She appreciated the lack of sentiment; she got tired of people feeling sorry for her father, or acting like she was some kind of saint. She was far from that. A saint would probably be a lot less resentful, for one thing.
“Shit happens,” Bethany said, stifling a yawn. Her days started early and ended late. This one wasn’t over yet, either. She pointed at the smaller unit and they walked up the path toward it. “My dad usually rents the apartment out during tourist season. It’s not really set up for guests at the moment, but it should be habitable enough. Better than sleeping on the beach, anyway.”
She hesitated at the front door with the key in the lock. “I should warn you, the place is already occupied.”
Alexei raised an eyebrow, but followed her inside without comment. The eyebrow went up even further at the sight of the huge Great Dane sprawled over the entire length of a long flowered sofa. At their entrance, the dog lifted its head and let out a quiet woof. As she made an ungainly dismount and waddled over to greet them, it became clear that she was very pregnant.
“I hope you’re not allergic to dogs,” Bethany said. “I’m fostering Lulu here until after the puppies are born and ready to go out for adoption. The space was empty and I didn’t have the heart to say no when the local rescue organization begged me to take her. She’s too large for anyone else on their list. I assure you, she’s really quite mellow.”
Alexei knelt on the floor to bring himself down to the dog’s level and rubbed her gently on the head, then scratching behind her ears until she whined in contentment. “I like dogs just fine,” he said. “Big dogs especially. Some of my best friends are big dogs.” He heaved himself back up again. “We’ll get along, no problem.”
Well, that was a relief, although seeing the gigantic man being so sweet to the equally giant dog gave Bethany an unexpected pang. The man really was damned attractive. She still thought he was trouble, but he clearly had a soft side underneath all that toughness. Still, not her problem. She’d let him sleep here tonight, and then in the morning, he’d be on his way. For now, she had other things to deal with before she could get the rest she so desperately needed.
“Swell,” she said. “Then I’ll leave you to it. The bedroom and bathroom are down that hallway. The bed won’t be made up, but there are sheets and towels in the hallway closet.” She was too tired to wait on him, and it wasn’t as though he was a paying guest. He’d just have to fend for himself. “There’s nothing much in the kitchen, I’m afraid, but I wasn’t expecting anyone to be staying here until May. If then.”
“No worries,” Alexei said. “I’m used to roughing it. Shall I let the dog out before I go to bed?”
“That would be great,” Bethany said. “The back door leads out to a small fenced yard. Just put her out there for a couple of minutes, then let her back in. There’s food on the counter for her if her bowl is empty.” She yawned.
“We’re fine here,” Alexei said. “Thank you for the place to stay. You should go to bed.”
Bethany nodded and headed for the door. If only it was going to be that easy.
*
She let herself into the house as quietly as possible, but Rosa must have been listening for her, because the stout Hispanic woman came barreling into the outdated kitchen as if she’d been shot out of a cannon, her coat and purse already slung over one arm. Her graying black hair was coming loose from its bun, its errant tendrils following the grooves time and stress had carved into an already homely face. Bethany had the sinking feeling those lines had gotten deeper since she’d seen Rosa earlier that day. And she was pretty sure she knew what put them there. Or rather, who.
“No more, Miz McKenna,” Rosa said in her heavily accented English. “I will work with that man no more. He is el diablo. I quit.”
Bethany took a breath in through her nose, trying not to panic. If Rosa quit, that would be the third home health aide to do so in two months. The agency had already warned Bethany that they were having trouble finding anyone willing to take the job. Without Rosa, she was sunk.
“Now Rosa,” she said, trying to sound soothing, and not as though she was begging. “I know my father is difficult, but he is in a lot of pain, and he’s not used to being dependent on other people. He’s just having a hard adjustment. He really doesn’t mean to take it out on you.”
Dark brows beetled together as Rosa shook her head. “He is in pain, but he will not do his exercises. He will do nothing. Today he threw his dinner at the wall. When I tried to clean it, he shout at me to get out. I will work here no more.” She shook her head even more vehemently, as if to reinforce her point.
“Rosa, please,” Bethany said. “I’m so sorry. I’ll pay extra if you’ll stay.” Although heaven knew where she would get it. They were barely managing as it was. “Please.”
“Lo siento,” Rosa said, putting on her coat. “You are a nice girl. But that man, he is loco. Un hobre muy malo. I will work with him no more.” She stalked out the door without a backward glance, slamming it decisively behind her.
Bethany sighed, leaning against the table for a moment while she worked up the energy to go further into the house. Truth be told, she didn’t blame the older woman at all. Rosa was right. Calum McKenna was a mean man. He’d always been that way, and falling off a roof and breaking his back hadn’t improved his temperament one iota. Her mother had loved him despite all his flaws, passionately and completely, but for the life of her, Bethany didn’t know why.
Finally she made herself walk from the kitchen through the shabby but neat living room and down the hallway to her father’s bedroom, one door past the bedroom she’d moved back into six months before, thinking it would be for a month or maybe two at the most. Now it was beginning to feel as though she’d be there forever. Ironic, considering that she’d spent most of her teens counting the days until she could get away. Sometimes the universe was a bitch.
She braced herself, then put her head up high before walking into the room. It didn’t do to show weakness around Calum McKenna; he’d jump on it like a lion on the weakest member of the pride.
“Hi Dad,” she said in as cheerful a tone as she could manage. “I hear you had a rough day.” Her heart sank as she took in the mess still clinging to the wall near the doorway; the remains of the stew she has so painstakingly prepared that morning now looking like a piece of demented modern art in 3D meat and carrots. “You know, if you don’t like the dinner, you can always just say ‘no thank you’ like a normal human being. And why are you still awake? It’s almost two in the morning.”