by Anne Canadeo
Maggie ran to the door. “I’ll get a nurse.”
But the alert staff had already noticed Holly’s distress at their station, and two nurses and Dr. Gupta rushed into the room.
“We’ll take care of her. We need you to wait outside, please,” a nurse said.
Maggie followed Dana and Rose into the hallway. The nurse shut the door to Holly’s room and pulled the shades.
Rose looked shaken. Maggie guessed she blamed herself.
“It wasn’t your fault, Rose,” Dana said quickly. “I was just about to mention Toby, too. They’ll give her more oxygen and some medication, and she’ll need to rest quietly. She needs to heal.”
Rose nodded but still looked worried. Maggie bet that she was wishing she had one of her dogs with her right now. Some hospitals did allow therapy dogs to visit patients. Perhaps when Holly was further along with her recovery, Oreo could visit.
I should mention that to Rose later, to cheer her up, Maggie thought.
They found a row of chairs along the hallway, not far from Holly’s door, and waited for some news. Maggie had her knitting with her, but she didn’t feel inclined to take it out, which was a rare moment, she realized.
Rose was rubbing her hands together nervously, and Dana gently took one in her own.
“Look . . . There he is. He’s coming,” Rose sounded alarmed.
Maggie turned her head to look down the hall. Toby was walking briskly toward them.
“How did you get here so fast?” He hovered over Dana and stared down at her.
“Holly isn’t allowed to see visitors right now,” Dana replied.
“Oh . . . she didn’t wake up, after all?”
“The breathing apparatus has been removed, and she did speak to us for a short time. But she was struggling to breathe, and her doctor is taking care of her now.”
Toby was obviously annoyed. He looked at Dana as if it was her fault.
Ironic, Maggie thought, since the mere mention of his name had sent poor Holly into a coughing spasm.
“If she can’t see visitors, what are you still doing here?”
His gaze swept over them again. Rose stared down at the floor. Dana still held her hand, even firmer now.
“I’m waiting to speak to her doctor,” Dana said evenly. “I don’t know what you told the staff, but I’m still Holly’s medical proxy. I can show you the proof. Perhaps you want to challenge that in court, too?”
Toby’s gaze narrowed. Maggie wondered what he’d say next. She gave Dana full marks for asserting herself and leaning in, which seemed to be the only thing a bully like Toby could understand.
“I want to talk to the doctor myself. I’m still her brother.”
Half brother, Maggie silently corrected.
“There’s no law against that, right?” His jaw set at an angry angle.
He took a seat a few spaces down from Maggie. He sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. Maggie heard a crunching sound. She turned her head a bit and peeked at him. She noticed a thick envelope tucked in the deep front pocket of his cold-weather jacket. She wondered what was in it and why he had taken it into the hospital, when he could have left it in his car.
Dana didn’t answer. She stared straight ahead and took out her phone. Maggie noticed that she was texting Lucy and asking her to look in on the dogs soon. That was a good idea. They might be here a while longer.
A doctor dressed in green scrubs emerged from Holly’s room. His badge said RN – ICU, and Maggie had to scold herself for her gender stereotyping. He was a nurse.
Dana was the first to jump up from her seat. “What happened? Is Holly all right?”
“Ms. Piper is stable, but she needs to rest. She shouldn’t speak or have any more visitors until tomorrow.”
Toby had also sprung from his seat. “I’m Holly’s brother. Can’t I just look in on her a second? You let these ladies go in.”
The nurse considered the request. “Of course, sir. Come with me.” He led Toby to the large windows that framed Holly’s room. The shades had been pulled up again so that the staff at the nursing station had a clear view.
Dr. Gupta and other staff stood on either side of the bed, working on the machines and making Holly comfortable. Holly lay with her eyes closed and an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth again.
“We’ve given her something to help her sleep,” the nurse explained. “Nothing like the heavy sedatives she had before. But she needs complete rest. Her body has to get used to breathing on its own again. She remains at risk for cardiac arrest.”
Maggie didn’t like that the sound of that, but doctors and nurses were obliged to disclose the worst possible scenario, she reminded herself.
Toby looked frustrated, but Maggie doubted it wasn’t out of concern for Holly. He’d waited ten years to visit. His own thwarted intentions and schemes, whatever they might be, were likely the real source of his ire.
“Well?” He stared at Dana. “The doctor said we should go. All of us. No one can see her right now.”
“I heard him. Maybe we’ll see you later at the house.” Dana’s polite tone masked her true feelings well, Maggie thought. She was sure Dana hoped they would not see Toby for the rest of the night. She’d known her dear friend long enough to recognize that fire in her eyes.
Toby turned and stalked back to the elevator. Maggie heard Rose sigh.
“I hope he doesn’t get home before us. What if he hurts the dogs or lets them loose again, just out of spite? I don’t understand why he hates them so much.”
Dana touched Rose’s shoulder. “I sent Lucy a text. She’s going over right now. She doesn’t live far. She’ll definitely get there before him.”
Maggie felt relieved to hear that. Toby had looked to be in a terrible temper. No telling how he might express it. But Maggie guessed Toby had a fearsome temper and doubted he knew how to control it.
His undisguised loathing of Rose’s furry friends was curious, too. Had he been bitten by a dog in his childhood? That might explain it. Whatever the reason, the feelings seemed to be mutual; the dogs clearly disliked and distrusted him, too.
They peeked at Holly one last time, and Rose blew her a kiss through the window.
“I’ll call her nurse later and see how she’s doing,” Dana said as they headed for the elevator. “This is just a setback. Overall, she’s definitely improved. We’ll visit first thing tomorrow. She might be able to talk again.”
From the tone in her voice, Maggie felt Dana was trying to convince and console herself as well as Rose. Maggie sent up a silent prayer for Holly, that she’d rebound by tomorrow and speak to them again. How much easier it would be for everyone involved.
* * *
When they arrived at the Pipers’ house, Maggie saw Lucy’s white Jeep parked near the back of the house and Toby’s dusty black sports car in the driveway. Blocking it, she’d have to say, so her only choice was to turn her car and park on the grass, next to the drive, or she would be blocking him. The lights were on in the apartment above the garage, and she wondered if he had tried to make conversation with Lucy.
“Lucy’s still here,” Maggie said as they got out of the car. “I think I hear her in the yard, with the dogs.”
Dana nodded. “Good. Let’s tell her that we’re back.”
She fell into step beside Maggie as they headed for the path that led behind the house, and Rose ran ahead.
“Toby’s back, too, I see,” Dana remarked. “I hope he doesn’t drop by tonight.”
“He probably has his own stock of beer and food up in that apartment by now, don’t you think?” Maggie replied.
As they walked by Toby’s car, Maggie noticed a large manila envelope on the passenger-side front seat. A distinct crease down the middle suggested it was the same one she’d spotted crammed in his coat pocket. Perhaps it had fallen out or he’d forgotten it there. She paused and leaned over to get a better look.
Dana turned and backtracked a few steps. “What are you looking
at in there? Mounds of fast-food wrappers and empty soda cups?”
“That too. Mainly, that envelope on the front seat. See it? I noticed that Toby was carrying one just like it when he came to the hospital.” Maggie looked up at her. “It has his name written on it, but no postmark or stamps. There is a return address typed or stamped in the corner. I can’t make it out. Can you?”
“I can try. Though it’s getting dark out here. Not much light.” The package had definitely captured Dana’s interest. She put on her reading glasses and leaned closer, then took out her cell phone to use the flashlight. “Watch his windows. Let me know if he looks outside.”
“Good point.” Maggie stepped into the long shadows close to the house and fixed her gaze on the windows of the garage apartment, yellow squares of light, with shades drawn down low. A shadow crossed the middle window at one point, but luckily, Toby did not peer out.
“What are you doing?” she whispered to Dana.
“I can’t make it out. Maybe if I take a picture with my phone, we can enlarge it and see what is says.”
“Very clever,” Maggie whispered back. She heard the click of the phone as Dana took a few photos and then Dana’s quick, light step as she walked toward Maggie.
“I don’t know if this will work, but it’s worth a try. It looked distinctly legal, and that worries me.”
The observation worried Maggie, too. From what she’d seen and heard, Toby seemed capable of anything. He was a desperate man. You could see it in his eyes and even smell it on him. Well, the dogs probably could, Maggie reasoned. Maybe that was why they disliked him so much.
The sight of Lucy and Rose in the mini dog park quickly dispelled her gloomy thoughts. The dogs raced and scampered around, leaping and dodging each other and their mistresses. Laughter floated above the sound of pounding paws and joyful barks. Behind a fringe of trees, the sun slipped into a pile of rose- and lavender-colored clouds, casting one last blast of golden light over the stretch of open fields around the Pipers’ house.
Maggie took a deep, calming breath. She could smell the damp, cold river just beyond the woods. An invisible but powerful and important neighbor.
It had been a difficult day. It helped to take a moment to pause and regroup. All the excitement about Holly’s recovery had pushed aside the shocking news about poor Emily Curtis. Maggie closed her eyes, offering a silent moment of respect.
“Are you all right?” Dana asked quietly.
Maggie’s eyes opened. “Fine. Just thinking. It’s a beautiful sunset. It takes you out of yourself for a few moments.”
“Yes, it does. If you let it,” Dana agreed. “I hope the pink clouds forecast not only good weather but also a better day tomorrow, for everyone.”
Rose led her dogs back into the house as an off-leash pack, and Lucy had her two, Tink and Wally, on leads. She jogged over to Maggie and Dana. Her cheeks were rosy from the weather and exercise, and her eyes were bright. “I need to talk Matt into bringing more rescues home. They’re so much fun. Dogs really know how to have a good time.”
“Don’t they?” Dana agreed. “It cheered me up just to watch them. I’m not sure what we’re doing for dinner, Lucy. But you’re welcome to stay.”
“I’d love to. Matt took Dara on a Girl Scout trip to Philadelphia this weekend. They won’t be back until Sunday.” Dara was Matt’s daughter from his first marriage. Lucy adored her, and they spent a lot of time together. Lucy had even taught Dara how to knit this past winter and brought her to the shop. She never minded when Matt and Dara had one-on-one Dad time. She actively encouraged it.
“As for dinner, I know you’ve all had a long day, so I brought a surprise—pasta primavera with spring vegetables. I even found some fresh pesto in the freezer. Totally vegetarian,” Lucy added, glancing at Dana.
“Bless you, Lucy. I’m so hungry, I’d eat a burger and fries right now.”
“I doubt that,” Maggie replied. “But at least you don’t have to. That was very thoughtful of you, Lucy.”
Lucy shrugged. “Or a clever way to wrangle an invitation. And I was in the mood to slack off with work. I have a deadline but ended up surfing the internet today. I found a few articles about the car accident. I want to show them to you.”
Maggie caught Lucy’s glance as she stepped through the back door and entered the house. But she didn’t reply. Rose was in the mudroom, tending to Bella and her puppies. Maggie stood stone still as the yipping little pack romped toward her, then circled her feet and ankles.
“Oh, sorry . . . They got past their gate. Don’t let them get away.” Rose ran toward her and scooped up puppies with both arms.
Maggie bent down and grabbed the closest one, a little round ball of brown fluff, with a black nose and golden marks on her eyes and muzzle. The little dog was surprisingly strong, and she held on with both hands, then finally hugged it to her chest. She stared down into its bright brown eyes, and it stared back up. Then the pup stretched her head up and licked Maggie’s nose.
“My goodness . . .” Maggie pulled her head back with surprise. “You little sprite.”
Lucy laughed at her. “I don’t know, Mag. I think, you just kissed a dog, and you liked it.”
Maggie caught her gaze. She wasn’t sure what to say. She had to hug the little dog closer so it wouldn’t squirm away. She felt its soft, warm body pressed to her chest like a baby. A fur baby.
The puppy tipped its head up again and licked her chin. “She must be hungry. She’d probably lick anybody right now.”
Rose took the pup and set it behind the baby gate. But it didn’t run to play with its brothers and sisters. It spun around, then sat and stared up at Maggie. At least Maggie felt as if the puppy was staring at her.
“Dogs know who they like, Maggie. We don’t choose them. They choose us,” Rose said.
Maggie didn’t know what to say to that. “Can I help you get the dinner out, Lucy? Set the table or make a salad?” She turned to Dana, who was emptying the dishwasher. “Should we wait for Jack?”
“Jack is in Chicago by now. He’s being honored by some law association, and he’s the keynote speaker. He offered to skip it, but I told him to go,” Dana explained. “I’ll be fine here with Rose. There’s nothing to worry about. Especially since Holly is coming along.”
“Of course not,” Maggie replied with a halting smile. She wasn’t sure that was true. The arsonist who had attacked Holly was still out there somewhere—possibly watching TV and drinking beer in the apartment above the garage. But she didn’t want to air her anxiety and frighten Rose.
“I’ll stay with you.” Lucy turned from the stove, where she was carefully sprinkling grated cheese over the pan of pasta. “The dogs are having a fine time. Tink even asked if there was going to be a sleepover.”
Rose laughed. “She asked me, too. Can they stay, Aunt Dana?”
Dana rolled her eyes a bit. “As long as all the dogs are getting along and they go to sleep at a decent time.” Maggie knew she was teasing, but she wasn’t sure Rose did. “We’d love to have you, Lucy. And Tink and Wally.”
Lucy carried the pasta to the table. “Great. That’s settled, then. I don’t mind some alone time this weekend, but I’d much rather hang out here with all of you tonight.”
Rose had set the table, and Maggie had put together a quick salad. Lucy was a very good cook, though she was modest about her efforts. She’d gotten more practice after Matt moved in. In her single days she was likely to exist on scrambled eggs and toast, her go-to meal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That, and cottage cheese and sliced apples and cinnamon.
The day had been overloaded with difficult moments. Maggie noticed Dana making a conscious effort to keep the conversation light, and Maggie did, as well. Their talk circled mostly around dog training and care. Lucy was impressed with Rose’s dogs, who were so calm and, obedient even off leash. Rose barely needed to say a word.
Maggie found herself asking a lot of questions about the puppies. Just to keep the
dinner talk light, she told herself. It’s not as if I’m really interested.
“The litter is getting more active. But they can’t leave Bella for three more weeks.”
“Because they need to nurse?” Maggie asked.
“Yes, and learn dog things. Bella is a good mother. She’s teaching them how to behave,” Rose replied. “I already have a list of people who want to adopt them. There won’t be any problem finding good homes.”
“I’m sure you do. Especially that pup who kissed Maggie.” Lucy glanced Maggie. “Isn’t she adorable?”
“Completely,” Maggie agreed. “She’ll be the first to go.” Taken in by a nice family with children, who will have a lot of time for her. Not by a half-retired couple ambivalent about dogs.
What was she thinking? She didn’t want a dog. Way too much responsibility and commitment. Charles wanted to go to Egypt, for goodness’ sakes. They couldn’t be tied down with a dog right now.
Where had this crazy train of thought come from? She looked across the table at Lucy, who met her gaze with a smug smile.
The table was cleared, and Lucy put up water for tea. “I even have dessert. Peanut butter cookies. Should we do some knitting?”
“You know I’d never refuse that suggestion,” Maggie said. She had a knitting bag in the car, as usual, and wondered if Dana had brought any projects with her. Probably, she reasoned, since she’d been staying at the house this week.
“I’d love that,” Dana replied as she finished checking her messages. “I can definitely use the distraction.” When she lifted her head, she looked distressed. “Helen Forbes called. She can’t dodge Detective Reyes any longer. The detective wants a statement from Rose tomorrow. Helen said we can fend off the request for fingerprints. For now, at least.”
Dana’s news cast a shadow over the mood. Rose had gone to the front parlor to check the dogs and hadn’t heard. Maggie was grateful for that.
“Do you think Detective Reyes would come here to take an official statement? She did an interview at Maggie’s shop,” Lucy pointed out.
