Heart and Soul by Carrie Elks
5
It had been a week since her parents’ visit, and she hadn’t seen Rich at all. At first, she’d planned to apologize to him about her parents, but now it had been seven days since their visit, and it felt like too much time had passed. Instead, she’d suffer her embarrassment silently, and hope that he’d forgotten her parents even existed.
It was Sunday afternoon, and business was steady. She had three students working today, as well as Jeannie. and Meghan thanked her lucky stars that she’d agreed to stay on when Meghan had bought the shop.
“You should take a break,” Jeannie said, when the line at the counter had slimmed down to two people. “That little one looks like she’s going to burst if she doesn’t get outside.” Sure enough, Isla was staring at the beach, her legs swinging as though she couldn’t keep them still.
Meghan glanced at her watch. It was almost three. “Are you sure?” She hated seeing Isla mooning out of the window. Isla should be out there enjoying the spring sun, instead of stuck inside while her mom worked. Maybe she’d take a look at the schedule and see if she could fit in some more family time with her. As well as confirm her place at camp for the summer – because there was no way she could sit here every day for two months.
“I’m sure. Why don’t you head out to the beach? Let her paddle in the water. Take your phone, I’ll call if there are any problems.”
Meghan smiled. “You’re a lifesaver.” A little wade through the water and a sandcastle or two should cheer Isla up. Then they’d come back and finish the shift and head home for dinner. After a weekend like this one, Meghan was certain they’d both sleep like babies.
Isla’s mood lifted as soon as their bare feet nestled into the golden sand. The grains were warm against their soles – not too hot yet, though in a few months they’d probably be jumping like frogs to avoid getting their feet burned. Holding Meghan’s hand, Isla pulled her through the maze of towels and umbrellas, sun tents and volleyball nets. As they reached the water’s edge, she heard her name being called.
With a smile, she turned to see Autumn Paxton sitting on a towel with her baby, Skyler, who was kicking at the sand and giggling at the resulting spray. “Come sit with us if you have time,” Autumn suggested. “You know everybody, right?”
Meghan looked around, seeing familiar faces smiling up at her. She’d met Autumn through work – Autumn owned Paxton’s Pier, the old Victorian edifice that stretched from the boardwalk into the ocean, topped with restaurants and booths painted in pretty pastel colors. She’d used Meghan to cater for her recent naming day celebration for her baby, and had introduced her to her friends then.
“I think so.” Meghan smiled. “I know Ally, of course.” She owned the coffee shop a few buildings down from the ice cream parlor. “And Ember and Arthur are regular visitors to the shop.” Along with Ember’s gorgeous firefighter husband who always got the female staff in a tizzy.
“Well next to them is Brooke. She has a son who’s in middle school, and she’s married to Aiden Black, the director of the Silver Sands Resort.”
Meghan knew the resort well. In her fantasies she’d open a second ice cream parlor there one day. She just needed to make this one work first.
“And then there’s Harper with little Alyssa. She’s almost two. Her best friend, Caitie, who is also Ember’s sister-in-law, isn’t a huge fan of the beach, but I’ll introduce you some time.”
They all called out warm greetings to Meghan and Isla, and before long they were in deep conversation about how they were settling in, and about how welcoming the town of Angel Sands was.
“Mommy, can I go pick up some shells?” Isla asked. She’d brought a little bucket with her from the playroom.
“Sure. But don’t go too far. I want to see you at all times.”
“Promise.”
“She’s a beautiful little girl,” Autumn said, as Isla began to skip away. “She’s lucky she has your hair.”
“I hated being a redhead when I was younger,” Meghan said, sitting down next to Autumn, with half an eye on Isla. “I used to get all the same jokes about carrot tops. But Isla seems happy enough, the only downside is our skin. We have to slather sunscreen on or we burn at the sight of the first ray.”
“I’d kill to have skin as pale as yours,” Ally said, shooting Meghan a grin. She was gorgeous – tall and athletic, with tan skin and beautiful blonde hair that was pulled into a top knot. “And your freckles are to die for.”
A scream came from Meghan’s left. Her head whipped around and she saw Isla fall onto the sand, dropping her bucket as the shells she’d collected spilled out onto the golden ground. Her hands were holding her foot, and blood poured out of her heel. Without taking a breath, Meghan was up and running toward her, dropping down to her knees to check if she was okay.
“I stepped on something,” Isla gasped, sobs peppering her words. “It hurts.”
“I know, sweetheart.” Meghan tried to be calm, but the blood was pouring. “Try to stay still. Let me check your foot.” She winced when she saw the jagged edge of glass glinting in the sun. It was still half inside Isla’s foot, cutting a gash into her skin.
“I have water,” Autumn said, passing her a large plastic bottle. “You can use it to wash the wound.”
Isla cried louder as Meghan attempted to clean the sand and blood away from her daughter’s foot. It was taking everything Meghan had in her not to join her daughter. It looked so painful, and that glass was so damn big, too.
“What the hell are people doing leaving broken glass on the beach?” Autumn muttered.
“I need to take her to urgent care,” Meghan said, still wincing at the cut.
“I can go with you.”
Meghan shook her head. “It’s okay. I have my work van at the shop. I’ll carry Isla there and drive over.”
Autumn’s friend, Harper, joined them, her two year old daughter in her arms. “Go to Saint Vincent’s,” she urged. “My husband works there. It’s the best. I’ll call him. If he’s not in surgery he can come check on you.”
“That’s a good idea,” Autumn agreed. “It’s the closest ER. They have the best facilities there.”
“Mommy, are they going to operate on me?” Isla asked, her voice trembling.
“I don’t think so.” Meghan tried to sound reassuring. “But they need to remove the glass and sew you up.”
“With a needle?” Isla’s voice rose up an octave. “I hate needles.”
Meghan exchanged glances with Harper. Empathy flowed from her face. “You know what?” Harper said to Isla, leaning down to whisper in her ear. “I hear they have amazing stickers for kids who are hurt. And the best doctors, too. They’ll make a huge fuss over you.”
“I love Saint Vincent’s,” Autumn agreed. “That’s where Skyler was born.”
“And Alyssa.” Harper smiled. “It’s very special.”
Isla slowly nodded. “I guess I can be brave.”
“That’s my girl.” Meghan gently picked her up, kissing her hair because dammit she loved this kid so much. “Let’s go tell Jeannie we’re on our way to the ER.”
* * *
It was a beautiful spring day, but Rich had spent most of it beneath the bright lights of the ER, dealing with a heart attack, a home improvement accident, and two surfers who’d somehow managed to drift far out into the ocean, and had to be rescued by the Coast Guard. But right now he was taking a break, drinking coffee on the balcony of the fourth floor break room that overlooked the whole of Angel Sands and the coastline beyond.
The ocean was sparkling in the sunshine, and he tried to remember the last time he’d even made it to the beach. A few months ago? He could recall going to collect some driftwood for Belle for one of her college assignments, but that had been last summer.
It was crazy living so close to the beach and never actually getting to enjoy it, but his free hours always seemed to fill up quickly, never leaving time for relaxing or listening to the waves.
“Hey.” His friend, James, nudged him in the shoulder. He was wearing a suit with a short white coat over it. “Who said you could take a break?”
Rich grinned. “I didn’t know you were working today.”
“I’m covering a shift. It’s quiet, so I thought I’d grab a coffee. I’m about to head down to the ER actually.”
“You are, why?”
“Harper called. A kid she knows had an accident on the beach. She wants me to check on them.” James pulled his phone from the pocket of his white coat. “The kid’s name is Isla. She shouldn’t be too hard to find, right?”
“I know that name.” Rich’s brows knitted.
“Hey, at least we know you haven’t slept with this one.”
“Get out of here.” Rich shook his head. “I’m serious. I’ve heard it recently, but I can’t remember treating her.”
“It’s an unusual name.” James shrugged. “I’m going to head down and check on her.”
“I’ll join you.”
The waiting room was half empty when they made it back down to the first floor. Rich checked his watch. He’d managed exactly twelve minutes of a thirty minute break. It was some kind of record. Walking over to the triage desk, he checked the board.
Isla Hart. DOB 06/04/15. Foot injury. Consult Room 5.
Hart.Now he remembered. “That’s my neighbor’s kid,” he said. “Who’s covering her?”
“I was waiting for Simon to finish in room seven,” Lianne said. “But if you’re offering, you can take her. She’s a cute little kid.” She winked. “Her mom’s pretty, too.”
James’ phone started to bleep. Sighing, he checked the screen. “I gotta go,” he said to Rich. “Can you keep me updated so I can let Harper know how the kid is getting taken care of?”
“If Meghan says it’s okay,” Rich agreed.
“Meghan?”
“She’s the mom.” Lianne rolled her eyes. “The pretty mom.”
James winked. “The pretty mom, huh? Harper’s going to want more details about that, too.”
“There are no details.” Rich shook his head. “She’s my neighbor. Period.”
“Of course.” James was still grinning. “Let’s try and keep it that way. One stalker at a time is enough for any doctor.”
“Get out of here.” Rich shot him a dirty look.
“I’m going, I’m going.” James lifted his hands in surrender. “But send me that text. I want to put Harper in a good mood tonight.”
“Sure.” Rich’s voice was sarcastic. “I’ll help you improve your sex life, while you laugh at mine.”
Lianne lifted a brow. “It’s the story of your life.”
