It was a whisper of sound, but she heard nothing more despite listening intently.
Aware of the passing time, Nyree approached the gargoyle carefully, but it didn’t speak again.Instead, a sense of thanks and happiness flooded her mind.Relief.
Nyree grabbed the gargoyle and lifted into the air.It was heavy but not too hefty for her to carry in flight.She wondered what Ari might make of this strangely carved gargoyle.Declared it an ugly waste of space and tossed it into the sea?She’d clean it up and place it in her lounge—unless it started creeping her out by talking to her again.
3
Hope
Nyreestrodetoherroom without running into another person.After consideration, she left the briny-scented and faintly green gargoyle in her bathroom.
“I’ll be back to clean you,” she told the gargoyle.“Then, after that, I’ll find you a new home.”
She paused and waited for the gargoyle to reply.It said nothing, and she laughed, shaking her head at herself.After the stress of the last months, she was losing her marbles.Perhaps Ari had been right when he’d told her she was stupid and best suited to a stay-at-home mother position.
“No,” Nyree snapped, mentally slapping herself for buying into Ari’s hurtful words.“I am woman.Hear me roar.”
She promised herself she’d either run or go through her exercise program while playing her power ballad playlist.She wasnotthe woman too frozen to act, the one too fearful of ejecting Ari from her life and striving for a future she deserved.
Her imagination hadutuor revenge on the brain since the petty part of her wanted payback for the months of emotional damage and fear she’d faced at Ari’s hands.
And that was more than enough time and thoughts wasted on Ari.Nyree washed her hands and dried them before finding Keith and Carolyn and reporting for duty.
Carolyn gave her a tour of the museum and the various exhibits featuring life—both past and present—in South Georgia.Her new boss shared the highlights and told her she’d have homework since the visitors asked questions.Nyree needed to answer them or point the tourists in the right direction to discover the information for themselves.Next was a visit to the cleaning supply room since part of her duties was to keep the public toilets clean and dust the exhibits.Hints of lemon and astringent cleaners wafted from the open door where Nyree noted buckets and mops, boxes of loo roll, and shelves filled with various bottles and tins.
“I know it’s a lot, and once Rose arrives, you’ll take turns.Are you interested in taking the tours around the old whaling station?”
“I’d like to learn as much as I can.Until my friend suggested I apply for the job here, I’d never heard of the South Georgia and Sandwich Islands.I enjoy learning and would love to help anywhere I can.”
Carolyn beamed.“Perfect answer.Some helpers we get for the season avoid anything that smacks of too much work.Your attitude is perfect because it can be lonely here for the younger people.”Her gaze was penetrating.“You’re a pretty girl.The scientists will be eager to meet you.”
Nyree understood Carolyn without her needing to say more.“Remember, I’m out of a nasty breakup, and the last thing I want is another man.I’m interested in the wildlife rather than the nightlife.What’s next on your tour?”
“Keith is wheeling up boxes of new stock.It’s my job to unpack everything and refill the gaps in our shop.”
“I’d love to help,” Nyree said.“I’m curious to see what type of things we sell.”
“We do a brisk trade in stamps and postcards, and we sell T-shirts.Visitors like to post their letters and cards here.They can take months to get home, but no one seems to mind.”
“Do we take credit cards or just cash?”
“Both, but the connection for the cards is temperamental and depends on the weather,” Carolyn said.
Nyree kept busy until the sun dipped low and the shadows deepened.
“You’ve worked hard.Come and share dinner with us,” Carolyn said.
“That sounds great.What normally happens for meals?”
“Last year, we’d eat separately for dinner, but I like to have company sometimes.The girls who worked here last year kept cereal and bread in their kitchen.Neither was particularly interested in cooking.”
“Sounds perfect.I enjoy cooking,” Nyree said.“I’m happy to take a turn and share meals sometimes.You and Keith need private time away from me!”
“Bless you, dear.”Carolyn patted Nyree’s arm.“I can tell I’ll enjoy this season much more than the last.”
It was late by the time Nyree returned to her prefab house, the squabble of penguins and grunt of seals accompanying her journey along with the slap of waves against the jetty.Her steps dragged, her muscles fatigued from her flight and her afternoon’s work, yet despite this, happiness filled her.
A shower should aid her sleep.In the bathroom, she stripped off her clothes and reached into the shower cubicle to turn on the hot water.On impulse, she picked up the green gargoyle from the bathtub and set it on the shower tiles.The heat eased the aches in her shoulders and lower back, and she noted with satisfaction the gargoyle appeared marginally cleaner and less green once she’d finished.
