Butterfly Cove

The new deputy sheriff.

It still sounded strange to Rafe.

After quick assurances that they would drop by the new yarn shop for lessons with Olivia, the nurses left. Rafe sat down next to the bed and began piling snacks on her tray.

“What’s all this?”

“Lemon snack cake. Chocolate cupcakes. Corn chips. Coke. I figured I’d cover all the bases.”

Olivia laughed and the sound broke over Rafe like a cool rain after a parched summer. He hadn’t realized how much he had missed that laugh.

“You expect me to eat all that?”

“Not immediately. But given the reputation of hospital food, I thought you should stock up.”

Olivia reached for the cupcakes, then stopped with a frown. They had fitted her with a temporary brace, which made using her hand very difficult. “I hate being helpless,” she muttered.

Rafe opened the pastry and set it on the plate in front of her. “It’s only temporary. Have at it.”

“Only if you eat half.”

Rafe shook his head. “It’s for you. All of it.”

“Either we share or I’m not having any.” Her mouth set in a line, and Rafe smiled, remembering how stubborn she could be. “Fine. Half and half. So you’ll be giving lessons at the Harbor House when it opens?”

“As long as enough people are interested.”

“You have three students lined up already. Those nurses were ready to sign up right now.”

“The nurses that were here? Oh, they were nice, but they didn’t come here to learn about knitting.”

“No? It looked that way to me.”

Olivia studied his face and smiled slowly. “You really don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?” Rafe didn’t have a clue what she was talking about.

“They came here to see you. Word is out that Rafe Russo is back on the island. They came here to check you out.”

Rafe ran a hand over his neck. “That’s crazy.” He stood up, feeling uncomfortable as he paced the room.

“Not at all.” Olivia tilted her head. “You’re a high-profile topic, Rafe. You always will be. You stir up strong feelings, whether you want to or not.” She started to say something else, then looked away.

Rafe wanted to ask her what it was.

But her face had filled with color again and he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. “Can I get you anything else before I go?”

She shook her head stiffly.

Rafe wondered what he had done to take the joy out of her face.

“Are you sure? I can stay here until one of your friends comes.”

“There’s no need,” she said quickly. “You probably have a lot of things to do. I don’t want to keep you. It was...nice of you to come by, though.”

Rafe hated this strained formality in her voice. He hated the restless way her good hand picked at the plastic wrapper on her tray.

Most of all, he hated the thought that he had once again done something to hurt her.

* * *

THE CLINIC STAYED busy throughout the night following the storm. Rafe helped out when extra stretchers had to be brought inside and an emergency generator needed to be carried up from the basement. As the night passed, he made occasional trips downstairs for coffee or sandwiches. But mostly he sat in the chair beside Olivia’s bed, watching her sleep.

Thinking about the past and the ways it could tangle up the future.

During that long night Olivia woke twice, staring around her in confusion until Rafe rested a hand on hers.

Each time she sighed and slid back to sleep as if his touch had assured her that everything would be fine.

* * *

WHEN OLIVIA AWOKE around 6:00 a.m, she stared up anxiously. Where was she? And why did her shoulder ache as if it had been hammered?

The storm.

The accident.

Blinking, she glanced across the bed and saw a tall man sitting in the chair nearby. She knew that lean face instantly. So Rafe was still here. It hadn’t been a dream fueled by the medicine they were giving her for her shoulder.

She swallowed hard, unable to take her eyes off his face.

“Hey. You’re awake.”

“You stayed here all night?”

He nodded. “Jilly called you and wanted you to call her this morning. I told her what had happened.”

“I feel strange. Restless. Medicated.”

“How about your shoulder?”

“It’s throbbing, but nothing terrible. Not like in the storm.” She closed her eyes at the memory.

Rafe stood up slowly, looking uncomfortable. “They’ll take good care of you. I don’t want to bother you. I’d better go.”

Olivia hated how much she wanted him to stay.

She glanced up at a knock on the door. “More nurses coming to check out the new deputy? News really does travel fast. Come in,” she called.