Love Came Calling

by C. A. Popovich

  “I’ll be there in a minute. I want to make sure I put all my tools away.” Josie checked the area for anything she might have left and walked the perimeter of the building. She placed a few boards over the useless holes she’d dug in her frenzy and headed back to the lodge. She’d nearly reached the door when she caught a figure in her peripheral vision scurrying out of range of the sensor lights. Certain it was Abe, she grabbed a flashlight and scanned the edge of the tree line, but he was gone. She retreated to her office to call Barb.

  “Abe was here. I’m sure of it, Barb. I was cleaning up from the work I’m doing out back and I saw the shadow of a human figure.”

  “But you couldn’t tell for sure it was him, huh?”

  “No. But I’d be willing to bet it was him. He’s really got me spooked.”

  “You try to relax. I’ll keep an extra eye out for him, and I’ll ask the police to add an extra patrol on your property.”

  “Thanks, Barb. Call me if you find anything. It doesn’t matter if it’s late.” Josie went back to the lodge to try to unwind and take Nooko up on her offer. She found Nooko sipping tea with her feet up.

  “Is everything all right, honey?”

  “It’s quiet.” She didn’t want to worry Nooko, but her concern must have shown on her face, because Nooko’s eyes narrowed slightly as though she didn’t believe her. “I cleaned up the mess I made and checked in with Barb about Abe. She’s going to do extra patrols tomorrow.” She sat next to Nooko, rested her head on the back of the couch, and willed the tension in her belly to settle.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  “How does an egg and Canadian bacon sandwich sound for breakfast?” Josie poured two cups of coffee and set one in front of Nooko.

  “Sounds good, honey. Did you get some sleep last night?”

  Josie put English muffins in the toaster and cracked two eggs into a pan. There wasn’t any point in talking about the confused, dark dreams that had plagued her all night. Barb hadn’t called, so she figured there was no news about Abe. “I did. I wore myself out this week.”

  “How much more do you have to do?”

  “I have to finish digging the footings, and I want to put the shed on a cement slab, so I’ll get Brian at the hardware store to help me. It shouldn’t take long for me to assemble the kit I ordered. I decided to buy a kit instead of taking the time to design something. This will work well, and since it’s only the beginning of July, it’ll be done well before winter.”

  “That’s a lot of work, but your skiing idea is a good one. There’s not much else to do here in the winter.” Nooko looked far away as she sat holding her coffee cup.

  “I’m sure we’ll get a few snowmobile and ice fishing enthusiasts.”

  There was a moment of silence before Nooko said quietly, “I love you, Joslyn, and I’m grateful to be here with you, but I miss my home.”

  Josie set their breakfast on the table and sat across from Nooko, searching for a reply. “I love you, too,” was all she could manage. She didn’t want her to leave, and she didn’t want to have the conversation that would pin down the time she had to take her back.

  Nooko seemed to accept that. “Are you going to work on the shed today?”

  “I’ll take a break today. Let’s do your hot tub exercises and go for a boat ride.”

  Nooko’s enthusiastic nod and smile convinced her she’d made the right decision. They finished eating and washed dishes before changing into their swimsuits.

  “Keep kicking.” Josie supported Nooko with both hands while encouraging her. “You’re doing great. I can tell you’re getting stronger. One more time around.” Josie wondered at Nooko’s quietness as she helped her out of the hot tub and wrapped her in a towel. “You’re not dizzy, are you?” The closer she got to having to take Nooko home, the more worried she became about her health.

  “Not at all. I feel fine, and I am getting stronger. Do you think we could invite Kelly to come with us today?”

  Nooko’s request didn’t surprise her, but she paused before answering. “I’m sure she’s working, and I hate to interrupt her.”

  “Maybe she could come over at lunchtime again. Could we call her?”

  “Sure, Nooko. I’ll give her a call later this morning.” Josie squelched her excitement at the thought of seeing Kelly. She had no right to expect her to jump at the chance to join them when she kept pushing her away. She worried the whole situation would become awkward. She disregarded all of it and smiled inwardly. She could always say no.

  * * *

  “Thanks for inviting me today.” Kelly leaned back and tilted her face to the sun as the rowboat bobbed in the water.

  “I’m glad you could make it, dear. How’s work going?” Nooko asked.

  “Pretty good. Your call came at a perfect time.” Kelly smiled. “I’ve been taking a few hours off every few days to let the staff get used to me being gone. Do you have any lodgers now?”

  Josie’s belly quivered at Kelly’s beautiful smile. “No. I’m taking advantage of the lull to get some work done.” Josie steered the boat, keeping it close to the shore. The breeze over the water had picked up, and she worried about Nooko getting chilled.

  “And I’m working on my exercises and getting stronger,” Nooko said.

  “That’s wonderful.” Kelly patted Nooko’s hand. “You look great.”

  “Can you come over more often now? Maybe for lunch or dinner? We could use the hot tub together.” Nooko bubbled with enthusiasm.

  Josie grinned and nodded when Kelly gave her look that seemed to ask if that was okay. She didn’t think for a second that Nooko didn’t have ulterior motives, not after their conversation at breakfast the other day.

  “I’ll plan on it, Ruth.”

  Josie noted a hesitancy in Kelly’s voice that she longed to alleviate, but she couldn’t push past her fear to try.

  “If you two are ready, we’ll head back now.” Josie took her time rowing along the shore to enjoy the view of Kelly reposing.

  Josie helped Nooko out of the boat, struck by how comfortably they worked together when Kelly held it steady. “Let’s take the path along the back, and I’ll show you where the new shed is going.”

  “Sounds good.” Kelly walked next to Nooko.

  Josie secured the boat to the dock and followed behind them. Her throat tightened as she saw Kelly rest her hand on Nooko’s back to steady her along the path. Nooko’s right. She’s great.

  Josie stopped when they reached the area she’d prepared for the new shed. “This is where it’s going. I’ll have help laying the cement floor, but the shed is a kit that shouldn’t be too difficult to assemble.”

  “This is great, Josie.” Kelly perused the area and nodded. “You do really good work.”

  Her smiled warmed Josie’s heart and affirmed her own pride in her work. It also stirred a need for Kelly’s approval that surprised her.

  Kelly and Nooko settled in their usual seats on the couch when they got back to the lodge. “I’ll be back in a minute. I want to check on the cabins.” Josie took the wooded path behind the cabins and checked each one. She found nothing amiss and breathed a sigh of relief. Her edginess wouldn’t subside until she resolved the issue with Abe. She confirmed there wasn’t a note from him shoved under the office door and returned to the lodge. Kelly had her feet on the coffee table reading a book, and Nooko dozed next to her. The scene of tranquility stirred feelings she’d repressed, and memories of a time together with her parents, laughing and enjoying being together bubbled to the surface.

  She sat across from them, and Kelly looked up and smiled. She realized how easily she could get used to having her there. But at what cost?

  “Everything good?” Kelly asked.

  “Yep. All’s quiet.”

  “Have you heard anything more from Abe?”

  “Not a word. I’m not sure what to expect from him, but I want it to be over. Thanks for coming over today. Nooko misses you.”

  “I miss her,
too. And you.”

  Kelly’s sad smile touched her in a place she struggled to ignore. Visions of her with Barb surfaced, but Kelly was here now. With her. She squirmed, unsure of a response. She wanted to tell her she missed her, too. She missed her touch, her smile, her kisses, her. She faked courage she didn’t feel. “I miss you, too. You’re special.” She held Kelly’s gaze a moment longer than she intended, and ripples of desire clouded her thoughts.

  “Ruth and I are having tea. Would you care to join us?” Kelly grinned and lifted her cup.

  Josie recognized and appreciated her effort to lighten the mood. “I believe I will.” She made herself a cup and joined them on the couch. Nooko had awakened and looked disoriented for a moment.

  “What else is on the agenda for today, Josie?” Kelly sipped her tea and shifted in her seat while resting her hand on Nooko’s arm. She looked prepared to stay all day.

  “I’m going to work on my shed project and spend some time cleaning the cabins in case I get any requests.”

  “Have you heard from Barb?” Nooko sat up straight, looking more awake.

  “No. I expect she’ll call if and when she finds out anything. I guess no news is good news.” Josie hated that Nooko was worried about Abe. “Are you planning to go in to work today, Kelly?” She was certain Kelly hadn’t planned to stay with them all day, but she admitted she hoped she would.

  Kelly looked at her watch. “Yeah. I’ll go check in with them pretty soon and make sure they don’t need anything.”

  “Will you come back tomorrow?” Nooko looked excited.

  “I’ll try, Ruth.” Kelly hugged her and stood. “Take care, Josie. Let me know how it goes with Abe.” Kelly took her empty cup to the kitchen.

  Josie followed, carrying her own cup. “I wanted to say good-bye and thank you again for coming over. Nooko always perks up when you’re around.” Josie scrambled to find the words she really wanted. “I do, too.” She cringed as she blurted them, wishing she had something deeper, more intense. Something that matched what she was really feeling. But it would have to do.

  “Thank you.” Kelly smiled and gently stroked her cheek before leaving.

  Josie checked on Nooko before going to finish moving the pile of wood from the old shed to a trailer she’d rented from the hardware store. She worried the area she’d cleared for the new structure could be dangerous, so she parked the trailer over the section she’d dug. She planned to work on preparations for the floor the next day. Kelly had gone to check in at work and they’d made no plans for her to return. She’s better off with Barb. She collected cleaning supplies and went to clean the cabin her weekend lodgers had vacated and spruce up the cabins in case anyone called for reservations. She’d hoped to have them rented throughout the summer, but that hadn’t panned out the way she’d hoped. She reminded herself she’d only been advertising since January, and many people already had their vacation plans made. It would take time to build the business, and she needed to accept that. She consoled herself knowing she had a few weeks already booked for the winter months. Anxiety returned when she thought of Nooko’s intention to move back to her house. She strove to come up with a solution as she scrubbed and vacuumed.

  She found Nooko still in her usual spot on the couch with a bag of popcorn. “Shall I start dinner?”

  “I’m having a snack, dear. It’s still early. Did you get everything done?”

  “Yes. All ready for occupants. I was hoping someone would book for Labor Day weekend.” Josie sat next to Nooko and grabbed a handful of popcorn. “It’ll give me plenty of time to finish the shed, I suppose.”

  “It’ll be all right. This is your first year. Wait until the word spreads about how great this place is. You’ll be swamped next year.” Nooko’s confidence boosted her own.

  “Thanks, Nooko. I’m sure you’re right. This must be one of the times I need to trust and believe in myself.”

  Nooko chuckled. “You’ll get there one day.”

  “How does the fish fry sound for dinner tonight? I saw it listed in the paper this week.”

  “I’d love to. I remember going to those with Harold, years ago.” Nooko looked lost in memories, something that had been happening more often in the past few weeks.

  “I’ll go change out of my work clothes before we leave.”

  The Moose Lodge parking lot was full when Josie pulled into the handicapped spot. “They’re having a good turnout today.” She helped Nooko out of the vehicle and thanked the friendly woman who helped seat them. She recognized the back of Abe’s head as soon as she glanced about the room. “That’s Abe, at the table by the bar.” She kept her voice low.

  “I saw him, too.” Nooko shrugged. “I guess he likes fish. Interesting that he’s still local. I wonder if he’s always on the island?”

  “I don’t think so. Barb and the police didn’t find anyone with his name living here. The address on his license was from the west side of the U.P. I’d call her, but it’s not like they have any reason to talk to him. Wanting to buy my place isn’t a crime, and I can’t prove he’s done the other stuff.” Josie hated feeling so helpless, especially when instinct told her something was out of place when it came to him.

  They enjoyed the food and Josie listened to Nooko tell her about the people she’d known on the island over the years and how much it had changed. They were finishing their drinks when Abe stood and stopped at their table on his way out.

  “Hello, ladies. I hope you’ve reconsidered sellin’, Ms. Harlow. I’m almost out of patience.” His backward politeness did nothing to improve his appearance or the menace of his words.

  “Could I get your phone number? I’ll call you if I do decide to sell.” Josie hoped he’d relinquish his information.

  “Ain’t none of your business what my phone number is, just like my reasons. When you decide to sell, you’ll tell me to my face. And that’s gonna be soon. That property belongs to me.” He glared at them before he muttered something unintelligible and left, slamming the door behind him.

  “He’s still creepy.” Nooko finished her iced tea and stood. “Let’s go home.”

  Nooko looked upset. Josie worked to find words to dispel her concerns as they settled in the car when Nooko surprised her with her question.

  “What’s going on with you and Kelly?” She’d turned in her seat and pinned her with her stare.

  “What do you mean?” She gripped the steering wheel until her knuckles were white.

  “You know what I mean. She’s such a sweetie, and I can tell she cares about you very much. I love you, Joslyn, and you’re old enough to make your own decisions, but I worry you’ll allow your unfounded fear to stop you from having something extraordinary with her.”

  Nooko’s words nudged away a small piece of the shield surrounding Josie’s heart, allowing the quiet voice behind it to whisper possibilities. If she ignored it, Kelly could be gone forever and she’d never know what could’ve been, but if she listened, could she overcome the fear? “I’ll think about it, Nooko. She’s dating Barb, you know.”

  “At some point she’s going to have to make a decision, and I’m betting on you, honey. If you’re available. Fear isn’t a good reason not to live.”

  “I suppose you’re right, Nooko. I’m just so used to reacting with fear that I’m not sure I have the strength to break out of it.”

  Nooko just patted her hand without responding. They’d had this conversation about fear, so maybe she didn’t have anything more to say on the issue. Or maybe she was hoping Josie would find her own way through it. Either way, her support and the fact that she seemed to know exactly when to say something and when not to, was much appreciated.

  Josie made sure Nooko was settled when they returned to the lodge before making her rounds to check the cabins. She rounded the corner of the lodge and saw the trailer piled with boards had been moved away from the building. She retrieved a flashlight and inspected the whole area before moving the trailer back. There were some boot pr
ints in the loose dirt, and she shivered at the sight of someone clearly messing with her stuff. The area still wasn’t finished, and she wanted the hole to stay covered for safety’s sake. Everything else was undisturbed. It was obviously Abe, but she couldn’t imagine why he’d have moved it. She double-checked the area and found nothing amiss. She confirmed the range of her light sensors was at the maximum setting and added a nightly check of the area to her list of duties.

  She reflected on Nooko’s words as she went back to the lodge. She admitted that fear was keeping her from exploring anything serious with Kelly, but was she really so used to hiding behind it that she couldn’t break out, as she’d said? Maybe it was time to test just how good living without fear could be.

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  “No, Janis. We’re not completely full yet, but I’m not sure we will be. Drummond Island is pretty remote, and the winters can be brutal. I sense most people choose to stay in the city on the mainland Upper Peninsula.”

  “I’ve been in touch with the administrator, and it sounds like they’ve hired as many staff as the budget allows. You could probably come back anytime now.”

  “But I’m scheduled to stay until October.”

  “We’re pretty swamped here, Kelly. I could use you as soon as possible.”

  “I see. I’ll do my best to get back there as soon as I can.” Kelly disconnected the call and returned to her terminal. She reviewed the staff schedule and, satisfied everything was in order, closed down the computer. The recently hired nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physical therapist completed the operating requirements, so her job there was nearly finished.

  Her excuses to stay at the facility were beginning to sound weak, and Janis was pushing her to return. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could find a reason to stay or put off making a decision about Josie. She and Barb had a standing date for dinner but still hadn’t slept together or spent much time doing anything else, thanks to Barb’s crazy work schedule. She could understand why Barb’s previous lovers had issues with how wrapped up she was in her job. She packed her laptop and let the nurse on duty know she was leaving. It was time for her to make her feelings known and see what happened. She pulled out of the parking lot and headed for the lodge with butterflies in her stomach.