Now it was Zoey’s turn to feel disappointed, until Ivy asked, “What about on Sunday?”
We’ll have to freeze the sausage I picked up in Providence until then, but that’s okay,Zoey thought when Nick accepted the invitation. She told her aunt she had to move the rental car because she was blocking Nick from leaving, but that she’d be right back in for lunch.
Once outside, Zoey said, “I can’t thank you enough for staying with my aunt until I got here. She’s never forgotten something major like this before, ever. But last night she was really upset about something and I think she’s overly tired.” Zoey didn’t know whether she was trying to convince herself or Nick.
“I’m glad I could be here for her. Except…” Nick shoved his hands in his pockets and kicked a pebble onto the grass before meeting her eyes. “I called Mark. Not because we couldn’t find you but because your aunt was having chest pain and I thought we should call 9-1-1. She insisted her physician would have advised her to take a nitro pill, first. I was really torn—I felt it was important for someone in the family to know what was going on in case…”
“It’s not a problem,” Zoey heard herself saying even though it was abigproblem. Mark was going to have a field day with this one. “I would have done the same thing if I were with someone else’s family member and I didn’t have any knowledge of their medical history. I might have even called 9-1-1 regardless of what they told me. You can’t be too careful, especially when it comes to cardiovascular symptoms.”
“I’m glad you’re not upset. After that last conversation we had, I didn’t want you to think I was intruding.”
“No. I appreciate it that you were so conscientious about my aunt’s health.” Zoey took a deep breath. “So, was Mark… helpful?”
“Uh, well, when I first called he wasn’t there, so I left a message. By the time he called me back, Ivy’s pain was gone. And she’d already called the cardiologist, primarily so I’d feel more comfortable. The doc said she did the right thing but if the pain got worse or didn’t go away after taking a couple of nitro pills, she should call an ambulance. I think he moved her annual appointment up a few weeks, too—you’ll have to check with her on that,” Nick rambled nervously. “Anyway, Mark confirmed she has a heart condition but he didn’t know what it was so he wouldn’t have been able to provide much insight anyway. He, uh, he was pretty upset even though the issue with Ivy’s heart had resolved itself.”
“Upset withme, you mean. Because I wasn’t here.” When Nick gave a small nod, Zoey sighed. “What did he say?”
Nick winced. “I’d tell you but I was raised not to talk like that.”
“Ha!” What else could Zoey do but laugh? “You know, in most families, a person would be worried if his cousin suddenly went missing. And they’d be grateful that someone like you was there to help his aunt. But not Marcus Winslow, the Third. I’m really sorry you had to listen to him go off like that.”
“It’s okay. I interrupted his little, uh,invective,by telling him you’d give him a call when you returned and then I hung up.” Nick grinned. “How did the interview go?”
“Pretty well, I think. They said they’d be inviting a couple applicants back for a second round of interviews in a week or two, so I hope I’m one of them. How about you, how have you been?”
“Good. Busy. This week I’ve got two projects going. A deck I’m building at a cottage in Highland Hills. And a bathroom renovation—that one’s in Lucinda’s Hamlet. So I’m looking at some pretty tight deadlines.”
Zoey realized she should stop yakking so he could leave but his eyes were so mesmerizing she couldn’t seem to move or look away. “I suppose that’s what you get for being the bluest contractor on the island.”
“The bluest?”
“I meant the blest. Thebest,” Zoey bumbled. Embarrassed that it must have been obvious she’d been thinking of his eyes, she abruptly started walking toward the house, calling, “See you on Sunday. We’ll probably eat around six or six-thirty but feel free to come over any time after five.”
“Thanks. Hey, Zoey?”
She stopped. “Yeah?”
“Aren’t you going to move your car so I can get out?”
“Ack. Where is my head today?” she asked, much like her aunt would do.I’d better be careful or else Mark is going to try to movemeinto an assisted living facility,she thought as she backed out of the driveway.
While Zoey and her aunt ate lunch, Ivy kept apologizing for her memory lapse.
“It’s completely understandable—you had a rough evening yesterday and you’re overly tired. You’ll feel better and think more clearly after you’ve caught up on your rest.” Or so Zoey hoped. She didn’t want to make too big of a deal over her aunt not remembering where she’d gone, but neither did she want to chalk up her forgetfulness to distress or distraction if there was something more serious at play.It might be worth it for her to ask her doctor to evaluate her memory the next time she has her annual physical,she thought.
Ivy agreed a nap was a good idea so Zoey assisted her to her room, telling her, “I’m not used to getting up so early. I feel sleepy, too.”
Her aunt patted the bed. “Here, lie down next to me.”
Zoey figured she’d stretch out for a few minutes until her aunt fell asleep and then she’d go email the library staff, thanking them for the interview.
Instead of dozing, Ivy continued to fuss. “I’m such a burden. First to Sylvia—she was always helping me, you know. With Marcus and my father. Then she nursed me back to health when I had cancer. And until she got pneumonia, she’d been doing the lion’s share of the work around here. I relied on her too much, just like I’m relying too heavily on you now.”
Zoey propped herself up on her elbows so she could meet her aunt’s eyes as she replied, “Aunt Ivy, you helped Aunt Sylvia just as much as she helped you. You took her into your home when she had nowhere else to go. You loved her like a sister and you helped her raise her son. And to some extent, her grandson. You’ve nurtured me, too, by being a constant, loving presence in my life. By sharing your heart and your humor and your home. Most of my best, most fun memories are of being here with you and Aunt Sylvia and my mom and sister. And I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t been able to come to the island over the years to be refreshed and get my head together. So whatever little bit of help I can give you now pales in comparison to all you’ve given me.”
Quite unexpectedly, a sob escaped her lips. She covered her mouth but her aunt had already heard it. She squeezed Zoey’s other hand. “That’s one of the loveliest things anyone has ever said to me, but don’t cry, dear, or I’ll start up again, too.”
A few more tears fell after Zoey laid her head back against the pillow and watched the leafy shadows dance across the curtain. “Ignore me. I’m just releasing pent-up stress now that my interview is over.” Intermittently wiping her face on the sleeve of her blouse, she told her aunt about the position and how much she liked the library director and the other staff members. “I think I have a good shot at getting a second interview, but I can’t count on it. There are more applicants than I expected.”
