by Force, Marie
“Move over.” That was the only warning she got before he nearly landed on her.
“Sorry about him,” Joe said when he slid in next to Mason. “We’re still working on his manners.”
“Manners are overrated,” Mac muttered.
“Work in progress,” Joe whispered loudly, making Mallory laugh. “Hope we’re not interrupting anything.”
“Now you ask.” Mallory had learned to jump into the scrum or get left behind in this crowd. “We’re just having coffee. What’re you guys up to?”
“Same thing as you,” Mac said as he perused the menu. “What’s Rebecca cooking up this morning?”
“Didn’t you already eat?” Joe asked.
“Is there a law that says a man can only have one breakfast per day?”
“Not that I’m aware of,” Joe said, shaking his head. “Mason, you got any info on this so-called law?”
“I’m all for as many meals as I can get. Go for it, Mac.”
“I will, thank you,” Mac said with a smug grin for Joe.
When Rebecca came to the table, Mac and Joe both ordered coffee, and Mac added an omelet with bacon, home fries and wheat toast.
Mac sat back to enjoy his coffee. “So what’s going on with you guys?”
“So far today,” Mason said, “your sister helped to save a guy’s life, and she agreed to come work for me this summer.”
Mac stared at her. “Say what?”
Chapter 3
“Oh crap,” Mason said. “I’m sorry. Did I spill the beans?”
“No worries,” Mallory said, touched by his concern. “I haven’t gotten the chance to tell these guys that I was laid off ten days ago.”
“You were?” Mac asked, his eyes wide.
“That’s too bad,” Joe said. “I’m sorry to hear it.”
Mallory shrugged. “I’m feeling better about it than I was, especially now that I have a summer job lined up with Mason.” She smiled at him to let him know she really wasn’t upset.
“You haven’t said anything,” Mac said. “Are you okay?”
“It was sort of traumatic being escorted from the building like a criminal after twelve years there, but I’m trying to move on.”
Outrage rippled off her brother in palpable waves. “That’s how they did it?”
“They have to do it that way or run the risk of fired employees damaging systems or property on the way out, not to mention some might get violent.”
“That’s so awful,” Joe said. “I really feel for you.”
“Who can we beat up for you?” Mac asked with a small smile that told her he was teasing. But could he ever know what it meant to her to have a brother who wanted to make things right for her?
“While I appreciate the sentiment, they’re not worth it, and I’m fairly certain they’re suffering without me.”
“Good,” Mac said. “That’s the least of what they deserve.”
His food was delivered, and he dove in like he hadn’t eaten in a month. Over the last nine months, she’d loved learning little things about each of her siblings, such as Mac’s voracious appetite for food, laughs, practical jokes, his wife and children and the rest of their family. He did everything in a big way, including love, and she adored him.
Grant, who followed Mac, was more cerebral, quieter, more likely to take it all in than lead the charge the way Mac did. Not that Grant couldn’t more than keep up with Mac in the practical-joke department. He was usually subtler in his approach, however.
Adam was the family’s tech wizard. To hear the rest of the family tell it, he could put a man on the moon with nothing more than a laptop and a smartphone. After he saved her phone from near disaster last summer when it got wet at the beach, Mallory was a believer.
Evan, who was currently on tour with country music superstar Buddy Longstreet, was the family musician. For Mallory, who had zero musical ability, Evan’s talent was beyond impressive. Not only did he have an amazing singing voice, he played guitar, piano, the banjo, the harmonica and numerous other instruments. He had a vicious ragweed allergy that made his eyes swell up for several days in the summer and fall. Those were the kinds of details she’d glommed on to as she’d gotten to know her brothers.
And then there was Janey, the ultimate little sister, and she played the part to the hilt, driving her older brothers crazy with her teasing. Until she’d told them she was pregnant again and learned how crazy they were about her. They had good reason to be concerned after nearly losing Janey the day she delivered her first child, PJ.
Nearly a year after meeting them, Mallory was still finding out new things about her siblings, still hearing new stories about events that’d happened when they were growing up, and still absorbing each and every detail about them like a nosy voyeur who’d infiltrated their family. Fortunately, they seemed to understand her desire to know them and were equally curious about her, even if her upbringing had been far less eventful than theirs.
There it was again, the pang of anger that they’d been kept from her for so long, and as always, the anger was directed at her late mother, which made her feel like crap.
“Who can I see about a summer rental?” she asked during a lull in the conversation.
All three men answered at once. “Ned.”
“Ned Saunders? Big Mac’s friend? That Ned?”
“Yep,” Mac said with a laugh. “The one and only. Our resident hobo cab driver is actually a multimillionaire land baron. He owns a big chunk of the real estate on this island. Sold my house to me.”
“Mine, too,” Joe said.
“Wow.” The hobo cab driver description was far more fitting for Ned than land baron would ever be.
“Don’t feel bad,” Mac said. “We didn’t know that either until a few years ago when I was looking to buy a place and Dad let the cat out of the bag.”
“If Adam and Abby find a place to buy, Janey’s house might be coming available,” Joe said.
“You’d like that house,” Mac said. “It’s cozy and within walking distance of town.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Adam and Abby are actively looking at houses,” Joe said, “so that might happen sooner rather than later. I’ll tell Janey you might be interested, if that’s okay.”
“Of course. Please do. Thanks.”
“No problem.”
“This having-a-family thing sure does come in handy,” Mallory said.
Mason smiled at her across the table. “You can’t be better connected around here than the McCarthys.”
“I’m finding that out.”
Mac’s phone rang, and he took the call from his wife. “Oh wow, really? What’re they saying?” After a pause, he added, “Are they going to the mainland?” He listened for a minute, his expression becoming more serious than Mallory had ever seen it. “Okay, let me know. Love you, too.”
“What’s going on?” Joe asked when Mac ended the call.
“Laura is in labor.”
“Everything okay?” Joe asked.
“She’s a month early, and apparently it’s moving fast—too fast to get her to the mainland to deliver as planned.”
Right before her eyes, Joe’s face seemed to drain of all color.
“Joe,” she said. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah… Just… Brings back memories I’d rather forget.”
Mallory didn’t think before she reached across the table to cover his hand with hers. “We won’t let that happen again.”
He forced a smile and nodded. Blowing out a deep breath, he said, “It hits me hard every time I hear someone we love is having a baby on this island, let alone two of them.”
Mallory squeezed his hand before she released him. “I could take a walk over to the clinic to see if they need help.”
Mac visibly brightened. “Maddie said Katie is off-island today,” he said of their cousin Shane’s fiancée, who was a nurse, “so David and Victoria are shorthanded at the clinic.”
“I’ll go
see if I can help.” Mallory reached for her wallet.
“I’ve got it,” Mason said. “Go on ahead.”
“Thank you.”
“Any time,” he said with a warm smile that made her wonder if he was interested in more than just coffee, AA meetings and paramedic service from her.
Mac got up to let her out, giving her a quick hug that warmed her heart. “Thanks, Mal.”
“No problem.” His affection and the use of a nickname put a lump in her throat.
Before he let her go, Mac said, “Laura’s going to be all right, isn’t she?”
“Of course she is. I heard she did great when Holden was born. She’ll be fine.”
“Thanks for the reassurance. We’re a little skittish when it comes to having babies.”
“With good reason.” Mallory had also heard the story of Mac’s daughter Hailey’s dramatic arrival during the tropical storm that shared her name. “I’ll check in later.”
Mallory ducked out of the diner and headed for the clinic, hoping there was something she could do to help her cousin bring her long-awaited twins into the world.
Laura tried to remain calm while her husband, Owen Lawry, melted down over the news that she was too far along to risk a trip to the mainland to deliver.
“That can’t be right,” Owen said. “Her water broke an hour ago. She’s only just started having contractions. It’s a month early!”
They’d been due to go to the mainland tomorrow and stay at her father’s home in Providence so she could deliver in an actual hospital when the time came. Apparently, that wasn’t going to happen now, and Laura focused on breathing through the pain as her husband became more agitated. Not that she blamed him. After what Janey and Maddie had been through, they both had good reason to freak out about an island delivery. It was, in reality, their worst-case scenario.
“I’m really sorry, Owen,” Dr. David Lawrence said after examining her. “But I don’t recommend you go anywhere, or you’ll run the risk of having the babies on the ferry or by the side of a road. They’re eager to make their debut. Laura is fully dilated and completely effaced.”
“That can’t be!”
“O.” Laura extended a hand to him. “Come here.”
He stopped pacing and came to her side, taking her hand.
“Calm down,” she said. “I feel fine. I feel ready. David and Victoria are completely qualified to deliver these babies. Please take a deep breath and help me.”
He swallowed hard and made a visible effort to relax. “Okay. I’m here. What can I do?”
“Call my dad and my aunt Linda. Ask them to come, and your mom will be waiting to hear what’s going on.”
“I’ll take care of it. Will you be okay for a few minutes?”
She smiled up at him. “I promise.”
He leaned over the bed to kiss her and then left the room.
“Vic,” Laura said through gritted teeth. “I already feel like I need to push.”
“Let’s take a look.” Victoria raised the sheet covering Laura’s lap. “Oh damn, you’re crowning.” Over her shoulder, Victoria called for David.
He came running with Owen right behind him.
“We’ve got babies who want out right now.”
“Now?” Owen cried.
Laura wanted to comfort him, but she was gripped by another fierce contraction that required her full attention.
Everything moved fast after that. The table was adjusted for delivery, her legs positioned, and Owen directed to get behind her to support her while she pushed. David prepared bassinettes for the babies.
“Okay, Laura,” Victoria said, “on the next contraction, let’s push.”
Laura took hold of Owen’s hands. “Help me, O.”
He squeezed her hands. “Anything you need.”
She could hear the tears and the fear in his voice. This wasn’t what they’d planned, but it was happening, and the only thing they could do was roll with it. Their babies already had minds of their own.
Victoria consulted the monitor that kept track of her contractions. “Here we go.”
All-consuming pain and the need to push overwhelmed Laura. The next thirty minutes were a blur of pain and pressure and tears.
Owen wiped away her tears and whispered sweet words of love and encouragement while holding her up from behind as she pushed.
“I can’t,” she said, gasping after a particularly strong contraction. “I can’t do it.”
“Yes, you can.” Owen used a cool cloth that Victoria gave him to wipe the sweat from her forehead. “You’ve got this. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met. There’s nothing you can’t do.”
Mallory appeared at the doorway. “I heard you were shorthanded today and might need some help.”
Victoria looked to Laura who nodded, relieved to see her cousin and to have another medical professional to help.
“Come in,” Vic said. “Happy to have you.”
Mallory washed her hands and donned gloves before she came over to the bed. She placed her hand on Laura’s shoulder. “How’re you doing?”
“Hurts.”
“No epidural?” Mallory asked Victoria.
“It was too late by the time she got here. She was ready to deliver.” Victoria eyed the monitor. “Here we go, Laura.”
The pain and pressure overwhelmed her once again, dragging her under to a place of intense concentration. Behind her, Owen provided unwavering support, holding her up when she lacked the energy to do it herself. He talked her through it, telling her how much he loved her, how he couldn’t wait to meet their babies, how proud he was of her, how strong she was.
She focused on his voice and pushed as hard as she could until she finally found some relief.
“It’s a girl!” Victoria said, holding up the baby so her parents could see her.
“Oh my God,” Owen said. “We have a daughter!”
“Is she okay?” Laura asked.
“She’s beautiful,” Mallory said.
“Ten fingers and ten toes,” David added as he took the baby to be evaluated.
“Why is she so quiet?” Laura asked, her heart racing with fear and anxiety as another contraction started, reminding her she was only half done. “David! What’s wrong with her?”
His silence was almost as loud as the baby’s until a loud cry from the newborn echoed through the room.
“That’s what we wanted to hear,” David said.
Laura could hear the relief in his voice.
Owen hugged her a little tighter and kissed her neck.
She could feel the dampness of tears on his face.
“Here we go again, Laura,” Victoria said in an endlessly upbeat tone of voice.
The contractions were harder, sharper, more painful the second time around. They were also coming closer together, giving her little time to rest in between.
“Almost there, sweetheart,” Owen said. “You’ve got this.” He wiped her face with another cool cloth that Mallory handed him.
“You’re doing great, Laura,” Mallory said.
“One more big push,” Victoria said.
Laura began to cry. She was so tired and in so much pain that she couldn’t focus on anything else. “I can’t.”
“Yes, you can,” Owen said. “We’ll do it together.” He gathered her into his arms and held her up as she screamed her way through another mighty push that finally yielded relief from the relentless pressure.
“You have a baby boy!” Victoria announced as the baby let out a lusty wail.
Laura sagged into Owen’s embrace.
“You did it,” he said wiping her tears and then his own.
“We did it.”
His smile lit up his entire face. “One of each!”
“I’m so glad we waited to find out what we were having.”
“Me, too.”
David brought their baby girl to them, wrapped in a receiving blanket. She looked up at them with an expression that seemed both wi
se and stunned.
“Oh my God,” Owen whispered. “Look at her.”
Laura’s heart melted at the reverence she heard in his voice. “Hi, baby girl,” she said, nearly blinded by tears that just kept coming. Unlike the tears from earlier, though, these were tears of joy. The babies were here, they were safe, and they hadn’t had to leave their beloved island to have them.
“Are we set on Joanna Sarah for her?” Owen asked.
They’d agreed to name a daughter, if they had one, after her late mother, JoAnn, and his mother, Sarah.
“I think she looks like a Joanna Sarah, don’t you?”
“Absolutely. We’ll call her Jo and Joey.”
“I like that.”
David handed their son to Owen.
“Oh damn, look at you.” Owen used his free hand to rub his chest. “Is it normal to feel like you’re having a heart attack after your wife gives birth?”
“That’s just your heart expanding to make room for two more people to love,” Mallory said.
“I love that,” Laura said, smiling at her cousin.
“What’s his name going to be?” Mallory asked. “I can’t stand the suspense.”
Laura and Owen exchanged glances, and then he spoke for both of them. “We wanted them to have the same first initial so his name is Jonathan Russell. His middle name is for my grandfather.”
“Jo and Jon,” Mallory said. “I love it.”
Victoria, who’d stepped out for a minute, returned with Laura’s dad, Frank, her brother, Shane, and her aunt Linda.
“That was quick!” Linda said when she saw the babies.
Frank came over to get a closer look at his new grandchildren, who were sleeping in their parents’ arms.
“Meet Joanna Sarah and Jonathan Russell Lawry,” Laura said.
“Oh wow,” Frank said on a long exhale. “One of each. How perfect. And named for your mother.” His voice thickened with emotion. “I love that, Princess. She’d be so honored.”
Laura squeezed his hand. “I hope so.
“Katie will be so bummed she missed this,” Shane said of his fiancée, who was also Owen’s sister. “What a day to have professional training on the mainland.”
“Take some pictures for her,” Owen said.