Page 5 of Waves of Reckoning (Echoes of Camano Island #1)

Chapter Four

T he following day didn’t get any easier for Nikki.

She got up early and readied herself, hopeful that the new day would bring good news. That was not the case. When she walked into the hospital room, Trish lay as lifeless as she had the day before.

Nikki’s heart sank. She stood over her bed as fresh guilt washed over her, and before she could break down again, she hurried out of the room. She couldn’t just stay by the bed and watch her die. Or at least, she hoped that wasn’t what she would be doing.

Her heart was heavy when she returned to the Nestled Inn. She had a lot to get done, and she didn’t have the faintest idea where to begin. She was relieved when she returned and saw Paul behind the desk with Kaylyn.

“There you are,” he greeted her warmly and rounded the oval wooden partition to meet her. “How are you holding up?”

Nikki sighed. “I don’t even know. I just need something to do, or I’ll go crazy. Hey, Kaylyn,” she called when she realized she’d completely ignored the woman. “I’m sorry, my head’s all over the place.”

“It’s alright, ma’am.” She smiled. “I understand.”

“We have plenty for you to do,” Paul told her. “Come with me.”

“I already gave her a tour of the businesses and house,” Kaylyn told him. “And she met Dorothy too.”

“Oh, okay,” Paul said and scratched his head. “On to business, then. Follow me.”

Nikki walked after him to a door next to the reception area that housed an office.

Paul showed her inside and closed the door after him.

It was an ample enough space with a large desk in the center filled with stacks of files and a stationery holder.

A desktop computer and a laptop nested on the front of the desk.

Paul motioned to the leather chair for her to take a seat.

“Oh no, go ahead,” Nikki told him. “I’m not the boss yet. As of now, that’s still you.” She smiled.

Paul laughed, and the sound bounced off the walls. Nikki couldn’t believe how good he looked still. She hadn’t seen him for so long, yet it felt like it was only the day before. “I don’t know about that. I’ll help out.”

“Seems like more to me,” Nikki said and collapsed into the chair opposite him.

He steepled his fingers under his chin and stared at her. “You look good. How have you been?”

“I can’t complain.” She smiled. “Been at the Providence Journal since I started working. I don’t know anything else, and you know how much I love it.”

“Don’t I?” He chuckled. “You broke up with me to chase that dream. I’m glad to see it wasn’t a phase, or I would have been upset.”

Nikki laughed. “Yeah. And what about you? You’re a chef, but then, I shouldn’t be surprised. You always loved cooking, but one Michelin star?” she said, tapping his arm playfully. “Look at you.”

“I guess we’re both very good at what we do.” He smiled.

“Trish didn’t seem to have done badly for herself either,” Nikki said as she looked around the office at the pictures of Trish and some of the townspeople at various events, community awards she’d received that were snug in the curio by the small bookshelf, and a couple of single ones of her, smiling.

Nikki picked up a picture frame from off the desk.

“I’ve missed her even though I didn’t want to admit it to myself.

I was just so angry all those years. I couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t just let me have the baby.

” She turned to look at him. “Did she tell you any of that? About what happened back then?”

Paul shook his head. “She told me some.”

“She told you about her daughter? How she wouldn’t give her to me? And after all this time, her lawyer called me,” she said and inched closer to Paul. “I don’t understand why I was asked to be here other than to visit her. Did she tell you anything about the will?”

“A little,” he replied. “But I’ll wait until after you’ve spoken to Mr. Lynch.”

Nikki sighed. She remembered enough about Paul to know she wouldn’t get much more out of him. She would have to wait a little more, as agonizing as it was.

Nikki inhaled sharply before she plastered a smile onto her face. “So,” she asked, spreading her arms, “what do I need to know? How do I run a business?”

Paul laughed and handed her a file with the latest numbers and current guest registry.

“What do I do with these?” Nikki asked. She’d always been a journalist, so she had no idea what to do with a business. “Are you sure you don’t want to do this without me?”

“I don’t even run my own business alone.” Paul laughed.

“How come?” Nikki asked curiously.

He waved her off. “It’s nothing. I had a heart attack a couple of years ago, so I try to take it easy now. But enough about me. I’ll give you the rundown of the business, who does what, and how to conduct affairs. I’ll oversee the restaurant.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said.

“It is what it is, I guess,” he said nonchalantly, but she figured he didn’t want to go into the details right then.

Nikki listened attentively while he described everything he had said earlier. She couldn’t say she understood all of it, but she was eager to do as much as she could for her sister.

“This will take some getting used to,” Nikki said when Paul closed the file and rocked back in the chair.

“You’ll get the hang of it.” He stood. “Now, how about some lunch? I doubt you’ve had anything to eat all morning, and there’s a one Michelin star dining experience next door.”

Nikki’s stomach rumbled just then in agreement, and she blushed. “You’re right. I could eat.”

“Let’s go then,” Paul said and led her back into the lobby. “Kaylyn, we’ll be out for a couple of hours.”

“That’s alright,” the woman replied.

Nikki couldn’t say she had ever gone to a restaurant with a Michelin star. She was bedazzled when she entered Lot 28, the restaurant Paul owned. The place reeked of class and stateliness, and she doubted she could have even afforded the appetizer if she had gone alone.

Even the menu cards had black and gold lace trimmings to resemble the swirling patterns on the walls. Everything displayed the same theme, even the cutlery on the tables, which stood out against the off-white table linen.

“Paul, I’m…wow,” Nikki said as she clutched her chest. “I’m at a loss for words.”

“Right this way,” he said, leading her to a private table with a reserved card. He pulled the chair out for her, and she sat gingerly like she thought she might fall through it.

She was about to reach for the menu card when he swiped it. “It’s the chef’s special for you today.” He winked at her. “Be right back.”

A server came by shortly to offer her a glass of white wine. She wasn’t even sure what brand it was, but it didn’t matter. She was already loving the experience, and she hadn’t even had her meal yet.

That turned out to be braised scallops as an appetizer, followed by beef Wellington served with sweet potato puree, fingerling potatoes, and fresh herbs. Paul wanted her to try the soufflé, but she was too full.

“I could get used to this,” she said and sank back in the chair when she finished eating.

“This will be your life for the rest of the time you’re here,” he said.

One of the servers hastily approached them with a worried look and whispered something to Paul. His brows knitted, and he turned to Nikki. “Will you be okay getting back to the Nestled Inn on your own? There’s something I need to attend to. Or if you’d like to stick around—”

“No, it’s fine.” Nikki stopped him. “Thank you for the meal. I absolutely loved it, but it has been an overwhelming day. I need some relaxation time.”

“Okay. I’ll check in on you later.”

Paul hurried away, and with nothing else to do, Nikki got up and left. Her eyes were getting heavy by the time she got back, but Kaylyn ran up to her as soon as she walked inside.

“Ma’am, someone’s been here asking for you,” she said.

Nikki’s brows dipped. “Someone? Who?” She couldn’t imagine who it could be and could only assume it had to do with Trish.

“A young woman,” she replied. “She said she knows you from Arlington.”

Nikki was even more intrigued. “What does she look like?”

“Nikki!”

Nikki wheeled around just in time to see Ava with her arms spread and her face glowing. “Ava? What are you doing here?” She laughed as she ran into her friend’s embrace.

“Hey, you didn’t think I’d let you come here and have all the fun, did you?”

“I don’t know what your idea of fun is.” Nikki laughed. She turned to Kaylyn. “Her?”

The woman nodded. “I can see that you’re friends.”

“Yes. Ava, this is Kaylyn, the manager. Kaylyn, this is my best friend, Ava, who I assume will be staying a couple of days as well.”

“Nice to meet you,” they said simultaneously and then laughed.

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Kaylyn said, returning to her post.

“This place is great,” Ava said as she turned around. “Not your average inn.”

“No, indeed. Trish did really good,” Nikki said with a sigh.

Ava grabbed her forearm and turned Nikki around to face her. “How is she?”

“She’s being kept alive by machines and a force of will,” Nikki said with a heavy heart.

“Aw,” Ava said and hugged her. “I’m so sorry, hun.”

“I know,” Nikki replied.

“But that’s also why I’m here. I couldn’t let you do this alone. What are friends for, right?”

“Thanks, Ava.”

“You’ve got it, kiddo.” Ava smiled. “Where do I put these?” she asked, indicating her bags.

“I’m staying in Trish’s apartment. You can too,” Nikki invited her, and the two women headed in that direction.

Ava was animated for the entire time. She had only been to Camano a couple of times, but that was years ago. She couldn’t wait to go surfing and get a tan on the beach.

It didn’t take Ava long to get situated, but it was hard for Nikki to hide the swirling emotions inside her.

“She’s going to be okay,” Ava reassured her as the two sat on the sofa watching a movie. Nikki barely saw anything happening.

“I know,” she said sadly. “I just don’t know how we got here. We were closer when we were younger, but somehow, we drifted apart over the years until we were practically strangers. I used to think that was why she wouldn’t let me have the baby—that she had said no out of spite.”

“Oh, honey, I don’t think that was true,” Ava replied empathetically. “She was young and confused, I’m sure.”

“Perhaps,” Nikki said and wiped her hand down her face.

“Regardless, it was her decision. My inability to have children wasn’t her fault, and I could have adopted another child.

I shouldn’t have been so angry with her and my parents for years because of it, and now, I could lose my entire family, and they don’t even know how sorry I am,” she said as tears ran down her face.

Ava wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and embraced Nikki as she shushed her. “It’s going to be fine. She’ll wake up, and then you can tell her,” she consoled.

Nikki could barely respond. She nodded as she clung to her friend and soaked the shoulder of her blouse with her tears.

She was drained afterward, and they both decided to retreat to their beds. Nikki lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. She had made so many mistakes in her life, but she needed a loving voice, and it was interesting that Paul’s face came to mind.

Ever since the divorce, she’d struggled with dating. She’d gone on blind dates and traditional dates, but none had lasted. She knew she could attribute much of that to a lack of ability to trust anyone like she had with Josh.

Even his name in her head sparked bitterness still, but she quickly squelched it with thoughts of her sister and why she was in town. The divorce was three years ago, but its effect was still fresh despite her strength of character.

She would just have to find other ways to deal with her repressed feelings. Maybe she should date again, and for a fleeting moment, she wondered if Paul might be up for it.