fourteen

Jack had done his research. He knew there wasn't even a clinic on the island. The medical infrastructure consisted of a single office, located on Island Ave, run by a respectable sixty-eight-year-old doctor who had been practicing there for twenty years and had no plans to retire.

Crossing her arms, Claire gave Jack a triumphant look and asked:

"So? Satisfied?"

"I'm glad to see you are. As for me, I still see a number of shortcomings in your system."

Despite the flash of irritation on her face, he continued:

"What if several crimes happen at the same time? What if there's a car crash and six people are injured? What if someone has a heart attack while the paramedics are out fishing at sea? What if—"

"What if the sky falls on our heads?" she cut in, giving him an exasperated glare. "Be reasonable, Jack! No town can plan for every eventuality. No system is flawless. Surely you know that. No one can anticipate every crisis."

At that moment, she leaned closer to him, and a citrusy fragrance filled Jack's lungs. At the same time, he noticed her blouse was quite... open.

A completely inappropriate feeling swept over him. Had her blouse been unbuttoned like that the whole time? Did Claire even realize how close she was to him? So close that her zesty perfume had soaked into his skin, and he could feel her warm breath on his cheek...

Snapping himself out of it, he looked up and tried to focus on what Claire was saying. Not on the utterly distracting mouth saying it…

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

He jumped, pride vanishing, and blurted out:

"Has anyone ever told you that you're se—"

"Oh no!" she gasped. "Don't go there!"

"Excuse me?"

"Don't play dumb. I know exactly what you were about to say. That I'm attractive when I'm angry!"

"Not at all!" Jack lied with conviction. "I was going to say you're se...riously defensive when it comes to your island."

Claire's skeptical look told him she'd seen right through him. Trying to recover, he added:

"Well, now I know how you'd react if I did try to compliment you."

"That wasn't a compliment. It was a tired, sexist cliché—and beneath you."

So, what—he couldn't even tell a woman she was attractive anymore? Jack rubbed his neck, bewildered. When had he lost touch with half the population? Or was that the mystery here? What a shame. He was just starting to feel good in her company…

Jack still had a few complaints left to voice. But deciding it was more diplomatic to put his notepad away, he declared:

"Let's leave it at that for today."

"As you wish."

"Claire, are you there?"

She turned to face a very slim, blonde young woman.

"Helen!" Claire exclaimed.

"Gail said I'd find you here. Um… Are you busy?"

"No, no, I was just finishing up. Helen, this is Jack Hogan. Jack, meet Helen Sweeney. She handles the island's shipping logistics."

The newcomer immediately extended her hand and said with enthusiasm, before turning back to Claire:

"Have you heard the news? The Dolphin Enclosure is reopening!"

Her voice trembled with excitement as she went on:

"Can you imagine the commercial potential this has for us? I heard Adelson sent a representative…"

She suddenly paused and, turning to Jack, smiled:

"I bet that's you!"

Relieved to finally meet someone who was happy about his arrival on the island, Jack returned her smile.

"Guilty as charged."

"I'll let you two get acquainted," said Claire. "I've got work to do."

As she was about to leave the library, Jack called after her:

"Claire… Don't forget to pencil me in for another meeting. I don't think we're quite done yet, you and I."

"I'm fully booked, Jack," she warned, disappearing without a backward glance.

Jack watched her go, thoughtful, before turning back to Helen.

"Well then, tell me about your charming island's shipping logistics."

---

Claire stopped to catch her breath. Why was she winded when she hadn't done anything physical? Leaning against the wall, she replayed her conversation with Jack. The man had a way of knocking the wind out of people! She still hadn't recovered from his nerve. He was going to tell her she was attractive. No man had said that to her since Roman.

Despite herself, she blushed—even though she knew she should've been outraged by such a blatantly macho move. Then again, wasn't it better that he'd gone with that word… instead of something less flattering? He could have called her stubborn, or irrational. Or worse... a dreamer.

Gathering her thoughts, Claire made her way back to her office, where Chise and her aunt were waiting for her.

"Hi, Mom. Where's Jack?"

"Our meeting's over, Chise. He's free to do as he pleases. I'm not supposed to track his every move."

Was it her imagination, or did her daughter look disappointed by that answer? Not eager to dwell on it, Claire changed the subject.

"What's going on, Aunt Petula?"

"Her ankle's hurting," Chise answered for her.

"Sit down!" said Claire. "Larry made you do overtime again?"

"Oh, it's nothing! Fridays bring good tips," she replied, setting down a large colorful bag on the desk.

"What are you carrying in there?" Claire asked.

"My usual gear," Petula answered while rubbing her ankle. "My crystal earrings, some stones, a few shells Curtis brought me from the Dolphin Enclosure in exchange for sleeping in my yard… Oh! My ankle is killing me…"

She shot a glance at Chise and added:

"Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't just give up my healing business. My potions don't even work on me."

"Well, I think you should stop playing fence for Curtis!" Claire said, eyeing her aunt's bag. "Especially when he's stealing things from the Dolphin Enclosure."

"Oh come on, it's just junk!" Petula retorted.

At that moment, she pulled a food container out of her bag, releasing a delicious aroma of basil and butter throughout Claire's office.

"What's that?" Claire asked, intrigued.

"Shrimp," said Petula. "I ran into Helen in town. She's going to the Lionheart tonight to see a singer. Finn will be alone. I figured he'd like a little something from the Blue Shore."

Claire was allergic to shellfish, so she didn't envy Finn's dinner. But the smell reminded her of how hungry she was. Apart from that lemon tart, she hadn't eaten anything since… those awful store-bought donuts Jack had tried to offer her again on the drive back, after dropping off Curtis downtown.