by Force, Marie
“So, no more calls or texts or fights with your mother?”
“No more.”
“That’s my girl.”
“I hope you know what a shit show you’re marrying into with my family.”
“I’m not marrying them. I’m marrying you, the one person in this entire world I can’t live without. If that means taking on the Ballard family shit show, too, then sign me up.”
“You’re crazy, you know that?”
“How can I not know when you’ve been telling me that since the day we met?”
She rested her head on his shoulder, and he put his arms around her. “I have an awful feeling that Kelly is going to show up whether I invite her or not.”
“So what? Let her see how happy you are with the rich, handsome stud you landed while she’s stuck with Matt the cheater for the rest of her life.”
Kara laughed so hard her body shook with it, which pleased him endlessly. “Not sure which part of that was funnier—you calling yourself a rich, handsome stud or her being stuck with Matt the cheater for the rest of her life.” She wiped laughter tears from her eyes. “In case I forget to tell you this, I’m so glad you forced yourself on me until you wore me down and got me to fall in love with you.”
“I’m afraid I have to object to your terminology. There was no ‘force’ involved. Rather, I employed a combination of devastating charm and a level of perseverance never before required with any woman to get you to fall madly in love with me. It was a tough battle at times, but well worth it in the end.”
“You’re too much, Torrington.”
“Maybe so, but I’m just enough for you, and I can’t wait to marry you.”
“I can’t wait either.”
Seated with Jared and Lizzie on the back deck of their house, Quinn scratched Brutus behind the ears and enjoyed the fire Jared had lit. “Outdoor fireplaces are all the rage on this island, huh?”
“We love ours,” Lizzie said. “After I saw Alex and Jenny’s, I asked Jared to build one for us.”
“And whatever my lovely wife wants, she gets,” Jared said with an indulgent smile for his wife who was cuddled into his lap as usual.
“Oh hush. As if you don’t get what you want, too.”
Quinn put his hands over his ears. “Lalalalala. Can’t hear you.”
Lizzie giggled. “You’re one to talk. I saw you snuggled up to Mallory tonight. What gives, big brother?”
Quinn loved his brother’s wife. He truly did. She was perfect for Jared and had brought much-needed balance to his insane life. Quinn barely recognized the man that Jared was now—relaxed, decompressed and crazy in love with his adorable wife and her passionate desire to help people in need. Only because he loved her so much did he indulge her nosiness. “I was not snuggling with anyone.”
“Semantics. What’s up with her?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“But you admit there’s something up?”
“Lizzie,” Jared said with exasperation. “Leave him alone.”
“You leave me alone,” she retorted. “You know I need the info on everything that goes on around here.”
“Sorry, bro,” Jared said. “At least if she’s badgering you, she’s not badgering me.”
“You love when I badger you.”
Quinn put his hands over his ears again. “Lalalalalala. Make it stop.”
Lizzie giggled some more. “If you spill the beans, I won’t have anything to badger you about.”
“I promise,” Quinn said, “that when there are beans to spill, you’ll be the first to know.”
“I can live with that,” Lizzie said.
“Thank goodness,” Jared said. “Can we talk about other stuff now?”
“Like how your parents want to come visit?” Lizzie asked.
“They do?” Quinn asked, shocked to hear that.
Jared nodded. “They said if Mohamed won’t come to the mountain…”
“I assume I’m playing the role of Mohamed in this drama?” Quinn asked.
“You assume correctly,” Jared said, “and PS, thank you for sucking me into your drama.”
“It’s not intentional. Trust me on that. When are they coming?”
“They said sometime this summer, so we have time to prepare.”
Quinn had tried to be a dutiful son. He called home every Sunday without fail and sent gifts for birthdays, holidays and his parents’ anniversary. But he hadn’t actually seen them in far too long and had felt guilty about it for a while now.
He was saved from having to further discuss his parents’ upcoming visit when David Lawrence and his fiancée, Daisy Babson, pulled into the driveway in front of their garage apartment next door and came over to say hello.
“You’re back!” Lizzie said, jumping up to hug David and Daisy. “Did you have a good trip?”
“We did,” Daisy said. “It was nice to be off the island for a couple of days, and we got to see Marion, too.”
“When she says it was nice to be off the island, she means it was nice to have access to stores,” David said. “Lots and lots of stores.”
Daisy laughed. “It’s true. I went a little wild buying stuff for our new house and the wedding.”
“That sounds like fun to me,” Lizzie said.
“Not me,” Jared added.
“Or me,” David said. “But if Daisy is happy, so am I.”
“Awww,” Lizzie said, “you two are so cute. Don’t forget we’ve got your caterer coming out on Tuesday to talk wedding plans.”
“How could we forget?” Daisy said. “We’re so excited to finalize everything.”
“When’s the big day?” Quinn asked.
“September,” Daisy said, “but the time is flying by. Thank goodness we’re doing it at the Chesterfield, and Lizzie is taking care of everything for us.”
“Almost everything,” Lizzie said. “Did you get a dress?”
“I did, and I love it.”
Lizzie clapped her hands. “Fantastic! I can’t wait to see it.”
“I can’t wait to show you. I was by myself when I bought it, and no one has seen it yet.”
“I offered to give an opinion,” David said, “and was schooled about the superstitions surrounding these things.”
“Which you should’ve known since this isn’t your first time being engaged,” Daisy said with a teasing smile for him.
“Everything about this time is different.” He put his arm around Daisy and kissed her. “I had nothing to do with planning that wedding. I wasn’t even here.”
“Ancient history,” Daisy said, smiling up at him.
“I meant to ask, how was Marion?” Lizzie said.
“Not great,” Daisy replied glumly. “She’s definitely declined since we last saw her. She didn’t recognize me at first.”
“That’s so sad,” Lizzie said with a sigh. “Alex and Paul are talking about moving her home once our facility is open.”
“That’d be a blessing for them to have her closer,” David said.
“They’re so grateful for what you all are doing with the facility,” Daisy added. “They can’t wait to move her back to the island.”
“I’ve been thinking we should name the facility for Marion,” Lizzie said. “She’s the one who inspired the idea.”
“That’d be amazing,” Daisy said. “Alex and Paul would be so thrilled.”
“That’s a great idea, hon,” Jared said. “I like it.”
“Then it’s done,” Lizzie said. “I’ll let Alex and Paul know tomorrow.”
Daisy hugged her. “Thank you so much for honoring Marion in this way.”
Lizzie returned Daisy’s embrace. “It’s so nice to be able to do something with Jared’s obscene fortune to make things better for people we care about.”
While everyone else laughed, Jared huffed. “There is nothing obscene about my fortune.” Though his tone was indignant, his expression was full of love for his irrepressible wife.
“We’re
off to bed,” Daisy said. “See you all in the morning.”
“Good night,” Lizzie said for all of them.
Chapter 18
“Tell me more about this Marion who inspired our facility,” Quinn said after David and Daisy went up to their apartment over the garage. “How does Daisy factor into the story?”
“One day, Marion wandered off and ended up in town in a rocking chair on Daisy’s front porch.”
“She went from their place to town by herself?” Quinn asked.
“Yeah, and she was barefoot, so her feet were all cut up. That’s when the guys realized it was really getting bad and they needed to make some changes. They hired Hope to be her live-in nurse.”
“Home nursing didn’t work out?”
“It did for a while,” Lizzie said, “but the specialist recommended in-patient care, and the mainland was their only option. They’re tied to the island because of their landscaping business, so it was an awful quandary for them.”
“Enter my gorgeous wife with the idea for a facility out here,” Jared said. “Someone mentioned the former school as a possible site, and she had me out there at seven o’clock the next morning.”
“I don’t believe in sitting on a good idea.”
“It’s a great idea,” Jared said, “and it’s going to immediately benefit our friends, not to mention so many others.”
“Naming it for Marion is a nice touch,” Quinn said.
“Thanks,” Lizzie said. “I’m glad you agree.”
“Just FYI,” Jared said, “it wouldn’t matter if you didn’t agree.”
Lizzie elbowed her husband in the ribs, drawing a grunt of laughter from him.
“Ow.”
“Be nice to me, or you’ll regret it at bedtime.”
“Yes, my love.”
After staying with them over the holidays, Quinn knew how loud bedtime could be in this house. His phone lit up with a well-timed text from Mallory.
On the way.
“That’s our cue, Brutus,” Quinn said, standing slowly and giving his leg a second to adjust.
Brutus let out an enthusiastic “woof.”
“Is that code for booty call?” Lizzie asked.
“Jared, do something about her.”
“Sorry, bro. I’ve done what I can, but she’s incorrigible.”
“Thanks for a fun night, you guys,” Quinn said. “Talk to you tomorrow.”
“Bye,” they called as he walked toward the dark driveway. He was almost to his truck when he stepped into a small hole in the yard and pitched forward. It happened so fast, he didn’t have time to react and hit the ground hard, his shoulder taking the brunt along with his bad leg, which wrenched within the prosthetic and slammed against the ground, making him scream from the pain.
Brutus barked and then licked his face as he whimpered in concern.
“Quinn!” Jared called out to him as he ran across the yard. “Oh my God, are you okay?”
The pain was so intense, Quinn could hardly breathe, let alone speak. He held up a hand to let Jared know he was okay.
“Lizzie, go get David!” Jared dropped to the ground next to Quinn. “Tell me what to do. I don’t know what to do.”
Quinn was trying not to be sick from the pain. “Give me a second.”
In the background, Quinn heard footsteps pounding down the stairs that led to David’s apartment.
“Give him some room,” David said. “Talk to me, Quinn. What hurts?”
Everything? “I wrenched my bad leg. I’m okay.”
“You’re not okay,” Jared said. “Let’s get you inside where David can check you out.”
The one thing Quinn didn’t want was anyone checking out his leg. He could do that himself. But he was too shaken after the fall to get behind the wheel, so he let Jared help him up, and between him and David, they got him inside while Lizzie and Brutus followed. His prosthesis was still in place, but pain radiated from the stump for the first time in more than a year. Fuck.
Quinn hated having to rely on anyone for anything, especially mobility, but his leg hurt so bad that he ceded to them, letting them do the work to get him settled on the sofa.
“Your lip!” Lizzie said. “It’s bleeding!”
Quinn touched his fingers to his lip and discovered she was right. He must’ve bitten it when he fell. “Sorry, everyone. Stepped in a hole and lost my balance. Nothing to worry about.”
Despite his assurances, they hovered over him, and David asked if he could take a look. Here it was, the moment of truth he’d tried to avoid with his family. “So, um, here’s the thing… I lost my right leg, just below the knee, two years ago, and I have a prosthetic that was jolted when I fell, thus the screaming. Hurt like a motherfucker.”
Jared stared at him, his face devoid of expression. “You lost your leg?”
“Yeah.”
“And you didn’t think to mention that to anyone?”
“It’s kind of a long story.”
“We’ve got all night, because you’re not going anywhere in this condition.”
Mallory. Damn it, he needed to text her. “I think I dropped my phone out there. Can you grab it for me, Lizzie?”
“I’ll be right back.”
Quinn took advantage of the reprieve to close his eyes and focus on breathing.
“Jared,” David said, “will you give us a minute alone?”
“Um, yeah,” his brother said, but Quinn could hear the reluctance in Jared’s voice.
“Why don’t you let me take a look?” David said.
Quinn would prefer that no one ever looked at it, but he gave a brief nod to give David permission to pull up the cuff of his khaki pants to reveal the prosthetic that sat just above where his knee should be.
David made quick work of removing the prosthesis. When he gently touched the stump to examine it, Quinn sucked in a breath and broke out in a cold sweat.
“You’re going to have some bruising that’ll make it painful to wear the prosthesis for a couple of days. Do you have crutches?”
“I’ve got some in my office.”
“How about I ask Jared to get them for you?”
“I think he’s been drinking.”
“I can drive,” Jared called from just outside the room. “I quit drinking a couple of hours ago.”
“So much for doctor-patient confidentiality,” Quinn grumbled.
David smiled. “He’s worried about you.”
“I know.”
Lizzie returned with the phone and brought it into the living room, stopping short at the sight of his prosthetic standing next to the sofa. Thankfully, David had covered his stump after he looked at it. Quinn watched as Lizzie tried and failed to not stare at the artificial leg.
“The phone, Lizzie?” he said.
“Oh. Right. Sorry.” She handed it to him. “I’ll, um, just be in the kitchen with Jared if you need us.”
“Thank you.” He wrote a quick text to Mallory. Took a damned fall and hurt my bad leg. Stuck at Jared’s. Sorry about tonight.
She responded right away. Oh my God! Are you all right?
I will be. Hurt my pride more than anything.
I’m so sorry. Let me know how you are later.
I will.
“So about the crutches?” David asked.
“Yeah, I guess I need them.”
“I’ll send Jared after them.” David got up and left the room, leaving Quinn alone to ponder the many ways this situation totally sucked.
Jared came into the room, car keys in hand. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be here.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me or any of us about this.”
“Sorry.”
“What did you think we would say?”
“To be honest, I wasn’t thinking about anyone but myself. Maybe that makes me a selfish bastard, but that’s all I was capable of at the time. Then a year went by and then another one, and there was never a time when it felt right to say,
oh by the way, I lost my leg a couple of years ago, but I never told you about it.”
“You’ve always been a lone wolf, Quinn, and I’ve tried to give you the space you needed, but knowing you went through something like this all alone… Well, that makes me hurt for you.”
Before Quinn could reply, Jared turned and walked away. A minute later, Quinn heard the roar of Jared’s Porsche starting up outside.
“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. Despite what Jared had said, Quinn could tell his brother was hurt to have been kept in the dark about the full extent of his injury.
“Do you need anything?” Lizzie asked softly.
“How about a couple of painkillers and a glass of water?”
“Of course. Coming right up.” She returned a minute later with the water and pills, which he took right away. It’d been quite a while since he’d taken pain meds, and he hated that he needed them again. “Thanks.”
She perched gingerly on the far end of the sofa. “Do you need anything else?”
“Just a do-over of the last half hour.”
“I’m so sorry you fell. I told Jared he needed to fix that hole in the yard, and he was going to do it next week.”
“Not your fault, sweetheart. Don’t worry about it.”
“I… I’m really sorry. About your leg and everything you went through.”
“Thanks. Jared’s pissed.”
“He’s hurt more than anything and sad to think of you enduring such an awful ordeal by yourself.”
“I get that it’s hard for you guys to understand, but that’s how I needed it to be at the time. It wasn’t my intention to leave anyone out. It was more that I wouldn’t have been able to handle being invaded by my family when I had all I could do to deal with everything else that was happening. I’m not sure if that makes sense, but it’s the only explanation I have.”
“You don’t owe us an explanation, Quinn. You did what was best for you, even if it might not have been what was best for everyone else.”
“I’m glad you understand. Maybe you can help me out with Jared.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
Someone knocked on the back door, and Brutus let out a menacing growl.
Lizzie got up to answer the door. “That might be David coming back.”
Quinn couldn’t believe when she returned with Mallory in tow or how upset and concerned Mallory seemed to be. “What’re you doing here?”