Prossers Bay Series

by Cheryl Phipps

  “I thought everything going on in this town was everyone’s business. At least that’s how it always seemed. Maybe things have changed in the last decade,” he said skeptically.

  Jamie walked past her to get to a suitcase that she’d failed to notice, and propped it up on the desk. Rummaging through the clothes, he took out clean sweats.

  “Are you planning on staying in your father’s room, or shall I make up the bed in your old room?”

  “I’ll confirm things when I go back to the hospital, but it won’t be today, so don’t worry about touching my bed.”

  The look they shared was full of memories of doing far more in his room than touching his bed, and they both blushed.

  Jamie coughed again, and walked to the bathroom.

  “I won’t be long.”

  Stephanie waited until he’d shut the door before she carried on with the housework, still shaking, her thoughts a jumble of what to do and what had been said. Dusting in earnest, she hoped to finish before he came out.

  Chapter 2

  The door opened suddenly. Looking sheepish, wearing nothing more than a towel draped around his slim waist, droplets of water glistening on his six-pack which was far more pronounced than the last time she’d seen him naked, and a tan that showed no finish line, Jamie went back to his suitcase.

  “Forgot my underwear.”

  Stephanie couldn’t have spoken, even if she knew what to say. Her throat had constricted and her palms were sweaty. Clothed, he was a hunk; naked, he was sexy as hell, and every intimate moment over the years that they had been together came crashing into her. A longing that she thought was finally gone pulled at her heart and other places that should know better.

  Jamie went back into the bathroom and, as soon as the door closed, Stephanie immediately bundled up all her cleaning products and left. As she got to her car, she realized that in her haste she’d forgotten her jacket. Too bad; there was no way that she was going back for it. She had no intention of exposing herself and her heart any more than necessary to Jamie without a bit of time to get used to the idea of having him back in town, and a sure-fire way of dealing with it.

  About to get in her car, she spied the old Doc, sitting on the bench seat he often frequented at the edge of the green opposite his house. What was he doing there? Hadn’t Jamie said he wouldn’t be out today? She hesitated, then forced herself to cross the narrow road. Checking up on him would give her the opportunity to explain that she hadn’t finished and that she would do extra tomorrow if he didn’t mind.

  The Doc looked up as she approached and, with a weary smile, patted the seat next to him. Stephanie perched on its edge, keeping a wary eye on the house.

  “Should you be out here? I thought you were still in the hospital.”

  “I was all signed, sealed and delivered a short time ago, and I love sitting here. I reckon it’s the best medicine in the world. Don’t you worry, I won’t stay too long.”

  “I hope not. Listen, I hope you don’t mind but I have a couple of things to do today, so I’m leaving early, but I’ll make up the hours the next time.”

  He took her hand and squeezed it gently.

  “You know I don’t mind what you do or when you do it. I love having you come over to visit or to work. I have to say that since you’ve been cleaning for me, the place hasn’t looked as good since my Jessie was alive, and I’m sure that you do far more than you’re supposed to for the money I pay.”

  “You pay me well enough and it’s a pleasure to work for you. You should see the state of some of the places I have to clean. I bet the owners of the holiday homes have no clue what their tenants get up to, let alone their so-called friends and families who often stay for free.”

  Cliff laughed, then looked at her in a way that she couldn’t help but know what was coming.

  “Speaking of families, and judging by your anxious looks at my house, I guess you’ve seen that son of mine?”

  “I have and it would have been nice to have been forewarned,” she admonished him gently.

  The Doc shuffled his feet. “Sorry, it must have slipped my mind.”

  “Really?” There was no way she believed the old rascal, but he was such a sweetie she didn’t have the heart to be angry with him. Besides, none of this was his fault. What had happened between her and Jamie, as far as she knew, had stayed between the two of them. Well, much of it, because she’d had to tell Megan, Abby and Jeanne something when she’d arrived back in Prossers Bay a complete mess. Her four friends had kept her from wallowing too deeply in her heartbreak.

  “Anyway, it doesn’t matter whether Jamie’s here or not. I have a lot to do today and I need a little extra time.

  “I totally understand.”

  She could tell he wasn’t buying her excuse, and he also looked a little sad. Should she leave him here, all alone, or go and get Jamie—not her favorite choice.

  “Are you going to be okay?”

  He chuckled. “There’s a bit of life left in this old dog yet. Don’t you worry about me.”

  “Stop saying that. Of course I’m worried about you. You just had a heart attack, and I’m still not convinced that you should be out here by yourself.”

  “After being shut up in that hospital for a few days I think I deserve a bit of fresh air, plus I’m sure the birds have been missing me.” He laughed as he threw some bread to the pigeons and seagulls waiting a few feet away, who caused quite a commotion while they scared the smaller sparrows and finches away.

  “I’m pretty sure, that these birds haven’t suffered a great deal over the last few days without you feeding them. Look at the size of them. They have to be the fattest birds in the country.”

  “They don’t eat if they’re full,” he said obstinately.

  It was Stephanie’s turn to laugh. He was a wonderful man, and working for him was the highlight of her job. Plus, he was the closest thing she had to family these days. Getting to see him several times a week lifted her spirits. Did Jamie understand how lucky he was to have this man for a father?

  “Huh! Is that so? Look at them. They can hardly fly, they’re so fat. I’m glad you stayed where I left you.”

  They both looked up at the sound of Mary Anne’s voice. Full of energy and mischief, was how Stephanie saw the beautifully preserved older woman, who owned the best of all the clothing shops in town. She’d obviously walked across the green from her store, a blanket draped over her arm and a small terrier bouncing along beside her.

  “Good morning, Mary Anne. Good morning, Pete.” Stephanie gave the wee dog a scratch between his ears and the dog rolled over onto his back looking for more, his mouth set in what seemed like a perpetual grin. Pete was like his owner in temperament, always seeing the best in a person, and determined to enjoy life.

  “Good Morning, Stephanie. Isn’t it wonderful to see Cliff out of hospital?”

  “It sure is, but I was surprised that they let him home this early. I assume you didn’t sign yourself out?” Stephanie turned to the Doc as the thought occurred to her.

  “I damn well would have if they hadn’t released me when they did.”

  Mary Anne tut-tutted. “I don’t think they had much of a choice. I was taking him in some new pyjamas, and found him already in an argument with the Doctor. A poor young man, trying to do his job.”

  Cliff made a derisive sound.

  “He was, you stubborn old goat. Anyway,” she turned back to Stephanie. “I offered to bring him home, and naturally the first thing he wanted to do was feed his damn birds.”

  Her words were softened by the tender look the woman imparted to Cliff and, not for the first time, Stephanie wondered about their friendship. Whatever it was, they certainly were very sweet together and the Doc deserved a little pampering.

  Mary Anne tucked the blanket around Doc and then sat on his other side. He patted her hand and turned back to Stephanie.

  “Where is James?”

  The question caught her off guard. “He’s i
n the shower.” Her face burned as she realized how that sounded. Cliff had the good grace to look down as he gave a small cough, an endearing copy of his son’s nervous habit, or vice versa, but Mary Anne gave her a cheeky grin.

  “He was just getting in the shower,” Stephanie amended, badly as it turned out. “As I was leaving,” she added with a rush.

  “I suppose he’d been out running?” Cliff offered kindly.

  “Yes, that’s what he said.” She stood up. “Well, I’ll leave you two to chat while I carry on with my work and I’ll see you soon, Doc.”

  The Doc and Mary Anne waved good bye with murmurs of having a good day as Stephanie left the two of them and almost ran across the green. This morning had been far too eventful for her liking and all she wanted was a little peace and quiet to get her head around the fact that Jamie was back in her life, if only for a short time, and she’d need to deal with that as best she could. At least the Doc seemed to be in very capable hands, which would mean a lot when Jamie left again.

  Jamie hurried through his shower and dressed with his mind in turmoil. Banal pleasantries had been the only way to deal with the shock of seeing Stephanie. He hadn’t been prepared to find her in his bedroom, albeit a borrowed one. Sure, he knew she’d moved back to Prossers Bay. Like he knew she cleaned houses. But, the thought never crossed his mind that she cleaned this house. His family home. Why hadn’t his father said anything?

  He snapped his fingers in a light bulb moment. The crafty old bugger. He’d deliberately not said anything because he loved Stephanie like a daughter, and in that soft old heart of his he was no doubt doing a bit of matchmaking. He’d been very upset with the news that Jamie and Stephanie had broken up and had questioned him at length about it. Not that Jamie had volunteered much information, but surely dad understood that their ship had sailed? Stephanie had left him when he’d needed her most. There could be no going back and he at least had gotten used to that fact.

  Yep, tell yourself that as much as you like, buddy.

  Damn it. It had to be the truth after all this time. Yet, seeing her had opened the wound that had taken him two years to close, just like it was yesterday. Well, if he was going to be in town for a few weeks, he’d have to get used to the notion that their story would be out in the open as fodder for the gossip mill. As much as he liked to keep his life private, he knew there would be plenty in the town that would relish the chance to rip the band aid off and he’d have to pray that the blood would refuse to flow.

  Speaking of which, it was time to face Stephanie. She really did look great. Her hair was sun-bleached and she was tanned, like most the people in town, and looked healthy. His doctor’s eye had checked that out first, just as he’d done with his father. He called that his occupational habit, and no one was immune.

  With a quick comb through his short hair and a deep breath, he was ready to face the most beautiful woman in the world. The woman who had nearly brought him to his knees. Who was he kidding? He’d never be ready.

  Jamie yanked open the door. The questions he should have asked earlier, already on his lips, would have to wait. She wasn’t in the bedroom, and a search of the house confirmed that she’d gone. Once again, she’d left him. What had made him think that today would be any different? He was that fool all over again. The one who had waited for weeks, thinking that she just needed time out. That she would come back and they could talk about their problems. It had taken a lot of those two years to accept that she wouldn’t.

  He locked up the house and thought he would check in at his father’s surgery before he went to pick up his dad from the hospital. The old cottage and this extension were joined by a connecting door which was always locked these days, after a few older patients decided that they could pop through to see the doctor whenever they felt like it. Something his long suffering mother had, for once, put her foot down over.

  Before he entered, Jamie happened to look out across the green and, to his surprise, there was his father sitting on the wooden bench across the road. He was facing away but there was no disguising the abundance of unruly hair jutting out from his cap. This was his father’s go-to place when he needed a little time out—from work or from his wife, Jamie couldn’t say. He was feeding the birds, and it could have been any day from Jamie’s childhood.

  Or maybe not. Even from here he could see the gray in his father’s hair and the way his shoulders slumped a little more. A wave of pity for the man who had loved him unconditionally washed over him. Dad was all alone now, since mom passed away, and James, an only child, hadn’t been back home for years. Still, he was here now, and he’d do whatever he could to make sure his dad was okay before he left again to resume his new post in an amazing hospital in Seattle.

  At least that was a given, even if the rest of his life seemed to be in chaos. He strode across the park, determined to have everything sorted out as soon as possible. He nodded at the petite blonde woman by his father’s side.

  “How did you get home?” His voice came out harsher than he’d meant and his father turned to him with a raised eyebrow.

  “Good morning to you too, James. I’d like you to meet my friend, Mary Anne. She came in to visit me first thing this morning. I was ready, so I thought I’d come with her and save you the bother of picking me up later today.”

  Hadn’t Stephanie said those exact words to him? That his dad hated to be a bother?

  “Dad, listen to me. I’m home to look after you and get you back on your feet. It’s why I’m here, and I want to do it.”

  “That’s good of you son, but I know you’ve got plans of your own, and I don’t want you to change them for me.”

  “I’ve already changed them, and I’m here for as long as you need me. Now how about coming inside and I’ll get you a cup of tea? I’d like to talk to you about what the hospital said about your health and ongoing care.”

  His father looked a little surprised, and Jamie wasn’t sure if it was the fact that he’d changed his plans, or that he was offering to make tea. Either one made the guilt that much harder to take. Then his dad frowned.

  “We can talk about all that later. I’m a doctor and I know what’s wrong with me and how I feel. I’ll be as right as rain in a few days. But, right now, I should pop into the surgery and check on Lydia. I was about to do that, but Mary Anne insisted I take a breather after the trip.”

  “I had meant inside his house, but you know how he loves to be out here.”

  Mary Anne, a woman he’d never met, and certainly never heard of, touched her father’s hand, and Jamie wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Still, there were other things to worry about right now. Lydia was his father’s long time receptionist and she was more than capable of running the practice, and making sure that the temporary replacement doctor she’d hired was doing right by his father’s patients.

  “Lydia will be absolutely fine, but if you like I’ll check on everything once you’re settled.”

  His dad looked like he was about to argue, when Mary Anne squeezed his hand. Instead, he sighed.

  “All right, but if it’s not going well, then you must let me know.”

  The last thing Jamie intended was to let his father get back to work too early, or have him worry over the small stuff that a private practice always seemed geared to.

  “I will,” Jamie lied easily as he took his father’s arm and helped him up, surprised at the thinness under the jacket. His father had certainly lost a lot of weight in the last two years. Wasn’t he eating well? Or was this due to his heart problems? He was going to have to get the results from the hospital and see for himself.

  Mary Anne jumped up too and for a moment he thought that she was going to follow them, but she folded the blanket and looked up at him.

  “I’ll leave you to it. It’s high time I opened my shop. Nice to meet you, James.”

  “Please, call me Jamie.”

  “Thank you. I will,” Mary Anne said, and then in a softer tone, “I’ll be around to
see you later, Cliff.”

  The way Mary Anne acted, there seemed more to this relationship than neighbourly concern and Jamie felt distinctly awkward with the knowledge. As far as he knew, his dad had never looked at another woman the way he was looking at Mary Anne.

  “You come whenever you want, Mary Anne, and thanks for bringing me home.”

  His father allowed Jamie to escort him across the narrow road into the house, where he settled into his favorite chair while Jamie made the tea. When he returned, his father had his eyes closed. He put the cup down quietly beside him and would have left the room, but as he walked away, his father spoke.

  “I hear that you saw Stephanie this morning.”

  James sat down on a worn leather sofa, very aware of what was coming.

  “News sure travels fast around here. It was a huge surprise. You could have mentioned that she’d be coming to clean.”

  “I could have, but then you two might have avoided each other for ever and a day.”

  He knew it. His father was a ridiculous romantic, but his intentions were definitely misguided and he’d have to nip this in the bud.

  “Isn’t that our call?”

  “Perhaps, but it bothers me that you two are still so angry with each other.”

  This was a new tack from the one his father pestered him with when he’d first told him about the break-up. When Stephanie had decided that living with him was too hard. Then the rhetoric had been all about making mistakes and not fighting hard enough to fix them.

  “I’m not angry with Stephanie. Is she saying that she’s angry with me? Because I saw no evidence of it. In fact, we were very civil with each other this morning.”

  His dad was looking at him intently.

  “You both say the right words but any fool can see how it is between you two.”

  How could he say that, when until today he and Stephanie had not spent a second together since she’d left? And nobody had been there to witness how his body had betrayed him at the sight of her. Except Stephanie, and she hadn’t seemed aware of it, thank goodness.