Page 127 of Spindrift

“Whatabout Kate?”

“Mysister found her for me. I had no idea she was Morgan’s ex. Listening to hertalk about listing is part of what made me decide to stay. I tried to tellMorgan that, but she . . .”

“Yeah.”Lillian’s tone softened. “I think finding Kate’s card short-circuited herbrain.”

“How. . .” Emilia trailed off, then tried again. “How is she?”

Lillianand Stormy exchanged dark looks. “She’s a nightmare. Stevie’s going to kill hersoon, and I don’t blame her.”

“Really?Morgan?” Emilia couldn’t reconcile the easygoing, gentle, caring person sheknew Morgan to be with the person they seemed to be describing.

“Snappingat anyone who comes near, brooding, vanishing for hours . . .”

“Shehasn’t even come by the bar.”

“That’sbecause she’s living off cheese and whiskey,” said Lillian. “You have tounderstand something about Morgan. She’s one of the best people I know, butwhen she’s hurting badly she acts like a wounded animal.”

Theidea of Morgan in pain squeezed her heart, even as a part of her was glad toknow that Morgan, too, was upset.

“Shewon’t answer my calls.”

“That’sbecause she’s told herself how this story ends,” said Stormy. “I see it all thetime at work. People are dumb.”

“Morganis scared,” said Lillian. “Give her time.”

“Time?”

“Youeach have things to figure out. You do you right now. I promise you MorganDonovan isn’t going anywhere,” said Stormy.

Shewanted to believe them both, but too much could go wrong.

“Andif she doesn’t come around,” said Lillian, arranging Emilia’s hair around hershoulders, “you’ll still have us. You can make this place home if you want to,Emilia, with or without Morgan.”

“I’llhave to move my boat.”

“No.”Lillian shook her head. “You have just as much right to be here as she does.”

Theanger in Lillian’s voice surprised Emilia.

“Whatabout work?” asked Stormy. “I know you were figuring that out, too. I could alwaysuse help at the bar although I know you are obscenely overqualified.”

“Actually,”said Emilia, meeting Lillian’s eyes, “I think I might look for a vet job. As ageneral practitioner.”

“Pleaseapply to Seal Cove,” Lillian said at once. “I’ll be a reference.”

“Idon’t know if working with Morgan is a good idea. I’ve been there before.Besides, I don’t have the large animal experience.”

“Wecan train you,” said Lillian. Then she hesitated. “But, and I can’t believe I’msaying this, I do know of a smaller practice a few miles up the coast thatneeds a new doctor.”

“Really?”

“It’svery small. Two doctors. One’s retiring, and I know the other, Dominique. Ifeel like you’d do well there. I can call if you’d like.”

Theprospect of a real opportunity, one where she made a decent salary for workthat didn’t drain her flooded her with a mix of hope and terror. She pushedaside the terror and nodded. “I’d appreciate that.”

“Besides.With climate change, you want to get out of Boston. Floods too easily,” saidLillian.

“Thanksfor the warning.”

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