I look around as I hear my name, and I’m surprised to see Archer walking toward me, coming the opposite way, from the Ark. “Morning,” he says, slowing as he reaches me.
“Hey. What are you doing here?”
“Just catching up with Noah.” He gestures toward the path that leads to Noah’s house. “I’m going to update him on the situation with PAWS. Want to come?”
“On Boxing Day?”
“Yeah, he asked me to call in to sign some paperwork for the grant We Three Kings is giving PAWS. Brock gave it to him yesterday apparently over Christmas dinner.”
I hesitate, because it’s none of my business really. I know they’re both going to try to influence me to stay, and I need to make the decision with a clear head.
But something makes me say, “Yeah, okay,” and before I know it, we’re heading toward the house, Ghost running ahead, clearly eager to visit his friends.
When we arrive, Noah lets us in, and we take off our shoes and leave our umbrellas by the door. “Abby’s off for a walk with Ethan,” he says. “Coffee?”
“Please,” we both reply, and he turns on the machine.
“I bumped into Cullen on the way,” Archer says. “So I dragged him along.”
“The more the merrier.” Noah starts the espresso pouring. Then his gaze slides to me. “How are you doing today?”
I didn’t tell him today is the anniversary of Jack’s passing, but it doesn’t surprise me that he knows. “I’m okay.” With some surprise, I realize it’s true. “I’m more worried about Isla,” I admit as Archer and I pull up stools at the breakfast bar.
“Oh?” Noah frowns. “Is she having a tough day?”
“Yeah, I think so. And she’s also trying to work out where she goes from here. She’s going to have to sell their house, but it’ll take time for the money to come through.” I pause, wondering whether to say anything, and not wanting to guilt Noah when he does so much for people. Then I think, oh, what the hell. “She spoke to Stefan about the possibility of a job, but apparently he’s just taken on two nurses. He said she can go onthe cover list, but obviously that’s not permanent enough when she has rent to pay.”
To my surprise, it’s Archer who answers. “We’ve been thinking about that.”
My eyebrows rise. “Oh?”
“Noah and I have been exchanging emails about staff at the Ark. Obviously, as I said, PAWS doesn’t want to filch all the Ark’s staff, and they might not want to leave anyway. But there are a few who might like to help with the setting up of a new place. And then this morning Stefan called me and mentioned that Isla had asked if there were any permanent positions going, and he had to say no, and he wondered whether we could offer Isla a job. Well, I’d been thinking about that anyway, and I’ve had this idea.” He tells me his thoughts, finishing with, “All working under you, obviously.” His eyes twinkle.
Noah snorts, and I give them both a wry look, then smile. “It sounds perfect. I think she’d love it.”
My spirits lift at the thought that it means she’ll be able to stay. I saw the look on her face this morning when I asked her if she was thinking about going back to her husband. She’s determined not to, but I know it’s common for couples to stay together because of financial difficulties, and I was just worried that might happen to her. She has to get away from him. The thought of her going back to him fills me with despair and fear for her.
“Great idea,” Noah says, pushing our coffees over to us. “Okay, I’ll get the paperwork.” He continues talking to Archer as he finds the forms and begins going through the details with him. I start listening, but gradually my gaze drifts away, out of the windows and across to the Pacific beyond.
It’s odd, but I feel as if I’ve been looking at my life down the wrong end of a telescope, and I’ve finally turned it around. Everything has suddenly come into focus.
I’ve been so convinced that today was going to be a hurdle I wasn’t going to be able to get over, but to my surprise, I don’t feel that way at all. It’s not just one thing that’s happened to make me feel this way.
It’s the job offer from Archer to help set up PAWS with him, and his comment that helping others will make me feel better about myself. Just like Scrooge, I think with some amusement. I’m obviously on my own redemption arc.
It’s the thought of staying in Sunrise Bay, which is a place I’ve really come to love.
It’s discovering the Ark and all the people working here, and knowing I’ll be interacting with many of them on a daily basis.
And it’s meeting Max, and, of course, Isla.
It’s not been long, but I realize I’m crazy about her. She brings a light into my life I hadn’t expected. She’s shown me that Jack’s family don’t hate me, and that it’s okay to experience grief and to miss someone, and still to feel joy and pleasure in life.
So, Cullen… what are you going to do about it? Are you going to run away? Or are you going to take the hard option, face your fears, and stay?
I look back at the other two. Archer is busy reading through the papers, but Noah is leaning on the counter, sipping his coffee and watching me. I think he can sense what’s going through my mind.
A bark from the garden distracts me for a moment, and I look out to see Ghost playing with Noah’s dogs. Ghost is a different dog now. Whether it’s been Max and Isla, or Christmas working its magic, or just being at the Ark, I don’t know, but he’s healed physically and spiritually. And maybe I have, too.
