“Hello. We aren’t open, but how can we help you?” she asks in an English accent. “I’m not the doctor; that would be my daughter,” she chuckles. “I’m the nanny.”
“You’re not the nanny, you’re Nanna,” a red-haired boy says, stepping out from the back. He’s maybe five, tops.
“Mum,” another English accent comes from the back, before a striking redhead appears. She does a double-take when she sees us standing there, but immediately covers up any shock. “Hello, I’m Dr. Erickson. Can I help you?”
“Dr. Erickson, I’m Judge. This is my ol’ lady, Evie. We thought we would come by and welcome you to town. This is a friend of ours, Grave. He represents Jupiter’s Blissful Passages Pet Crematorium and Grief Center.”
It’s weird hearing Lucian refer to me as his ol’ lady. I want it to be real, but we haven’t talked more about our future, and we are still new.
Dr. Erickson turns to Grave. “I’ve already met with one of your representatives. I’m not sure I’ll be using your services. I’m researching a few other facilities.” She sounds bitter, and her mother reaches out to touch her arm, which makes the doctor jump in fright.
Grave, without missing a beat, crosses the room to her slowly. “I believe you might have met with our former manager. He’s no longer with us. You are welcome to check out the facility. I’ll personally give you the tour myself.” Watching the interplay between these two, I’m shocked and surprised, but it’s as if they are in a world of their own.
“I’d like that. I hate to make my families wait for shipping out to Providence or even across the border into Connecticut. Your former manager isn’t working with you anymore?”
“No, I personally fired him,” Lucian remarks. “He won’t be causing any more issues.”
“Did he leave town?” Dr. Erickson’s mother asks Lucian. “The sheriff didn’t come tell us that.”
“He went to hell,” Grave responds. “I don’t know what he did or said to you, but you don’t have to worry about him. He almost screwed us with OSHA over a cleaner.”
“Oh, he tried to convince me to get some of that, too. I declined. I only trust the products I’ve researched.”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have let him work with us or even come to this town to begin with. I’m the same way about products; the guys like to joke I’m a germaphobe.” Grave connects with her in a way that Lucian wouldn’t have been able to.
She takes a deep breath. “That makes me feel better that he’s gone.”
“But darling, he won’t pay for his crimes,” her mother interjects as she hands the little girl over, who obviously wants to get down to run. I can’t stop myself from moving toward them.
“Don’t worry about that,” Lucian adds. “He paid for them.”
I ask, “May I take her while you all talk?” The little girl throws herself at me, and I giggle.
Stepping away from the group with the toddler, I set her down in a small, gated area of the clinic set up with toys for children. “Is this your play area?” I ask, and she yanks on one of my curls, fascinated with my dark hair.
“Nanna told Mom we needed an area to play when we are here,” the little boy's voice breaks through my giggling with the toddler. “I’m Andyn.” He points to himself. “That’s my sister Harper.” He then points to the toddler.
“Hello, Andyn, I’m Evie. Did I hear you just moved here?”
“Yeah.”
“I did too.”
“You ride one of those?” He points out the window at the motorcycles.
I can’t hold back a giggle. “Today was my first day. My boyfriend”—I point to Lucian—“he’s the president of the club.”
“My dad says they are criminals.”
“Andyn, don’t be rude.” The tall woman walks over to us. “I’m sorry. My son-in-law doesn’t watch what he says around the children.”
“Oh, it’s okay. People judge them without knowing them. They’ve all been so nice to me. Anyone can be a criminal, not just men in motorcycle clubs,” I tell the little boy. “I know a man who wears a suit that is one.” I say nothing more, but I want the little boy to understand.
“I heard you say you just moved here, too. From where?” the woman says as she sits on the bench next to me. She’s quite elegant and sophisticated, though not snobby in any way.
“I just moved up from Eastport at the university, but I lived in Newport before that and Providence before that.”
“I’m from London. So is Crissa, but her husband wanted to come back to the States. I couldn’t leave my grandbabies, so I came with them. Crissa spent so much time getting her degree and certifications that when she decided to open her own practice, I knew she’d need help.” She doesn’t say it, but I can hear the implication that the husband wouldn’t help. She lowers her voice a bit and says, “It’s a good thing I did. Her good-for-nothing husband just walked away from her. Left her all alone with the new business and kids.”
