construction.”
“Not a problem at all. I should have it finished this weekend.”
“Mom’s told me so much about the addition. I can’t wait to see it.”
“Squabbin Bay is a great place, if you like the slower pace.” He reached over to the tray of assorted food and passed Dena her salad. “Some folks can’t handle it.”
Amber’s gaze followed every movement he made. “I’d be happy to take your family out fishing one day.”
Amber and Dena chuckled. “David gets green just thinking of the ocean.”
“Oh, well, perhaps a fishing trip wouldn’t be a good idea.”
“Thanks for the offer.” Amber finished her coffee and stood, straightening her white uniform. “Well, I’m going to say hello to Brianne, then I’ve got to get home. It was nice meeting you, Wayne.”
After Amber left, he asked, “Does she work here?”
“No, she took the T straight from work.”
“Ah, so, how shook up was she?”
Dena looked down at her lap. “Not too. She reminded me of something I said to her the first night I met you.”
“Oh?” He paused. “Are you going to tell me?”
Dena lifted her gaze and locked with his own. “I made a comment about your eyes.”
“Oh?”
Dena shifted in her chair.
“Well, I have always had a fascination with green eyes.”
Wayne stifled a chuckle with a cough. “And how is it I never knew about this?”
“I’ve told you that I like your eyes.”
“True, but you never specified that it was because they were green.”
She straightened in her chair. “Well, you never asked.”
“What other secrets do you have in that pretty little head of yours?”
“You’ll find out.” She paused and winked. “Eventually.”
“So, did I pass the Amber test?”
“She’s curious, but she’s more curious because she found us kissing in a hospital hallway. Seems that isn’t something her mother would do.”
“In Amber’s defense, I’d probably have to agree with her. After all, you did tell me you haven’t dated since your husband passed away, so your kids as teens never saw you relating in an intimate way with someone of the opposite sex.”
“You have a point there. But come on, I am human,” Dena defended.
“No, you’re not. You’re Mom.” Wayne snuggled up beside her. “To your kids, that is. To me, you’re the most fascinating woman I’ve ever been with. I love you, Dena.”
She set her fork down, her salad barely touched. “I love you, too.”
“Why don’t you visit Brianne one more time this morning, and then I’ll take you home so you can get some rest.”
She closed her eyes and sighed. “I guess you’re right. It’s been a long couple of days.”
“I’ll take care of this,” he said, pointing to her salad, “and meet you in the lobby.”
“No, I want you to come with me. Chad and Brianne need to meet you, and it would be better for them to have a proper introduction as opposed to the way Amber met you.”
“Ah, I see your point. Let me get a container for your salad.”
She nodded, and he left her alone at the table. He knew she was terribly concerned for Brianne and the baby. Lord, how can I help here? I mean, I know I can be of some moral support, but apart from that, I don’t have a clue as to what to say, do, or anything.
“May I have a container to bring home a salad?” he asked the older woman in the gray and white uniform sitting by the register.
“Coming right up.” She reached under the counter and pulled up a foam dinner container.
“Thanks.” As he made his way back to the table, he noticed how vul
nerable Dena appeared. A smile creased her sad face as he came into her view. Maybe I just need to be here, nothing more, nothing less.
❧
Hours later, Dena lay in bed, thinking over the day. Chad and Brianne hadn’t been surprised to see Wayne. Obviously, Amber had forewarned them. Her cheeks warmed again at the thought of Amber’s catching her kissing Wayne. Of course, it was Amber who had encouraged her to think about having a relationship again. What had bothered Amber wasn’t that Dena was dating but that Dena had failed to mention that her “friendship” with Wayne had progressed to that point.
No doubt she’d already called Jason and informed him, as well. Dena pulled the covers up to her neck.
She woke up late the next morning. Throwing the covers off, she dressed and glanced at the mirror to straighten her hair, applied a light coat of foundation, and highlighted her eyelashes. Wayne spent the night in Chad and Brianne’s apartment. He should be returning any minute now to take her back to the hospital.
The doorbell rang. She quickly turned and the room spun. She reached for the dresser to brace herself.
The chime of the doorbell rang again. She walked slowly toward the front door. “Hi,” she said, opening the door for Wayne.
“Are you all right?”
“Fine,” she lied, without meaning to. It was just the automatic response to give when someone asked. “Actually, I feel a little lightheaded.”
“Did you eat?”
“No.” When was the last time I ate? she asked herself.
“Dena, honey, sit down. Let me make you something to eat. You can’t go nonstop and not refuel.”
“I know. I’ve just been too busy or too nervous.”
“I understand, but it’s time to think of what’s best for you and your family. They don’t need someone else in the hospital suffering from dehydration and exhaustion.” Wayne marched into the kitchen nook. She watched him through the half wall that served as a breakfast counter on the living room side. Inside the kitchen area, Wayne stopped at the sink.
“How’d you sleep?” she asked.
“All right. It’s hard to get used to a strange bed. At least it is for me. You must be used to it with all the traveling you do.”
Dena reclined on the sofa. There was something soothing about having Wayne working in her kitchen. “Sometimes I didn’t have a bed. A sleeping bag on a cot served me most of the time. Once in a while, it was just the sleeping bag, but I’m at a point where I can insist on a cot as part of my expenses for remote locations. Of course, the natives who have to lug the supplies along would probably prefer not to have the added weight. But I figure if they want me alert and ready to take quality photographs, a good night’s sleep is essential.”
Wayne chuckled. “I’m having a hard time seeing you roughing it in a sleeping bag. Jess and I go camping and canoeing every year. I think I mentioned that before.”
“Yes, when I was heading out on that white-water adventure.”
“Right.” Wayne’s words came back muffled. “Where’s your omelet pan?” He closed another cabinet door.
“I don’t have one.”
“Sure you do. I made an omelet here for Jess—”
“Jess’s,” they said in unison.
“In that case, you’ll just have some fancy scrambled eggs.”
“Sounds fine.” She watched him go to work on his breakfast creation. “Wayne?” He shifted his weight onto his left leg and turned to face her. “Thanks for coming down. It means a lot.”
“No problem. I can’t stay too long, but I’ll do what I can to help while I’m here.”
“Let’s just pray that Brianne and the baby are stable today.”
“Amen.” He whipped the eggs with a whisk.
Dena leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. The next thing she was aware of was Wayne’s tender words waking her senses. “Hey, sleepyhead. Breakfast is ready.”
She stretched and made her way stiffly over to the breakfast counter. He set a plate full of eggs in front of her. “Ketchup?” he asked.
“Salsa, if you don’t mind.”
“Salsa? Is that Southwestern?”
Dena shrugged her shoulders. She couldn’t remember where or when she’d first had salsa on her eggs. “Could be, but I’ve been served it in Colorado.”
He retrieved a jar of the medium spicy salsa from her refrigerator. “I’ve seen some put Tabasco sauce on their eggs up here, but I never heard of salsa. I suppose it isn’t much different.”
“Wanna try some?”
“No, thanks. I never got used to having ketchup on my eggs, never mind something spicier.”
“Chicken,” she teased.
“Quite possibly. I’m not a fan of spicy hot foods. I can handle a little salsa, mild of course. Actually, my preference with eggs is no sauce at all. Just call me boring.” He winked.
Dena chuckled. “You’re anything but boring. I find you quite intriguing.”
“Hmm, am I a man of mystery?” He scooted around the half wall and sat on a tall stool beside her.
“Hmm, I won’t go that far.”
He raised a hand to his chest. “Ah, my life is an open book.”
“Groan.”
“Yeah, that is a bad cliché. Let’s pray.” He clasped her hand with his and closed his eyes.
She watched for a moment. Beyond his handsome features, she noticed peacefulness in his countenance.
After breakfast they joined the rest of the family at the hospital, discovering that even Jason and his family had come down. They were all pleased to hear that Brianne had gone through the worst part, and she and the baby would be fine. Jason and the children would stay for a couple of days. Marie would stay for a week and oversee Brianne’s home recovery time. Chad would be flying out in the morning, at Brianne’s insistence. Amber would take over after Marie left if Brianne still needed some help.
And then it hit her. All the family plans did not include her because of her busy schedule. “Lord, I guess it’s time for a major life change.”
❧
Wayne stretched getting out of his truck. A six-hour drive made a man stiff, but thankfully he was finally home. Dena’s mood had changed shortly after the family had made their plans regarding Brianne’s care. He loved how this family pulled together and supported each other. Dena had done a fine job raising her kids. But what had been bothering her? They never could grab a moment alone for him to ask the question. And pondering it for six hours made him all the more curious. Something was bothering her, and he wanted to know what it was.
He glanced up at the starlit sky. It was probably close to midnight. He’d left Boston at dinnertime. Dena had packed him some sandwiches and a couple of cold drinks.
The smell of cigar smoke hung in the air. Wayne turned and looked around. A small red glow lit up the area near his hedges. “Who’s there?”
“It’s me—Ben. I been here waitin’ for you. Jess said you’d be getting home kinda late.” The silhouette of Ben’s thin frame came into view.
“Come in and I’ll fix you a cup of coffee or something.”
“Can’t stay. I need to get back to my boat. But I’ve been hearing some interesting things on the waterfront.” Ben walked toward Wayne.
“Such as?”
“Seems you started a trend. Most of the small-time guys are pulling their pots, like you.”
Wayne couldn’t blame them. He’d crunched the numbers, and it was costing more to go out and bait the traps than he was earning.
“How about yourself?”
“Nah, I ain’t never pulled them before, except when the water was too warm and we got hit with a bad case of worms. ’Course those were the days of wood traps. These metal traps last forever, unless they don’t have enough weights in ’em when a storm hits.”
True, but that’s not why he came so late in the night to speak to me. “What’s really on your mind, Ben?”
He stepped closer and handed him a large, overstuffed
envelope. “It ain’t much, but if something happens to me, would you be sure to give these to my daughter?”
He couldn’t fault the man for being nervous after his house had been torched, but if he really thought his life was in danger… “Ben, what else is going on?”
“Nothin’ for certain, yet. But if I’m right, people are going to be mighty surprised when I catch ’em.”
Wayne reached out and grabbed Ben’s shoulder. “What are you not telling me, Ben?”
“I don’t think my house was burned down because of the poaching.”
“Okay, what have you heard?”
“Nothing, not a blasted thing. But something’s fishy, and I’ve got a nose for fish. I’ve been snooping around and, well, there’s…”
An explosion ripped through the air. Wayne dropped down to the ground. Ben fell beside him and clutched his chest.
“Daddy!” Jess cried.
“Call 911! And stay down,” Wayne ordered.
Fifteen
Dena had never felt so torn in all her life. Being in Long Island and working wasn’t helping to take her mind off of Maine and her family. Brianne was recovering, and the kids were lending a hand. Wayne was fine, but Ben’s boat exploding made her nervous. Who was out to get the old man? He seemed such a likable guy. Wayne was convinced it had something to do with the poachers. What bothered her was that he wasn’t leaving the investigation to the authorities. He had taken a far too personal interest in finding Ben’s would-be attackers. Ben had suffered a heart attack when the explosion woke up the tiny village of Squabbin Bay. Fortunately, it was minor, and his daughter came and got him from the hospital. Not taking no for an answer, she had wheeled him, fussin’ and fumin’, all the way to her car. Now Wayne had taken up where Ben left off in his investigation.
Fortunately or unfortunately—Dena wasn’t sure—Ben hadn’t shared everything he knew with Wayne. Her prayer was that he wouldn’t learn anything further until after the police and Coast Guard had discovered the true nature of the crimes.
Dena zoomed in on a bluff and a young seagull edging his way out of the tall sea grass behind the photo shoot. Holding the camera perfectly still, she ignored the bead of sweat rolling down her forehead. Click.
“Dena? Dena?” Kenny called for her.
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