Summer on Lovers' Island (19 page)

She diverted her attention from Josh, who was now dressed in khaki shorts and a T-shirt, and faced his sister Sarah with a smile. “Sorry I'm late. And I didn't have a chance to pick up dessert. The guys from the ambulance dropped me off.”

Sarah waved a hand at her, dismissing her apology. “No worries at all. Meggie brought cookies and we always have ice cream in the freezer anyway. You must be hungry. We'll get you something fresh and you can tell us how our favorite mayor is doing.”

Lizzie let out a sigh and followed Sarah to the deck.

“Mark? Plug in the fryer again. I'm going to make a fresh batch for Lizzie.”

“Yes, dear!” Mark called down, and Lizzie caught him winking at his wife. He disappeared and Lizzie heard some clanging about up top.

“Sarah, don't go to any bother. I know you've already eaten. I just wanted to stop by.”

“Nonsense. I'm going to let you in on a secret that no one in the family knows.” She led the way up the stairs to the deck, gave her husband a quick kiss, and went on to the kitchen through sliding doors. Once the doors were closed behind them, Sarah went to the pantry and took out a storage container. “Before I tell you, you have to swear you won't breathe a word. My beer batter is a thing of legend in this family.”

Lizzie couldn't help but smile and she crossed her heart. “Promise.”

Sarah grabbed a bottle of beer, popped the top, and snagged a small mixing bowl. “It's pancakes.”

“Excuse me?”

Sarah giggled. “My secret batter recipe! It's pancake mix and beer. Everyone thinks I have this secret recipe, but I leave it up to Aunt Jemima.”

Lizzie laughed. “I promise I won't breathe a word.”

Sarah whisked together the dry mix with the beer until it was the proper consistency and then went to the fridge for another container that held fish fillets. “Come on out. We'll dip and fry. There should be some potatoes left, too, we can do up, if you don't mind them cooked in the same grease.”

“I can feel my arteries hardening already.” She grinned.

Out on the deck again, they were joined by Jess and Abby and Meggie, who'd been out in Sarah's flower garden when Lizzie had arrived. Meggie snagged the rest of the bottle of beer and took a long swig while Jess settled her very pregnant bulk into an Adirondack chair. “God. Now I'm in this thing and I don't think I'll be able to get out.”

Lizzie laughed. There was a sizzle as Sarah dropped fish into the hot grease and followed it with a handful of raw potato strips. Tom came up and grabbed a beer for himself and a can of ginger ale for Abby, who sent him a sweet smile. The bocce game ended, and by the time the fish was golden brown and turned out onto a paper towel to drain a bit the whole family was on the deck, a string of patio lights turned on and the mood definitely mellow.

“I love summer,” Rick said, snagging a stool and sitting beside Jess. “I especially love being part of this family. Good times,” he finished, and lifted his soda.

Jess curled up close to him. “And this family loves you, too,” she reminded him.

“You all seem really close,” Lizzie observed. “That's nice.”

There were some chuckles among the nodding. “Well, we have our moments. But the latest is that Rick and Abby are actually cousins. Their grandmothers were sisters.”

“And you didn't know about each other?”

Abby and Rick shared a significant look. “It surprised us both,” Abby said, laughing. “Long story. Come over for lunch in the garden and I'll share it sometime.”

Garden lunches. Normally that would be a little slow for Lizzie's speed, but it sounded strangely enjoyable. “We'll make a date.”

Josh leaned against the deck railing, waiting for the conversation to wear itself out. “So, Lizzie, what's the update on Luke?”

Lizzie sighed as Sarah placed a plate heaped with fish, fries, and coleslaw before her. “Well, he'll be in the hospital for a while. I had hoped that the damage to the heart was minimal, but he deteriorated on the trip.” She met Josh's eyes. “He coded once, but we brought him back. When I left he was in the Cardiac ICU, stabilized.”

The mood of the family grew somber. “It's that bad, then,” Meggie said quietly, her brow furrowed in worry.

“I'm going to check in with his cardiologist tomorrow afternoon, look at his test results.” Lizzie smiled at everyone. “Listen, he came in right away, and got prompt treatment. And Luke strikes me as a strong, vital man. I wouldn't count him out yet.”

“Thanks for going with him,” Josh said. “I'm glad he wasn't alone.”

“He's my patient,” she responded simply, and picked up her fork.

But as the conversation started up again, she thought about her last words. As an emergency doctor, she triaged, treated, and sent patients on to where they needed to be in order to make room for the next. Sure, now and again she followed up on an interesting case or a patient would stop by the emergency room with a thanks, but for the most part she didn't follow patients through to their recovery. She didn't get
involved
. Luke shouldn't be any different, but for some reason he was.

“How's the fish?” Josh asked, pulling up a chair beside her.

“Delicious.” She dipped a piece in homemade tartar sauce and popped it in her mouth. “Best beer batter I've ever had.” She winked at Sarah, who winked back.

“Mark puts seasoning salt on his fries. Jess made the coleslaw. It's our grandmother's dressing recipe.”

“I was hungrier than I thought,” Lizzie admitted, biting off half a French fry. “Have you ever noticed how fish-and-chips taste better outdoors?”

He smiled. “Almost as good as picnics.”

Her face heated.

“You're sure Luke is okay?” He asked it in an undertone.

Lizzie wiped her fingers on a paper napkin. “Honestly? No. I don't like that he coded at all. But the tests will give a better picture. I still don't understand why you asked me to go with him and not you. He knows you better.”

“Because you're an emergency doctor and I'm a family physician. And you're hanging around Jewell Cove when you're used to a faster pace. I haven't forgotten that.”

She hadn't, either. Though she wasn't remembering as often as she usually did. And that was worrisome.

“You're a good doctor, Lizzie. I knew he was in good hands.”

Her heart warmed. “Josh, your belief in me is probably misplaced.” It pained her to say it, but it was true. “I've made mistakes—”

“Haven't we all,” he said firmly. “And I'd like to think that your time here has helped you past the burnout you were experiencing last spring.”

It had. More than he realized. It wasn't not working that was the answer but taking time to enjoy life. Sunsets and walks on the beach and yes, work, but not burning the candle at both ends to escape her problems. “I have to admit, I'm feeling much better these days.”

“I know.” His gaze held hers. “Listen, I'll drive you home later if you want to have a beer or something. You've earned it.”

“You're sure?” The thought of a cold one was tempting, particularly as the sun was setting and the first stars were going to come out any moment. With her belly starting to get full, she was feeling lazy and very chilled out.

“Of course. Enjoy yourself.” He got up and disappeared for a minute, then came back with a bottle of beer and put it by her elbow.

The kids took a jar and decided to try catching fireflies, and the adults lounged on the deck, simply chatting about life. Lizzie sat back and took it all in, enjoying the idea of being included even if she didn't contribute much to the conversation. That was until Meggie piped up.

“Lizzie, we've been rude, only talking about ourselves. How are you liking the Cove so far?”

She smiled, turning the bottle around in her hands. “It's lovely here. I can't think of a nicer place to spend a summer. And Josh isn't
that
bad of a boss.” She gave a half smile and everyone laughed.

“Josh said something about your mom being close to Springfield?”

She forced her face to relax. She tried not to think about the situation that much. Her last visit still stuck in her head, dragging her down. “Yes, that's right. She's in a care facility there. My dad looked after her as much as he could. I'm sure Josh told you she has Alzheimer's.”

“Um … no, he didn't. I'm sorry to hear that. Oh my, that's so difficult.”

Sounds of sympathy passed through the group. Lizzie met Josh's gaze. He looked apologetic, but she realized that despite her outpouring on the beach the night after her last visit, Josh had kept her confidence. She liked that about him. And for some odd reason, it didn't seem so difficult to talk about.

“It's been hard,” she admitted. “Especially with my dad gone now, too.” Attempting to lighten the mood, she smiled. “Which makes me want to say thank you again for inviting me tonight. I've missed this kind of thing the last few years. I had a—” Her throat tightened and she swallowed. “I had a happy childhood. It helps to remember that. And Charlie … well, she's my best friend. I like being closer to her, too.”

Abby reached over and squeezed her hand. God, did the whole extended family have to be so damned generous? And speaking of Charlie, Lizzie really needed to have her over for lunch or take her shopping or something. Lizzie hadn't wanted to run to her friend's doorstep all summer, and lately she hadn't wanted to face questions about Josh, either. Charlie knew her better than anyone. She'd smell a lie a mile away.

“Anyway,” Lizzie said, injecting a bit of brightness to her voice. “I didn't mean to be a mood killer. Let's talk about happier topics. Jess, when's your due date?”

Jess rubbed her huge tummy. “Soon,” she grumbled. “Hopefully really soon. I've hit the ‘oh my God I have a basketball in my stomach' stage. I can't get comfortable at night and I'm up nearly every hour to pee because he's sitting on my bladder.” She put on a sad expression. “And I miss seeing my feet.”

Everyone laughed. To demonstrate the point, Jess shifted in her chair. “I swear he's kicking field goals in there.”

Lizzie saw Abby look at Tom and then Tom nod.

“Well, since Jess is due any day, this might be a good time to announce that there's going to be a little Arseneault running around next spring.” Abby looked at everyone, her face beaming.

The deck went completely silent, and Lizzie saw Tom look at Josh and Josh look back, and something that wasn't quite happiness passed between the two. It wasn't anger, either. But it was definitely emotional, and Lizzie frowned.

“Well, congratulations!” Sarah went forward and gave Abby a huge hug. “I love spring babies! And yours and Jess's will be close together. And Charlie's, too. It's wonderful.”

Abby squeezed Sarah back. “Thank you, Sarah.”

The talk then morphed into a conversation about how Abby was feeling and when the baby was due and a million other things, and Lizzie sat back, her plate empty and a pang in her heart. She'd never have a big family like this. And Josh wasn't overly chatty right now, either. And then she remembered. Josh and Tom had history, and a history that centered around Josh's wife. Did Tom's news bring back memories or something?

Right now Josh was standing at the railing of the deck, looking down over the backyard and the smooth, black waters of the bay.

She got up and went to him, put a hand on his arm. “Josh? I'm getting a bit tired. Would you mind taking me home now?”

“Not at all.” As she suspected, he almost looked relieved. “It's getting late anyway.”

He turned from the railing and interrupted the conversation. “Hey, everyone. I'm going to run Lizzie home. She's had a long day.”

Lizzie smiled brightly. “But thank you for dinner. Particularly since I was so late.”

“You're welcome,” Sarah answered, and Mark added, “Stop by anytime. Any friend of Josh's…”

Josh went forward and hugged Abby. “Congratulations, to both of you,” he said, but there was a softness to his voice that told Lizzie the words were perhaps hard to say. When he released Abby, Tom was waiting.

Josh held out his hand. “So, you're gonna be a dad. This'll be fun to watch. Especially if karma has anything to do with it.”

It seemed like everyone suddenly held their breath.

“You were a wicked terror when we were little. God has a way of repaying the favor.”

Tom laughed. “Then just wait until it's your turn. He's going to have a riot with your kids.”

The tension eased, and Lizzie picked up her bag and said a blanket good-bye to everyone.

Josh's pickup was parked out front, and it took only seconds for him to pull a U-turn and head to the edge of town and the road leading to Fiddler's Rock. The stars had come out, and Lizzie leaned back against the vinyl seat and relaxed her shoulders. Josh slowed once to let a raccoon scoot across the road, then kept on until they got to the cottage, the dark shape of the house silhouetted in front of the trees.

She turned on the seat, put her hand on her purse. “You want to come in and talk about it?”

His hands stayed on the steering wheel. “Talk about what?”

But his jaw had a stubborn set to it, and he stared straight ahead instead of at her.

“About why Abby and Tom's news isn't a cause for rejoicing. Because they seem pretty happy to me.”

“They are. And I'm happy for them.”

“You could have fooled me.”

He looked at her then, but the wall shutting her out was still firmly in place.

“Come inside,” she suggested gently. “I'll make some tea. Or pour you a whiskey.”

“I should get back.”

“To what? Your empty house? You're a stubborn cuss, I'll give you that. Must have served you well in the Army.”