Page 47 of An Island Summer
SEVENTEEN
“You’re a sleuth when it comes to hunting down the facts. You go to museums, chase journal pages down the street, spend way more time with Rupert than you probably need to… And you didn’t even ask Toby to tell you who Mary was last night?”
“It wasn’t the right time,” Meghan said, pulling up Pappy’s old bedding and following Tess into the kitchen.
Tess hit the switch for the coffee pot and grabbed two mugs. “You should have a drink with him and find out. Isn’t that what Rupert said anyway, that you two should have a drink? Listen to the old man. I’m itching to know Toby’s story.”
“Thenyougo have a drink with him.” The memory of Toby’s laugh floated back into Meghan’s mind, giving her a flutter, so she busied herself with making the coffee. As she opened the drawer to get them each a spoon, a loudpopcaught her attention.
Charlie’s ears went up and he rushed over to Meghan.
“What was that?” Meghan asked, looking around the room.
“I’m not sure.” Tess shrugged her shoulders and tipped her head toward the ceiling. “Did it come from up there?”
“I don’t know.” Meghan opened the refrigerator to retrieve the cream and stopped. “The fridge light isn’t on.” She leaned in. “I don’t hear it running either.”
“We’ve blown a fuse,” Tess said, clicking the button on the coffee pot. “Coffee’s not running either. Where’s the fuse box?”
“I think it’s in the back hallway by the washer and dryer.” Meghan led the way to the back of the house and clicked on the light, but nothing happened. She opened the door to the fuse box and checked the switches, clicking them on and off. “Anything working?”
Tess flipped the switch on the wall to try the lights again. “Nothing.”
“Did we just lose power for some reason?” Meghan asked, opening the back door and looking outside for a sign of a storm off in the distance, but she was met with blue skies and sunshine. “I’ll have to call an electrician.” She walked back into the living room, looking around for some indication of what could have happened. Charlie followed, looking around too, as if he could figure it out.
“Looks like it’s a ponytail-and-Lost-Love-Coffee day until we get to the bottom of it,” Tess said.
Meghan put her hand on the air conditioning unit, nothing blowing out. “I can be ready in fifteen minutes.” She peered over at the dog. “How about you, Charlie? Wanna go with us so you can stay cool?”
The dog tilted his head, and turned toward the door.
By the time Meghan and Tess had gotten ready and secured an electrician for that evening, Lost Love Coffee was brimming with tourists, all getting their morning fuel-up before spending the day on the beach. Chloe was at the register with two other people making drinks at warp speed. While Charlie lapped up water on the porch outside, Meghan and Tess joined the line.
“I’m not going to have time to see Rupert today,” Meghan worried aloud. “I hope he doesn’t get worried.”
“Maybe call him?” Tess suggested.
“That’s a great idea. Why don’t you get us a coffee, and I’ll go outside with Charlie and call Rosewood Manor to see if I can get in touch with him.”
“Okay. Want a pastry or anything?”
“You choose,” Meghan said, handing her friend a wad of tip money. “Meet me outside.”
With her phone to her ear, Meghan headed to the outdoor seating area, Charlie jumping up and pulling on his leash to come see her. “This is Meghan Gray,” she said as the front desk answered the call. “Is it possible to speak to one of your patients, Rupert Meyers?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll put you through to his room. One moment, please.”
Meghan sat down at the little bistro table next to Charlie and rubbed his head while the phone pulsed in her ear.
“Hello?” Rupert asked.
“Hi. It’s… Hester.”
“Where are you?”
“I have to go straight to work today and I have someone coming to my house this evening, so I might not be able to come by.”
Rupert sat, silent, on the other end of the phone.
