Page 53 of The Beach Cottage
“Oh,” Dad replied. “Never mind. He took me to see the doctor. We had lunch, too, at this lovely Italian place. He insisted on paying. The doctor gave me a prescription, and Aidan took me to fill it, so I’m all set. I started on the medication yesterday, and the doc assures me it’ll fix me right up so I don’t have to worry about more strokes any time soon.”
“I’m glad he was able to figure it all out and get you onto medication right away,” Bea said. “That’s a big relief.”
Bea pondered his words as she drank her tea. She and Aidan had to find the time to have a conversation. His kindness brought tears to her eyes. Her father was one of the most important people in her life. Aidan knew how worried about him she’d been and he’d stepped in to help without asking for anything in return. Without seeking her approval or recognition.
“Why did he do it, do you think?”
Dad hesitated. “He’s a good man. And a good friend.”
“Yes, he is. Isn’t he?”
Twenty-Four
Penny had received a call from a woman reporting an injured animal she’d seen while out bushwalking. The road to the place described by the woman who’d called her was bumpy and riddled with potholes.
Penny slowed the pace of her SUV and traversed an enormous crater, then pulled the vehicle to the side of the road. This was the place, according to the caller. She’d spotted an injured bush possum or ringtail possum—it was impossible to tell, since the woman couldn’t identify either type. The animal was injured and needed help.
“But don’t worry,” she’d ended the call by saying. “The possum won’t go anywhere since it’s tangled in wire which is ensnared around a fallen log.”
Penny shook her head as she climbed out of the car and retrieved the animal transportation cage from the back seat. The least the caller could’ve done was to stay with the creature to guide her to its location. But no, she had to get back home for lunch. Never mind—Penny was certain she’d be able to locate the animal. It might take the rest of the day, but she’d manage it. She couldn’t bear the idea of leaving it out there alone overnight, tangled around a tree trunk.
As she walked along the single-lane dirt track, she suddenly realised just how far out of the way the woman’s directions had taken her. Perhaps she should call for some backup. The other staff from the refuge were busily feeding and ministering to animals, but one of the girls had gone to Penny’s house to nurse a baby joey that needed regular monitoring and care between naps. Perhaps Penny could catch her there and ask her to bring the other vehicle to her location just in case Penny couldn’t manage on her own. She dialled her home number, and a male voice answered the call.
“Hello. Who is this?” She couldn’t imagine who might be inside her house in the middle of the day.
“It’s Rowan. How’s things?”
Her mind raced as she attempted to come up with a reasonable solution to the question, what was Rowan Clements doing inside her house?
“I’m fine, thanks, Rowan. Um… What are you doing there?”
“Why are you calling your own house? That’s the real question.”
“I was hoping to speak to Alison. Is she there?”
“Nope. She’s not. She’s back at the refuge.”
“Okay.” This made no sense whatsoever. Alison wasn’t there, but Rowan was?
“I pulled up outside your house and found Alison opening the front door. She said she was here to feed the joey, and I suggested I do it for her since she looked harried. So she went back to the refuge, and I’m here with the little dude, giving him his milk bottle. He’s pretty darned cute, I have to say. By the way, where are you?”
Penny’s heart skipped a beat. Rowan was feeding the joey at her house at that very moment. She wished she could be there to take in the vision of the two of them together, but instead she was standing ankle-deep in a mud puddle in the middle of the bush somewhere on the island.
“I’m not sure exactly where I am, but I’m going to send you a pin drop on the map. Can you please call Alison at the refuge and ask her to meet me at that location? I’m picking up an injured animal, and I’m out in the middle of the bush alone. I thought it might be a good idea to have her come too just in case something goes wrong.”
“I can come and help,” Rowan said. “I’ve almost finished feeding the little joey here, and then I’ll be right over.”
“No, that’s okay. You don’t have to do that. It’s what I pay Alison to do.”
“I’m happy to.”
“No, really. Alison will be fine, but thanks for the offer. It’s very kind of you. And you didn’t have to feed the joey for me. I’m sorry you got roped into it.” She loved that he was willing to help, but he was on vacation. He didn’t need to be working for her. She was certain he had better things to do with his time.
She sent him the pin drop, then held the phone to her ear again. “Did you get that?”
Just then, the phone beeped, and the line went dead. She looked at the screen — the battery was low, and the bars along the top were gone. There was absolutely no signal.
“Blasted thing,” she said, shaking the phone. Not that it would help. She shoved it deep into her pocket, picked up the animal cage again and trudged forwards into the bush. She’d simply have to handle it alone.
