Page 1 of The Library on Plum Island
CHAPTER 1
Asthesundippedbelow the horizon, the last vestiges of daylight faded into the cool hues of evening, casting a serene glow over Plum Island. But the beautiful sunset display nature was showing outside was lost on Doctor Daniella Thornton as she reviewed patient charts. The soft beeps of monitors in the background signaled the overnight patients in the clinic’s care, as three out of the ten beds were occupied. Their occupants were resting under the watchful eyes of the clinic’s limited staff.
Daniella was moments away from handing over to the night nurse. It had been a harrowing day with her cousin, Carly, along with Shay and Alex Blackwell, being kidnapped. She glanced at the charts of the occupants of the beds. They had all been victims of Carly’s ex-husband, Shaun’s plot to get revenge on Carly and Ethan Blackwell. Daniella had spent the day worrying about her cousin and the other two victims. But Harley, Carly’s older brother, had called two hours ago to let Daniella know they’d been found and everyone was okay.
With that weight off her shoulders, Daniella was now ready to head home. Her most pressing thoughts were on what to make for dinner, as it was her turn to cook for her teenage daughter, Emily, and her Uncle Sam. Daniella and Emily had moved in with Uncle Sam a few days earlier as she had to let the house she was renting go due to money difficulties. The clinic had a small fund left by a trust that owned the old manor house that housed it and the local library. But in order to keep it going, Daniella practically worked for free, which was why she was also the head librarian and worked a few nights a week at her cousin Carly’s restaurant.
She signed the last files and handed them to Nurse Tanya Beckett. “There you go.” She blew out a breath and glanced at her wristwatch. “I’m out of here.”
“You work way too hard, Doctor Thornton,” Tanya said, shaking her head and taking the files. “Surely, now that you’re living with your uncle, you’ll be able to cut down on one of your many jobs.”
“If I can get some more funding for the clinic,” Daniella told her, “then I can, but right now, I have to funnel a lot of the subsidy money we get back into the clinic. As myself and Em have to eat, I need to earn more money.”
Tanya pointed out, “We need to increase our prices for consultations and overnight stays.”
“I know,” Daniella agreed. “Tanith and I will discuss it at our next meeting.”
“I’m glad you have Tanith to help you at the library and do the administration for the clinic,” Tanya said.
“Me too.” Daniella smiled. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Tanith, and Gloria.”
“We do need more staff,” Tanya commented. “I wish we could offer Nurse Wendy a permanent position.”
“If I can get more funding, we can,” Daniella promised. “But for now, we have to keep Wendy as a temporary nurse.”
“We should do a fundraising event,” Tanya suggested. “We could raise funds for both the library and the clinic.”
“I can help with that,” Harriet Joyce walked into the clinic.
“Harriet,” Daniella greeted her. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” Harriet said. “I’m here to wait for…”
As if on cue, Daniella’s cousin Harley walked into the clinic alongside Alex Blackwell and his niece Shay. She quickly assessed Shay, Harley, and Alex, her eyes falling on his hand, wrapped in a bandage.
“I thought you told me everyone was okay?” Daniella’s eyes narrowed as she addressed Harley.
“They are,” Harley assured her. “Well, except for Alex.” He glanced at Alex standing beside him, holding his hand. “I think he’s broken it.”
“He punched Shaun in the face!” Shay told Daniella, pride shining in her teenage eyes. “He was defending me and Carly.”
“Soft hands!” Harley grinned at Alex’s glare.
“I connected him wrong,” Alex defended his actions. “I wasn’t thinking of how or where to land the blow. I just acted.”
“You’re a hero, Uncle Alex,” Shay assured him. “Well, mine anyway.”
“Thank you, sweetheart,” Alex said to his niece, his eyes softening.
“Do you want me to take this?” Tanya asked Daniella.
“It’s okay,” Daniella told Tanya. “I’ll do it.”
“I can fill out the forms if you want to get started,” Harriet offered.
Daniella looked at Alex, who nodded. “Harriet knows all my details.”
“It’s not the first time I’ve filled in hospital forms for him,” Harriet said, rolling her eyes before muttering, “And won’t be the last.”
