Chapter 4

Maeve’s POV

“Maeve, when did you arrive?” a plump-looking lady with brown wavy hair, whom I am guessing to be Wanda, greeted me with a bubbly smile.

Coughing away the shock, I struggled to find my words. “H..hi…I was just about to press the doorbell.”

“Oh, welcome. I am Wanda, we spoke a few times.”

“Nice to meet you, Miss Wanda.”

She waved a dismissive hand chuckling, “Please call me, Wanda. I am sure you are very tired, the journey was pretty long. Come on, let me take you to your space.” She said, helping with one of my bags.

I expected she would open the door she just came out of, instead she walked towards a sandy path with steps that go down the cliff through palm trees. Now my heart seems to be residing in my mouth, yet I couldn’t summon the courage to ask where we are headed just in case I might be overreacting. We eventually came to a clearing after what seemed like a three-minute walk from the main house. A smaller bungalow that sits at the bottom where the cliff meets the beach.

“Look at that.” Wanda pointed at the cove directly below, “I love this part of the estate the most. Because this property is at the base of the cliff, no one tends to come here. It feels like you have a private beach all to yourself. Isn’t it beautiful?” she exhaled loudly, staring at the sight like someone in love. I tried not to look too uninterested when she eventually got a grip on herself and made for the door.

I couldn’t deny that I was impressed when she opened the door, and we were ushered in by the ambiance of the house. It had a sea-air smell with warm wood. The living room felt like those vacation cabins in a travel magazine; the low wooden ceiling had a fan spinning slowly above us, and the two couches had flowery quilts spread on them. A corner of the room has a wooden coffee table with books on it. Big sliding doors lead to the deck, a small open kitchen with open wood shelves. I can imagine baking during my free time and taking nice pictures on the deck. It already feels like I am on vacation just being here.

“This is a three bedroom bungalow. You can have the master bedroom which has a bathroom already and there is a shared one here for the other rooms. The pantry has everything you might need from snacks to groceries. I had asked about your preferences from PT Cooper since he mentioned you two were close. Pardon me if that seems intrusive. I didn’t want to come off as having an agenda. But I had to because it is hard shopping for basics around here daily. Before going down to town you have to have a list that way you don’t feel stressed. But I am sure you will get around just fine.” she assured.

I held up a thin smile, “Thank you, Wanda.”

“Let's hope it's all to your liking. There is a car for you at the front of the main house that you can use to get around and if biking is your thing, there are bicycles to choose from. Sometimes Mr Reeve might need things from the town and I wouldn’t be here to help with those. So you can get to it. There is a work phone on the coffee table, he will always reach out to you through that, ensure you have it with you always. He usually wakes up at 7 am everyday. A housekeeper and chef come in every day and make sure to leave by 7 pm.”

“Do they arrive at the same time he wakes up too?”

“No, they have to clock in before he wakes up. Mr Reeve does not like it when people get in his face too much.”

“Will he like me getting in his face then?” I said, already feeling anxious.

To my surprise, Wanda placed a hand on my shoulder, her gaze softening. “I know you must have heard the unpleasant things being said about him in the city. But you came highly recommended, I am hoping that you will truly work your charm on him. He needs physical therapy desperately but stubbornly refuses to cooperate with anyone.”

“If that is the case, why do you keep trying?”

“Because he has to get back to his feet for things to go smoothly not just for him but for the many people who look to him to survive. So we are counting on you PT Maeve.”

I couldn’t bring myself to smile at her or give a reassuring response. I only bobbed my head awkwardly.

She clapped her hands, startling me. “Oh, sorry about that. I just got excited about getting to the final part. I would have said you should rest and have a nice bath before coming out. But it is important we meet Mr Reeve before dinnertime.”

“Oh, alright. I would like that too.” I replied wanting to know if I could still make it back to the harbor just in time for the leaving ferry.

Wanda paused abruptly when she reached for the doorknob, turning to me with a strange expression. “Listen, I know this might sound quite unreasonable of me and this meeting might give a first impression that might make you rethink your decision. Please handle it with an open mind. You are our last resort.”

I bobbed my head, swallowing the dry spittle in my mouth. “I guess, I could try.”

“Thank you.” She beamed, stepping out of the house.

How bad can it be? If I can deal with the lady in room 113, this might be a piece of cake.

“I hope you won’t mind me getting nosy,” I said to Wanda just as we walked back up the stairs. She gave me a reassuring nod to continue. “Why is there a main house and another bungalow? Did your boss have the larger house built because this one doesn’t suit his taste?”

Wanda chuckled, “Not exactly. This estate was actually purchased like this and it was the best offer as it seemed perfect for the kind of solace the boss wants. The initial owners of the house had lived in that bungalow during their early years. When the family expanded, they built the bigger house. However, the parents died and the children saw no reason to keep coming back to the island when they could afford many others. I saw the offer and initiated it to the boss and he didn’t hesitate to buy it.”

“I still think the smaller house is perfect.”

“Not really. The main house has a large swimming pool. A relaxing backyard that can host an intimate party. A kitchen that will wow you. Believe me, it is worth it.” She grinned, punching the house code in before pushing the door open. “I will have the door code sent to you,” Wanda said in a whisper.

My brows creased at the sudden change in her voice. Stepping in, I realized Wanda wasn’t exaggerating. The main house is called that for a reason. The space is massive. Just the dining area will accommodate twelve people comfortably, it made me wonder what the space of the kitchen might be like. One thing that I noticed about the living room is that there is less furniture around. Wanda showed me around and I saw the sliding door that leads to the relaxing deck alongside the pool. I squinted my eyes when I noticed the familiar building just in the sightline of the deck.

“Oh, that’s the bungalow you will be staying in. When you sit out to relax, you can wave up here and be seen.”

I hid my thoughts. I would rather not have anyone waving at me.

“I should go get Mr Reeve.” Wanda snapped out of her own thoughts.

“No need for that.” A deep quiet voice rumbled behind us.

I turned sharply, trying to maintain my most professional expression, but it all came tumbling down when our eyes met. A gasp escaped my lips as I staggered backwards. I would never have imagined seeing him in such a position. My eyes lingered on his unmoving legs, they almost seemed lifeless.

A long heavy silence settled between us as our eyes held each other. “C.. Carter?” I stuttered in a whimper, when it seemed like my tongue untwisted itself.