Page 12 of Spotted at Lighthouse Bay
Addy shrunk down, her hand flying to her shoulder. “Ah.”
“Did that hurt?” Sheila shot a look back at Rick. “I don’t need your bodyguard coming after me.”
“It wasn’t you. It’s an old tendonitis injury flaring up.”
Addy looked up and Rick was at her side. He’d somehow managed to walk silently on the gravel.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“Yes.” She paused. “I’m sorry about all this confusion, Rick. I’m afraid I’ve been rude and I’m sorry. Things will calm down after I get my mom settled. Why don’t you go to Russell’s and get set up?”
“You haven’t been rude. I apologize that you weren’t made aware of my coming. I know it can seem unnatural at first, but I won’t be leaving your side for the time being.”
“Question for you,” Sheila said loudly. “Do you have a gun?”
“Why do you ask?” Rick put his hands on his hips. “Do you need to borrow it?”
“I’m just curious,” Sheila said with a shrug.
“Sheila –” Addy warned.
“What? Don’t you want to know? Like, how does this all work?”
“I have everything I need to protect your sister,” Rick said.
Sheila stared at him, and when he didn’t say anything else, she took a step back. “Okay then.”
If Shane could see them now, he’d say Sheila was butting her nose where it didn’t belong and Addy was being overly accommodating. He’d scold her for asking too many questions and tell her to go with the flow.
Which flow she was supposed to embrace right now, she wasn’t sure.
Addy glanced between them, then clapped her hands together. “All right. I’m going to take Mom into town so she can get settled in her room and stop upsetting everyone.”
“I’m happy to drive,” Rick said.
“No, that’s okay. You can go and unpack.”
“I insist. I have a bulletproof vehicle.”
Addy stared at him. She realized her mouth was open.
“So no one can shoot at Mom?” Sheila mused. “That might come in handy.”
Addy shot her a look. “Sheila.”
“I also carry a first aid kit,” Rick said, nodding at her. “I can make a sling for your shoulder.”
Was she being that obvious? “Thanks, but it’s nothing.”
“Come on, go with him,” Sheila said. “Maybe if you have a sling, I’ll remember not to jab you again.”
“I should go get Mom,” Addy said, casting her eyes toward the tea shop.
It was loud and windy out here, but surely even louder inside with Patty left toe-to-toe with her mom.
Sheila raised an eyebrow. “Getting her out of the tea shop will be my only contribution today. Go!”
“All right. Thanks.”
