‘A work one.’
‘I thought you had today off.’
‘I did. I do. It’s just one quick stop, shouldn’t take too long. An elderly man. My boss called this morning and said they’re short-staffed, so asked me to check in on him. A couple of the other nurses are out with influenza B. She was very apologetic, and I couldn’t say no. I’m sorry.’
He smiled. ‘It’s fine. I wouldn’t expect anything less from you. What’s the name of the old man? Or are you not allowed to say.’
‘Well you’ll have to come with me, so I don’t see why not.’ I checked my phone for the job details that Cheryl, my boss, had messaged through. ‘His name is Ray.’
He groaned slightly.
‘What?’
‘I don’t even need to ask you for a surname. I know exactly who you’re talking about.’
‘Should I be worried?’
He appeared to deliberate his next words carefully. ‘Not worried, so much as prepared. Ray is an old career fisherman, and like many of the old fisherman who only retired because their bodies physically couldn’t take the long, hard days any more,andbecause no insurance company would continue to touch them, he spent a great deal of his life at sea, alone, so he can be… let’s just say a little tetchy, sometimes.’
‘Consider me warned.’
‘He’s also a bit of a hypochondriac, from what I’ve heard.’
I scooped up my keys and scarf, wrapping it around my neck. ‘That’s not uncommon among the elderly. A lot of them are just lonely and want company.’
‘Not Ray. He’s not exactly what you’d call a people person.’ He grinned at me as we exited the cottage and I locked the door behind us. ‘You’ll see.’
26
JONAH
Ray reacted to the sight of me as predicted.
‘What areyoudoing here?’ he barked, frowning. ‘Given up on setting traps to become a nurse, have you? I knew you wouldn’t cut it out there.’
I didn’t take it personally. There was a friendly – for the most part – rivalry between the lobstermen and fishermen of Maine.
‘It’s nice to see you again too, Ray,’ I replied, leaning against the doorframe of the archway inside the Calderwoods’ lounge. Moira Calderwood, matriarch of the house and veritable saint for putting up with Ray as a houseguest, rolled her eyes and tutted.
‘Play nice,’ she told him. ‘They’ve come all this way out to see you, remember?’
‘I’m always nice. And my memory isn’t the problem.’ He shot me look. ‘Still sharp as a tack I’ll have you know.’
Moira smiled at Mae and I. ‘Would either of you like a hot drink? It’s cold out there today.’
‘It’s cold out there every day,’ Ray grumbled. ‘It’s called winter. Why are you offering them a drink? They’re not here for a social visit.’
‘They shouldn’t be here at all,’ Moira gently chided him. ‘I told you I’d made you an appointment with the GP.’
‘In three days’ time. I could be dead by then.’
‘Don’t go making promises you won’t keep,’ a woman’s voice drawled. I turned to see Taylor Calderwood standing in the open front doorway, shaking a light dusting of snow off her coat.
‘Shut the door,’ Ray snapped. ‘I’m not paying to heat the whole bloody island.’
‘The day you pay for anything is the dayIdie,’ Taylor retorted. ‘From shock.’
‘Where’s Jack?’ Moira asked her daughter.
