“Yes, the pancakes are ready,” Molly told Jake and Sophia, who were headed toward the office door.
The three of them left, and Linda heard them head toward the kitchen, Buddy’s claws clattering enthusiastically on the wooden floor following them.
A moment later, Rosa came back with the famous bunch of keys swinging from her hand. There must have been twenty of them on the brass ring, each with its small paper tag tied on with butcher’s twine. Rosa set the bunch on the desk beside Linda.
“There you go.” She glanced at them. “If there is a key for that drawer, it’s on there.”
“Thank you, Rosa.” Linda eyed the bunch.
“If you need anything else, just let me know,” Rosa told her as she headed out the office door.
Linda picked up the keys and started turning them, tag by tag, looking for the small handwritten worddesk.She had gotten about halfway around the ring when her phone vibrated on the desk beside her. Tom’s name flashed on the screen.
“Hello, Tom,” Linda answered. “Is everything okay?”
“Morning, Linda,” Tom greeted back. He sounded much less stressed than he had the day before. “George is awake, and he’s asking for you.”
Linda was on her feet in a flash. “I’m on my way.”
“I’ll see you in a bit,” Tom said, and they hung up.
Linda put the bunch of keys in one of the unlocked drawers and walked quickly through to the kitchen. Sophia and Jake were at the long staff table with a stack of pancakes between them, and Buddy sitting at attention beside Jake’s chair, eyes locked on their plates.
“Uncle George is awake,” Linda told them. “I’m going to the hospital.”
“I’ll keep an eye on them for you,” Rosa offered.
“You are an absolute angel, Rosa,” Linda told her. She kissed each kid on the head and patted Buddy. “Be good for Rosa. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
“Yes, Gran,” Jake and Sophia chorused.
Linda was about to walk out the kitchen door when a small voice called from the hallway.
“Is anyone around?” Maggie’s voice drifted through to them before she stepped into the kitchen with Toby beside her, his hair still damp from the shower.
“Auntie Mags!” Sophia dropped her fork and ran to greet her. “Hi, Toby!”
Jake joined his sister. Within ten seconds, the three children were a small chaotic tangle of hugs. Buddy was barking withdelight at the new arrival, and Rosa was telling Toby to sit and have some pancakes with Sophia and Jake.
“Did Tom call you?” Linda asked Maggie.
“He did. I was just going to drop Toby and then stop by the hospital before I go into the boutique,” Maggie replied. She looked at Rosa. “Are you okay with Toby here as well?”
“Of course, Miss Maggie,” Rosa said with a grin. “Looking after the kids is like a day off for me.”
“I don’t know what we’d do without you, Rosa,” Maggie said with a sigh of relief before turning to her grandson. “Toby, sweetheart, you stay with Sophia and Jake. Rosa will look after you. I’ll be back in a couple of hours. And be good.”
“Of course, Gran,” Toby answered her, then turned back to his plate of pancakes, while chattering with Jake and Sophia.
Maggie kissed the top of Toby’s head and turned to Linda.
“I have to go get my car keys from the house,” Linda told Maggie.
“I’ll walk with you. I actually parked at Heart House as I assumed you’d all be there.” Maggie stepped up beside Linda as they walked out of the kitchen and headed toward Heart House.
The hospital was twenty minutes away, on the inland side of the small bridge that connected Sweet Blossom Bay to the rest of the world. When they got there, Tom met them at the door of George’s room. His eyes were tired, but a small, soft smile touched his mouth as Linda came down the corridor.
“He’s been waiting for you,” Tom said, hugging her. “Hello Maggie.”
