Page 27 of Island Girl

“What?”

Paula smiled, though there was no humor in it. “It's what my ex-husband used to call it. Some people see someone hurting and they can't walk away. They have to try to fix it, even when there's nothing they can do.” She shook her head. “I used to be like that. Before Ray taught me that some things can't be fixed by wanting them to be.”

Justin thought about Merritt, about the way she watched Ray from across the room. The quiet determination in her eyes. “She's not pushy about it. She hasn't tried to approach him or force a conversation. She just…notices him.”

“That might be worse.”

“How so?”

“Because if she pushed, Ray would shut her out. He'd walk away and that would be the end of it. But if she's patient, if she just keeps being present without demanding anything…” Paula trailed off, staring at the water glass. “That's how you get under his defenses. Slowly. Without him realizing it's happening.”

The back door opened and footsteps sounded on the stairs. Justin straightened. “That's her.”

Merritt appeared a moment later, her hair still damp from a shower, wearing jeans and a soft gray T-shirt. She smiled when she saw Justin, then noticed Paula and tilted her head with curiosity.

“Merritt, this is Paula Maguire,” Justin said. “She's a regular. Comes in on Tuesday afternoons usually, but she had the day off today.”

He watched Merritt's face as she processed the last name. Saw the flicker of recognition. Maguire. The same as Ray.

“Nice to meet you.” Merritt extended her hand, her voice warm but careful. “Can I get you anything? A glass of wine, maybe?”

“Water's fine for now.” Paula shook her hand, holding it a beat longer than necessary, studying Merritt's face with those sharp eyes. “Justin tells me you're new to the island.”

“About two weeks. I came down from Maine.”

“That's a long way. What brought you here?”

Merritt glanced at Justin, as if checking whether this was a normal conversation or something more. He kept his expression neutral, letting her navigate it herself.

“I needed a change,” Merritt said. “I'd visited the islands before, last year, and something about the place stayed with me. When my mother passed, I decided it was time to come back.”

“I'm sorry about your mother.”

“Thank you.” Merritt's voice softened. “It was hard. But I am grateful for the time I had with her.”

Paula nodded, something shifting in her expression. Recognition, maybe. Or understanding. “Caregiving changes you. You give so much of yourself, and when it's over, you don't always know who you are anymore.”

Merritt went still. Justin watched her take in Paula's words, the way they landed somewhere deep.

“That's exactly it,” Merritt said quietly. “I'm still figuring out who I am without her.”

Paula picked up her water glass and took a slow sip, her eyes never leaving Merritt's face. Justin couldn't tell what she was thinking. She had the same stillness Ray did, that ability to watch without revealing anything.

“Justin says you're good at the job,” Paula said finally. “That you notice things. Pay attention to people.”

“I try to.”

“Do you always try to help the ones who seem lost?”

The question hung in the air. Merritt blinked, caught off guard. Justin saw her glance toward the corner where Ray usually sat, empty now in the afternoon light.

“I don't know what you mean,” Merritt said, but her voice wavered slightly.

Paula smiled, gentle this time. “I think you do.” She set down her glass and stood up from the bar stool. “I'm not here to lecture you, Merritt. I just wanted to meet you. Justin speaks highly of you, and I trust his judgment.”

“But?”

“No but. Just an observation.” Paula pulled a few bills from her purse and set them on the bar, even though she'd only had water. “Some people carry weights that aren't meant to be lifted by others. No matter how strong you are, no matter how much you want to help. Some burdens can only be set down by the person carrying them.”