31

The sunlight through a broken blind was blazing a trail across Leo’s face. He groaned as he blinked his eyes open, and the sun left him momentarily blinded, unsure of where he was. Throwing off the sheet, he stumbled down the hallway to the bathroom, registering the cold emanating from the stone floor, and recalling his trip via ferry to Tranquility and the events of the night before. He groaned, splashing some cold water on his face, and decided breakfast was the top priority. 

In the kitchen of his living quarters, Leo quickly browsed the different cabinets and refrigerator. Someone, most likely Miss Isabelle, had stocked it with things for him to eat. The abundance of food was impressive, given how small the grocery store on the island was. He grabbed a granola bar and an apple, and drank a few mug’s worth of water from the tap, figuring it was a decent way to start the day.

Slipping on an old t-shirt and sweatpants he found in the closet, Leo stepped out into the main street, and greeted a few of the townsfolk who were milling about. He turned uphill and began jogging slowly, picking up speed gradually. He took different trails off of the cobblestone road, and found himself winding around to the side of the island where the O’Rourke mansion was. He still hadn’t figured out which paths would take him out to the old lighthouse but he figured that he would keep exploring. 

As he neared the top of the hill, he saw two figures with fishing rods making their way toward him. David and Johnny were dressed like they didn’t mind getting a little dirty, or if necessary, wet. They broke into broad grins at the sight of Leo, and he came to a stop in the path. 

“You survived your first night!” chortled David. “And the first Red explosion!”

“Or two,” Johnny added wryly. 

Leo nodded, unsure if he should make light of what had happened. “Yes, I slept pretty well,” he admitted. “What are you two hoping to catch?”

“We’re heading down to see if we can catch some flounder to cook for breakfast,” Johnny shared. “You want to come with us?”

Leo knew that he had a long day of meeting people ahead of him, but the invitation seemed genuine and friendly, and he was aimed at building up some early relationships at Tranquility. He figured that he could do worse than get to know two of the young adults on the island. He pushed his expectations for the morning aside, and followed the two young men down the stone steps toward the beach. He thought maybe some time with them would reveal the backstories of the drama he’d seen unfold the night before.

Halfway down the steps, David pointed toward something that seemed out of place, a giant pile of clothes on the lowest step. They couldn’t quite make it out yet, but their pace quickened. but their concern became real when they saw that an arm and a leg were evident. It was the body of a man. 

“That’s Red!” David cried out, and the three men began to descend faster and faster. Taking two steps at a time, David and Johnny greatly outdistanced themselves from Leo, whose stomach was caught up in his throat. 

“What do you think happened to him?” asked Johnny, as they moved down the stairs. “Did he fall the whole way down the steps?” David shrugged as he leaped forward. 

When they reached O’Rourke, he was breathing faint shallow breaths. His face was badly bruised, and the back of his head was matted with blood. He looked to be dressed in his pajamas, with a winter coat thrown on to keep away the cold. David tried to revive his uncle, rubbing his shoulder gently and speaking to him. 

Johnny looked down at the water. “The tide is rising, so I think we have to get him up to the house and let Dr. Steinman check him out. He’s a tough old guy, so I think he’ll survive our carrying him up. We’ll take turns supporting his head, while the other two carry his arms and legs.” 

With a plan in place, the three men hoisted O’Rourke up, fishing poles abandoned for the time being. They stayed attentive to his head, not wanting to cause him any more danger, but he moaned softly with each step, never opening his eyes. Leo prayed under his breath that O’Rourke would survive this, whatever had happened.

Back at the house, they passed Poseidon and Neptune lethargically sleeping by the fountain. The dogs barely lifted their heads as they made it back up the cliff, but as the men carried O’Rourke past, the dogs followed and began to whine pitifully. When the men lay O’Rourke down on the front step to get the front door opened, the dogs licked his face and he moaned.

The men carried O’Rourke up the grand staircase to his room, pulling off his wet clothes and pulling on a dry pair of pajamas. Leo worked on washing off his face and head with a towel from the linen closet, softly speaking to O’Rourke while the older man moaned. After a few moments, David went to look for Dr. Steinman, and Johnny went downstairs to the kitchen to look for ice to help reduce the bruising. 

As Leo cleaned up the blood, O’Rourke shuddered and opened his eyes, a look of fear and terror sweeping over him. He tried to speak, but no words came out of his mouth. Leo put a comforting hand on his shoulder and said, “David and Johnny have gone to get help.” He wasn’t sure what else to say, or if O’Rourke even knew he was speaking to him.

O’Rourke closed his eyes, but his breathing was still erratic. Leo washed the rest of the blood and grime from the sea off of his face, and watched the man intently. O’Rourke’s lips kept trying to form words, and nothing Leo did seemed to fully calm his twitching. Finally, the pattern became apparent, and Leo understood that he was saying, “Martha, I’m sorry,” over and over again. 

While puzzling the connection over in his mind, Leo was distracted by the arrival of Dr. Steinman who swept in with his medical bag. He shone a flashlight in each of O’Rourke’s eyes, and gently felt around O’Rourke’s back, arms, and legs. 

“Has he said anything?” Steinman asked Leo, zipping up his bag. 

“Not really, he couldn’t talk when he tried,” Leo answered. “He seems to be pretty out of it. I think he said something to Martha.”

“Well, he has all of the classic signs of a concussion, which can include memory loss,” Steinman explained. “It’s possible that he has a broken rib or two, but he’s stable at least. It wouldn’t surprise me if some longer standing issue, like his relationship with Martha, would be something his brain would lock onto.”

“What do you think happened?” Johnny asked, returning with the ice. 

“Based on the injuries I can see, he probably took a tumble down the steps,” said Steinman. “It’s hard to know exactly what caused the injuries. And we don’t have any X-ray capability on the island, so we’ll have to see how he’s doing in a day or two. If he doesn’t show signs of improvement, we’ll get Captain Benjamin to ferry him to the hospital. Right now, he just needs rest.”

David and Johnny waited expectantly at the door, clearly concerned for the safety of the old man. “What do we need to do for him?” David asked. “I know he’s not a huge fan of my life decisions, but he’s still my uncle and everything.”

“Someone should probably stay with him around the clock,” Steinman replied. “Carol can help, but we can get some other folks from town involved if need be. I need to know as soon as he’s able to communicate how he’s feeling.”

David shook his head. “He won’t like that if he wakes up and someone he doesn’t like is in the house. I’ll talk to Miss Isabelle, Johnny and I can take shifts, and Carol, too.”

Leo put up a hand and spoke. “I’m willing to help, as best I can. Just let me know what you decide and I’ll be there.”

David thanked Leo profusely and turned to fill Carol in, as she’d arrived later. She stood ringing her hands, tears rolling down her face as she asked David for details about O’Rourke’s injuries. Dr. Steinman excused himself to make rounds to a few of the homebound Tranquility residents, and assured them that he would return. For a few minutes, the remaining four people stood there silently, praying that O’Rourke would recover quickly and that his injuries would not jeopardize his long term health.

Recognizing that he was expected to interact with more townspeople that day, Leo left the three Tranquility residents to watch over O’Rourke. He patted the dogs on his way down the stairs, looking back to see them settle in outside of O”Rourke’s room. He figured that they would stand guard against any future malady, and let himself quietly out of the front door.  

32

Gillian stretched in the back of the little boat ferrying her back from the Princess Kay. As promised, when she had arrived at Main Street that morning, Captain Burchard had a crewman with a smaller craft waiting patiently for her on the dock. The crewman had spoken little, only pointing out the fresh fruit juice and pastry that the captain had thoughtfully packaged for her brief jaunt out to the cruise ship. Gillian had looked delightedly at the food before remembering what had happened the last time she ate before a boat ride. 

Walking around the spacious interior of the cruise ship, Gillian had seen just how much pride Burchard took in the Princess Kay. When she asked about amenities, he was happy to show her the giant arcade, the ballroom for evening dances, and the full service gymnasium. He had shown her the inside of a passenger’s room and pointed out the two pools and three dining facilities. It was overwhelming to Gillian, but she found herself feeling claustrophobic when she was not out walking around on the deck. 

Glancing at the crewman who was piloting her return taxi over to Tranquility, Gillian considered asking him what he thought of Burchard. The captain had seemed more at ease on his own ship, and completely in control. Compared to the night before, the man had seemed like a completely different person. Gillian wondered what the two men could have discussed that would have set him off like that. 

While Burchard was waiting with Gillian for the return ride, another crew member had run up and tried to start a conversation with the captain about the meeting that the leadership team had the night before. Burchard had turned quickly to look at Gillian and then tried to hush the man, an overgrown package of muscles and more muscles. Gillian watched as the man had blundered ahead, much to Burchard’s consternation, snapping him out of whatever veneer of calm he had pasted on. Gillian was sure that this had been for her benefit, as he had asked her several times about where her article or report would be published. 

Smoothing back his hair, the captain had pulled the heavyset man aside and talked firmly in a whisper that kept Gillian from picking up all of the information. Her ears perked up when she heard “drugs” and “Tranquility,” but with the wind blowing on by, she couldn’t catch most of it. When the captain returned, Burchard was all apologies and formalities, reminding her of her open invitation to dinner onboard in the next few days. 

Now, looking back at the Princess Kay, Gillian wondered what could have set someone like Burchard on edge. She knew something wasn’t quite right but she would need more time to get to the bottom of it. Everyone on Tranquility had a story, and it seemed that the cruise ships only added to the levels of intrigue. 

33

The excitement of the morning was wearing off as Leo returned to town but the adrenaline still needed somewhere to go. His hands were shaking, and he slipped them into his pockets to make it less pronounced as he walked past others on the path. A few people moved around as he approached and he greeted them neighborly, but he kept to himself, absorbed in his thoughts. 

A rumble in his stomach reminded him that he hadn’t eaten much for breakfast and it was well past midmorning. A creature of habit, Leo decided he didn’t feel like trying somewhere new at the moment, with enough excitement in his day already. More exploration would have to wait while he filled his stomach with food he might regret later.

Stepping into the Ocean’s Spray, Leo found Gillian sitting at one of the two-seater tables, her laptop and phone pushed to one side, a stack of handwritten notes laid out in front of her. Her hair was less put together than the day before, and she had dark circles around her eyes shining through her makeup. She seemed to be puzzling over some of her notes, and she finally looked up when he plopped down into the chair across from her. Whatever mood she had been suffering from last night had left her, and her upbeat, put together vibe was in full effect. “Good morning, sunshine,” she said, cheerfully. “It’s a great day in the neighborhood. Maybe it’s time to change my shoes!”

“Um, sure,” Leo replied, staring at her blankly. 

“Mister Rogers? Sweater? Switching shoes?” Gillian responded, a bit turned off by his obliviousness. “Nevermind. What’s going on in your world?”

“Well, Red O’Rourke took quite a tumble this morning,” Leo responded, glad they were moving forward from the awkward greeting. While flagging down a waitress for a cup of coffee, he continued. “The doctor says he has a concussion, but he might not have broken anything. I was headed to the beach with David and Johnny to go fishing, and we discovered him. It’s good we did, because if the tide had risen before we got there, he might have drowned.”

Gillian had only been half listening but now she turned her full attention to Leo. “Wait, are you saying he fell? Or did someone do something to him?” Gillian said, reaching for a new piece of paper. “Red O’Rourke might be the most interesting person on this island, present company not included of course. If something were to happen to him, that could be devastating for the island’s reputation and financial wellbeing.”

Leo shook his head, chuckling. “I’m boring. There’s nothing to see here. I would assume Mr. O’Rourke fell, but I don’t know. His injuries seemed consistent with that, but he’s pretty out of it right now. What was your morning like?”

“I took a tour of the cruise ship with Captain Burchard,” Gillian replied. “Talk about boring. I wouldn’t want to ride around in one of those oversized floating cans.”

“Seriously?” Leo asked, surprised. “I thought everyone was into cruises.”

“Not this landlubber,” Gillian retorted. “Give me flat, dry earth any day.”

A different waitress arrived with Leo’s coffee and a plate of biscuits that she said were fresh out of the oven. Leo broke the bread up into bite-sized pieces, popping them into his mouth in between swigs of coffee. He blanched as the coffee burned a bit going down his throat, and realized he’d better slow down.

Gillian watched him eat for a moment, and then grabbed one of the biscuits for herself. “So I’m supposed to be finding out backstories for the annual migration, and you just got here, so you’re no help there. But what’s a guy like you doing on an island like this?”

“You heard Miss Isabelle, right? The old pastor left and they needed someone to fill the spot.”

“So what is it exactly you do?” Gillian responded. “I’d assume there’s a church service or two on Sundays, hanging out with some old ladies looking at pictures of cats, and healing the sick, right? What do you work, like on Sundays, and on call?”

“All in a day’s work,” Leo responded, his focus on the biscuits.

“Well, if you find out more about Red’s condition, let me know,” Gillian said, packing up her bag. “I’m going to go see if I can get a few more of these townspeople to tell me their stories. Someone has to want to talk!”

With that, Gillian was gone, and Leo sat back to watch the other people in the Ocean’s Spray. A few of them nodded to him, and one blue-haired lady came over to tell him that Miss Isabelle had been singing his praises already that morning. News sure travels fast here, he thought, a bemused smile pulling at his face. No one even really knows who I am yet!

A well-dressed tourist was arguing with the bartender at the bar that the Ocean’s Spray had to take credit cards or at least Apple Pay, to no avail. The tourist was getting louder and louder, and by now, several surrounding tables had turned to watch the show developing at the bar. Leo could see that the bartender was slowly losing his temper, so decided he’d pay the bartender directly, sliding across enough cash to cover his bill and gratuity, and the tourist’s bill, too. Nodding to the stunned tourist as he left, Leo figured it was time to explore more of the town before it became overwhelmed with tourists.

Outside in the sunshine, Leo walked to the dock to look out at the cruise ship he had seen yesterday. Now, another ship had joined it, and he could just make out people moving around the outdoor decks. He couldn’t imagine being stuffed in a traveling building like that, with no way to get to the ground, but he realized different people had different life expectations.

As he watched, the ferry came around the back of the island, with Captain Benjamin at the helm. This was clearly a cargo delivery, given the stacks of boxes piled high. Leo walked closer to the dock, and the first mate tossed one of the ropes to him. “Tie us off, would ya?” the sailor said. 

Leo did his best to tie the boat securely, but he noticed with some dismay that the sailor retied his knots after Leo stepped away. “No worries, man,” the first mate said, noticing Leo’s discomfort. “I’m Noah. I appreciate your help. Can’t have the boat floating off into the middle of the bay or something.”

“Sorry, Noah. I wouldn’t have made much of a Boy Scout,” Leo replied, chagrinned. 

“It’s all good,” Noah replied. “We’re grabbing something to eat and then we have a full load of tourists who want a ride this afternoon.” 

“It’s always something, isn’t it?” Leo said. “Hopefully they’ll all get where they’re going.”

Two teenagers emerged from behind the pile of boxes. They were glaring at each other, and Leo could see that one had a fistsized bruise on his left cheek. They started to jostle with each other as they headed toward the dock, and the captain stepped in, grabbing them each by the collar and keeping them separated. “You two have caused enough problems already!” he grumbled. “Keep this up, and you’ll end up back in juvie. This time they might just decide to keep you there!”

The boys muttered and stalked past Noah and Leo. Leo raised an eyebrow and Noah shared, “They’re two of the town teenagers, and they’ve been busted for graffiti, petty theft, disturbing the peace. We don’t have any actual law enforcement officers on the island, so if something comes up, we have to take them to the mainland. Those two can’t seem to stay out of their own way!”

“We had to bring them back today because of the weather. They’re kind of lucky I guess that they got an early reprieve,” added the first mate. “Their dad died awhile back and their poor mother has been trying so hard to make ends meet while also keeping these knuckleheads out of jail.”

Benjamin joined the conversation. “Today should be fine, but tomorrow and the day after aren’t looking too good. That storm is going to blow in and the ferry isn’t getting any younger. We might have to wait a day or two before we can come back after it blows through.”

The captain stalked off toward the Grille, an early morning adult beverage certainly calling his name. On the way, he’d have to escort the two young troublemakers back to their mother.

“He’s always negative,” said Noah. “I’ve never seen him miss more than a run at a time.” 

Leo left the two sailors arguing about the weather and sailing conditions, and headed to the grocery store. He noticed that Miss Isabelle had brought a batch of dry goods to the chapel kitchen, but he wanted milk for the cereal and some orange juice besides. 

Pushing his way through the door, Leo nodded to a few of the townspeople, and wandered around the store. It was funny to him that everything about the island was different, but the grocery store still lined up with produce and a bakery left to right to the frozen goods. He found the milk and orange juice, and grabbed a few candy bars for good measure. When he approached the front register, a tall older woman grinned and greeted him as he approached. 

“Father Leo, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes! Miss Isabelle told me you might show up in our store today,” she said, loud enough for everyone several aisles back to hear her. Her energy was more than he could handle, given the events of the morning already. 

“It’s just Leo, ma’am,” Leo choked out, as other customers turned to stare at him. 

“Well, I’m Della France, and this is Bill’s and my little grocery store in paradise,” she said. “Groceries are on us this time, Father Leo.”

Refusing to be argued with, Della bagged Leo’s items, and called her husband over to meet Leo, too. A bit dazed from all of the attention, Leo realized that he hadn’t changed his clothes since the morning run, and he’d now met half of the town dressed like someone who worked from home, covered in sweat and dirt. 

Walking back to the chapel, Leo made the mental note to remember that everyone was someone in Tranquility, and that they were bound to tell each other everything. He figured he’d have to tell Gillian about the Frances, because they were sure to give her the scoop she needed. 

Chapters 34-36 coming May 10!