Healing Tides

by Lois Richer

  She had to do something. It was obvious things couldn’t go on as they had. Everyone was overextended.

  “Lord,” she whispered. “Can You help us?”

  No answer.

  “I’ll just sit here for a minute and wait for You to tell me what to do.” She relaxed against the chair back so she could watch the black clouds scud across the sky, see the storm build over the white-capped water. What could a few minutes hurt?

  Glory exhaled and let her tired muscles relax. Just for a minute.

  “Dr. Cranbrook, may I ask what you’re doing?”

  Glory startled, blinked. Jared’s face loomed above her, his mouth carved in a deep frown, eyes bloodshot, skin pasty.

  “Dr. Steele. I was going to ask you the very same question.”

  Glory risked a quick look over his head to the far wall at the clock and suppressed her gasp. Six. Judging by the pink-tipped clouds, it had to be morning. She’d been bandaging a cut at 6:00 p.m., which meant someone had let her sleep out here all night. And her neck knew it.

  “What question? What are you talking about?”

  Every muscle in her body ached, her head throbbed and her mouth tasted like ashes mixed with raw liver.

  GloryAnn was tired, fed up and way beyond cranky.

  She pointed to a chair.

  “Sit down, Dr. Steele. You and I need to have a little talk.”

  He opened his mouth to protest, but she shook her head, clapped a hand around his arm and pulled hard. She met his glare with her own.

  “You and I need to get some things straightened out, Jared.” She used his first name deliberately, striving to achieve the forceful tone he used on everyone else. “This situation has gone from bad to worse. And it cannot continue. So I am instituting some changes, as of now. And I expect you to go along with every one of them—no, don’t talk. Just listen.”

  He raised one eyebrow, crossed his arms over his chest and waited. Two staff stepped through the door with food trays, took one look and scurried away.

  Jared plucked a leaf from her hair, almost ruining her moment.

  “Well?”

  “As of this moment you are relieved of duty, Dr. Steele.”

  “I’m what?” His jaw dropped in stunned consternation.

  “Relieved of duty.” She thrust out her chin. “As second in command, I have that authority. And I’m using it. You are in no fit state to treat anyone and you know it. Go home, go to bed for at least six hours. If you argue with me I’ll be forced to go over your head.”

  “Really?”

  The gauntlet was thrown. There was no way Glory could backtrack. She was a walking zombie, but at least she’d caught a few hours’ rest. He looked like death warmed over.

  “Yes, really.” She looked him in the eye. “The board would back me if they learned the hours you’ve been working.” He bristled at that, but she cut in before he could protest. “I understand you’ve been sitting with Sister Philomena. That’s laudable, but you can’t do that and continue your work here without someone suffering.”

  “Are you accusing me of negligence, Dr. Cranbrook?”

  He surged to his feet, towered over her, marble jaw flexing as he controlled his temper. His eyes burned silver-blue with outrage, but something else lay hidden in the depths.

  Glory shrugged off her nervousness. Get this over with now.

  “I’m accusing you of working too hard. You’ve been harping about burnout ever since I arrived, Jared. It seems to me that you’re well on your way to that yourself.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “No, you’re not,” she scoffed into his red-rimmed eyes. “But this is not a debate. Go home, go to sleep. At seven you’re going to take the night shift here so the rest of us can get caught up.”

  “But—”

  “I’ll be making some changes in the scheduling, Jared. From now on everyone is going to take their days off as scheduled—with no exceptions.”

  He glared at her, thrust a hand through his hair. Finally he nodded.

  “All right, I’ll go. I’m too tired to do anything else. But if anything happens here—”

  “If you show up in this building before seven this evening I will contact the board,” she promised, ignoring the bulge of muscle in his forearm.

  “You won’t,” he asserted, but a soft huff revealed his doubt.

  “Try me. No one is indispensable. But each member of this team is necessary for us to function properly. We’re already short two staff members. Dr. Xavier and Dr. Potter are doing their best, but we can’t afford to lose another doctor. There are too many children counting on us—on you.”

  Indecision scribed a pattern over his face. And suddenly she understood.

  “I’ll find someone to stay with Sister Philomena tonight.” Surely she sounded more confident than she felt? “You go home. Now.”

  His jaw worked for a moment. The tic returned to the corner of his mouth. But finally he wheeled around and strode to the door. He paused for an instant.

  “Thank you.” Jared disappeared.

  Glory exhaled, sank onto a chair and counted the cost of what she’d just done.

  “I have no clue how I’m going to accomplish this, Lord. There is no one to sit with Sister Philomena. Please don’t let me mess this up. I couldn’t bear to see his scorn.”

  After a quick tidy, she completed her rounds while questions ballooned.

  Why had God brought her to Hawaii? And how was she supposed to help a man who refused to accept her help?

  It was after eight the next morning before Glory left Agapé. Three flights during the night meant everyone was called back.

  Instantly revived by the fresh air and the chirping birds, she stretched her legs in long strides toward home. Halfway there she paused, changed direction.

  Today she intended to meet Sister Philomena.

  As she approached a cottage that matched her own, Glory spotted a tiny figure clad in a flowered housedress bending over huge maroon hibiscus flowers.

  “I’m fairly certain you’re not supposed to be gardening.” Glory smiled at the diminutive woman who faced her. “Last report, you were tucked up in bed.”

  “Don’t believe everything you hear.” The old lady’s paper-white skin wrinkled in laughter lines.

  “I’m GloryAnn Cranbrook, Sister Phil.”

  “My dear, it’s lovely to meet you at last. Will you share a pot of tea with me in the garden? That way, when Jared checks, he won’t see I disobeyed his orders.”

  Glory couldn’t help smiling. She’d expected someone reticent and retiring, but this peppy woman with the snowy braids coiled round her head didn’t fit the picture.

  “Please sit, have some fruit. Since I’ve been ill, people have been flooding this place with fruit. I’ve sent enough over to Agapé to lower their produce bill for a month.” Sister pointed to a plate of freshly trimmed pineapple spears. “Help yourself.”

  “Thank you. I’m still new enough on the island that this is like candy to me.” Glory bit into the yellow sweetness. “We never had pineapple so sweet at home.”

  “Yes, I’ve heard you’re from the Arctic. Tell me what it’s like.”

  Glory heard herself go on and on. “Sorry. Guess I’m homesick.”

  “I understand.” Sister Philomena stared out the big picture window toward the rippling sea. “I miss the change in seasons, but I can’t imagine months of darkness.”

  “Have you been here a long time?”

  They chatted until Glory noticed the older woman seemed to droop.

  “I’d better get home.” She quickly rinsed off the dishes, set them to dry. “Thank you for breakfast.”

  “You must stop in often, Glory. You are part of our family now.” Sister’s dark eyes twinkled. “Besides, I want regular reports on the children. Especially a little boy named Bennie.”

  “Did Jared tell you about him?” He hadn’t seemed that interested in her favorite patient.

  “Not Jared. Kahl
ia.” Sister made a face. “Jared tells me all kinds of medical things, none of which helps me understand if I need to pray more for a child or move on. Jared’s such a—doctor!”

  Glory chuckled.

  “Well, so am I, but I promise I’ll try to keep you informed.” She let herself gush about Bennie, thrilled that someone seemed to think he was as fantastic as she did. Finally she asked the one thing that bothered her most. “Sister Philomena, do you mind having people stay with you, other than Jared, I mean? I know you were expecting him last night, but when he couldn’t come, Leilani suggested Kahlia. Was that a problem?”

  “Of course not. I love visitors and Kahlia is one of the best. She’s just bursting with life, makes you feel better just to be around her. Rather like you, my dear. Besides, she’s lonely. If I can help cure that, I’m delighted.”

  “Oh, good. I intend to come again, too, if you don’t mind.”

  “I insist. But I mustn’t be your primary concern. God has sent you here for a purpose, Glory. To fulfill it is your duty.”

  “Even if I’m not sure exactly what this purpose is? I mean, I thought I knew, but then Bennie came and Dr. Steele won’t—” She didn’t want to speak badly about Jared, so she stopped.

  “Uncertainty is when we need His direction most, don’t you think?” Sister rose, hugged her. “You will be in my prayers, child. I believe God has great plans for you.”

  “Thank you.” As Glory walked over the diamond-studded dewy grass toward home, Glory felt cheered by her words.

  All but the last ones.

  God has great plans for you.

  Did those plans include Bennie? And how did they involve Jared Steele?

  Chapter Five

  “Joy cometh in the morning.”

  Or, if not joy then energy.

  Jared stood in the blazing sunshine and sipped the coffee he’d just made. For some reason the world looked brighter today. He’d adhered to Glory’s schedule for a week now. Sooner or later he was going to have to admit she was right.

  The telephone rang. He hurried inside to answer it, thinking of the clinic and how weary she’d looked last night when he arrived to take over.

  “Yes?”

  “Aloha, Jared. I hear in your voice that you are working too hard. It’s a good thing I have planned a luau.”

  He almost groaned at Kahlia’s cheerful voice. He’d hoped Glory had kept his former mother-in-law too busy to draw him into their family circle. Clearly not.

  “A luau? What’s the occasion?”

  “Pono’s birthday, of course.” Her tone scolded him for not remembering. “It’s tomorrow.”

  “I don’t think I can make—”

  “We hardly ever see you anymore, Jared. You missed Grandma’s party.”

  The hint of reproach irritated but he struggled not to show it.

  “I’m not sure I can get away tomorrow evening. I’m on night rotation right now.” Jared shuffled through some papers he’d brought from the mission but couldn’t see Glory’s schedule among them. At least I think I am. “Can I check and let you know?”

  “Of course. Bring Glory. Pono would be happy to meet her.”

  “I’m not sure Dr. Cranbrook—”

  “Aloha, Jared, my son. See you tomorrow evening at seven.” The phone clicked.

  Jared set down the receiver, closed his eyes and tried to recapture his joy in the morning.

  “Something wrong?” Glory waited in the open doorway.

  “Not really.”

  “Then what—really?”

  “Kahlia wants—” He cut himself off, started again. “Remember she talked about her husband’s birthday. Pono’s sixty-fifth birthday party is tomorrow night. She invited us to a luau.”

  “You don’t want to go.”

  “No.”

  “So don’t go.”

  If only it were that easy.

  “The thing is, birthdays are a big deal with them.” Any occasion was a big deal to Diana’s parents. They lived life large, squeezed the joy out of every moment. Diana had been like that, too.

  “So go.” Glory leaned against the doorjamb studying him.

  “Shouldn’t you be working?” Anything to keep her from probing into his personal problems.

  “Nope. And neither should you.” Fun lurked in her green gaze. “We’re off today. That’s what I came to tell you. Or rather ask. I’m going to Honolulu. Want to come? You could look for a gift for the birthday boy.”

  “How were you planning on getting there?” he asked, holding up the coffeepot.

  She shook her head.

  “Well, if my powers of persuasion don’t work on you, I guess I’m stuck taking the bus. Of course, the bus ride is very lo-o-ng.” She stretched the word out, obviously intent on making him feel guilty.

  It was working.

  “The bus will take forever and I won’t have time to visit Waikiki or Diamond Head or the International Marketplace or Pearl Harbor or the Arizona Memorial or—”

  “Enough.” He held up a hand. “You can’t possibly see all that in one day, anyway. And why Waikiki? We have a far superior beach right here.”

  “Oh, Dr. Steele, it isn’t the superiority of the beach I’m concerned about.” She gave him that arch look, laughing at him. “Do you realize that it’s January?”

  “Uh-huh. Has been for about a month now.” He finished his coffee, decided a third cup wasn’t a good idea given that he hadn’t eaten breakfast.

  “At home it’s the middle of winter—long dark days and bitterly cold weather.” She pointed to her bare feet and purple-tinted toenails. “I want my picture taken under a palm tree with my toes in the surf at Waikiki.”

  “Just like any other tourist, huh?” He couldn’t stop his laugh.

  His calendar had a ton of notations. Forms due, reports overdue. Not the best time to goof off, but for once Jared didn’t care.

  “Okay, I’ll take you to Waikiki and wherever else you want to go. But we’ll have to leave right away. The road gets so crowded later we wouldn’t make it back till late.”

  “Hmm. I’m ready.” She lifted the straw bag she’d left outside his door and tossed him a cheeky grin. “How long will you be?”

  “Conned again. It’s getting to be a habit.” He grabbed his suit, a beach towel and stuffed them into a bag. “Elizabeth should have warned us about you.”

  “Why?” She blinked innocently. “I’ve done everything you asked me to, the hospital is running smoothly and we deserve a day off.”

  Because he wanted to forget, because he was tired, because her bubbling delight always soothed his stormy mind, Jared would go and bask in the happiness that spilled over.

  She was right. She had worked hard and she deserved to see more than Agapé’s few acres while she was here.

  He owed her that much.

  “Sister Phil?” he asked as he backed out of his parking spot.

  “Is well taken care of. If she needs help, Dr. Xavier promised he’d go.”

  “Do up your seat belt,” he ordered.

  But she’d beaten him to it.

  The Hawaiian sun lived up to its reputation as they drove the winding road. Jared slid on his sunglasses, wondering if Glory preferred the roof up. Watching her nixed that idea.

  Old ships bore carved mermaids on the bow. Glory resembled one now with her eyes closed, her thick golden lashes fanning over lightly tanned cheeks, nose thrust forward, hair streaming behind. She pushed her face into the wind as if daring it to push back.

  Glory was well named.

  “Stop staring at me.” She didn’t open her eyes or turn her head.

  “Why? You look lovely. I believe you’ve even got a bit of a tan.”

  She did open her eyes then, her glare censorious.

  “I have a lot of tan. For me, that is. And it’s taken me ages to get it.” She pushed her hand next to his arm and sighed. “It barely shows. I’ve poured on so much sunscreen, I should have bought shares. I’m sure they’ve go
ne up at least twenty percent.”

  Jared’s tension blew away with his laughter.

  “You should laugh more often. It gives you this handsome, who-cares attitude that women find very attractive. But then you probably knew that.” Glory closed her eyes and resumed her pose. “How long will it take to get there?”

  So she thought he was handsome. Considering his attitude toward her, Jared couldn’t imagine why.

  “We’ll be there in less than an hour.”

  “Good. You’ll have plenty of time to think about the gift you’re going to buy. What does Pono like?”

  Life. The big generous Hawaiian thrived on his family and friends and he lived each day as if he might not get a second chance to enjoy himself.

  Unlike him.

  “Jared?” Glory touched his fingers where they rested against the gearshift. “Did I say something wrong?”

  “No.” He fiddled with something on the dash to escape her touch. “Didn’t Kahlia say you should buy the gift?”

  “Hmm. What does Pono like to do?”

  “He grows orchids, beautiful rare ones. He’s been a member of the horticultural society for as long as I’ve known him.”

  “So flowers are out.” Tiny lines fanned out across her forehead. “I’ll think about it, but I’m not very good with conventional gifts. Though I do like shopping.”

  “You should have told me that before we left. I’m a terrible shopper. I once bought Diana a toaster for her birthday.” He stopped, swallowed hard. Not too bright, Steele. Like the lady wants to hear about your dead wife.

  Glory didn’t seem to notice his gaffe.

  “A toaster. Why?” Her jade eyes formed circles of curiosity.

  “Because she almost killed herself trying to pry bread out of our old one. She nearly brained me with the new one.”

  A long pause followed his words. Jared stared straight ahead, wishing he’d never left Agapé’s grounds.

  “You must miss her very much. And your son. I wish I’d known them.”

  With those quiet words the awkwardness vanished and they returned to being coworkers on an afternoon outing. Relieved, Jared described the overgrown vegetation they passed.