This has to stop.
Maddie’s back in the hospital.
Which, on so many levels, is totally messed-up.
Chapter 25
Rafe returned at four o’clock.
“I thought I told you to get something to eat, then go to the cottage and sleep,” Maddie said, proud that her brain cells were alert. Even better,shewas alert; she’d been napping since Brandon left.
“The café’s closed on weekends,” Rafe said. “So I walked over the bridge to a place called the Black Dog and ate there.”
“That’s near the ferry, isn’t it? Isn’t it a long walk from here?”
“Yes, to both questions. But it was nice. And it took longer coming back because the drawbridge went up.”
She sighed. “How was the food?”
“Great. Fish and chips. I’m stuffed.”
“Good. Now, as you can see, I’m fine. So go back to the cottage and sleep. No excuses. Do you know how to get there?”
Rafe laughed. “GPS, Mom. On my phone.” He waved his iPhone at her.
“Very funny.” Then she scowled. “Wait. Your car’s in Falmouth. Is mine here? If not, you’ll have to get a cab—”
Rafe stopped her. “Joe left me his truck.”
She blinked. Joe. The kindest, most decent man Brandon knew on the island.
“Can you drive a truck?”
“It’s only a pickup, Mom. I’ll manage.”
He asked if she needed anything before he left.
“I’m all set, thanks. And this time, please, don’t come back until tomorrow. Brandon brought my phone, so I’ll let you know when they’re going to let me out of here.” The thought of being “let out” made Maddie think of the Graybar Hotel. She wondered if she should have asked Brandon to tell Rex where she was. Then she decided Rex did not need to hear about her latest misadventure. Once she left the Vineyard, chances were she’d never see him again.
Then Rafe kissed his mother on her cheek, moved into the corridor, and was gone again.
She closed her eyes, drifting back to sleep, just as her intuition began to peck at her again, trying to break out of the Graybar in her mind.
* * *
The toughest part about sleeping on the hospital bed was having her foot elevated the “correct” way. But the night nurses took turns stopping by to check on her and, when she was awake, they stayed a few minutes to visit. Lucky for Maddie, it was a quiet Saturday night; one nurse said Saturdays typically were, as lots of renters left earlier in the day and the ones who took their places didn’t need medical attention. Yet.
Dr. Wilson arrived at ten o’clock Sunday morning and reiterated that she’d discharge Maddie as long as she wouldn’t be alone. “And I meannot at allfor a full week, when both Dr. Blais and I will see you again.”
Maddie assured the doctor that she wouldn’t be alone. She had a feeling Rafe wouldn’t budge without her at his side. Her theory proved right: half an hour after she called to be picked up, he arrived. She hoped Evelyn was busy with wedding plans and wouldn’t feel slighted.
Even better than having her favorite person on the planet as her custodian for a week was that when the hospital’s paperwork was signed and Maddie was wheeled outside, Rafe had not only brought her comfortable old Volvo but also the wheelchair Rex had offered, which was in the back seat.
“Otherwise, those damn crutches might permanently maim you,” Rafe commented, as if the crutches were responsible for her losing her balance and careening down the cliffs. She saw no point in explaining that there was much more to the story.
Seeing the wheelchair, however, made her hope that Rex would call. Then she could casually mention her latest mishap. And hope he wouldn’t think she was a catastrophe-in-waiting.
With Maddie in the passenger seat and Rafe behind the wheel, once they were on the road, he asked, “Don’t you want to know how I got into your car?”
