“In summer, isn’t everybody on this island busy?”
“Good point. The traffic coming through Edgartown is already a nightmare.” Francine’s comment was benign, but made Maddie think of something—or rather, someone—else.
“Hey,” she said, “I have a question about something Rex mentioned.”
“Shoot.”
“It’s about Annie Sutton. Is she going to move back here?”
“Heck, no, she’s not moving back. She loves her work, and there’s a guy she’s been seeing for a while. Phil, his name is. Anyway, no. Why? Does Rex think she is?”
“I don’t know. Which was why I was wondering.”
Francine narrowed her dark eyes and squinted at Maddie. “Please tell me you don’t think there’s something between Rex and Annie, because there isn’t.”
“No?”
“No. She’s like a sister to him. Or was, when she lived here. So please. Don’t let it cross your mind again.”
Maddie smiled. “I won’t. And thanks.”The end, she told her leftover teenage brain.
Then the sound of creaking wheelchair tires announced the arrival of the room’s occupant.
“Wow!” Rex exclaimed as he rolled in and spotted Reggie. “My favorite pal is here!”
The boy gave him a toothy grin and held up one of the trucks. “T-Rex,” he said. “Like you!”
“That’s me, all right. A dinosaur.”
The caregiver behind him asked if they’d please leave for a few minutes so she could situate her patient in his bed. “He had quite a workout today.”
Francine scooped up Reggie. “We’ll be in the waiting room. Let us know when the coast is clear.” With that she waved and, toting her son on one of her narrow hips, swept out of the room.
Then Maddie stood up. “Actually, I think I’ll take off. Francine has hardly seen you, and, as she reminded me, sometimes pregnant ladies get tired.” She leaned down and kissed him. It was wonderful to feel her lips on his again. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Kevin or Taylor or both of them will probably be here tonight. Sleep well, and don’t let anyone wear you out.” She kissed him again and headed for the door.
“Wait,” he called after her. “When you come back tomorrow, bring the notes, okay? When Ken followed me out into the hall, he suggested that I take a look.”
Maddie was reluctant; Rex needed to get well, not takeon her little drama. But she also knew that, sooner or later, he’d pry them out of her, if only to protect her. Which, she supposed, was a good enough reason.
She smiled. “For now, please, concentrate on getting well. It’s almost summer. You don’t want Francine to have to be responsible for both the Inn and the Lord James, do you?”
In the morning, Maddie didn’t rouse until ten thirty. At first she panicked—she had so much to do. Then she remembered that was a Green Hills attitude. As a pregnant old lady living on the Vineyard, she could allow herself to sleep in if she wanted. So she closed her eyes, slept another half an hour, and didn’t make it to the hospital until after one o’clock.
“What took you so long?” Rex joked when she sauntered into the room. “You have more important things to do, like work?”
“No, you incorrigible man. Nothing’s more important than seeing you. But I wanted you to rest after PT.” He looked good; he had “color in his cheeks,” as Grandma would say.
“It’s Sunday. No PT today. And I’m greedy because I was without you all damn winter.”
She pulled the chair next to the bed. “And I was without you, too. It’s a miracle we both survived.” She was half joking, half serious. Hopefully, he’d never learn how weirdly she had acted in those first few weeks.
“Which brings me to another topic,” he said. “Furniture.”
She sat down. “Of course it does. Furniture is so important to life’s essentials.”
“You’re laughing at me!” he teased. “But have you thought about baby furniture yet?”
She paused only a few seconds. “I’ve thought about lots of baby things.” In truth, rather than furniture, she’d thought about clothes and a car seat—which she’d need if she ever got a car—and diapers and a breast pump.
