by Terri Osburn
Sensing her panic might have been a bit premature, the older woman mumbled, “Not yet.”
“Is the numbness in both hands or only one?”
Nota flexed her fingers. “Both of them.”
Alex reviewed her prescriptions, checking the list of possible side effects. As he’d guessed, the explanation for this episode was the same as in previous cases.
“I don’t believe you’re on the verge of a stroke,” he said. “The tingling and numbness are most likely side effects of the new arthritis medication we started last week. Have you experienced any other symptoms? Slurring your words? Fatigue? Muscle weakness?”
“I was a bit tired this morning.”
Knowing his patient well, he said, “Wasn’t your book club meeting last night?”
Busted, she nodded. “Yes. And yes, I might have had a few gin and tonics.”
He hugged the file to his chest. “We’ve talked about mixing alcohol with your prescriptions.”
“I don’t do it all the time.” Imminent death no longer a concern, Nota’s attention swung to his neighbors, whom she could see through the window. “Is that a stranger with Beth Dempsey?”
Alex played dumb. “Might be.” He followed her gaze. “I’ve never seen the car before.” Technically not a lie if by before he meant before this morning.
The two women each dragged a suitcase to the porch. Beth looked to be struggling with hers, so the cousin abandoned her own to help get the first up the steps.
“She must be staying for a long time,” Nota observed. “Either that or she’s got a dead body in there.”
Doubtful of the dead body theory, Alex had to agree that she appeared to be prepared for an extended stay. Exactly how extended was the question. Once the two women teamed up, the suitcases reached the house in no time, with the little girls offering a push and a shove here and there. Dozer gave the newcomer a thorough sniffing before she could cross the threshold. The bear-like dog was friendly, but he didn’t let just anyone near his family. As Alex had learned the hard way. He would never forget that bark or the thunderous echo of pounding feet that had accompanied his first Dozer encounter.
“I’ll stop by Lola’s on my way home and see what I can find out.” Nota returned her attention to the matter at hand. “What else is this drug going to do to me?”
There was no way to answer that since the medication affected everyone differently, and some not at all.
“The pharmacy should have included full documentation for you to read.”
She waved his words away. “I never look at that stuff.”
If she did, they might not see each other quite so often. “Read it, Mrs. Stamatis. There’s a chance this numbness will be the only side effect, but the more you know, the less scared you’ll be if something else happens.”
With a dramatic eye roll, she rose to her feet, barely using the cane—a good sign that the medication was working. “Mia said you two had lunch yesterday.”
Alex had hoped they’d get through one visit without having this conversation. “Yes, we did.”
“When are you two going to make this official?” she asked, pegging him with a hard glare.
Mia was Nota’s granddaughter and had been Alex’s first friend on the island other than his cousin Lucas. For reasons Nota had yet to learn, her granddaughter was never going to fall for the island doctor.
“Mia and I are just friends, Nota. You know that.”
Shaking her head as she shuffled from the room, she repeated a statement he’d heard many times before. “Men and women aren’t supposed to be friends. It’s unnatural.”
Poking her just a little, he replied, “Aren’t you friends with Olaf Hogenschmidt?”
The older pair had been spending a great deal of time together since the previous summer yet dismissed any possibility of a budding romance. Or at least Nota did. As far as Alex knew, Olaf had never confirmed nor denied the rumors.
“I have a luncheon to get to,” his patient said, suddenly in a hurry to leave. “Make sure Flora sends me a reminder for my appointment next month.”
Opening the front door, Alex nodded. “Will do.” He would do no such thing. Flora was the best nurse he’d ever worked with, and she did not need a reminder about reminders.
He watched closely as Nota toddled to her car, again noting the improved mobility. Tolerating these visits wasn’t so difficult when he knew the medication was working. Moments later, he winced as she missed his car by mere inches on her way out. Mia was going to have to take her keys away sooner or later.
Alex turned to go back inside and caught sight of the brunette removing two small bags from her car. When their eyes met, her expression hardened as if she’d spotted an enemy in the distance. They hadn’t gotten off to a great start, but he hadn’t done anything to deserve such raw hostility. Without another glance, she carried the bags to the house and disappeared inside, leaving Alex wondering what he’d missed.
Chapter Two
A sign on the house next door read Fielding Family Practice Dr. Alex Fielding, MD.
Brendon, the asshole responsible for Roxie’s involuntary exile, had been a doctor. A lying, cheating asshole of a doctor. So, of course, the first man she meets here just had to sport MD after his name. Or so she assumed. He could have been a patient, but she’d seen him unlock the office door, which said otherwise.
Anger bubbled over, driving Roxie to slam the door on her way into the house. Dozer barked his displeasure.
“Sorry, buddy.”
The big mutt huffed as if saying, “Don’t let it happen again.”
“Are you okay?” asked Beth, appearing from the hallway with Daphne on her hip.
Roxie set her bags on the floor next to the suitcases they’d already brought in. “I didn’t mean to close the door so hard.”
Beth put the toddler down, and Daphne immediately hugged Dozer’s neck while keeping a distrustful eye on Roxie. Mary Ann had welcomed her mother’s cousin as if they were old friends, but the younger Dempsey was going to take some work. Roxie wasn’t sure how to win her over but wasn’t above resorting to bribery, if necessary.
Could one-year-olds have Hershey bars?
“That’s okay. Let’s sit in the kitchen and catch up. You must have left at dawn to be here already.” Beth shuffled around the large kitchen island and pulled two glasses from a top cabinet. Opening the fridge, she said, “I have lemonade, sweet tea, juice—both apple and orange—and water. What can I get you?”
“Lemonade is fine.”
Though they’d been close as kids, Roxie hadn’t seen Beth since before she’d taken up permanent residence on Anchor Island. The last time they’d been in the same room together had been a Thanksgiving dinner when Beth brought her fiancé home to meet the family, somewhere around eight years ago.
That man was now Beth’s brother-in-law. Roxie never got the full story of how that happened but hadn’t been surprised. The man she’d met hadn’t seemed right for her cousin at all.
“I pulled out at six so the sun was up but not by much.”
Settling onto a red barstool, Roxie took in her surroundings. Though an open floor plan, the space was relatively small. The living room would likely look larger without all the toys and baby stuff. One of those electric swings sat next to a playpen, which was surrounded by toys.
As if reading Roxie’s mind, Beth said, “I had this living room cleaned up yesterday, but these girls make keeping it clean impossible.” She set the glass of lemonade in front of Roxie. “So are you going to tell me why Aunt Jody asked me to invite you down here?”
That confirmed her suspicions. “I did something stupid.” With her eyes on the drink, she added, “I’m sure you’re surprised.”
A slender finger under Roxie’s chin nudged her gaze upward. “Tell me what happened.”
Before Roxie could spill, Mary Ann came tearing into the kitchen. “Mommy, the toilet isn’t flushing.”
“Did you put something in it again?
” Beth asked, abandoning her company and chasing after her daughter.
“I thought the little ship would float,” Roxie heard from the distance. She’d never given having a family much thought, but she had a feeling this visit was going to be an excellent motivator for birth control.
Lifting her drink, she felt a tug on her pant leg. Looking down, Roxie found Daphne staring up at her with giant green eyes. When the child remained silent, she said, “Can I help you?”
To her surprise, the munchkin held out her arms and said, “Up.”
This was an unexpected turn of events. Roxie set the glass back on the counter and rubbed her hands on her thighs. “Okay. Come on up.”
The little one weighed almost nothing, and when her bottom landed on the countertop, her eyes stayed locked on Roxie’s. One tiny finger poked her bottom lip, and Roxie endured the contact until the tiny digit headed for her nose.
“I don’t think so.”
The child froze for several seconds before her bottom lip started to quiver.
“Oh, shit,” Roxie mumbled before catching herself. “I mean, crap. Don’t cry, baby. It’s all good.”
Her words had no effect, and as soon as the first whimper crossed Daphne’s lips, Dozer was practically on Roxie’s lap. He pressed his nose against the baby’s chubby cheeks, and she leaned into him, the tears drying up.
“You’re good at this, buddy.” Roxie scratched his head as Beth re-entered the kitchen.
“Dozer, give her some space.”
“It’s okay. These two are pretty close, aren’t they?” she said as Daphne tugged on the dog’s ear.
“Sometimes I think she’s more his baby than mine. He was protective of Mary Ann, but once Daphne came, he turned into a canine nanny.” Beth retrieved her glass and settled on the stool two down from Roxie. “Mary Ann will be in her room for a while. That’s the third toy she’s flushed this month, and we’re only ten days in. Don’t you want five of your own?” she asked with a laugh.
“I can barely keep myself out of trouble.”
Daphne rubbed her eyes, and Beth said, “Let me put her down for a nap, and then you can tell me about this stupid thing you did while we get you unpacked.” Sweeping the baby off the counter, she tucked her daughter’s head against her neck. “You’re in the room upstairs, and not to worry, you have your own bathroom. I’ll help you carry the suitcases when I come back.”
The mom disappeared again, and Roxie looked around for a set of stairs, finding them on the far side of the living room. Loading the smaller bags on her shoulders, she rolled the larger of the two suitcases across the room and dragged it up the stairs, going one step at a time.
At the top, she entered a spacious room with an A-line ceiling and large windows on two walls that let in an amazing amount of natural light. Rolling the suitcase to the bed, her breath caught at the view out the back. Dropping the bags on the ruffled quilt, Roxie moved closer to get a better look. The sizable backyard was fenced, and beyond the back gate was a sandy area that stretched to the water’s edge. In the distance was nothing but water as far as the eye could see.
“Your own private beach,” Roxie mumbled. “Not bad, cuz.”
She turned back to the bed and noticed the view out the side window offered a clear shot to the doctor’s place. Shaking her head, she took in the big yellow house with its white picket fence and perfectly manicured flower beds along the wide front porch. What she hadn’t been able to see before was the expansive second-story deck that ran along the back of the house.
The doc had the same view as Beth, and that deck would be the perfect spot to enjoy it.
A suitcase clunked up the steps, and Roxie hurried to help.
“Seriously,” Beth said. “What do you have in here?”
“I wasn’t sure how long I’d be here, so I packed nearly everything I own.”
Beth looked up with wide eyes. “Is it that bad?”
“Yeah. It’s that bad.” Reluctant to talk about the incident as her mother called it, Roxie gestured toward the side window. “Since when are doctors’ offices in big yellow houses?”
She glanced in her neighbor’s direction. “That’s Alex Fielding. He’s Lucas’ cousin on Patty’s side, and he’s been the island doctor for…” Eyes up, she tapped her chin. “I guess about three years now? He sees patients downstairs and lives upstairs.”
“Lucas, as in that guy you were engaged to who is now your brother-in-law?”
Her cousin nodded. “That’s right. I used to hate explaining how I met Joe, but I think my husband is finally rubbing off on me because I don’t get as embarrassed about it as I used to.” She shrugged. “If I hadn’t been engaged to Lucas, I wouldn’t have come to Anchor Island, and I never would have met Joe. It was all meant to be, and everyone is happy. That’s what matters.”
“Then Lucas is happy, too?”
“Oh, heavens, yes. He and Sid are disgustingly in love, and their daughter is the most beautiful little girl you’ve ever seen.” Beth motioned for Roxie to help her lift the suitcase onto the bed. “You’ll see for yourself when you meet them. And I’ll introduce you to Alex, too. He’s a great guy.”
Roxie didn’t like the sound of that. “Don’t get any ideas. I’m only here temporarily, and the last thing I need is you playing matchmaker.”
Beth tried to look innocent and failed miserably. “I’m just saying he’s a nice guy.”
“I’m sure he’s a real gem, but I’m on a man hiatus until further notice.”
“Oh,” she sighed. “Then the stupid thing had to do with a man.”
Flipping the suitcase open, she replied, “Doesn’t it always? So no fixing me up, okay?”
Her cousin sank onto the bed and pulled a sweater from the suitcase. “Okay. No fixing you up.”
“Thanks.”
Beth hugged the sweater to her chest. “You know I’m on your side, right?”
Roxie had almost forgotten how good hearing those words felt. “I do, and I promise not to cause any trouble while I’m here.”
“I’m not worried about that.”
That made one of them.
Alex walked into a nearly empty Dempsey’s Bar & Grill and found Mia already seated. He’d had a busy afternoon, thanks to flu season being in full swing, and was ready to relax.
“Hey, there,” said Mia as Alex lowered onto the bench seat across from her. “The hostess took the drinks order, so I got you a soda.”
“That’s good, thanks.” He folded his coat and set it neatly beside him. “Nota came to see me today.”
Dark eyes lifted to his. “Who drove her?”
“Who do you think?”
“Damn it.” Mia closed the menu. “I told her to call me or Nick if she needed to go anywhere.” Nick was Mia’s older brother and Dempsey’s head cook.
“She had a side effect that scared her so I’d give her a pass, but once the tourists return to the island, she really shouldn’t be behind the wheel. I’m afraid she could actually hurt someone, including herself.”
During the winter months like this, there was only a few hundred locals on the island. Once spring rolled around, that number would more than triple on any given week.
“There was also another mention of you and me dating,” he said. “When are you going to tell her the truth?”
The menu flipped open again and rose like a wall between them. “I’m waiting for the right time.”
Alex gently pushed the barrier down. “You’re thirty, Mia. Nota is almost eighty. You can’t keep putting this off.”
“Me being gay isn’t the only reason you and I aren’t dating,” she argued.
News to him. Not that he was in love with Mia, but she was a beautiful, intelligent, caring person he’d have at least asked out if circumstances were different.
“That isn’t insulting at all,” he mumbled.
Her dark ponytail swung as she shook her head. “You know what I mean. We’re friends. If you were a woman, I still wouldn�
�t date you because your friendship is important to me.” She closed the menu again. “I’ll talk to her about harassing you, though. She shouldn’t be butting into my love life—or lack thereof—no matter who she’s talking to.”
“Good evening, guys,” their waitress, a native islander who had worked at Dempsey’s since before Alex arrived, set a soda in front of Alex and a beer before Mia. “Are you ready to order?”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Mia. “I’m going to have the covered and smothered burger, cooked medium, with a side of fries.”
“Got it.” Turning to Alex she said, “And you?”
“I’ll have the crab cakes entree with red potatoes and broccoli, please.”
Annie made the note on her pad. “All right, then. I’ll get these in, and your meals should be out shortly.”
“Thanks,” they said in unison as she headed back to the bar.
“What was the side effect?” Mia asked.
Alex opened his mouth to answer when a large, noisy group entered the restaurant. Glancing past his dinner partner, the first person he saw was his mysterious new neighbor. She was accompanied by the entire Dempsey clan—who’d founded and still owned this establishment—along with the Navarros. Without waiting for the hostess, they started shifting tables to accommodate the large group, with Lucas retrieving two high chairs from an alcove beside the bar. He spotted Alex and Mia on his way back.
“Hey, there,” he said, extending a hand in greeting to Alex. “Have you guys eaten already?”
“Not yet,” Mia replied as the men shook hands. “Annie just took our order.”
“Then you should join us.” Yelling to his party, Lucas said, “Joe, add two more chairs.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Alex assured him. The newcomer had already shot him a hostile look that would have felled a weaker man. “We’re good over here.”
Lucas smacked his shoulder. “No, seriously. We’re having a welcome dinner for Beth’s cousin, Roxie. She came in today to help with the recovery effort.”