by Sarita Leone
Before Annie could consider further, the bedroom door opened a crack. A doorknob-height head poked into the room. Following a split second later, an inquisitive face at adult height.
“She’s awake!” Sienna pushed the door open further, exposing Clarisse carrying a breakfast tray.
“She is, indeed.” Clarisse placed the tray on the bedside table, then turned and probed Annie’s gaze with her own. “How are you feeling?”
Her hand lifted, then stopped partway to her temple. Annie mustered a smile of her own as she pulled the little girl who crawled onto the bed close to her side.
“Okay, I guess.”
“Hmmph.” A cup of tea passed from Clarisse’s hand to hers. “Drink this. Chamomile. I know it’s not Maxwell House, but you can have that later. First, the tea…I’m hoping it’ll chase some of the fuzzies from your head, honey.”
Clarisse walked across the room and brought the dainty white chair from the desk to the bedside. She sat and watched while Annie took a first mouthful.
The tea was hot, and sweet, and made her sigh. A wonderful way to come awake. She smiled her thanks and took another mouthful before setting the cup back onto its saucer on the tray. Sitting back, she wove her fingers in Sienna’s hair.
“How’s my little one today? I’m sorry I didn’t see you before you went to sleep last night.”
“It’s okay, Mama. Grammy told me what happened. I wish I could’ve gone to the harbor with you and Steve, though. Did you look at boats after you got your head checked?”
Sienna’s chatter came at its usual fast pace. Unfortunately, Annie’s mind didn’t react in its usual equally rapid pace. She struggled to order her thoughts.
She shook her head—which was a huge mistake. The room swam, and her stomach lurched.
“Lay back against the pillows.” Clarisse rose, then sat lightly on the edge of the bed. A gentle push pressed her backward. “Take a deep breath and just hold still.”
“Mama? Mama, are you—”
She found her daughter’s hand. Gave a quick squeeze. She would have tried to answer, but the older woman beat her to it.
“She’s fine, honey. Just a tad under the weather, that’s all.” Clarisse raised a questioning eyebrow, and Annie telegraphed with her eyes that the spinning room was slowing. Turning her attention on the frightened child, she went on. “Your mama and Steve didn’t see boats in a harbor. They went to Bar Harbor, to the hospital so the doctors could check things out. See the bump on your mother’s head? That will probably pain her for a bit, but she’ll get better in a few days.”
Sienna peered at the lump. She squinted, bending close. Annie felt breath on her cheek so she mustered a small smile.
Her daughter met her gaze. As solemnly as if she were delivering the nightly news, she said, “That is the most purpley bump I ever saw.” Shifting her gaze to Clarisse, she asked, “Is Mama’s brain trying to get out of her head? ’Cause that’s what it looks like, you know.”
Annie didn’t even try not to giggle. She tugged her baby girl close and tried not to flinch when Sienna bumped her shoulder—which set the room spinning again.
“It does look that way, doesn’t it?” Clarisse leaned closer, peering intently at the questionable lump. “Hmm…”
When Sienna drew in a frightened breath, a time-worn hand reached out and patted the child’s shoulder.
“I’m just teasing. Really, it does look as if something’s trying to get out of that pretty head, but it’s just a bump. Your mother hit her head. The doctors call something like this, a bump on the head, a concussion. It’s a big word that means a person’s got a big headache after getting a little bump on their head. We’ll take good care of your mother, and in a few days we’ll hardly remember this happened. Right, Annie?”
Swallowing hard, she nodded. Meeting Sienna’s gaze, she gave her the no-kidding-I’m-your-mom-you-better-believe-me look.
“Hey, when I feel better maybe the three of us can go to Bar Harbor to see the sights. Not the hospital—that wasn’t much fun—but to the harbor, if there is one. And I’m sure there’s an ice cream shop there somewhere. And, we need a couple of things for the grand opening—maybe we can pick that stuff up then, too. What do you say?”
“There’s a big Woolworth’s in Bar Harbor. I’m certain we could get the odds and ends we’re looking for there…” Clarisse tapped a thoughtful finger against her chin. She pursed her lips, raised her brows and said, “You know, the Harbor has a bigger record shop than we do here in the Cove. I bet they’ll have that new Bobby Sherman song you like so much, Sienna.”
The child had a passion for all things relating to Bobby Sherman. Annie couldn’t imagine what charm the big-haired teen idol had cast over her daughter, but whatever it was, it had a huge hold.
Now, Sienna could barely contain her excitement. Her eyes rounded. Her lips drew into a tiny bow. And, her hands clasped before her chest.
So sweet. But, Annie saw Sienna held her breath.
“Mama?”
“Yes, of course. We can pick up the new single if you want. It’s been a while since you got any new music. Maybe we’ll pick up a few more yellow inserts for the singles; I know they break, and I want you to be able to play your music on your record player.”
Sienna’s only request from Santa Claus last year was a portable record player and a carrying case for the single records she loved so much. The case and player were so cherished that during the long trip north they had nestled on the floorboards in the back seat—so Sienna could keep them close.
When a happy bounce from the little girl brought a wash of bile up Annie’s throat, she held up a shaky hand. “Soon, but not today, okay? Mommy needs some rest. Today’s not the day for record shopping or yoga. Soon, though.”
“Yoga?” Clarisse snorted. “I should say not! You’re going to take it easy for a few days, missy. No work. No play. Just rest. Now, finish the tea. Eat some toast if you can manage it. Sienna and I have things to do. We’ll check on you later.”
Clarisse stood, motioning for the little girl to get off the bed. Sienna kissed the uninjured temple, and—a big, Bobby-Sherman-loving grin still plastered on her face—slowly scuttled backward off the bed. She was so slight that the jump from bed to floor barely bounced the mattress, something Annie was profoundly grateful for.
The ambition, for yoga or anything else, that coursed through her veins just a short time ago disappeared as suddenly as it had come upon her. Weariness settled on her shoulders like a heavy cloak, pulling her backward into the deep sleep she’d so recently woken from. Her eyelids had weights tied to them. Her arm, when she reached for the tea cup, wobbled. The cup seemed weighted down with concrete rather than chamomile and bringing it to her lips was a challenge. She managed, but was quick to deposit the cup back on the saucer.
She watched them leave. When the door closed, Annie snuggled down into the covers. Her appetite for toast had never arrived, so she didn’t bother to look at the tray again.
Her eyes slipped shut. Her head throbbed but as her breathing slowed and matched the bump’s tempo, she relaxed, able to ignore the thump-thump-thump in her head.
Slumber claimed her, and she didn’t resist. For the first time since the news of Brian’s death had arrived, Annie let someone else take the reins. Sienna was in good hands with Clarisse. Time for the caregiver to be cared for…
Chapter 21
“Man, I don’t remember the last time I saw a guy so hooked on a babe. Damn, Steve, this is making the rest of us look bad.”
Big Al stood in the center of the shop, his bulk squeezed into one narrow aisle. He turned in a circle, scanning the walls with a look of utter disbelief on his face. His tongue made a clicking noise against the back of his teeth, punctuating the shaking of his head. Every new shake generated a click. Each turn, a shake. Finally, Steve couldn’t stand it.
“Hey, cut it out. You sound like you’re drilling yourself right into the freaking floorboards, man. It’s nothi
ng. Just a little paint, that’s all.”
The fact that he was on a ladder, screwing a new light fixture to the ceiling while the old, rusty fixture lay in a heap below kind of shot his paint-only declaration to shit. But hey, he didn’t need a work order—or marriage license—to do a good deed.
“Just a little paint? You’re kidding, right?”
“Do I have to explain everything I do to you? Are you suddenly the town busybody?”
Big Al snorted, then laughed. “Nah. That job’s already taken. But really, man…you’re hot on this lady, aren’t you?” He held up a beefy hand. “No, don’t answer. This isn’t a yes-or-no question. I’d have to be blind not to see how you feel.”
He snugged the last screw up against the metal plate in the ceiling. A sharp tug on the chain attaching the fixture to the ceiling. It held, so he pushed his screwdriver into the back pocket of his jeans. He grabbed the light bulb perched on the top platform of the ladder, put it into the fixture, and pointed to the light switch.
“Will you hit that for me?”
Big Al crossed the room and flicked the switch. The bulb lit, so he turned the switch to the off position.
“Thanks.”
Steve descended. He closed the ladder and walked to the doorway. Leaning the tool against the wall, he finally met his friend’s gaze.
A shrug. “Hot doesn’t even begin to describe it, man. I…” He searched for the words to explain. There weren’t any. “I don’t know. This isn’t like anything else I’ve ever dealt with. She’s just…hell, I don’t know. When I see her…when I think about her…oh, God…”
Every day his feelings grew more intense. Every night he dreamed about Annie. Every waking minute he was on alert for her presence, scanning the streets and shops in the hope he might catch a glimpse of her.
Every minute he wondered how much she would hate his guts when she learned the truth about him.
“Did you tell her yet?”
One word, but he couldn’t say it. He shook his head. “I tried.”
“Oh…you gotta tell her. Sooner or later, she’s going to find out. Better from you than—well, you already know this. I don’t need to spell it out for you. We went over this already, remember? Don’t you get it?”
“Yeah, I get it. I do—it’s just that I figure once she knows, I’m out. Not that I’m ‘in’ or anything, but if she doesn’t hate me I still have a chance. Falling in—well, whatever this is—shouldn’t be such a pain in the ass. It just shouldn’t.”
Big Al chuckled. “It’s love, man. Call it what it is. Love—it finally hit home, didn’t it? Not just for other guys anymore, is it?”
“Yeah, it hit. Hard. Who knew it could turn an average Joe into a freaking mess?”
The other guy shook his head and smiled. For the first time, a look of pure understanding passed between them. “Who knew? Shit, man—any guy who’s fallen for a chick knows. We’ve all had it happen, believe me. Some chicks, hey, they’re easy come, easy go—if you know what I mean. We’ve all had those kinds, too. But a woman who grabs you in the chest instead of in the pants? Those are the kind to watch out for. They can really kick you in the ass—or lift you to the stars.”
“Why do I feel like I’m going to get the crap kicked out of me?”
Big Al slapped him on the shoulder. He kept his hand in place and gave a brotherly squeeze. “It’s all the same, man. That love stuff? It ain’t for sissies. Come on, I’ll buy you a beer. You done here?”
Steve looked around. The place had cleaned up great. He’d finished the painting, fixed a few odds and ends, hung new lights. When he was a kid, and Clarisse and Henry had bustled around taking orders and selling their wares, the shop had looked this way. Returning it to its former glory—as humble a state as that ‘glory’ was—lifted him up.
“Yeah, I’m done. After that beer I’ll get back in here and sweep up. I want it to be all sparkly and inviting when they finally get her down here.”
“I heard she knocked herself out. How’s she feeling?”
“Don’t know,” Steve admitted. He’d wanted to stop over at Clarisse’s the night before but he’d worked late and it didn’t seem a good idea to disturb them when he’d finished. A woman recovering from a head injury didn’t need a sweat-streaked, dusty, and paint-spattered caller.
“You haven’t seen her?”
“Not since I took her home after the emergency room visit.”
They stepped out onto the busy sidewalk. He turned and locked the door behind them. If there weren’t so many tourists, he would have left the place open.
“Getting busy around here.” Steve shoved the key into his front pocket. They crossed the street and headed for The Shack. “Groovy if they could get the place open by next weekend when the big rush comes to town. Already crowded but by next weekend, it’s gonna be packed.”
“Packed. And that’s a good thing. Steady bread coming into town, no one’s complaining over that. Prices of gas going higher every damn week, it seems.”
“Yeah. It’s the only thing that keeps me from getting on my bike and driving off into the sunset sometimes, the price of gas. Wouldn’t get too damn far if I just take off.”
Big Al opened the door to the eatery. Marlboro smoke mixed with the smell of frying onions hit them square in the face. They went inside, sat at two stools at the bar. Immediately two drafts were placed before them.
“Thanks,” they said in tandem. Lifting their glasses first in salute to the bartender, Jim, then to each other, before taking their first pulls.
The beer slid down his throat, opening the tightness that was his constant companion these days. Fear, he figured. That had to be the reason he slept like shit and felt like a noose hung from his neck.
Big Al dropped a hand on Steve’s shoulder again. “You gotta tell her, man. Putting it off ain’t making it any easier.”
“I know. But knowing doesn’t make it any easier, either.”
****
Bar Harbor was much more attractive when Annie wasn’t seeing double.
A ramped-up version of Lobster Cove, with more people, cars and a harbor, the town seemed pretty but a bit too busy. Maybe she’d grown accustomed to small-town, sleepy life—she didn’t know. All Annie knew was that if given a choice between living in Lobster Cove or Bar Harbor, there was no contest. The Cove won, hands down.
She looked down at Sienna. They were on the big pier, looking out at the sailboats bobbing on the water. Her daughter was captivated by the boats, especially interested in the colorful sails. She’d been offered ice cream twice already, and had waved it off both times.
The lure of the sea must be in her veins.
Clarisse placed a hand on her shoulder. She’d been wonderful, a compassionate nurse who tended without hovering. Annie couldn’t have asked for a better caregiver.
“How are you doing, honey? Still feeling up to snuff? If you’re not, we can go back to the car, you know.” Clarisse’s penetrating stare cut through the big round lenses on her sunglasses.
“It’s cool. Really, it is. I’m fine. I probably could have gone into the store and finished up. We’ve got short time if we want to open in a few days.”
“That place can wait. It’s been waiting all these years. A couple more days won’t make a difference.” Clarisse took her hand away, bent down to speak to the child standing in front of them at the railing. “Look—do you see the dolphins over there? Just past that sailboat, the one with the sun on its sail? There are two dolphins. Watch the water and you’ll see them come up.”
Annie loved the way her little girl took the wrinkled hand in hers and gave it an excited squeeze. The bond between the three of them grew stronger daily. She loved everything about their new life.
Even Steve. She couldn’t go so far as to say she loved him. Not yet. But, the heat radiating from her heart whenever she saw him—heck, whenever she thought about him—had to mean something.
“There! I see them!” Sienna pointed, and sure
enough, a trio of dolphins broke the surface. Leaping high before landing back in the water, the mammals gave a thrilling show. Sienna’s wasn’t the only voice raised in excitement, nor was hers the only finger pointing out to sea.
“I always loved watching the dolphins.” Clarisse bent down and placed a quick kiss on the child’s cheek. “Whales, too. Have you ever seen a whale, honey?”
Sienna whirled so quickly—the dolphins nearly forgotten—her pigtails slapped her cheeks. She looked to Annie for confirmation when she said, “Whales? No, I never saw one—did I, Mama?”
“You have not. Neither of us has ever seen a whale.”
“We shall have to remedy that,” Clarisse said firmly. “The fall is the best time to go on a whale watch. We will make sure to put that on our calendars.”
“Groovy!” Sienna clapped her hands, then her eyes grew wide. She whipped back, facing the water again. Whale business taken care of, dolphins were remembered.
“You’re too good to us.” Annie meant it, too.
“Nonsense. There’s no such thing as too good.”
She hesitated, then asked the nagging question that wouldn’t leave her head no matter how hard she tried to will it away.
“Why hasn’t he called? He has your phone number, doesn’t he?”
Clarisse didn’t pretend not to understand. “He does.”
“Why, then? If he doesn’t want to call, why hasn’t he stopped by—even for just a minute? I just don’t get it. I really, really don’t…”
With a light touch on Sienna’s shoulder and a steady finger straight to sea, Clarisse pointed out a new pair of dolphins.
She didn’t take her eyes from the frolicking creatures when she answered. And, she didn’t put much emotion in the brief advice.
“Don’t try to get it, Annie. He’s a man, and they’re as foreign to us as we are to those water-loving creatures out there. We’ll never understand men, no matter how hard we try. So, all we can do is—”
They hadn’t realized little ears were tuned to their words but Sienna interrupted. She didn’t bother to turn around, but her words made both women laugh out loud.