Page 4 of Waves of Reckoning (Echoes of Camano Island #1)

Chapter Three

T he feeling of melancholy followed them on the short trip.

They hardly spoke a word as the car rolled along. Nikki kept her eyes trained on the slow-moving pedestrians and life carrying on as usual.

A slight wind wafted toward her, bringing the smell of fish, salt, and sand to her. She could hear the crashing of waves in the distance. The Camano Hospital was a giant among minions when Paul pulled up outside the front entrance.

“I’ll see you later,” he said as she got out.

She nodded as words escaped her. It was as if being closer to Trish gave her a greater sense of dread, and as she walked toward the nursing station, goose pimples raced up and down her arms, and the hair at her nape stood on end.

“Hi, how can I help you?” the nurse asked as she looked up at Nikki.

It felt like déjà vu for her, in a sense. “Uh, yes. I was wondering which room Trish Murphy is in. She was in an accident yesterday.”

She waited for what felt like forever as the golden-haired nurse clicked away at the computer keys. “Trish Murphy. Yes. She’s in room 303.”

“Thank you,” Nikki said and walked off. She moved toward the elevator, but it didn’t feel like she was in control of her body. She felt like an automaton, and it grew increasingly worse when she exited the elevator on the third floor.

Her hand shook when she turned the knob to room 303.

When she entered and saw Trish, with her head bandaged and tubes running from her nose and mouth, Nikki’s legs gave way as she broke down by the door.

She clutched the wall as her emotions overtook her until she felt a morsel of strength return to her.

She lumbered over to the bed and clung to the bed rail as she stared at her sister's likeness.

Nothing there resembled Trish. She had tubes coming out of her mouth, nose, and arms. Machines were connected to her, beeping constantly but keeping her alive. Nikki had to stare hard to see the rising and falling of her chest through her shallow breathing.

It was a hard scene to take in, and Nikki collapsed onto the chair when the doctor came in.

“Hello, I’m Dr. McCarthy,” he said and held out his hand to Nikki.

She wiped her left hand across her face and reached for his hand. “I’m Nikki. Trish’s sister. How is she?”

She asked the question but wasn’t sure she was prepared for the answer.

“Right now, her prognosis isn’t good, I’m afraid to say.

Her right leg is broken, her face has a lot of cuts and bruises from the shattered windshield, and she suffered a severe brain bleed, which forced us to induce a coma to keep her alive.

We’re doing everything we can to bring the swelling down and to contain the bleeding, but as of right now, there’s nothing we can do,” he said as the wrinkles at his eyes twitched with concern. “It’s up to her now.”

Nikki started crying again. He was right. The situation seemed hopeless. “So there’s nothing to do but wait?”

“I’m afraid so.” The doctor smiled weakly. “I’m sorry I couldn’t give you better news. I’ve seen patients wake up from worse situations, so don’t give up on her just yet.”

Nikki nodded, and the doctor left the room.

The ominous beeping was discouraging as she sat by the bedside and took Trish’s hand in hers.

She stroked the back of her hand as she remembered the argument they’d had so very long ago when she was nineteen and pregnant.

They’d never been close, and Nikki couldn’t understand why, but none of that mattered anymore.

She was there, and she prayed Trish would awaken so she could tell her what an idiot she’d been. Then she remembered what medical experts had always said regarding coma patients—that they sometimes could hear what was going on around them even though they couldn’t respond.

“Trish, if you can hear me,” she said with a shaky voice, “it’s Nikki.

” She burst into tears again. “I’m so sorry.

” She sobbed. “I should have been there for you all this time. I was so mad at you and Mom and Dad, and I wasn’t thinking, and now, I can’t even remember why I was so angry with you for so long. ”

She laid her head against Trish’s hip as her body rocked with pain.

“I’ve never asked you for anything, Trish.

I’ve never needed anything, but I need something right now that only you can give me,” she said and lifted her face to stare at her sister’s still countenance.

“I need you to wake up.” She squeezed Trish’s hand. “Please. Just wake up.”

Nikki sobbed and replaced her head on her sister’s hip and closed her eyes as the tears refused to stop. She had never known that much pain until that moment, and as if in defense, she drifted off into a short sleep.

She startled herself awake a couple of minutes later, surprised that she’d dozed off. The loud beeping continued in the background, but there was no point in remaining through the night. The doctors weren’t hopeful she’d awaken soon, but until then, Nikki would be where Trish needed her most.

She might be in Camano longer than she’d planned.

Nikki called a cab to drop her off at Trish’s house, and as soon as she returned, she climbed into the hot tub. It soothed her body and washed away some of the melancholic feelings.

Half an hour later, she climbed out and donned her sister’s bathrobe. It made her feel closer to Trish and comforted Nikki in a small way.

Paul showed up later that evening, which was a welcomed visit. She didn’t want to be alone with her thoughts, and she was happy to have a familiar face she could rely on.

He told her to relax while he whipped up something for them to eat. It turned out to be grilled salmon, asparagus, and garlic mashed potatoes.

“Wow,” Nikki exclaimed when he presented the dish. “You made this?”

Paul knitted his brows. “You know I’m a chef, right?”

“Oh right, Lot 28,” Nikki said. “Forgive me.”

He chuckled. “Nothing to forgive.” He sat on the barstool next to her by the kitchen island as she picked at the meal. It tasted great, and the salmon melted in her mouth like butter, but she wasn’t of the mind to appreciate it as she should.

“How did the accident happen?” Nikki asked as she slid a stalk of asparagus around her plate.

“From what the police report says, she was slammed from behind, and the force of the impact pushed her into a utility pole. The car sort of wrapped around it. The guy was speeding,” Paul reported. “He didn’t make it, unfortunately, and now Trish is fighting for her life because of it.”

Nikki’s heart grew heavy again after he gave her the rundown. “Wow.”

“That’s the simple way to put it,” Paul agreed.

“What was she like?” She kept her head down as she stared at the plate. She couldn’t believe she had to ask that question about her own sister.

“She was great,” Paul told her. “Everyone loved her. She was kind and giving. She volunteers at the Humane Society. She is so into animals, but she didn’t get one for herself.

She is a member of the board, but she’s always giving to the community in one way or another.

As you can imagine, everyone is rooting for her to pull through. ”

“I can imagine.” Nikki sighed.

“You know, with Trish out for the moment, the board hopes you’ll fill in until she returns. Trish was a big part of this huge event they’ve been planning for next week.”

“I’ll do it,” Nikki said right away.

Paul chuckled. “Really? They’ll be delighted to hear that.”

“I’ll do anything I can while I’m here and for as long as I’m needed.”

“What about your job?” Paul asked with concern.

“I’m a journalist. I can write from anywhere,” she reminded him.

“It’s settled then,” he said and leaned forward on the counter. “I’ll let them know.”

Nikki nodded, happy that she was able to help in some small way.

* * *

Nikki’s curiosity got the better of her when she arrived at Frank Lynch’s office the following day.

"I have to admit I'm a little curious about why I’m here,” she said as the man directed her to the leather chair facing him.

He’d aged a little since the last time she’d seen him, but he still appeared stately, only showing signs of his aging at his temples. His face was solemn and sincere yet gentle, and she appreciated his calmness.

“This shouldn’t take long, but I’ll get into it to ease your concerns.” He smiled at her over the rim of his glasses.

Nikki was practically balancing on the edge of her seat. When her parents had died, they’d left them with six figures each and a substantial amount of property, stocks, and investments. She didn’t need enrichment from the passing of her sister. What she wanted was her sister to wake up.

Frank opened a folder on his desk, straightened his glasses, and proceeded to read from it. “In the event of her passing, and I’m just summing this up,” he clarified as he looked up at her, “the Nestled Inn will pass onto you and Amy Foster.”

Nikki narrowed her eyes. “Amy Foster?”

“Yes. Her daughter,” Frank replied.

“Daughter? She has a daughter?” she asked in wonderment. How much had she missed?

“It’s the daughter she gave up for adoption over twenty years ago that she’s been trying to find. She hired a private investigator, but at the time of the accident, they hadn’t furnished a report yet.”

“Wow,” Nikki exclaimed.

Frank waited for any further questions before he continued. “What she wants is for you to follow up with the investigation, with the help of Paul Thompson, to track down Amy Foster and for the two of you to build a relationship and partner in running the Nestled Inn here in Camano.”

“This is incredible,” Nikki said as her jaw dropped at Frank’s revelation. She was to find the child she’d always wanted.

“If you choose to give up your claims to the Nestled Inn, it is her wish that you’d run it with Amy, on the condition you do find her, for at least a year, after which you can sell her your shares and move on.

She also wishes that Paul remains on staff—he can’t be fired.

” Frank looked up at her and closed the file to indicate he was done.

“Those are her wishes, and I know I don’t need to ask your opinions, but her intentions have been made known.

How you choose to proceed is your choice. ”

“Thank you,” Nikki replied. “With any luck, she’ll awaken, and I won’t need to worry about any of it.”

“Agreed,” Frank said.

“I guess if that’s all, then,” Nikki said as she stood. Frank did as well, and the two shook hands.

Nikki left the office with a lot to contemplate. She’d come to Camano to be with her sister and help nurse her back to health if needed, but it turned out she would be living her sister’s life.

She wasn’t sure for how long, but she was determined to do her best to give Trish what she should have all those years.

She just wasn’t sure how well she could do it.