Then Came Love (4 page)

“It came out easily. I didn’t try, but I’ll bet it would start right off.” He pointed to the passenger side. “Where you went in there were no big obstacles. Most of the damage is right here.” He looked at his paper work. “This isn’t an insurance claim?”

“No. It was my fault. I swung to avoid a deer.”

“Happens a lot around here. Do you want to pay this with credit card?”

They completed the paper work and the driver lowered the vehicle to the ground. He handed her the keys and she climbed in. “Might as well find out” she said and turned the key in the ignition.

The Range Rover came to life and she waved to him. “Thanks a lot. I’ll drive this over to my cottage.”

“See ya.” He watched her drive away, then climbed into his truck and left.

* * *

That evening Amanda lingered in the kitchen after the counter was closed; Jackson hadn’t appeared for any meals today. She didn’t think it was possible to miss someone she scarcely knew but every time the screen door opened she’d looked up, hoping to see him.

“So how did it go?” Kathy wandered in. “Everyone looked happy when I was in earlier.”

“Hi. I was hoping to talk to you. It went well.” She tossed her apron in the container they’d marked for laundry. “Can we go outside and sit? I’ve taken to having coffee at the picnic table outside.”

Kathy grabbed a can of soda from the cooler and followed Amanda outside. “Please don’t tell me you can’t stay,” she blurted. “I’ve contacted everyone I know and I have no leads on a replacement yet.”

“What?” Amanda swung a leg over the bench. “No, I wouldn’t do that to you, but that
is
what I wanted to talk to you about.”

Kathy popped the cap on her can and took a long swallow. “Come on, sock it to me.”

Amanda laughed. “Don’t tell me you’re an old Laugh-In fan.”

“The joys of satellite television.” Kathy glanced toward the large dish on their living quarters. “So what did you want to tell me?”

“I know it’s only my first day, but I think Carlos could take over when I leave. He’s quite skilled, you know. I don’t know how busy you are in the winter, but he could probably manage with one assistant.”

“Really?” Kathy stared into the soda can. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m quite sure.” Amanda leaned forward on the table. “He can speak English as well as you and I, you know. He’s just been laying on that ridiculous Mexican accent.”

“So you’re thinking...” Kathy was trying to wrap her mind around this new information. “You’re thinking he could take over when you leave?”

“That’s it exactly. Your menu isn’t extensive. I’d like to suggest a few minor changes but he could handle it, I’m quite sure.”

Kathy’s considered this new information. “You know, I think it could work. Have you talked to him about this?”

“No, I thought I’d discuss it with you first. He’s already gained a lot of confidence, but I suppose you should talk to him before you stop looking for a replacement.”

“All right. I’ll do that first thing in the morning.” Relief flooded her face and she looked ten years younger. “Thanks again.” She stood up, and then turned back, eyes narrowed. “Where did you say you come from again? I’m beginning to think you’re an angel straight from heaven.”

Amanda stood up and stretched. “I don’t know about that. I think you’ve got something pretty close to heaven right here.” She started walking toward her cabin. “By the way, I got my car back this morning and it still runs.”

“Shouldn’t you get it checked out?”

“I suppose so. Maybe in a couple of days. See you tomorrow.”

* * *

Amanda stood under the shower until the water turned cold. It had been a long day but she was satisfied with what she’d accomplished. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt useful, let alone appreciated. She dressed in jeans and a long sleeved jacket, slathered mosquito repellant on all exposed skin and settled into one of the Adirondack chairs near the water’s edge.

She had no idea what was going to happen in the future. She pulled the tab on a Diet Coke and took a slow sip. Before she could consider her future, perhaps she should come to terms with her past. Her thoughts drifted back in time.

Three years earlier

“Amanda.” The Executive Chef barked out her name and beckoned her into his office. He waved a piece of paper. “I don’t appreciate your getting calls here during working hours. They said it was urgent, but we were in the middle of the lunch hour rush so I said you’d call them back.”

She did her best to appear calm, but her heart was pounding. Who could be calling her here? She didn’t think anyone other than her grandmother had this number. Only last month she’d typed out all of her contacts and stuck them in her grandmother’s purse in case of emergency. She hadn’t expected that they’d ever be needed but now...

“Here.” He shoved the paper at her and waved her away. “Go use one of the phones out in the club.”

She dialed the number with trembling hands.

“St. Mark’s Hospital.”

Amanda squeezed her eyes shut for a second. “I was told to phone this number.” She turned over the paper. “I’m sorry, I don’t even know who I’m supposed to ask for but the only reason someone would call me is if something happened to my grandmother.”

“What is her name, please?”

Amanda shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m not making any sense, I know. Her name is Ruby Scott. Spelled just the way it sounds.”

“And your name?”

“Amanda Scott.”

She could hear the woman on the other end tapping on a keyboard. “Here it is. Ruby Scott was admitted at twelve fifteen. Her doctor is Doctor Bennett. He’s very likely the one who called you.”

Amanda’s stomach clenched. “Can you tell me what this is about?”

“I’m sorry. I’m not permitted to give out information over the telephone but Doctor Bennett will be here until five if you’d like to come down.”

“I’ll leave right away. Where do I go to find her?”

“Check with information when you get here. They’ll be able to tell you.”

“Thank you.”

* * *

“Your grandmother has had a stroke.” She’d finally tracked down Doctor Bennett; they were standing in a hallway. He was tall, thin and wore a pale blue shirt over black slacks. The only thing that marked him as a doctor was eyes that had seen too much.

“But she can’t have a stroke. She’s healthy, and she’s only sixty-nine.”

He gave her what passed for a smile. “I know it’s hard to accept, but she
has
had a stroke, Miss Scott. I could give you all the medical terms if you like, but let’s just say that at the present time she’s incapacitated.”

Amanda’s thoughts raced. “Will she recover?”

“It’s a bit early to say. We’ll run another series of tests tomorrow, but there’s an excellent chance that she’ll regain most of her mental capacity.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a pager and frowned at it. “Excuse me, but I have to go.” He looked at her kindly. “Come by tomorrow about the same time; I’ll know more then.”

She left the hospital in a daze. The nurses at the desk in the ICU unit had been sympathetic, but firm. She couldn’t see her grandmother. Maybe tomorrow, when she was stabilized.

She looked at her watch. Two hours until the evening rush. She should be at the restaurant now doing prep work but she couldn’t face it. If the chef fired her, so be it, she’d find another job. Maybe she should find another job anyway; if she’d known what went on in commercial kitchens she’d never have trained to be a line cook. She wasn’t assertive by nature but in the kitchen she’d had to learn quickly to stand up for herself. She was still a wimp in her private life, but she was learning...

“Let me out here, please.” The cab driver pulled over and she got out a couple of blocks from The Club. She pictured the name on the discreet brass plaque near the entrance. An exclusive men’s club, it was open for lunch and dinner. Known for excellent cuisine, female wait staff and beautiful exotic dancers, it was one of eleven clubs scattered around the Vancouver area. She’d heard that there was a hefty fee to join and that every club had a waiting list. Clearly there were a lot of men with deep pockets. The interesting aspect of the clubs was that men were permitted to bring women on specific nights of the week. The whole set-up was unlike anything Amanda had experienced before.

She made her way to the small park across the street. She often came here on her breaks and today she was in luck; her favourite shaded bench was available. She sat down with a sigh and her thoughts turned to her grandmother.

* * *

Amanda’s parents died when she was six. They’d been sightseeing in a helicopter over a canyon in South America when it went down, killing everyone on board. She had naturally turned to her grandmother for comfort. They’d always had a close relationship, and it was one that continued to this day.

Apart from the loss of her parents, she’d been happy growing up. A shy child, she hadn’t made friends easily, but she was content in a way that puzzled her grandmother. When she announced that she wanted dancing lessons Ruby encouraged her, and did the same later when she expressed an interest in culinary arts. No matter what the world threw at her, she’d received unconditional love and support from her grandmother. She didn’t dare consider how she would cope if Ruby died.

* * *

“You can see your grandmother but I’d like to have a word first.” The doctor guided her into a small consultation room. He opened a file and looked at it, although she got the impression that he was stalling for time.

“Mrs. Scott’s speech is a bit slurred, but that will clear up. Probably within a month.” He raised his head. “At this time her motor skills are impaired. We’re going to keep her here for a week or two and work with her to see if we can get her up and using a walker.” He smiled, but it was a sad smile. “Your grandmother is a very independent woman. She’s determined to recover and get back to her own home.”

Amanda absorbed this information. “But her mental state?”

He seemed to be trying to decide what to say, then finally spoke. “As you can appreciate, every individual is different but some memory loss is not unknown in cases like this.” He looked down at the chart again. “Her scan shows some deterioration.”

“Are you saying she’s got dementia?”

“No, not full blown dementia, but there are signs of memory loss.” He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “In spite of all our advances, there’s so much about the human brain we simply don’t know.” He put his glasses back on. “This isn’t much comfort, but we will know more in a couple of weeks. I just wanted to prepare you.”

* * *

Amanda was shaken by the changes in her grandmother. The woman who had been the mainstay of Amanda’s life was crumbling before her eyes. Determined to maintain her independence, she exercised every day but after a few months she still clung to her walker and couldn’t move farther than the bathroom. In the depths of her grandmother’s familiar eyes Amanda saw a new emotion: fear.

“Please promise me one thing.” Ruby gripped her arm with surprising strength. “Please don’t put me in a seniors’ home.”

“Are you sure Gran? You’ve always liked to socialize. You’d meet a lot of new people.”

“I don’t want to meet new people!” The older woman had been emphatic. “I’ve seen those stories on television about what they do to people in those homes. I don’t want any part of it. Promise me you won’t make me go to one of those places.”

Amanda had no idea what her grandmother had been watching; the woman’s sense of reality was sometimes skewed by daytime soaps.