The Shell Collector

by Nancy Naigle

  Whatever the old store was before it became Paws Town Square wasn’t recognizable now. It looked like an official town square, clock tower and all. The parking lot had been repurposed, too, which made sense. How much parking did a kennel need? Most was pickup and drop-off.

  “Is it a carnival?” Hailey pressed her nose to the glass. “Look at the water fountains!”

  “Oh my goodness. This place is really cool.” Amanda took her time through the long stretch of outdoor activities available. Dogs ran and played, their tongues hanging out and tails wagging.

  “Denali would love it here.”

  Jesse shouted, “Go-kart track!”

  “No, that’s just a walking path.” Amanda could see where he would get that idea, the way it swerved and curved around the patches of green. “Want to take a tour?”

  Their cheers rang in her ears.

  Amanda pulled into a parking spot near the front doors, which looked more like the stairs of a courthouse. They went inside and took one of the maps that outlined the entire facility. There was a walking tour that was open and free to the public. “This looks like fun.”

  The shops on this floor were retail specialty stores. The Barkery offered dog-friendly baked goods to share with your pet, purchased as onesies or in bulk. A store called the Yap that imitated America’s favorite youth clothiers carried custom collars, leashes, and bandannas. Toy Town featured nontoxic unbreakable toys for dogs of all sizes, including dog Frisbees for the Frisbee park outside. The spa was so fancy with its marble floors and high-shine accessories she wondered if they might take her in to get her nails done. The Veterinarian and FarmAcy took up the far end of the building, and from the looks of things, they were already doing a booming business.

  Signs led to the free walking tour. From there she could see other trails active with dogs and handlers.

  Amanda caught the attention of one of the workers, easily identified by the Paws Town Square logo on his shirt. “So, are all of these dogs being boarded, or is there a program for residents to bring their dogs here for walks?”

  “You can get a day pass or even sign up for year-round access. Lots of people bring their dogs a couple times a week to walk them when the weather’s bad or too darn hot like it is right now. I was just outside like ten minutes. Look at me.” Sweat glistened on his brow. “Can’t blame them folks for wanting to escape the heat. There’s a few different levels if you want to use the water park or agility areas. The dogs down on that trail are all being boarded. We schedule their walks and runs throughout the day.”

  “What a neat idea!” She mirrored his enthusiasm.

  “Yes, most definitely. And it’s more than just dog boarding. We have programs to help bring former soldiers with PTSD to our workforce. We’ve matched pets with people, and we do some in-house canine training for companion dogs. It’s a great company to work for.”

  “Wow. Sounds like it!” Too bad she hadn’t heard about this before she accepted her teaching job. “Who wouldn’t love to get paid to play with dogs all day?”

  “Tell me about it. And the benefits are good too.” He glanced at his watch. “I need to catch up to an appointment. Can I answer anything else for you or connect you with someone?”

  “No. We’re just going to look around. I have the flyer.”

  “Great. Well, I hope we’ll see you back around here with your dog one day.”

  “Maybe you will.”

  He darted off into a jog.

  “He was nice, wasn’t he?” Amanda said.

  Hailey and Jesse nodded. They seemed mesmerized by the number of dogs.

  The three of them followed the road signs and entered the large-dog area of the facility. They stopped and stood on the visitors’ side of the big-dog park. The pace there was slower, but the breeds were huge. A Great Dane walked to the low fence that separated the walkway from the park and hung his head over the railing in front of Jesse.

  He tentatively lifted his hand. “Horsey?”

  “No, Jesse. That’s a dog. A very big dog.”

  A woman wearing a Paws Town shirt came over. “This is Duke. He’s very friendly.” The shiny black dog lifted his chin in the air and tucked his nose under her armpit.

  The woman wiggled away. “That tickles.” She brushed him aside. “He knows it tickles. He does it all the time.”

  “Can I pet him?” Hailey asked.

  “Sure. Call his name. He’ll come right to you.”

  “Hi, Duke.” She waved her hand, and the dog walked over for some attention. “Nice doggy.” Hailey’s fingers swooped across the top of Duke’s head and down his ears.

  “He’s here on vacation with his family,” the woman explained. “They drove all the way from New Jersey with this guy.”

  Hailey’s nose wrinkled. “Is that far away?”

  “It is a very long drive, but they didn’t want to vacation without him, so they checked him in here since no pets are allowed at Plantations Resort. They come visit him every day.”

  “I bet he really likes that,” Hailey said. “He’s sweet.”

  “Yeah, he’s part of their family. They said they’d had him since he was just six weeks old.”

  Amanda reached over and petted the dog too. “I thought our English bulldog was big. This makes him look like a Chihuahua.”

  At that moment a beautiful tricolor shepherd ran the perimeter of the fence and then lay down on a boat-shaped bench next to a small water feature.

  Amanda was captivated by the dog’s grace. “He’s beautiful.”

  “That’s Gunner. He’s a retired officer.” The woman swung around and whistled. The dog stood and ran to her side. “Sedni.”

  He sat, ready for another command.

  She placed her hand out flat and said, “Lehni.”

  “What language is that?” Hailey’s head cocked to the side. “Is it dog language?”

  “It’s this dog’s language. He’s a military working dog. Or was. He knows all the same commands as the other dogs, but in Czech.” She leaned over the fence and whispered, “That way the bad guys don’t know the commands. Pretty sneaky, huh?”

  Hailey nodded. “Gunner must be smart.”

  “He’ll be with us until his owner gets out of the hospital.”

  “He looks like he has some age on him. I should give him the name of my hairdresser. She does wonders,” Amanda teased.

  “Yeah, he’s a good old boy.”

  “Well, this is quite a place. We’ve had a lot of fun just visiting.”

  “You should stop at the front desk and get a week pass. Next time bring your dog with you. We offer a free trial for Whelk’s Island residents, and honestly, the price of the day passes are ridiculously cheap. I bet you and your dog would enjoy a day here. The outside areas are a lot of fun too.”

  “Thanks. We’ll check that out.” They waved to the handler, then followed the walking path back to the main entrance.

  Amanda stopped at the front desk to get a pass. It would give her and the kids another thing to break up their routine, and it would be good for Denali.

  With the pass in her hand, she and the kids walked back out to the car.

  “Climb on in.” She helped Jesse into his seat and then went to the other side to double-check Hailey’s seat.

  “Can we come back?” Jesse asked.

  “And bring Maeve?” Hailey added.

  “We sure can.” Amanda wished her children held the same kind of regard for her parents. They’d taken so quickly to Maeve. Amanda’s parents had been around so seldom since she married Jack that they didn’t play a big role as grandparents. They sent the obligatory gifts at the holidays, but she was pretty sure that if Mom and Dad showed up right now, neither of her children would recognize them.

  16

  Monday morning rolled around and Maeve dr
eaded going to the doctor, but the appointment had been set a month ago, and it was too late to cancel. Same-day cancellations were downright rude. The only excuse was death, and she wasn’t there yet.

  It was a dreary Monday on top of it. The rain spit and spattered against the deck, and of course here she was, dressed and ready to go an hour early.

  She pulled on her red rain jacket and stepped outside. The rhythm of the waves soothed her as she leaned against the railing. The wood had long ago weathered to a silvery gray, smooth from decades of nature’s sandblasting from the beach below. She tied her hood around her face to keep her hair, almost as silvered as the deck now, from getting tangled in the weather. A gust of wind slapped her skirt against her matching red rain boots.

  She gathered the skirt’s fabric in her hand, holding it tight to keep it from blowing as she watched the ocean’s dance, delighted the waves were at work pushing new treasures from its depths during these storms. Shells from the creatures who’d outgrown them, and sea glass that had tumbled so long that every sharp edge was polished smooth. Occasionally, remnants of shipwrecks off the coast of North Carolina would wash ashore—at least she liked to believe the shipwreck part. She’d been known to make up a splendid story or two about the things she found along the shore, even if she kept most of those stories to herself.

  Rainy days left her eager to get out on the beach.

  Hopefully, she’d make it back from her doctor’s appointment in time to collect shells before the tide stole them away. But sometimes her doctor visits took nearly all day.

  She glanced at her watch. If you’re early, you’re on time, but if you’re on time, you’re late. She went back inside, fed Methuselah, gathered her wallet, and locked up.

  Outside she carefully navigated the stairs to the ground level. Her baby sister, Judy, complained about her living alone in their childhood home, but she and Judy never lived here at the same time. There were so many years between them that Maeve had already married and moved out of the house when Judy was born. Maeve had always felt more like a mother to Judy. Now Judy thought she wanted to take care of Maeve. Funny how things came full circle.

  Maeve gripped the handrail. With the added weight of her rain boots, the descent was tricky. Judy wasn’t wrong about their old family home being too big for one person or that the stairs were dangerous. Maeve herself had tried to get Mom and Daddy to close in the bottom level of the house years ago for the same reason.

  She was older now than her parents had been then. They were so hardheaded.

  A big raindrop plopped against her hood. Her face twisted as she glared toward the heavens. Okay, so I’m a little hardheaded too.

  She walked down the path from her house toward the beach road. Used to be from here she could see across the way to the houses on the sound side. Whelk’s Island wasn’t that wide. Just a narrow strip of land, the ocean on one side and the sound on the other. Who’d have thought someday they’d have a four-lane highway that ran for miles connecting all these small barrier islands together?

  When Maeve reached the doctor’s office, she removed her coat and shook it out before going inside.

  “Please tell me you didn’t walk down here in this rain.” Courtney, the nurse at the front desk, tapped her pen on the counter.

  “A little water never killed anyone.” Maeve hung her wet coat on the rack and then walked over and wrote her name on the check-in sheet.

  “You know we could have arranged for someone to come get you.”

  “I know, I know, but it’s not that far. Walking is good. Keeps me young.”

  “But this weather—”

  “Good enough for ducks, good enough for me. It makes me a bit achy, but that won’t stop me.”

  “You won’t be saying that if you catch pneumonia.”

  Maeve turned and leveled a stare at Courtney. “You know better. Can’t catch a cold from walking in the rain. It’s always caused by bacteria or a virus. Now quit giving me a hard time.” She started toward one of the chairs, then shifted and asked, “Is Doc running late today?”

  “Not too bad. Have a seat. We’ll get you right in and out.”

  “Low tide is at 3:24 this afternoon.” Maeve tapped the face of her watch. “You know I don’t want to miss that.”

  Courtney tilted her head the way she always did when she was going to give Maeve unsolicited advice. “Yes ma’am. I’m well aware. We’ve got you covered.”

  Maeve sat in the waiting area. She smiled at the tall redhead sitting with an adolescent boy at her side. Next to them, a man slumped in a chair. He looked like he hadn’t slept in a week. She rummaged through the magazines, picking up one she thought she might not have already read. No such luck. All of them were months old. She tossed the magazine back on the table, half tempted to steal the lot of them to force them to bring fresh ones in. Crossing her leg, she bobbed the toe of her red boot. Wearing them always cheered her.

  She sat quietly, listening to the conversations beyond the counter. How could those nurses not realize everyone sitting out here could hear everything they said? A minute later, Courtney came to the door and called Maeve back.

  “How’ve you been feeling, Miss Maeve?”

  “Getting old isn’t for sissies.” She stepped on the scale without being asked. She knew the routine.

  “Well, it’d be easier if you’d let us get you some help.”

  Maeve waved off the comment. They’d had this conversation over and over again.

  “I only mention it because we care about you.”

  “Thank you, but I’m fine,” Maeve said, doing her best not to scowl. “I’ve made it this far alone.”

  “Room B,” Courtney said.

  Maeve walked down the hall and got comfortable. There was always a wait.

  After a while, the doctor knocked at the door and entered. “Good to see you today, Maeve. How’re you feeling?”

  “Do we really have to go through the pleasantries? I’m dying. We both are keenly aware of it.”

  “Need more pain medicine?”

  Her lip trembled. “Yes. I’m getting low.”

  “Thought you might be. The tests came back.” He leaned against the cabinet, her file resting on his leg. “I’m sorry, Maeve. You’re declining. I’m guessing you can probably feel the changes. Am I right?”

  She nodded.

  “We can still try some treatments if you’ve changed your mind.”

  “No. We won’t be doing that.”

  “I didn’t think so, but I had to ask. You’ve fought a good long fight.” He flipped the folder against his leg. “You might really think about getting a Senior Helper, Maeve. Someone to lighten the load, help you prepare meals and clean up. Keep you company, even.”

  She stared at him for a long moment. “I promised Judy I’d go live with her when the time came.”

  “She’s left me plenty of messages in that regard.” The doctor clucked his tongue.

  She shook her head. “I’m good to my word. It’s time, isn’t it?”

  “You’re an amazing lady, Maeve. I sure wish there was more I could do.”

  “I’ll be with Jarvis sooner rather than later.” A strange assurance came over her. “It’s all I’ve really wanted for more years than you probably care to remember.”

  “More than I can count,” Doc said without remorse. “You’ve been a handful at times.”

  “Don’t I know it,” Maeve conceded.

  “Let me know how we can make you comfortable or if the medicine doesn’t help with the pain anymore. I’ve got some numbers here for you. Courtney will make the calls if you need—”

  “I’ll handle things.” She stood and gave him a hug. “You’ve been a wonderful doctor and a dear friend all these years. To me. To Mom and Daddy. Thank you.”

  She got up, grabbed her things, and walke
d straight out of the office. There was no reason to make another appointment to follow up. Everything from here forward was just a matter of time. She’d make the best of what she had left. What else could she do?

  Outside the rain had stopped and a beautiful rainbow soared over the buildings in front of her. From here it looked like one end led straight to her house. She walked slower going home. Not from the news, but more to savor every step, every memory, along the way.

  She stopped and took a seat on one of the benches around the flagpole in front of the post office. Someone had come and switched out the flowers since the last time she was here. Soon they’d be trading out all the red, white, and blue for fall-colored mums and pumpkins.

  A clump of small shells, mostly bivalves, lay near the outer edge of the planter in the fresh potting soil. She scattered them with her hand, then sat there with her fingers still hovering as she noticed the words carefully scrawled inside one of them.

  Say goodbye to the past,

  because it’s time to move on.

  She picked up the shell and squeezed it in her palm. Her heart raced. It was possible she’d written the message in this shell at some point. She’d penned so many over the years she couldn’t really say for sure, but this message, at this time?

  She swallowed hard. The shell was small, but those few words held so much power.

  It didn’t matter where the shell had come from. This message was meant for her.

  “Well, what do you know? I guess it really is time to call you, Judy.” She looked up the street, then back up at the rainbow, thinking of Jarvis.

  * * *

  —

  Amanda couldn’t believe the amount of foam on the beach.

  “It snowed!” Jesse leaped in the air. “Can I go see?”

  “Take your sister with you.”

  They didn’t have to get all the way down to the water to see it. The tide was receding, and mounds of foam covered the sand. Some of it blew across the beach and into the air, almost like snow.

  “Wow! It’s like Christmas!” Hailey chased Jesse through the foam.