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“It wasn’t hard. Your keys were in your hand when you went down. Gabe passed them off to someone and after a couple honks from the remote, they found it parked in the back row,” I explained.
“Why would they do all of that for someone they don’t even know?”
Her words were slurring, which meant she was getting tired and needed to rest, so I had to wrap this up. “That’s Bells Pass for you. People do things here because they want to help. They’re naturally kind and giving. When the mayor asks them to do something, like drive someone’s car to their new apartment, they don’t ask questions. They just do it.”
“The mayor?”
“Yes, your boss. Mayor Tottle.”
“Asked someone to move my car?”
“Yes, and it was done, so you don’t have to worry about it anymore, okay? All of your things are at the community center and once you’re released, we’ll get you there too. Would you like to borrow my phone to call your emergency contact? I don’t want someone needlessly worrying about you.”
“No, no,” she said, waving her hand at me. “It’s fine. I’m too tired.”
“Why don’t you close your eyes and get some rest before the doctor arrives?”
“Isn’t there a thing about not sleeping when you have a concussion?”
My chuckle was soft while I answered her question. “Yes, you aren’t supposed to sleep more than two hours without being awakened. I can assure you that no one will let you sleep for two hours uninterrupted in this place.”
She gave me a weak finger gun before her eyes drooped and her breathing evened out.
I glanced down at Star who was gazing up at me. “Well, boy, I think life just got a lot more interesting.”
The woman stretched out in the hospital bed was stunning even as she lay there pale and sore. Her reddish blonde hair spread out across the pillow and her blue eyes, when open, paired perfectly with her alabaster skin. Hazel Cane carried an aura about her that radiated kindness and understanding. It was weird to be so sure about that when I barely knew her, but it was the only thing I could think as I gazed at her relaxed in sleep. I knew her accolades and now, after meeting her, I agreed with all of them. I was still surprised that she’d left Florida to work in the small town of Bells Pass. It’s a great community, but it’s nowhere near the caliber of work that she had in Sarasota. Yes, it was the opportunity to set up social services programs from the ground up, but there had to be plenty of opportunities for her in Florida as well. I was definitely burning with curiosity to find out the answers to all my questions.
Then I remembered the look on Hazel’s face when Sandy handed her that emergency contact card. My initial gut reaction that she needed protection sat heavily again. There was no doubt in my mind that when it came to Hazel Cane, she was far more than meets the eye.
∞∞∞
A loud moan escaped my lips. I was awake, but didn’t want to be. Being awake meant another day ofrest. I wanted to work. It had been a week since the accident that had broken half of my left hand, requiring surgical reconstruction of my ring and pinky finger. A person would think the moan of pain was from that, but that wasn’t the case. It was my head that hurt.
I woke up every morning with a massive headache. The only upside was that once I was moving, it tended to fade away. The doctors assured me this was normal, and it would eventually stop, but I didn't have the patience for eventually. I had a new job to do and I couldn't do it with my hand in a cast and my head pounding. Speaking of pounding, it wasn’t my head. It was my door.
“Hazel! Are you awake? I've been sending you texts for half an hour.”
Ah, the one and only Irving Wallace, my new neighbor and coworker. It seemed he felt responsible for me now since his dog was the one to find me after the accident. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. It’s nice to have a friend and to feel cared about, especially in a town where I knew no one.
I struggled out of bed and sat on the edge, waiting for my head to stop pounding. Once I was on my feet, I glanced down at what I was wearing and immediately grabbed my robe from the end of the bed. There was no way I was answering the door to my extremely attractive colleague wearing boy shorts and an old t-shirt from high school.
The first time I laid eyes on Irving Wallace all I could think was—GQ model. When I made eye contact with him for the first time, though, I knew instantly that he was more than just a pretty face. And it was, pretty that is. He had perfectly coiffed dark hair that highlighted his intense, deep brown eyes that engaged you every time. The smile that beamed from those cupid bow lips warmed you from head to toe, too. He was kind, caring, and considerate without being pushy, which he proved when he waited at the hospital through my surgery to make sure someone was there for me when I woke up. He and Star even returned the following day to help me get home and settled in my new apartment.
What did I expect when I walked into my apartment four days ago? Not this. I figured it would be another cold, barren apartment that I’d sleep in, but not live in. Instead, I walked in to find all my belongings from my car placed carefully in my bedroom, which was fully furnished as promised. It was welcoming the moment you walked in with freshly painted walls, and a newly remodeled open kitchen that flowed into a living room and dining room. Those rooms boasted plush carpet and furnishings that were comfortable and inviting. Irving later explained it was the apartment that they’d used for tours for potential investors. It was small, but lovely, and more than I needed to be happy. As long as I worked at New Beginnings, this would be my apartment. It was right next to Irving’s, which was convenient since we’d be working together every day.
After a deep breath in, I grasped the door handle and turned it.
The man waiting on the other side is your colleague,I reminded myself.He can benothing more.
“Irving,” I said leaning heavily on the door once it was open. “I’m sorry. I must have slept through my alarm.”
“Good morning, Hazel,” he said, wearing a smile. “No need to apologize. I was just worried there may be a problem.”
Even though we were the only two working here right now, Irving always wore a dress shirt and tie regardless of what was on the agenda for the day. He was a consummate professional as the social worker and director of the community housing program for Bells Pass. When he was taking care of me, he was the consummate friend I needed in the moment.
“Still have a headache?” he asked, his brow in the air.
“Yeah, always when I wake up. I’m finding I can get it to dissipate with a shower and food. Did you need something?
