Occasionally Emily left Lizzy with Agnes while she went and bought provisions, but otherwise she kept the child close.
“Do you think I’m overprotective?”
Lizzy had fallen asleep on the sofa after an exhausting morning with Cocoa, and Agnes and Emily were drinking iced tea in the light-filled living room.
“I think you had a bad experience, and you haven’t had to rebuild your confidence.” Agnes was sorting through another box of children’s books for Lizzy. “You lived a life that didn’t include the sea or young children, so you didn’t have a reason to challenge your fear or push yourself out of your comfort zone. But you will, now you’re living here. You can’t live on Puffin Island and ignore the sea. It’s essential to island life. It feeds us, and it keeps us connected to the mainland.”
“I think I preferred the mainland. There was no chance of drowning in Manhattan, and I never went near the Hudson.”
“But Manhattan has other dangers.”
Emily sipped her tea. “I didn’t really think about them.”
“That’s because we’re all a product of our experiences. Someone who had a bad experience in a city might think differently.”
“Do you think I can change?”
“You already are. Look where you’re sitting.” Agnes added another book to the pile. “A week ago you sat with your back to the window, but now you’re in my favorite spot on the window seat, looking at the boats on the water. It’s a pretty sight, isn’t it?”
Emily turned her head. “There’s glass between me and the water.”
“But you’re looking at it. That’s progress. And I’ve made progress, too. Lizzy and I have cleared four boxes of books this week.”
“Most of them are now in Castaway Cottage. Thank you. It’s generous of you. And I love books.” Books were almost all she’d brought with her from her old life. Old battered copies and first editions she’d collected over the years. “Whenever I had something to celebrate, I bought a book.”
“I need to reduce all the clutter, but I’m not good at parting with anything.” Agnes reached for another box. “This is something else I can’t bring myself to clear out.”
“What is it?”
“All of Ryan’s stories. Of course, a lot of it is online, but I’m not good with the internet, so he used to send me the paper versions.” She opened the box, and Emily saw neatly sorted stacks of newspaper clippings.
“There were stories about him in the press?”
“He wasn’t the subject of the story, he wrote the story. He didn’t tell you that? He’s so modest. He won a Pulitzer Prize, you know, for news reporting.”
No, she didn’t know. Emily’s mouth dried. “Are you saying he’s a journalist?”
“Was.” Agnes leafed through the clippings, pride on her face. “The best. He had a way of getting to the emotion of a story. He’s a good listener. People tell him things. Things they would never tell other people.”
I’m not afraid of emotions.
Emily stood up, feeling as if she were sleepwalking. She’d told him things. Things she’d never told other people. She’d done things with him she hadn’t done with anyone else. “Would you look after Lizzy for a while? There’s something I need to do.”
“Of course.” Agnes glanced up from her news clippings. “She’s perfectly safe here with me.”
It took Emily less than five minutes to walk the short distance to the Ocean Club.
She strode through the door and into the crowded Bar and Grill where Kirsti was circulating.
“Hi, Emily.” Kirsti gave her a friendly smile. “No Lizzy today?”
“She’s with Agnes.” Her voice sounded robotic. “I need to see Ryan.”
“Of course you do.” Kirsti behaved as if Emily’s unplanned visit was the most natural thing in the world. “He’s in his office. He’s had a hell of a morning, so I know he’s going to be pleased to see you.”
No, Emily thought grimly as she walked to the back of the Ocean Club. He most definitely wouldn’t be.
Ryan’s office faced the water, and he was on the phone with his feet on the desk, when she walked in.