Two Weeks in August (8 page)

“Well, thank you very much.”

“Welcome.”

Hazy was scowling and muttering as she flipped through the piles of paper, obviously looking for a certain one.

“You’re a short-tempered one, aren’t you?” Nina told her in a teasing manner.

Hazy’s wry look at her was definitely cool, carrying a veiled warning. “I just have little tolerance for foolishness. Ah, here it is. This is the Whitman one.” She pulled out a white folded brochure with an island logo featuring seagulls at the top.
 
“This is a good one, tells all about the little critters that are good to photograph. There’s also information about the spring and neap tides and what to watch out for when you’re hiking about the islands.”

Nina took it from her hand, noticing suddenly how a fine down of sun-whitened blond hair covered the woman’s tanned forearms.

Hazy seemed to notice her interest and quickly drew back the hand. She plucked out several more brochures. “Here, take these too. This one has the times the preserve is open and other regulations we’re supposed to follow.”

Silence fell and Nina began to feel awkwardness between them.

“Well, thank you again. I really appreciate all your help. Even though I’ve been here quite a bit, I still feel like a foreigner sometimes.”

“You are,” Hazy replied bluntly, “unless you’ve got the island blood in you.”

Nina opened her mouth to tell her that she did have the island blood in her but reconsidered. Perhaps it wasn’t a good idea to let this odd woman know too much about her. She had no idea what Hazy would use for ammunition against her the next time her temper flared. The less she knew the better.

Chapter 10

The combination of Hazy yelling and the cries of the gulls woke Nina very early the next morning. Still half asleep, she pulled herself from an uncomfortable position on the sofa, switched off the viciously hissing television, and crawled into her cold bed to promptly fall asleep again.

Sometime later, loud knocking penetrated her deep sleep. A glance at the clock told her it was almost nine thirty. She was worried. Not many people on the island knew her well enough to casually visit. Perhaps it was bad news.

As the knocking continued, she stumbled from the clinging bedclothes and raced to the door.

It was Hazy. She was standing on the stoop outside, impatient and frowning.
 
“Took you long enough,” she muttered with ill humor.

Nina straightened her spine. “I was sleeping,” she replied indignantly.

Hazy’s eyes roved across her from head to toe, her expression scornful. “Aye, I can see that,” she said quietly.

Nina realized then that she was half-naked, clad only in a thin T-shirt and bikini panties. She probably looked a mess as well, her hair tangled and her face smudged with sleep. Angry because Hazy was seeing her at less than her best, Nina shot words out like bullets, a bit more forceful than necessary. “What do you want anyway?”

Hazy narrowed her eyes and her lips thinned. “Phone for you. In the office.” She turned smoothly and walked away.

Nina felt bad for being so abrupt but decided it was well-deserved payback. Hazy had been short with her plenty of times.

Hurriedly, she pulled on a pair of old jeans and, smoothing her hair, made her way to the office.

“Hi baby,” her father hailed her from across the phone line. “How’s my best girl?”

It was wonderful to hear her father’s voice and unbidden tears sprang up immediately. “Oh Daddy, it’s so good to hear from you. How’s Mom? How are you?”

His warm chuckle was undiminished by distance. “We’re doing okay, honey. I tried your cell but it wasn’t available. How are you managing out there all by yourself? Have you visited Emma yet?”

“No, not yet, but I will soon. I’ve been pretty busy with the house and enjoying the beach. It’s fabulous here.”

“Good, I’m glad to hear you’re having a good time. Is Channel Haven nice?”

Wanting to tell him about Hazy’s eccentricities, she paused, knowing he wouldn’t understand, might construe that she was unhappy. Maybe later they would look back on it and laugh. After she was settled in. “I’m very comfortable here. Right on the channel too, so it’s beautiful,” she offered finally.

“And how’s the house coming? You want me to come out this weekend and have a look?”

 
“Oh no, it’s fine. Coming along better than expected. Mander, that’s the master carpenter working on it, says...”

She broke off as Hazy walked into the office, then continued after she had passed by.

“She says I can probably move in the end of next week. There’s still a lot of painting to do and some plumbing in the upstairs bath. Stuff like that.”

“Mander, what kind of name is that? One of those strange island monikers?” her father asked.

“It’s for Amanda, it’s a woman.”

“A woman carpenter, leading a crew? Who knew the island would be so progressive?” He laughed.

“Who knew my grandfather would be so progressive?” Nina countered with amusement. “He hired her.”

 
“We sure do miss you being here in town. It’ll be hard getting used to you living way out there, so far from us. Be sure and get new cell phone service. One that works in the wilderness, okay?”

Hazy surprised her by handing her a heavy ceramic mug full of hot coffee. Nina nodded her thanks and watched as Hazy took her own cup outside.

 
“Come on, Daddy, don’t be silly. You just live in Alexandria, not Asia. You’re not far away at all.”

 
“True, true,” he chuckled, “just seems that way.”

 
“Besides,” she continued, “it’ll give you two a good excuse to take a lot of vacation trips to the ocean. Grandpapa’s house still has a lot of rooms so we can all stay right there. Where is Mom, by the way? I need to ask her what color she wants her old room painted.”

“Out taking her walk.” Nina could hear the grin in his voice. “She’ll be mad as a hornet when I tell her I called you while she was out.”

Nina sighed and took another sip of the surprisingly good coffee. Hazy had even added sugar and a generous dollop of cream. “You’ll never change. Why do you two compete the way you do? I know both of you love me.”

 
“Of course, but that’s not why we do it. She gets to take you shopping; I get to call you. She gets to pack up your apartment; I get to send you a book. Simple really.”

“Right,” she replied with sarcasm. “Hey, did you send me a book?”

Patrick Christie laughed at his daughter’s eagerness. “Yes, honey, that new anthology. Science fiction, of course, the one you’ve been raving about.”

“You are so sweet, thank you.” She hoped he could tell how much she appreciated his thoughtfulness. He often bestowed solicitous gifts on her and she always felt as though she could never express the depth of her gratitude and love for her handsome, doting father.

“You’re welcome, baby. Listen, I’m going to go now, before your mother comes in and catches me red-handed. You call us right away if you have any problems, all right? Promise?”

“Sure, I promise. Everything’s going fine though. I am really glad to be moving here.”

“I know how much you love it there,” he agreed. “That’s why Tom left it to you instead of Freda. He knew you’d build a good life there.”

A sudden thought occurred to her. “Why are you at home this morning? You’re not sick are you?”

“Oh no, please don’t start worrying. I hate it when you worry about me. I’m just going in a little late, leaving for work in just a few minutes.” His confident voice warmed her. “Love you sweetheart. Be good, now.”

“Hey, Daddy.” Her voice broke, but she couldn’t help asking. “Any word from Rhonda?”

Her father’s voice was filled with empathetic pain as he answered. “No, baby, nothing. I’m really sorry…”

“That’s okay, Dad, for the best, really. Tell Mom I love her. You too.”

Although hating to break the connection, she was relieved to know he was leaving for work. Her powerful father hadn’t missed a full day, not counting vacations, from his real estate firm in more than twenty years.

Slowly she replaced the handset and sighed. She did miss them. Even when she’d moved away from home when she was twenty, she had taken an apartment nearby. This was the farthest she’d lived from them and it would be a drastic change, she was sure. But she was a big girl now. It was time she got out on her own.

Chapter 11

Hazy was leaning against the dock railing watching two gulls fight over a large sea worm that one had pulled loose from a hole in the piling. She saw Nina out of the corner of her eye and realized with some surprise that Nina seemed nervous about approaching her; almost didn’t. But she did approach and Hazy sighed.

“Thank you for the coffee. It helped wake me up.”

Hazy turned her attention Nina’s way, her gaze taking in the whole of her. As if self-conscious, Nina crossed her arms over her chest protectively.

“That’s all right, ducks,” Hazy said, squinting to peer into her large green eyes. “Always a waste, that last little bit in the pot. Glad to use it up.”

The tone Hazy had used obviously angered Nina and she stiffened her back. “Right,” she muttered. “I’ll wash the cup and return it before the end of the day,” she said, her tone just as cool. Head held high, she walked back to her cabin.

Hazy watched the rigid sway of her denim-clad hips and felt regret swamp her. Damn, but she liked the little chit. She had a way about her. Tough little sandpiper, didn’t take no guff from anyone and gave as good as she got. She couldn’t help but admire her. It was just a shame she had to like her as well.

She took a gulp of her lukewarm coffee and grimaced at the harsh taste. Why had she told the girl she’d gotten the dregs? It was a lie, to start with, and there was no call to be so rough with her.

Ah, but there was. She dropped her head and hunched her shoulders. She mustn’t forget CC.
Miss
Claudia Coleman Marsten, CC to her friends, the prized darling of the Chincoteague Marstens. Hazy hadn’t realized the ramifications of that at first, of course, or she’d have steered clear. No use butting one’s head against a brick wall.