Page 71 of The Lighthouse on Plum Island
“Here’s a thought!” Jennifer answered. “Why don’t you putheraway into that gas-guzzling car of hers and send her back to where she came from?”
“How dare you!” Vanessa stated dramatically. “I came here to see my…” She turned and gave Brad a shy smile. “Brad, only to be attacked and humiliated.” She indicated to her clothes with a sweep of her hand. “Look at my new outfit. It’s ruined. Now I have to go back to the hotel and change.”
“I can see how that’s a dilemma for you.” Jennifer pursed her lips and nodded, feigning compassion. “But here’s the thing, lady, you’ve come into my friend’s home, upset her animals, and accused her of attacking you.”
“I get tired of jealous females being spiteful to me all the time,” Vanessa said, sidling closer to Brad and giving him a look that spoke volumes to Caroline and Jennifer. “I’ve just never suffered this kind of abuse before.”
“I think you should go, Vanessa,” Brad suggested, pushing her away and stepping out of her reach. Something bumped his leg, and he saw Dingle cowering near him. He bent down and scooped the dog up. “Here’s your dog.”
“Dingle, my poor baby,” Vanessa cooed, indicating for her driver to bring her purse, which he did, and held it open. “Please put him in there for me.” She batted her eyelashes at Brad, pouting as she held up her hands. “My hands are sore and bloody.”
“Here you go, Mr. Danes.” The driver held the purse for Brad to put the dog inside.
“Intruder, intruder, intruder, intruder, intruder, intruder,” Blue Beard squawked.
“Get that horrible creature away from me!” Vanessa demanded. “Or I’ll call animal control to do it.”
“I doubt they’d do that, Miss,” Sam told her as he strolled up to them from the Cobble Cove entrance to the back garden. “Blue Beard’s a hero around these parts.”
“He nearly killed me and tried to eat my dog!” Vanessa snarled.
“He’s a Macaw. They don’t eat meat,” Sam corrected her. He walked nearer to them and tilted his head to the side as Vanessa raised a hand to push aside a stray lock of hair that had come loose. “That’s a nasty bite you have on your wrist.”
He pointed out, making Caroline’s eyes widen as they fell on Vanessa’s wrist, now visible as the decorative band she’d worn around it had slipped from her fall.
“My dog bit me,” Vanessa admitted grudgingly. “Dingle can be a little temperamental at times.”
“Maybe he doesn’t like being shoved in a purse,” Jennifer suggested and said beneath her breath, “Even if it is Gucci.”
“You should get it looked at,” Sam told her again. “If you go to the library in town, they have a clinic on the side. My goddaughter, Dr. Thornton, will look at it for you.”
“It’s fine,” Vanessa waved it off.
“She can look at those cuts for you as well.” Sam pointed to her hands. “You’re lucky you covered your face when you tripped into the rose bush. Those thorns can cause an infection.”
“I’ll ask the on-call doctor at the hotel to take a look,” Vanessa glanced at her hands again before turning to Brad. “I have to go change for the party. What time should we meet?”
“I’m not going to the party!” Brad’s jaw clamped, and his eyes narrowed angrily. “But I agree that you should leave.”
“Alex is going to be disappointed if you don’t show up,” Vanessa said.
“He’ll get over it,” Brad said through clenched teeth.
She turned, raised her chin, and flounced to the car. Her driver pulled the back door open as she got to it. She stopped before climbing in to glare at Caroline and Jennifer.
“You’ll be hearing from my lawyer andanimal control!“ Vanessa said spitefully. “Those vicious creatures shouldn’t be allowed to roam freely.”
She slid into the car, and the driver closed the door. He looked at Caroline and Jennifer, his eyes shining with apology, before tipping his hat and getting into the driver’s seat. As they watched the car pull out of the driveway, Caroline felt like she was having a bad dream.
Maybe I’m still in the hospital?Caroline reasoned.It must be because stuff like this doesn’t happen in real life.
“Don’t worry about her, Caroline,” Sam’s kind voice broke through her thoughts. “I know her kind. She’s all about the publicity.”
“That’s what worried me,” Jennifer told Sam and looked at Caroline. “We don’t need bad press while launching this new series.”
“I don’t understand why my animals would go for her like they did!” Caroline was still astounded by how they’d reacted.
A shadow covered hers as Brad stepped up behind her. “I’ll deal with Vanessa,” he told them.
