Page 25 of Island Girl

Nothing had changed. Until now.

Justin took a sip of his coffee and stared at Paula's name on his phone screen.

Was Merritt really a threat? She hadn't done anything, except watch and ask questions. She was curious, not aggressive, and she didn’t push.

But he was convinced that was enough to start trouble.

Justin had seen it happen once, about a year ago. A woman at the bar, a tourist, had tried to talk to Ray. She'd been friendly, well-meaning. She'd asked him if he wanted company, if he was okay sitting alone. Ray had stood up so fast his chair fell over. He hadn't said anything, just looked at her with those dead eyes, and the woman had backed away, frightened. Ray had left and didn't come back for a week.

That was the closest Justin had seen him to losing control. And it had been over something small. Just a question. Just someone trying to be kind.

Merritt was kind too. But she was also persistent. He could see it in her eyes, the way she kept circling back to Ray in conversation. She wanted to understand him. She wanted to help.

And that was dangerous.

He pressed the call button before he could talk himself out of it.

Paula answered on the third ring. “Justin. Everything okay?”

“Yeah. Everything's fine. Ray's fine.” He paused. “I just wanted to give you a heads-up about something.”

“I'm listening.”

He told her about Merritt. The new bartender. The way she watched Ray. The questions she asked. The look in her eyes that said she wasn't going to let this go.

Paula was quiet for a long moment. “Has she approached him?”

“No. Not yet. She respects the boundaries I've set. But I can tell she wants to.”

“And Ray? Has he noticed her?”

Justin hesitated. He thought about that moment a few nights ago, when Ray had paused on his way out and glanced at Merritt. That flicker of something in his eyes.

“Maybe,” he said. “I'm not sure. He looked at her the other night. Just for a second. It might have been nothing.”

“Ray doesn't look at anyone.”

“I know.”

Another silence. Justin could hear Paula breathing, processing. When she spoke again, her voice was careful.

“What's she like? This Merritt?”

“She's good. Smart, hardworking. The regulars love her.” He paused, trying to find the right words. “She's a caregiver. Spent years taking care of her sick mother. I think she sees something in Ray that reminds her of that. Someone who needs help.”

“And she thinks she can give it.”

“I think she wants to try.”

Paula sighed. “People always want to try. They don't understand that some things can't be fixed by good intentions.”

“I know. That's why I'm calling.”

“What do you want me to do?”

Justin had thought about this. “I think you should come by. Meet her. Talk to her. Not to scare her off, but to help her understand. What Ray's been through. Why he needs to be left alone.”

“You want me to tell her about him?”