Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Barbara looked at the bag in my hand. “You’re not in a rush to get home right now, right?”
I stared down at the bag myself—which looked like it held more than I’d ordered—and then back at her. The sparkle in her eyes said she was up to something. The crazy part of me that wasn’t exhausted was kind of curious to hear what she had to say.
“I’m not in a rush to get anywhere, no. Just home.”
“Oh good!” she said with a clap of her hands. “Adelaide isn’t feeling well, and I packed a duplicate of your order. Would you mind stopping by the house and dropping it off for her?”
Worry that I hadn’t felt in a long time hit me right in the middle of my chest. “She texted me and said she wasn’t feeling great, but she thought she was simply tired. Is it more than that?”
“She said she was congested and that it was probably allergies, but she didn’t look so good when I left this morning. Palmer stopped by earlier and said she had a fever. I know it’s summer, but I think she has the flu or some kind of virus.”
I was suddenly flooded with guilt that I had been planning on heading home instead of checking on Addie.
“A fever? She didn’t tell me that when I texted her this morning. I tried calling her after work, and it went to voicemail. I figured she might be sleeping.”
Barbara shrugged. “She most likely was. You’ll be a dear and drop that off for her? She’s home…all alone.”
I had to force myself not to smile. If there was one thing Barbara Bradley wasn’t, it was subtle.
“Not a problem. I’ll take it over to her right now.”
Barbara gave me a hug. “I better get back to the kitchen. Give Adelaide a hug and check her temperature for me. She may be a nurse, but she’s a terrible patient.”
“Will do,” I replied, taking a quick glance around the restaurant. No one was really paying any attention to the conversation, but I couldn’t help but note who was there. With my luck, my innocent errand for Barbara would end up in Thursday’s paper.
Ten minutes later, I pulled up and parked in front of the Bradley home. Adelaide’s parents’ house was once owned by a very successful ship captain. Originally born in London, he’d made his fortune by hauling and selling goods all over the world. He’d ended up in Seaside after falling in love with the daughter of another sea captain.
Legend had it he’d built her this house with a widow’s walk so she could look at his ship as he sailed in and out of the harbor. The sad part of the story was that he’d died sailing into the harbor during a storm in the middle of winter. It was said that his wife had stood on the widow’s walk and watched his ship go down. Now the house is rumored to be haunted by her ghost. Adelaide said she never experienced anything weird, but Palmer swore she’d seen the widow before.
I knocked on the door and waited. When Adelaide didn’t answer, I rang the doorbell. I heard footsteps approaching right before the door opened.
I was positive my eyes were as wide as saucers as I stared down at Adelaide. Her hair was pulled up and piled on her head with strands falling out everywhere, and she was dressed in what looked like her brother’s sweatshirt and shorts. “You look…”
I let my voice trail off when she held up a hand. “Don’t say it, please. I don’t need to hear that I look as horrible as I feel.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I think I have the flu.”
“Wow, this late in the season?”
Turning on her heels, she made her way through the entry hall and into the family room, where she fell onto the sofa and let out a long moan. “I feel like shit. I haven’t felt this bad in I don’t know how long. Who gets the flu in July?”
I placed the bag of food on the coffee table and began to take everything out. “Well, I hope you’re hungry anyway. I brought us something to eat.”
She rolled over and looked at the food I was spreading out on the table. Forcing herself to sit up, she licked her lips. Even sick, she looked fucking adorable. Her face was pale, and I was pretty sure she had dried drool on her cheek, but damn if she still wasn’t the cutest thing ever.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t find out how sick I was. I didn’t want you to come over and catch anything,” she stated as I handed her a bottle of water that I’d unpacked. She took it and thanked me.
“Your mom told me. I got off from my shift and wasn’t in the mood to cook, so I ordered food to-go at the Grill. Your mom brought it out and asked if I would be so kind as to bring you your order.”