Page 112 of The Shell Collector
“Don’t you grieve for me, Tug. I’ll be with Jarvis. We’ll get the fishing trip planned for when you make it to the pearly gates. There’s got to be a good fishing spot. For sure Jarvis has already built a boat.”
“I hope it’s not an ark. I get a little antsy around a bunch of animals.”
“You’re so funny, but then again with Jarvis you never know. Thank you for being such a wonderful friend. I love you too.” She pressed her lips to Tug’s cheek, then slowly backed up, smudging her lipstick into his cheek. “You live that good life, Tug.”
He nodded, then bolted out the door.
As the door closed behind him, she whispered, “Goodbye, my friend.”
The Senior Helper was in the kitchen, listening. She was always listening.
Maeve walked down the hall and crawled into bed. She’d allowed Judy to work with the doctor’s office to arrange the help here and for when Maeve got to Georgia, but she didn’t have to like it. She was tired and thirsty. Didn’t need a nurse for that. She took her pills and went to sleep.
—
When Maeve woke up, she remembered her dream. Jarvis was there. She could almost feel his presence. She looked at the clock on her nightstand. It hadn’t been that long of a nap. Less than an hour, but she felt refreshed.
She got up and was headed to the kitchen to get some water when she remembered the aide was still there. She hesitated, but she wasn’t about to hole up in this room all week either. She’d do her best just to ignore the woman.
“Miss Maeve, I made some soup. Can I get you a bowl and a sparkling fruit spritzer?”
Well, that didn’t work so well. Maeve pasted a pleasant look on her face. “The fruit spritzer sounds wonderful. I guess I could eat something. I’ll take it on the patio.” She walked out on the deck, looking out over the water as she had for so many years.
The water perked and rippled when she saw the first dolphin crest. With delight, she reached for her binoculars. Sure enough, it was the dolphin with the notch out of its dorsal fin that made it look like a hook was among them. It was hard to count with so many coming out of the water alongside one another. At least twelve or more. Then she followed one specifically.A calf.So much smaller than the others. “Thank you for visiting me one last time.” She watched until they were out of sight.
The helper came out and placed a bowl of soup with a lovely garnish on top and the drink on the table. “There you go. Amanda is at the door with her little girl. Should I ask them to join you or have her come back?”
“Please let them in, and if there’s enough, it would be nice to share the meal with them. Thank you.”
“There’s plenty.” The woman scurried off, seeming pleased to have something to do.
Maeve stood there at the rail. If Amanda had been a few minutes earlier, she might have seen the dolphin pod too. Hailey would have gone wild over the baby dolphin. She’d have to be sure to tell them to use these binoculars. No reason to take them with her.
Amanda, carrying a spritzer like the one the nurse had given Maeve, came outside. “Hi!”
Hailey carried hers with two hands.
“Hello, Amanda. What a nice surprise.” Maeve locked eyes with Hailey. “It’s marvelous to see you, my best friend.”
Hailey giggled.
“Where’s your brother today?” Maeve asked.
“He’s with Paul. Mom and I are doing girl stuff with you,” Hailey explained.
“I’m very happy that you are.”
“Your helper is very nice,” Amanda said. “She’s going to bring us soup so we can join you.”
Maeve rolled her eyes. “Soup isn’t exactly summer food. I guess she thinks sick people eat soup. Whatever. Come, let’s sit.”
The chairs screeched against the slick worn wood beneath them as they sat down.
Amanda lifted the glass to her lips. “Oh, this is good. Apple, pomegranate? Maybe a dash of grape juice and seltzer water?”
“I have no idea. We don’t talk much. I think she respects I like to be on my own. I like that she respects that.”
“Well, that’s good.” Amanda took another sip, then set the glass back on the table. “You look well today.”
