One Sure Thing (Mamma Lou Matchmaker Series) (36 page)

“That decision from the board isn’t because of the horde of reporters sitting outside, is it?” Raymond asked.

“Of course not,” Hugh said then turned to address Hope.

“I’ll tell you what, why don’t you take a couple of days off.”

Hope was about to decline a second time when Raymond placed her hand on hers and spoke up. “Actually Hugh, that sounds like a great idea. She’ll do it. But, I think that two weeks might do better. Yes, two weeks, that ought to be just about right.” Hope looked at Raymond then to her sister. Faith shrugged then nodded and smiled encouragingly.

“Two weeks is a bit longer than I had anticipated.”

“That’s unfortunate Hugh,” Faith said slightly forlorn as Raymond continued.

“I’m sure Hope’s welfare is your utmost concern. So maybe Hope should discuss this with a counselor. I know an excellent one at Manhattan Medical or even Johns Hopkins. But I’m sure that the publicity of Hope seeking medical attention elsewhere because of the lack of security and concern for your staff probably wouldn’t sit well with the reporters parked at the front door or with Barclay Med. Two weeks, he pushed.”

“That’s out of the question.”

“I’m feeling slightly distressed myself,” Faith chimed in. “I think that talking to the reporters might help.”

“There’s nothing you can tell them.”

“I don’t know about that, they might be interested to know that Barclay Med and its hospital administrator, who also happens to be my sister’s ex-father-in-law, didn’t follow protocol in handling violence against its own doctors.”

“Alright, two weeks.”

“That’s with two weekends correct?” Faith asked innocently.

Hugh glared at Faith.

“Two week with two weekends would be fine.”

“That’s very generous of you Hugh. I’ll make sure to mention it to my friends on the Barclay Board,” Raymond added.

Hugh looked stunned. “Yeah, you do that.”

Before Faith went back to her duties, she pulled Hope aside. “Are you sure you’re okay?” Hope nodded and they hugged each other warmly. “Good. Why don’t you go away for a while? I hear Crescent Island is wonderful. Go there.”

“What do you know about Crescent Island?”

“Dennis told me all about it.”

“You and Dennis?”

Faith nodded happily, “me and Dennis.”

They watched as Raymond came out of Hugh’s office. The two men shook hands. “You know he’s really kind of nice, not at all like Nolan and the others.”

“I know.”

“Raymond was right. You could use a couple of weeks off. You’ve been a pain in the butt to live with for the last few weeks.”

“I have not.”

“Hope listen, I’m telling you this for your own good. Ever since you and Raymond broke up, you’ve been miserable.” Hope opened her mouth to rebut but stopped. “You can’t deny it. Whatever you and Raymond had, lit a spark in you. He made you happy. It was nice having my old sister back.”

“What do you mean?”

“You think I was too young to remember what happened?”

Hope touched her scar and looked away. “Hope, for years you’ve been shutting people out of your life because of what our father and stepfather did. All men aren’t like that, just like all women aren’t like our mom. Raymond isn’t like that.”

“I know.”

“Good, then do something about it.”

“It’s too late.”

“It’s never too late.” Raymond walked over as Faith turned to leave. “Call me,” she said as she waved to Raymond and hurried down the steps to the fourth floor.

“Shall we go?”

“Raymond, thank you for everything. Two weeks off. Wow.” She shook her head elated. “But I need to take the time for myself. I think I might go away or something.”

“Where?”

“I’m not sure.”

“For how long.”

“I don’t know yet.”

“Want company?”

She smiled and shook her head. He nodded. “Hope, I can’t change the world for you. I wish I could but I can’t. Sometimes it’s a dark, ugly, lonely and scary place. I can’t change that any more that I change the horror you went through as a child. The only thing I can do right now is to love you. And together, just maybe, we can change our small corner of it. We can make sure that our children will never experience the pain and agony you suffered.”

“Raymond.”

“You have no faith in me. You don’t trust that I’m not like your father and stepfather. And I don’t know how to assure you that I could never hurt you. I would die first. I love you. When you’re ready to get through the pain, I’ll be here for you. We’ll survive together. I’ll be at home waiting for you.” He stroked the scar on her face then turned and walked away.

Chapter Twenty-six

Crescent Island was everything everyone had said it would be and more. At Louise’s invitation, Hope stayed at Gates Manor. To Hope’s surprise it was the size of most of her neighborhood.

The building itself was completely surrounded by hundred-year-old maple and oak trees. It was truly majestic. The stately manor stood regal and dignified, proud and strong, resembling the prestige of its elder mistress.

The main section of the mansion was rectangular in shape with an added semi circular covered receiving area that protruded a good ten feet out into the red brick driveway. The covered section was held up by a number of white columns that eventually joined in with the huge pillars growing up from the wrap around white porch.

The building was pure white with forest green shutters and matching flower boxes at every lower and upper window. The boxes overflowed with white impatients and white geraniums. The sight was simply magnificent.

The wooden floor of the open porch was painted a cool blue gray color. There were several groupings of forest green wicker furniture with thick floral patterned cloth cushions. Each seating arrangement boasted two or three chairs and a small table in between topped with a delicate wicker basket brimming with fresh cut flowers. Between each pillar was a huge hanging basket of red, yellow and orange poppies, trailing fuchsia and sweet peas, crimson geraniums and dazzling nasturtium blooms accented with tender English ivy hanging down. The effect was a burst of color separated by thick white stone columns accented below by beautifully planted perennials and annuals.

Hope had spent most of her time either on the receiving porch, which was surrounded by white astillbe or out back on the veranda by the pool.

It was early in the morning when Hope stepped out into the large screened covered deck that faced the garden areas and a small portion of the Bay. Her bedroom, Raymond’s bedroom, faced the gardens and she loved waking up to brilliant sunrise and sound of birds. She walked over to the telescope and leaned down. She adjusted the settings and captured the close up image of a bird in flight. She watched until it disappeared from sight.

She sat down in the wicker chair beneath the miniature fig and ficus trees. Planted in huge clay pots, they sat back against the brick wall behind a large display of flowerpots filled with a colorful array of plants.

She stood and looked down over the iron rail and smiled as she breathed in the aromatic scent of fresh flowers emulating from the gardens below. She’d been here for almost a week but it felt like she’d been here all her life.

From her vantage point on the second floor she saw Mamma Lou walking from the dock to the small cottage. Hope opened the screened door, went downstairs and out onto the patio.

Taking the brick path, she walked around to the side of the house to the scenic cottage. It was surrounded by towering weeping willows, dwarfing its size to miniature dollhouse.

It was a stark white stucco building that was tucked snuggled between the varying green hues of several weeping willow, magnolia and maple trees. A one foot white picket fence encircled the front area and continued around each side encasing a selection of colorful spring blooming flowers. The heavenly scent of spring hyacinths encompassed the air. Two large windows with white open shutters and white flower boxes filled with budding snapdragons and impatients straddled the front door.

Hope came to the front door. It looked like it was right out of one of those old 1950’s movies. It was one of those Dutch doors. The top half had several small windowpanes and was completely open. The bottom half was wooden raised panels that was slightly ajar. She leaned over the open top and called out to Louise.

“I’ll be right out.” Seconds later Louise appeared at the doorway with her basket filled with week-old flowers having replaced them with fresh ones.

“Are you all packed and ready to leave?” she asked as Hope held the door open for her.

“Yes. Thank you so much for inviting me. It was exactly what I needed.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself and got some rest.” They walked back up the path to a small area beside the vegetable garden. Louise dropped the wilted stems in a churner and began turning the crank. The flowers were immediately mulched.

“I have a small confession,” Louise said. Hope looked at her oddly. “I’m allergic to almonds.”

Hope was confused then her expression brightened in understanding. “You were matchmaking.”

Louise nodded.

“Raymond and me?”

Louise nodded again.

“How did you know to come to the hospital? We’d never met before.”

Louise confessed her eavesdropping the night of the play when she overheard her conversation with Faith. Hope began laughing. “And you decided just like that I was right for Raymond.”

“You were exactly what Raymond needed, you still are. Now why don’t you go on back up there and find my grandson.”

Hours later Hope arrived home she busied herself with mindless chores trying to keep her thoughts off of Raymond. She remembered her sister’s words, she knew Faith was right. Raymond was different. He was nothing like their father or their stepfather. She knew it was also true that she had been miserable since she and Raymond had been apart.

She decided to take a chance and give Raymond a call. She called the office and was told that he’d taken a few days off and that she could probably find him at home. She called his apartment. The machine informed her that he wasn’t available. So she decided to drive over to his apartment.

Chapter Twenty-seven

The overcast sky appeared hazy on the horizon. It had been a hot summer day and had promised to be an even hotter night. The still sticky air hung heavy as Hope made her way out of the city. Closely followed by thousands of commuters, she watched as the sun sunk lower on the horizon.

It was late afternoon by the time Hope finally left Manhattan. The city skyline vanished in her rearview mirror. The road ahead inched slowly with traffic congestion. She glanced up and adjusted the rear view mirror to see how far she’d come. Then she looked ahead to her future somewhere in Connecticut.

Her mind buzzed with the doorman Jimmy’s remark.

She had just arrived at Raymond’s apartment when she saw Jimmy in the lobby. “He’s gone to Haven,” he told her. Hope immediately called Louise, who explained that Haven House was the name of Raymond’s home in Connecticut. Fifteen minutes later, she was on her way.

Hope followed the GPS directions until it became clear that she was lost. She’d been traveling all day—first, driving nearly five hours straight from Virginia and now another hour into this trip. Oddly enough, she wasn’t at all tired. She was nervous.