Harbor Street (Cedar Cove #5)(69)

Once she regained her composure, she walked out to the receptionist’s desk and looked over Marilyn’s shoulder. “Did Cal Washburn make a follow-up appointment?” she asked.

“The man who came in with the cut hand?”

“That’s him. He didn’t, did he?” Linnette wasn’t sure why she bothered to ask. She would’ve been shocked if he had. Cal had made it as plain as possible; he wasn’t interested in seeing her again.

“No,” Marilyn said. “Sally tried to talk him into it, but he said he could take the stitches out himself.”

“Linnette.”

Chad called her and, surprised, she turned to face him. “I was hoping to see you when you’ve got a free moment.”

“Right now is fine,” she said and even managed to sound professional.

Chad touched her shoulder, guiding her to the side of the hallway that led to the cubicles and the surgery. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you for a while now.”

He didn’t quite meet her eyes, which told her this wasn’t going to be a pleasant conversation.

“Is there a problem with my work?” This was her immediate concern, although she couldn’t think of a single incident in which her ability as a P.A. might be questioned.

“No, no, nothing like that.” Still he hesitated. “Perhaps we could get a cup of coffee after work.”

Had he asked her this as little as three weeks ago, she would’ve leapt at the suggestion.

“Is tonight convenient?” he murmured.

“Ah…I guess.”

“Hey, you can’t go back there.” Sally’s voice rang down the hallway.

Linnette spun around and saw Cal.

His eyes narrowed as he read the physician’s name tag.

Linnette straightened. Chad had kept his voice low in order to talk privately and she’d leaned close so she could hear him. Anyone happening upon them would’ve assumed they were deep in conversation—a confidential, perhaps even intimate, conversation.

“No p-problem,” Cal said, and with that he wheeled around and walked out the door.

Once more Linnette resisted the urge to run after him. She hated to let this relationship go, but no longer felt she had any other choice.

Thirty-Five

On Valentine’s Day, Grace drove out to visit Olivia rather than head home to an empty house. Jack had recently returned from the hospital where he’d had bypass surgery, and poor Olivia had her hands full. Apparently Jack wasn’t a good patient, which came as no surprise to Grace. Or Olivia either, Grace assumed.

She rang the doorbell and waited a few minutes before Olivia answered, flustered and unkempt, which was completely unlike her. She stared at Grace and her small bouquet of red carnations and seemed about to burst into tears.

“Looks like you’ve had a rough day,” Grace said sympathetically.

“You don’t know the half of it,” Olivia muttered under her breath.

Jack sat in the living room, arms crossed and eyes flashing defiance.

“Ah,” Grace said, glancing from one to the other. “Did I come at a bad time?”

“No,” Olivia insisted.

“Yes,” Jack countered.

“Perhaps I should come back later?”

“Absolutely not,” Olivia said, glaring at her husband.

Jack sighed his capitulation. “You might as well stay.”

“Jack Griffin!”

“Sorry, Grace.” He rolled his eyes. “I just wonder if you know how stubborn your best friend can be.”

“Olivia?” Grace feigned shock. “Never.”

“Et tu, Brute!” Olivia muttered.

Grace handed her the flowers and while her friend retreated to the kitchen to find a vase, she sat down across from Jack. “A little overprotective, is she?”

He snickered softly. “How’d you guess?”

“I know Olivia.”

“She’s become my shadow. I can’t even take a—use the bathroom without her running after me to make sure I’m not going to keel over.”

“That’s a natural reaction, don’t you think?” Grace asked. “She nearly lost you, in case you’ve forgotten.”

“She’s suffocating me.”

Olivia poked her head around the kitchen door. “Are you talking about me behind my back?”

Grace wasn’t about to lie. “Of course.”

Olivia frowned. “Don’t listen to him. Jack’s trying to do too much too soon.”

“I’m following doctor’s orders,” Jack shouted. He turned his attention to Grace again. “Tell her to go back to work. I need some breathing space.”

Grace disagreed. “Let her fuss over you. She needs to do that.”

Jack regarded her, then slowly shook his head. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Grace, would you like a cup of tea?” Olivia called.

“Please.”

“I’ll take coffee,” Jack said.

“Green tea is better for you.”

He started to argue but apparently changed his mind. “Whatever you think, dear.”

This time Olivia came all the way out of the kitchen. She pointed at Grace. “What did you say to him?”