Beach Rose Path, page 5
Duncan’s sister, Ivy, had been living in the house, until she married the previous year. Ivy had suggested selling the house, but Duncan couldn’t pull the plug on it yet. Even though he considered Boston his home, Duncan was not ready to legally part with the house where he and his sister grew up. He also did not want one more thing on his already overloaded plate. He had been extraordinarily busy at work as lead architect at Dane Grayson Kirk, the largest architectural firm in Boston.
Duncan Kirk lived in the fast lane, always juggling clients, projects and city planners. The last thing he wanted was to think about was selling the family home. He knew Ivy adored the home as well, but it wasn’t big enough to accommodate her veterinary practice, and she and Andy bought their own home last year, one that could accommodate his sister’s practice, as well as Andy’s equipment being Lobster Claw’s jack-of-all trades.
“Nothing like waking up with no electricity,” he grumbled, still frantically flipping up and down every light switch in the house.
Duncan had been back in Lobster Claw for a month, staying in his parents’ home, a home he had not been in for many years. He returned to his childhood home when he found his fiancée, Melinda, in the arms of his contractor and best friend. After an exhausting day of meetings with city planners, Duncan had arrived home to find Melinda and Eric Duff, his right-hand man, wrapped in a passionate embrace on Duncan’s living room couch. Duncan Kirk’s life as he knew it came to an abrupt end. The very next day he had packed what he could, and drove the three hours from Boston to Lobster Claw. It was the only place he could go.
Now standing in his lightless kitchen, Duncan recalled the ravaging details that led up to the moment of his leaving Boston: The huge argument after Duncan kicked Eric out of his home with Melinda, with him telling her to leave immediately, which, to his surprise she did. No tears, no begging or pleading; Melinda up and left, right behind Eric.
It was impossible for Duncan to remain in the condo, with memories of he and Melinda planning their future. Nor could he stay after witnessing the two people he trusted the most—his fiancée’s body romantically wrapped around his supposedly loyal friend. Duncan was bitter and angry, and needed to get out. He put his firm on notice that he was taking a leave of absence due to a family situation, and decided to sell his condo, furniture, everything. Duncan wanted to be as far away from Boston as possible, and there was no other place to go but Lobster Claw.
“No handy man like at the condo, now is there?” he said, cursing his former fiancée and her lover, as he tried to find matches for the candles that his mother kept in her china closet.
“Damn,” he cursed again. The one thing he could see were the silver sheets of rain pounding into the front yard. He needed some kind of light, and there was no telling when the power would return, and if and when it did, how long it would last. He grabbed his car keys and made a mad dash for his truck and headed toward Sand Dollar Drive and to Elsie’s Everything for the matches.
“Or maybe I’ll just keep on driving back to Boston,” he snarled, as the rain poured down upon him.
CHAPTER NINE
“Steady, girl,” Charlotte told herself, her hands trembling while gripping the steering wheel tightly. Even though it was just after 7 a.m. it was still dark as midnight, as occasional brilliant flares of lightning briefly brightened the sky. Sand Dollar Drive had no streetlights, and Charlotte made sure her high beams were on, which, along with the lightning, brightened the murky road.
“In fifty feet take a slight right and you will arrive at your destination.” Besides her labored breathing, Charlotte’s GPS was the only sound in the car. The rain continued to pelt, but the reassuring voice of her GPS calmed her.
Charlotte veered onto the slight right and let out a sigh in tremendous relief. Elsie’s Everything was lit up as bright as a Christmas tree. Charlotte smiled at the cheerfulness of the store: A small lighthouse structure, painted red and white was attached to the rectangular store where a large wooden sign hung above the door proclaiming Elsie’s Everything. Bright white lights not only shone from within, but strings of lights in the shape of miniature lightbulbs welcomingly glowed from over the sign. It was the proverbial lighthouse in a storm to guide all ships, and from the looks of the several cars parked in the parking lot, Charlotte was not the only one who needed something urgently at Elsie’s.
Charlotte raced from the car, feeling the hard pellets of rain strike her like tiny daggers storming from the sky. She turned the knob on the red door and a loud jangle of bells shook her eardrums. A plump older woman sat behind a counter that was laden with baked goods wrapped in plastic, along with candy and gum.
“Can I help you, Miss?” The woman’s voice had a pretty, musical sound to it, putting Charlotte at ease. She had no idea where to look for the ingredients for the emergency puppy formula, and she quickly consulted her phone.
“Yes, thank you,” said Charlotte, tapping her password into her phone.
“I have an emergency at home, and I need some evaporated milk, Karo syrup. Oh, and eggs and pediatric liquid vitamins.”
The woman smiled and nodded. She grabbed a basket and proceeded to place everything Charlotte required into the basket wordlessly, for which Charlotte was grateful.
“Oh, and a baby bottle, please,” added Charlotte.
The woman smiled, walked around to another aisle and returned with the bottle in the basket.
“Will there be anything else, dear?” the woman kindly asked.
“I’m all set, thank you,” said Charlotte, then realizing that she did not bring her bag in the midst of her puppy panic.
“Oh, no, I’m so sorry. I…I just moved here. I’m at Rory Ruskin’s place now, and I left my bag there. I’m sorry, but I need this now, and I’m happy to come back later today and pay you then.”
Charlotte felt her lashes dampen with tears. She looked pleadingly at the woman who gently smiled at her.
“Elsie, I’ll take care of this.”
Charlotte turned around toward the voice behind her. A man, about 6 feet tall with salt and pepper hair was handing the woman his credit card. He smelled of the sea and his hazel eyes twinkled in his ruddy face.
“Consider it a ‘welcome to the neighborhood’ gift,” he said. “Although I have no idea what you’d need with a can of evaporated milk in weather like this. And a baby bottle to boot.”
“I don’t know what to say. I’m so grateful. I have the money, it’s just that, well, it’s an emergency of sorts, and I wasn’t thinking. I promise, I’ll be back here as soon as possible to pay you…”
“No worries,” he said. His voice was deep and soothing, and Charlotte felt he meant what he said.
“Here you are, miss,” Elsie said, handing a large brown paper bag to Charlotte.
“Thank you,” she said to Elsie. “And thank you, but I do promise to pay you back.”
Charlotte momentarily forgot why she was even in the store. The man was handsome, that was no doubt, probably about her age, and he had the look of someone who liked to be outdoors by his sunburnt face and expensive-looking outdoor style of clothing. He was wearing a worn, brown leather jacket, plaid shirt, jeans, and work boots.
Stop that! Charlotte reprimanded herself, taking the bag and dashing out of the store straight for her car. She noticed herself trembling again, but she wasn’t sure if it was from the storm or from this man. She immediately shook him from her mind, as the puppy sprang into the forefront, and she steered her car down back down Sand Dollar Drive to Beach Rose Path. The rain abated somewhat and Charlotte could see the dark clouds skim through the sky as muted rays of the sun began to brighten the dark morning.
“At least one storm is over,” she said, as she put her car in park in front of the cottage. She grabbed the bag and let herself inside, dropping the bag on the kitchen counter. She quietly descended the basement stairs and saw the pup was fast asleep, tucked into its mother’s belly. A bit of liquid had leaked from its teat, reassuring Charlotte that the puppy was able to eat.
Not wanting to disturb the puppy from its peaceful slumber, she made her way back to the kitchen and looked up how to mix the emergency puppy formula. She took one of the pots she found earlier, mixed the ingredients, and poured it into the baby bottle. Charlotte tiptoed down the basement stairs once again. She was able to move the mother enough to fit the bottle underneath her body, so that the nipple protruded from under her, resembling one of her own. Just then, the puppy stirred, found the nipple of the bottle, and began nursing. After it was done feeding, the puppy snuggled into its mother again and was fast asleep.
Charlotte looked at the deceased dog and the surviving pup.
“I have no idea how you got in here,” she said, petting the mother’s soft head, “but I’m glad you did. I promise to take care of your baby.”
Charlotte knew she couldn’t leave the pup with its mother, so she gently scooped it up, and taking the bottle with her, went upstairs, sat on the couch and gently placed the sleeping puppy in her lap. She strategically placed the bottle in the crook of her arm, with the nipple pointing at the puppy’s tiny mouth. She petted the sleeping dog in her lap as those old maternal feelings returned, making Charlotte feel needed and not alone.
CHAPTER TEN
“Peppe, that tickles.” Charlotte had dozed off while holding the puppy and was now awakened to the brush of tickling whiskers and sweet tiny kisses on her chin. Every morning before their alarm went off, Peppe used to wake Charlotte and Landon with his gentle and loving kisses. Charlotte reached out to feel for her dog, and then opened her eyes realizing his large body was nowhere near her.
Bright golden sunlight streamed through the front window, and the storm had completely passed.
Through sleepy eyes, Charlotte looked at the puppy who was now intently staring into Charlotte’s eyes.
“You certainly are a cutie,” Charlotte said, immediately thinking that the dog should be let outside.
“Let’s go,” she said, holding the puppy in her arms. She opened the door and was greeted by the sweet scent of the ocean—the salt air and sunshine, making Charlotte feel immediately awake. There was a warm ocean breeze while white puffy clouds lazily sailed through the blue spring sky. The pup also seemed to be enamored by the beautiful morning, as its nose wiggled as if smelling the world for the first time, while the slight breeze ruffled its golden fur.
“Perfect!” she exclaimed upon seeing what was probably once a garden with some chicken wire fence securing it. It was a small square of land with a few weeds, and Charlotte gingerly placed the puppy into the enclosed area.
“You’re not only adorable, but smart, too,” she said to the puppy. The puppy finished its business and looked at Charlotte to be picked up again.
“Okay, now let’s get you some breakfast and then we have to make sure you and your mom are properly taken care of.” Just the thought of the poor deceased dog in the basement broke Charlotte’s heart, but she also knew that was the nature of the beast—mothers, fathers, dogs, and fiancés died, leaving the living to grieve and trying to forge a way to live on without them. This was something Charlotte knew all too well. She also knew she needed to get the pup to a vet, so she pulled out her phone and looked up local veterinarians.
“Great, there is one, right next to Elsie’s Everything. At least I know how to get there! Ivy Anthony, DVM.”
Charlotte bundled the puppy back onto the couch with the bottle close by. She wanted to wrap the puppy into blankets to keep it warm in the car, so she dashed upstairs to the bedroom in which she hadn’t yet slept. She grabbed some blankets she had thrown on the bed after the movers left, and ran back down the stairs. She enveloped the puppy into the softness of the blankets, gathered the dog into her arms, and went outside to her car, gently placing the puppy in the back seat.
“There, little lovey, I’ll be back in a sec.” Charlotte ran back into the house, grabbed her bag, keys, and tossed her phone into her bag.
“Oh!” she exclaimed, making sure her wallet was also in her bag.
“Barely even been here a day and I’m already in debt. Not going to happen again, especially with a vet! Okay, all set.”
She raced back to the car and jumped into the driver’s seat, looking back to check on her precious cargo. Its tiny eyes were open, intently watching Charlotte, who snuggled the bottle into the blanket next to the dog.
“Okay, little lovey, let’s get you checked out.” She put the car in drive and once again headed down Sand Dollar Drive, this time to Dr. Ivy Anthony, DVM.
The ride down Sand Dollar Drive was completely different from the one of just a few hours ago. Where hard rain had sluiced, bright rays of sun now shimmered along the road. Charlotte could see the line of land and sea on the passenger side of the car window, as clusters of greenish-blue dune grass lazily swayed in the warm breeze. Seagulls cawed as they glided over the white caps of the waves, dive bombing for their seafood breakfast. Charlotte cracked her window just a bit to get some fresh air into the car and deeply inhaled the invigorating sea air. It was briny, salty, and had a tinge of sweetness to it as well, energizing Charlotte. She felt ready to tackle the day even though she only had one cup of coffee. She then realized she had a mountain of work to do—she had planned to spend the day in the store area cleaning and ordering supplies. Rory had left all of his merchandise ordering information in the green folder, and Charlotte planned to contact companies for merchandise. It was only a few weeks until Memorial Day and she planned to have a soft opening a few days prior.
“Maybe a little tougher with a pup, but I’ll manage. I won’t let you down, sweetheart,” she said to the pup, approaching the end of Sand Dollar Drive. The lighthouse of Elsie’s Everything sprang into view, looking very pretty in the bright sunlight of daytime.
“Simply charming,” said Charlotte, veering to the left, and pulling into the lot of Dr. Anthony’s practice. She noticed she was the only car parked there.
“Shoot,” she said, realizing that she should have called before driving here.
“I’m all out of sorts,” she sighed, in frustration. She then noticed the shades on the windows of the practice suddenly fly up.
“Oh, someone’s in there! C’mon, little lovey, let’s go.”
Before Charlotte got out of the car, a woman opened the door of the practice. Her long blonde hair was tied in a ponytail and she was wearing a white coat. A bright pink tee shirt peeked from underneath her coat, as did a pair of jeans. She had on pink sneakers that matched her shirt, and appeared to be quite young. She looked at Charlotte and gave a wave and headed down the steps of the porch and walked toward Charlotte’s car.
Charlotte rolled down her window.
“Hello! I’m looking for Dr. Ivy Anthony, please.”
A brilliant smile illuminated the woman’s face. Her hazel eyes were large and round, and her cheeks were as pink as her sneakers.
“I’m Dr. Anthony.” Dr. Anthony extended her hand through the car window, which Charlotte accepted.
“Charlotte Templeton. I just moved into Rory Ruskin’s place.”
“Oh, yes, we’ve been expecting you. Well, not here, but in Lobster Claw. Welcome! How can I help you?”
“I have a newborn here—a puppy—it must have been born in Rory’s basement. I have no idea how the mother got inside, but she did, and well…”
“Where’s the mother?” Dr. Anthony’s tone became much more serious and professional.
“She’s in my basement. She’s passed, I’m afraid, and I promised her I’d take care of her pup, who is in the backseat.”
Dr. Anthony stepped back as Charlotte opened the driver’s door. She quickly opened the back door of her car and carefully pulled out the swaddled pup and handed the bundle to Dr. Anthony’s outstretched arms.
“I made an emergency puppy formula, but I wanted to get her to a vet as soon as possible. That’s why I’m here.”
Dr. Anthony calmly unfolded the blankets and found a perfect little yellow puppy fast asleep.
“Looks to be in pretty good shape. Thanks to you. Let’s go inside and I can get a better look.”
“Oh, thank you so much,” Charlotte said, relief flooding her body, as she followed Dr. Anthony through the doorway and into her veterinary practice.
“It’s okay, little lovey,” Charlotte lovingly said, as the puppy opened its eyes and let out a high-pitched squeak.
“Pretty vocal, which is great,” Dr. Anthony said, laying the pup on an examining table. She felt the puppy’s body, looked into its ears, and mouth, and stood her on her four stubby legs, feeling along her spine and underneath her belly.
“She looks to be in excellent shape. She’s probably about a week old, so she’s been there before you moved in.”
Charlotte felt tears stream in her eyes at the thought this poor little dear was born alone in a cold basement.
Dr. Anthony gently touched Charlotte’s arm.
“Animals are amazing. That’s one of the reasons I chose veterinary medicine over human medicine. They don’t need a voice to tell us what they need. This pup’s mother knew what she needed to do so her baby could be born in a safe place. And then you came along.”
“Timing is everything, right?” Charlotte smiled, feeling her tears dissipate.
“I’ll hydrate her and keep her here for a while just to be sure everything is fine. Once my assistant arrives, I can come by your place and take care of her mother.”
“Thank you so much.” Charlotte took out her wallet and produced her credit card and handed it to Dr. Anthony.
“Oh, no, this one’s on the house. You should be paid for what you did for this little one.”
