Primrose Lane

by Debbie Mason

  Colleen had made note of other things that bothered her too. She couldn’t remember what they were right now, but there was something there, something that had worried Colleen enough that she’d called Patty’s eldest son and then she’d called the Harmony Harbor Police Department and spoken to the chief. Only it had been too late. Patty had died that night in her sleep.

  The memories gave Colleen a bad case of gooseflesh, like someone was walking over her grave. She had to find Jasper. He’d discovered her memoirs back in February and kept the book locked in his safe. He was an honorable man, loyal to a fault. Since the book had come into his possession, he’d only read the page that contained Ava’s secret. Now Colleen needed him to read about Ivy.

  And he needed to do it now before it was too late.

  Chapter Eleven

  Does red mean go and green mean stop?” a husky little girl’s voice asked from the backseat of the Lexus.

  “The opposite, red means stop and green means go. There’s a yellow light too. That’s a warning light. You have to be cautious and slow down or—” Olivia was babbling. She couldn’t help it. George had woken up with a rash and a bruise on her back. The reminder of why she was racing to the clinic caused Olivia’s heart to drop to her feet. She pressed on the gas.

  George interrupted her. “Do you not know which is which?”

  “Of course I do. Do you?” she asked, thinking it was an odd question for a five-year-old to ask, but then again, a lot of what George said and did surprised Olivia. Just yesterday…

  “I do, but my mama can’t see different colors. She wouldn’t drive through a red light though.”

  There was so much wrong with everything George had just said, Olivia didn’t know where to begin. She wouldn’t say anything about the little girl referring to her mother in the present tense. So far Olivia had avoided any mention of Nathan and Isabella. And then there was the implication that Olivia had driven through a red light. Something George believed Olivia would do, but not her mother.

  It’s possible Olivia was being overly sensitive, but that was what George’s tone of voice seemed to imply. At least that was something Olivia could address. She smiled at George in the rearview mirror. “I wouldn’t drive through a red light, sweetheart. I’m a law-abiding citizen. I’ve never gotten a ticket or been in trouble with the law before. So you don’t have to worry—”

  “You went through two red lights, and the policeman’s right behind you. His siren sounds angry. Maybe he’s going to put you in jail.”

  Olivia narrowed her eyes at George in the rearview mirror. She sounded practically gleeful at the prospect of Olivia behind bars. She moved her gaze from George’s smirk to the car behind her. Despite what George seemed to think, Olivia had seen the policeman pull in behind her. But she’d been positive the lights and siren were for the car behind him. His mouth flat beneath his mustache, the officer gestured for her to pull over.

  Fig Newton, George was right. Olivia waved and nodded, pointing to Primrose Lane, though she second-guessed her decision to get off Main Street when she found a spot just up from the clinic. Chief Gallagher was dropping Finn off at work. They both turned to look her way when the officer got out of his vehicle to approach the driver-side window.

  “Don’t worry, everything will be just fine,” Olivia reassured George, concerned the little girl might be distressed at the sight of the big, burly policeman with the handcuffs hanging ominously at his side and the gun in his holster. Olivia opened the glove box and took out the red folder with all car-related documents before lowering the window with a smile.

  The officer didn’t return her smile. Instead, tipping up the shiny black brim of his hat with his finger, he said, “License and registration, ma’am.” Then he glanced to his left, offering a chin lift and smile to Finn and his father, who approached the car. “Chief, Doc.”

  “Morning, Mitch.” Finn’s father ducked to look in at her. “Morning, Olivia, George. What seems to be the problem, Mitch?”

  Finn raised his eyebrows in a what-did-you-do-now? kind of way, but a hint of a smile touched his mouth, so she couldn’t be too annoyed with him. And really, now that he’d promised to move into the manor, she couldn’t work up any emotion other than gratitude when she thought about Finn Gallagher, even when he teased her.

  “Clocked her going fifty-five on Main Street, and she blew two lights. She missed taking out Old Lady Bennet by a nose.”

  “Excuse me? I didn’t almost take out anyone, and I wasn’t speeding,” she objected heatedly, while dying inside. The last thing she’d ever want to do was hurt someone because she broke the law. Chief Gallagher looked surprised. Finn looked disappointed and a little concerned. He probably thought she was high.

  Apparently, he wasn’t the only one. “Ma’am, step out of the vehicle, please.”

  Before she had a chance to comply with his request, the back door flew open and George got out of the car. For a brief moment, Olivia thought she might come to her defense. She should have known better.

  George walked straight to Finn. “Can I live with you when they put Livy in jail?”

  “Liv isn’t going to jail, George. If she was speeding and running stoplights, she’ll have to pay a fine.” Olivia saw the censure in his eyes when they met hers.

  She didn’t know why it bothered her. Maybe because this somehow validated his opinion of her as a spoiled princess who’d spent her life buying her way out of trouble. Which might have been why she blurted in her defense, “I was worried…” She looked at George and trailed off. She couldn’t relay her fears in front of the little girl. Couldn’t say that the bruises and rash on George’s back were identical to her big brother Cooper’s when he was diagnosed with leukemia. “…Worried George would miss gym class and wanted to get her in to see you first thing. She has two bruises on her back and a rash.” Tears prickled the backs of her eyes, and her throat tightened. As hard as it was to relay George’s symptoms, it was almost a relief to share them with Finn. He’d know what she was afraid of, wouldn’t he?

  His expression changed, his features softening. He slid the brown leather messenger bag off his shoulder. Handing it to George, he ruffled her hair. “We can’t have you late for your second day of school, now, can we?” He turned to his father. “Dad, can you do me a favor and tell Sherry to put George in exam room number one?”

  His father nodded, gave Olivia an understanding smile, and took George by the hand. “I’ve got a few minutes. George and I will get better acquainted while we wait for you.”

  “Mitch, can I talk to you a minute?” Finn asked. The officer glanced from Olivia to Finn and then nodded. They walked a little farther up the cul-de-sac. The way they glanced at Olivia indicated the conversation was undoubtedly about her.

  A few moments later, she heard the officer say, “You owe me,” to Finn, and then he walked toward her. “Next time you’re upset, you have someone drive you, ma’am.” He tapped the brim of his hat. “Have a good day now. I hope everything works out for you and your daughter.”

  “She isn’t…Thank you, Officer. I will.” Daughter. George didn’t feel like hers. She didn’t know if she ever would. Olivia had hoped to have more children, but she and Nathan had quit trying when Cooper was diagnosed. She’d wanted to try again when Cooper had been in remission. She’d wanted to give them something else to think about, to celebrate, to look forward to. Cooper had wanted a brother or sister. Actually, he’d wanted three. Nathan refused to be swayed. He said he was happy with just the one. It appeared he’d been lying about that too.

  She looked up when Finn approached. “Thank you.”

  “I think you owe me more than a thank you. This is the second time in two weeks that I’ve saved you from being tossed in the slammer, Liv. And don’t forget I saved you from a shoe-murdering swan this past weekend.”

  She gave him a look. “You weren’t very helpful with the…crab.”

  He laughed and placed his hand at the small of her back. “T
his is true. But all I’ll say is me and a tree—”

  “Well, there was Kitty and the closet…It’s June. How about we start with a clean slate?”

  “All right, even though I think I’m losing out, it’s a deal.” He bunched the fabric of her black sleeveless dress in his hand, stopping her from walking in front of a car, and then slid his arm around her waist, rocking her against him. “Liv, trust me. I understand you going to the worst-case scenario, but I’m sure there’s a simple explanation for the bruising and rash.”

  “When I go in to check on her at night, her hair is damp. Cooper had night—” Her voice broke, and she couldn’t go on.

  Instead of taking the walkway, he drew her down a lane between the clinic and the house next door. It was bordered with clumps of primroses in various shades of pink, purple, and yellow. They smelled like springtime and sunshine.

  Finn stopped walking and turned her to face him.

  “I can’t do this again, Finn. I just can’t—”

  “I’m almost a hundred percent sure you won’t have to, Liv. You’re getting yourself worked up over nothing.” He tipped her face up with his knuckle, smiled, and smoothed her hair from her face. “It’s going to be okay. You’re going to be okay, and so is George.”

  She sagged against him, and his arms closed around her. She breathed in the scent of sandalwood and bergamot. “I almost believe you.” And that’s because she didn’t feel so alone when she was with Finn. Which was odd. Sophie, Ava, and Lexi were there for her. She could go to them any minute of any day for support. But for some reason, it didn’t feel the same.

  Maybe because she’d been forced to be honest with Finn from the beginning, or maybe it was because he’d been with her the day George arrived, or maybe it was because it felt so good to be held in his arms, and my God, the man smelled amazing. “You smell really good,” she told him, and then lifted her head from his chest. “I didn’t mean to tell you that.”

  Noting the stunned expression that came over his face, she mentally kicked herself for blurting it out. “I’m not hitting on you if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  He rubbed his jaw. “I didn’t think you—”

  “I’m not interested in you. Well, not you specifically. I’m not interested in any man. Even if I was, I wouldn’t be interested in you. You’re younger than me for one, and you—”

  A window slid open, and Sherry stuck her head out. “Dr. Gallagher, Dr. Bishop wanted me to let you know that you’re late, and the waiting room is filling up.”

  “I thought he was retiring. Isn’t that why I’m here?” Finn asked in a ticked-off tone of voice. Olivia wasn’t sure his irritation was entirely directed at Dr. Bishop or the nurse.

  “Retiring? Dr. Bishop isn’t retiring. He just wanted to be able to cut down his hours and enjoy life a bit more. I’m surprised you didn’t know. It was your grandmother’s idea, after all. Oh, and the little girl in exam room one broke the lift on the table. Your dad’s trying to fix it now.”

  At the news, Olivia did a face-plant on Finn’s chest. Given their conversation of only moments before, it was the last place her face should be. But honestly, she didn’t know how much…Her thoughts trailed off when she spotted Kitty Gallagher sneaking around the back of the clinic.

  The older woman startled when she saw Finn and Olivia, and then she grinned and gave them a finger wave.

  “We’ll just pretend I wasn’t here. Go back to what you were doing, you two lovebirds.”

  Finn rubbed the bridge of his nose before facing the woman and child sitting on the table in exam room number one. He was losing his patience. Not with the child, but with her guardian. The one woman who wasn’t interested in him because he was too young for her. If Sherry hadn’t chosen that moment to open the window, Finn would have informed Liv he wasn’t interested in her either.

  Yeah, because that’s how he was feeling right now, ticked off and immature. Mainly because his grandmother had manipulated him, and he’d lay dollars to dimes that his father and brothers were in on it too. And then of course Grams had to witness him in a clutch with his lovebird. He made air quotes in his head.

  So that may be the reason why there wasn’t a whole lot of sympathy and compassion in his response to Liv. “For the tenth time, I’m positive. She has poison ivy. If you’d like to get a second opinion from Doc Bishop, be my guest.”

  “Yes, please. I think that would be a good idea.”

  “Are you freaking kidding me?”

  “No, I…You’re the one who suggested I get another opinion, so I don’t understand why you’re getting cross…” She moved her left shoulder up and down and then reached behind her to scratch her back.

  George looked at her. “Are you sure you don’t have to go to jail?”

  “I’m sorry to disappoint you, George, but no, I’m not going to jail.”

  “Oh.” She looked at Finn. “Are you moving into the manor today?”

  “You told her I was moving in?” Oh hell, now how was he supposed to get out of it? After what Grams had just witnessed in the lane, there was no way he was moving into the manor.

  “Why? Wasn’t I supposed to?” Liv’s mouth fell open. “You’re reneging on your promise?”

  Finn got up and opened the door. “Sherry, can you come…Oh hi, Mrs. DiRossi, how are you?”

  Sophie’s grandmother was a beautiful older woman. She reminded Finn a little of Sophia Loren, so he got why Doc Bishop was interested. And he looked very interested at the moment with red lipstick smeared across his cheek. But given that Finn’s grandmother was sneaking out of the back of the clinic thirty minutes earlier…Yeah, Finn wasn’t exactly happy with the old guy. Granted, he wasn’t happy with his grandmother either.

  “I’m good. Very good,” Rosa said, her thick accent making the words roll off her tongue in such a way that Doc Bishop was practically panting. Finn hoped to God the old guy wasn’t acting like this with Grams or he’d deck him.

  “Yes, she is. She’s very, very good,” Doc Bishop said in a way that Finn figured he meant to come across as smooth and charming. Sadly, it came off as smarmy. Finn decided he was going to let Liam and Sophie’s brother Marco know what the good doctor was up to. They might want to have a word with him about Rosa.

  The older woman said something to the doc in Italian, patted his cheek, and smiled at Finn. “Where’s the bambina?” She held up a Tupperware container. “I have some of my nonnie cookies.”

  “Great. Can you stay with her in the waiting room for about ten minutes? I have to talk to Liv.”

  Rosa narrowed her eyes at him. “Why? What are you talking to her about? My Marco, he’s going to ask her out, you know. No funny business, sì?”

  “Tell him not to waste his time. She’s not into younger men.” He was happy that he didn’t come off sounding as ticked off or as possessive as he felt. His somewhat over-the-top reaction could easily be explained away. Marco was a total player. And Liv was vulnerable. She needed to be protected right now.

  When Finn returned to the room from passing off George to Rosa and telling Sherry he needed ten more minutes, Liv was lying on the exam table. The paper crackled as she energetically rubbed her back. A couple of pointed questions later and he knew the problem.

  “I promise if you just let me take a look, I’ll give you something that will make you feel better.” He helped her sit up.

  “The only thing that will make me feel better is if you tell me you’re moving into the manor. Please, Finn.”

  “We’ll see, but I can’t this week. My, ah, my dad needs me.” He took her by the shoulders and turned her so he could see her back. “Undo your dress for me.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Liv, I have to be sure it’s poison ivy and not something else.”

  “Like what?” she said, reaching back to undo her zipper. “You’ll have to do it the rest of the way.”

  “Shingles, for one. You’ve been under a lot of stress,” he said as he slo
wly lowered her zipper to expose her back, which was a red, blistered mess.

  “Only old people get…” Her eyes narrowed at him. “That’s not funny.”

  “I wasn’t trying to be. You have poison ivy, by the way.” He walked to the cupboard and pulled out a corticosteroid cream and a sample box of antihistamines. Drawing a small paper cup from the dispenser, he filled it with water and brought it to her. “Here you go.”

  Resting his hip against the table, he squeezed the cream onto the pads of his fingers. “It’ll be a little cold, but it should relieve the itch fairly quick.”

  He smoothed the cream onto her back. She shivered at first but was practically moaning within seconds. Okay, this was not good. How could he be looking at a back covered in a rash and be turned on? He knew exactly how. And it wasn't only those sexy sounds she was making in her throat, it was the strap of the lacy black bra that made his mind go to where it shouldn’t. One flick and...He pulled his gaze from the bra strap to watch her dress slide off her shoulder, leaving it bare. The way her silky, blond hair spread over her skin made him think…

  He cleared his throat. “Okay, you’re good—”

  “Can you put some here?” She reached around to pat her bra strap. “It’s really itchy under there, and I won’t be able to reach it.”

  It was well past six before Finn saw his last patient. He would have thought by now the novelty of a single doctor in town would have worn off. Given that the waiting room today had been packed with single women with fake complaints, it hadn’t. The one exception being the single woman with a legitimate complaint who wasn’t the least bit interested in him.

  As he slowly lowered himself onto the chair behind his desk, Finn wondered if Liv writing him off as a potential love interest was why he couldn’t seem to get her off his mind. Maybe that and his slightly obsessive interest in her long, slender back and her sexy black bra.