With the sky and ocean an endless shade of blue along the horizon, Saria’s flight to Nadi should have been awe-inspiring. Instead, every mile away from Ben had her heart aching, harder and heavier. It wasn’t right, leaving him when they still had so much to talk about.
“You okay, sis?” Lydia nudged her arm. “We’re almost at the mainland and you haven’t said a word the entire trip.”
“Sorry, I don’t mean to be bad company.”
In the seat opposite them, Dr. Hika stopped rummaging through his briefcase and glanced at her. “You do look pale. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“If you can fix my bodyguard that’d be great.”
“You can speak freely to me whenever you’d like to, and so can Ben. I minored in psychology, and I love a good sit-down session. I also have my mother’s nosy-nose.” He tapped said nose.
She smiled. “I’d love an outsider’s perspective on my situation, but I’m afraid I can’t go into the details of Ben’s difficult childhood, not when he told me in confidence.”
“I understand, and it’s not easy when we can see someone else needs help and they don’t.” He locked his briefcase and set it by his feet. “Maybe in time he will, or if he’s given a little push. What of yourself?”
“My world is changing. I need to start looking for a job and a place to live.” She also wanted to be there for the one man who needed her. If only he’d let her.
“Yes, you’re a nurse.” A glitter lit his eyes. “And if you’re truly after a job, maybe I can help. I have a proposition for you.”
“I love propositions. Fire away.” This certainly sounded intriguing, and she needed the distraction.
“Another reason I’m heading to the mainland, other than to collect some necessary supplies, is to search for a new nurse for the island. With over three-thousand tourists at any one time, I require additional aid.”
“What happened to your nurse?”
“She was called away a week ago. A family emergency. Which means I need to temporarily fill the position until she returns. About another four weeks.”
Excitement thrummed through her. This could be exactly what she needed, even though it meant a short time away from Lydia. Oh, and the islands. A magical place to work, even if only for a month. Her spirits lifted. “Tell me more.”
“The position comes with free accommodation at the resort as well as meals and laundry. The hours are nine to five weekdays, but you’d need to remain on-call at night and on weekends, the same as I do.”
“Keep going.” This was a dream come true.
“The patients I see are generally relaxed, and their ailments minor. If anyone requires surgery, they’re flown to the mainland, so your duties would be more similar to those required in a general practitioner’s office.”
“I can’t believe you’re offering me a job and a place to live.” She jiggled in her seat. “You’re not worried about my recent fears?”
“As far as I can see, there’re almost nonexistent. Certainly if you experience any problems, I’ll be right on hand. It’s also very rare for me to have a runaway cleaner’s trolley or a stampeding crowd in the office.” He grinned. “Would you consider the position?”
“I’d love to consider it.” She clasped Lydia’s hand. “Do you have any problem with me saying yes?”
“I think it sounds perfect, and I’ll only be a phone call away.” Lydia hugged her. “We’re not running or in hiding anymore. It’s time for us to live again.”
“Then that’s what I’ll do.” She extended her hand to the doctor. “You’ve got yourself a new nurse. When would you like me to start?”
The wooden dinghy rocked as Ben leaned over the side and tossed his line. So far, he’d caught three massive sea slugs, a starfish and more seaweed than could possibly be floating at the bottom of all that crystalline blue. His level of frustration at having Saria so far from him had also escalated to the point where he was ready to blow.
Brigs wasn’t helping any either lying sprawled asleep across the center seat. Ben lifted his foot and tapped Brigs’s dangling leg. With his cap pulled low over his face and his springy black hair poking out from underneath, Brigs snorted but didn’t wake. How could the man snooze when the girls weren’t here?
“We should toss him overboard.” Tyler held his rod in one hand and his cell phone in the other. He stared at the device then gave it a shake as if that would make it miraculously ring.
Ben wanted to shake the phone as well. “When Lydia calls, I want to speak to Saria, and I won’t accept any more of her excuses about saying she can’t talk to me.” Every time Lydia had rung, she’d told him Saria was busy trying on one dress or another, and as yet he hadn’t spoken to her. It was almost four in the afternoon, seven horrendously long hours since she’d flown out.