Page 31 of Sea Breezes at The Beach House Hotel

CHAPTER TEN

The next morning, after a quick breakfast, the three of us took an Uber to the hospital, anxious to see Clint.

We loaded my car, still parked in a parking garage, with our luggage, and then headed inside to see Clint.

Catching sight of us, Clint’s face twisted with emotion.

Nell rushed to him and awkwardly threw her arms around him, careful not to hurt him.

After she pulled away, Vaughn and I took turns greeting him.

“We’re just relieved you’re going to be all right. You gave me a scare, buddy,” said Vaughn.

I kissed Clint on the cheek. “You’ve had a bad break. I’m sorry. It’s not a pun. As Vaughn said, we’re glad you’re going to be all right.”

Clint grimaced. “It hurts like hell. But I’ve got to get back to work.”

Dr. Taunton came into the room. “I heard that. And I’m afraid you’re going to have to take some time off to begin the healing process properly. It will be several weeks before you can begin physical therapy in earnest, but someone from that department will meet with you this morning to review some routines with you. We want to keep you healthy and on the road to recovery.”

Clint shook his head. “I was supposed to go back to D. C. this morning.” He looked at Nell. “You’ll have to call Claudine and tell her what happened. I’ll talk to her after I get to Sabal.”

“No problem,” said Nell. “Where’s your phone?”

“I’ve got it,” said Vaughn. He handed it to her.

Nell went out into the hall to call Claudine.

Wanting to be sure she’d be fine, I followed her.

Nell punched in the number and waited.

I watched her face as her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed with color. “No, this isn’t Clint. This is Nell, his wife. I’m calling to say that Clint has been involved in an accident and is in the hospital in Tampa with two broken arms. He won’t be able to make the flight to D. C. today. He’ll call you in a day or two to provide more details.”

Nell listened and then said in a firm voice, “No, flying to Tampa to see him isn’t necessary. As I said, he’ll be in touch as soon as he’s able. Goodbye.”

After Nell ended the call, she stood a moment, clutching the phone. She looked at me and said, “Claudine is like a viper wrapped around him. She wanted to fly to Tampa to see him, ‘the poor baby’. I didn’t tell her we were leaving for Sabal as soon as possible.”

“I think you’re wise to be careful with her,” I said, unwilling to tell Nell how unhappy I was seeing Clint with Claudine. She’d attached herself to Clint, taking his arm and smiling up at him. It was clear she wanted more than a professional relationship with him.

A therapist from a team working with the Orthopedic Unit appeared, ending our conversation. Nell followed her inside the room to learn what she had to say.

Vaughn came into the hallway. “Let’s leave for the boat as soon as we can.”

I went to say goodbye to Nell and Clint and handed the keys to my car to Nell. “Dad and I are headed to the boat. We’re going to be sailing her back to Sabal. We’ll stay close to shore so we can receive phone calls.”

“Thanks. As soon as they allow Clint to leave, I’ll drive him home,” said Nell. “He’s anxious to be out of the hospital.”

I hugged Nell and waved to Clint, who was talking with the therapist.

Vaughn and I took an Uber back to the boat.

After attending to business with the harbor master and checking in with the Coast Guard contact, Vaughn and I boarded the boat and made sure we had everything we needed. Vaughn bought some ice and snacks. But with food left over from yesterday’s sail, we didn’t need much.

Vaughn got behind the wheel, started the engine, and I tossed the deck lines onto the boat and climbed aboard.

As we motored out to where we could set sail, I sighed with relief that no damage had been done to the boat. Zephyr was Vaughn’s pride and joy, and even though the idea that she’d always be part of the accident with Clint was chilling, we wanted to keep her for a long time.

When we were far enough away from the harbor to have clear sailing, Vaughn asked me to take the wheel while he hoisted the mainsail, then raised the jib.