Mine After Dark: Gansett Island Book Series, Book 19

by Marie Force

  “He doesn’t like leaving Maddie and the kids on the island, especially this time of year,” Janey said. “He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to get back to them.”

  “You left Joe,” Finn said.

  “And we told Maddie to call him if she needed anything, but Mac frets nonetheless.”

  “Something else is up with him,” Riley said. “He’s been acting kinda weird all week.”

  “He’s always weird, if you ask me,” Janey said, grinning.

  “You have to say that,” Finn said. “You’re his baby sister.”

  Janey rolled her eyes. “And he never lets me forget it. I have two kids, and he still can’t deal with the fact that I have sex, regularly, with his best friend.”

  “Ewww,” Finn said, cringing. “Don’t be disgusting.”

  “Nothing disgusting about it, my friend,” she said suggestively.

  A shout went up from the other side of the cabin, where Adam sat with Abby. She was holding her cell phone and staring at it with huge eyes as Adam leaned in to see what it said. Then he looked at her, seeming equally dazed.

  “What’s going on?” Janey asked her brother and sister-in-law.

  “We just got a text,” Abby said, her eyes filling with tears and her hands shaking. “They… They have a baby for us.”

  The group erupted into cheers and surrounded Adam and Abby to share in their excitement. Luckily, they had the cabin more or less to themselves.

  “It’s a boy,” Adam said, leaning in to see the phone, every bit as emotional as his wife as he read the text. “The family he’d been promised to is unable to take him, so it’s happening fast. We can pick him up the day after tomorrow.”

  Janey took the phone from Abby, whose hands were shaking so hard, she could barely hold it. “The message says you need to reply if you are willing to accept the child.”

  “Say yes!” Adam said. “Tell them we’ll be there!” As Janey typed in their response, he pulled his wife into his arms and let out a happy whoop. “We’re having a baby!”

  “And life goes on,” Big Mac said, squeezing Shane’s arm. “Life goes on.”

  * * *

  By the time the ferry docked in South Harbor, Mac was on the verge of a full-on anxiety attack. Leaving Maddie and the kids alone on the island in the dead of winter had freaked him out, because there was always a chance he wouldn’t be able to get back if the ferries stopped running. There’d been no question about going to the funeral to support Shane, who was not only his cousin but his close friend and coworker.

  He and Maddie had debated about her going with him, but Hailey had a fever the day before, so Maddie hadn’t felt right about leaving their daughter a sitter for a long day, and with baby Mac still breastfeeding, they would’ve had to bring him with them. In the end, they’d decided she should stay home while he went to the funeral by himself. But he hadn’t had an easy moment since the morning ferry pulled out of port, leaving the most important people in his life behind on a remote island in the dead of winter.

  “Mac.” Only his father’s hand on his shoulder kept him from leaping the three feet from the still-moving ferry onto the island. “What the hell is wrong with you today? You’re like a cat on a hot tin roof.”

  “Nothing’s wrong.”

  “Mac.”

  The way his father said his name had him turning to face Big Mac. At six foot two, Mac was no shrimp, but his father still had two inches on him. He also had an ability to stare him down that no one else, except Maddie, had.

  “What’s going on, son? And don’t say it’s nothing. I know you too well to believe that.”

  “I don’t like leaving Maddie and the kids on the island, especially this time of year.” He glanced at the dark clouds that had loomed all day. The crossing had been bumpy, but not as rough as it could’ve been.

  “What else?”

  “That’s it.” Mac glanced longingly at his truck parked a hundred yards away. “Can I go now?”

  “You can go when you tell me what else is going on.”

  The cars began rolling off the ferry. Uncle Frank tooted as he and Betsy drove by with Laura and Owen in the backseat. They’d left their kids with one of the women who worked for them at the hotel, which was quiet this time of year.

  Knowing defeat when it stared him in the face, Mac sagged as he glanced up at his dad. “Maddie’s pregnant.”

  His father seemed momentarily stunned before he recovered. “Oh. Well. Congratulations.”

  “Thanks. I think.”

  “That’s why you were so tense about going today.”

  “One reason. She’s been really tired, and I’m sure she’s had a long day. The thought of them being here and me not being able to get back to them for whatever reason… Stressed me out.”

  “I get it.”

  “The pregnancy is very new. We’re not telling anyone because…” He still had trouble saying Connor, the name of their son who had died in utero.

  “I won’t say a word. I promise.” His father hugged him, speaking gruffly in his ear. “You’re a wonderful husband and father, and I couldn’t be prouder of you.”

  Damn the man! He had Mac on the verge of bawling his head off. “I had the best possible example,” Mac replied.

  “Everything okay?” Adam asked as he, Riley and Finn approached them.

  “Yeah,” Big Mac said, releasing Mac. “Everything is just fine.”

  “It is now.” Mac stepped onto the island and breathed a deep sigh of relief. Waving to the others, he jogged to his truck and was on his way home within seconds. The ten-minute ride to Sweet Meadow Farm Road seemed to take twice that. Even though he’d texted with Maddie all day, the vision of their home lit up like a power plant was the best thing he’d seen since he’d left nearly twelve hours earlier. Every freaking light in the house was on, probably thanks to Thomas, who they were constantly telling to turn off the lights when he left a room.

  Mac bounded up the stairs, taking them two at a time, opened the sliding door from the deck and stepped into bedlam. Toys were scattered about the living room, little Mac was bawling his head off as Maddie walked him while also supervising Thomas and Hailey, who were apparently supposed to be cleaning up but were fighting over a truck. The kitchen table was covered with the remains of what looked like a spaghetti dinner.

  Filled with relief, he blew out a deep breath. Business as usual.

  Hailey was the first to spot him, and she let out a cry of happiness as she ran for him on pudgy legs. Her blonde curls bounced, and her face reflected her pure joy at seeing her daddy after a long day.

  Mac scooped her up and made her squeal when he kissed her neck. She smelled like peanut butter, spaghetti sauce and little girl. Most important, the fever was gone. “How’s my baby girl?”

  “Daddy, Thomas got in trouble for stealing my toys.”

  “I didn’t steal nothing,” Thomas said, sticking his tongue out at his sister.

  Mac squatted down and brought Thomas into his embrace, kissing the top of his head. “How about I make you guys a deal? I’ll help you clean up this mess and take your baths and read you three bedtime stories if you promise no more bickering. Do we have a deal?”

  “Okay, Daddy,” Hailey said.

  Three stories were a powerful bargaining tool.

  “All right,” Thomas said begrudgingly.

  “You guys get started, and I’ll help as soon as I say hi to Mommy.”

  “No kissing,” Thomas said, making a disgusted face.

  “Yes kissing,” Mac said, cuffing his son’s chin. “Lots of kissing.”

  “Gross,” Thomas said.

  Mac couldn’t wait to remind him of that when he reached the age when kissing was no longer gross. Standing upright, he went to his wife, taking the baby from her. “Hi, honey, I’m home.”

  “Thank God,” she said, weariness clinging to every inch of her.

  Mac leaned in for a kiss and was surprised when she pulled back.

  “
I stink like sour breast milk and a variety of other substances that can’t be easily identified.”

  “I don’t care what you smell like. I want a kiss from my gorgeous wife.”

  “It might be time to get you some glasses. At your advanced age, vision is the first to go.”

  Smiling, he hooked his free arm around her waist and gave her an uncompromising look. “Kiss me before I die from wanting you to.”

  Shaking her head at his shameless appeal, she gave him a gentle peck. “There.”

  “You can do better. I’ll expect a do-over at bedtime.”

  “Thanks for the warning.”

  “Is this guy fed?” he asked of the baby, who had settled the minute Mac showed up, something that happened often enough that Maddie cried “no fair” at least once a day. It certainly didn’t break his heart that his son seemed to favor him over everyone else, not that he would ever admit that to the baby’s devoted mother.

  “He’s drunk on breast milk and ready for bed.”

  “Go on up and take a bubble bath. I got this.”

  “You haven’t even taken your coat off yet, and you must be hungry. There’s a plate for you warming in the oven.”

  “Go. I got it. Relax. You’re off duty.”

  “In case I forget to tell you later, I really love you.”

  “I’ll remind you to tell me again.”

  She left him with a giddy grin and went to kiss Thomas and Hailey good night. “Be good for Daddy and help him with baby Mac.”

  “We will, Mommy,” Thomas said. He took his big-brother duties very seriously when it came to Mac. Not so much with Hailey, whose job it was to be a constant thorn in his side, or so it seemed to Thomas.

  With Mac supervising, they picked up the toys and returned them to the toy box and containers.

  “Good job, buddy,” Mac said to Thomas, who’d done most of the work.

  They went upstairs to put the baby down before Mac supervised Thomas and Hailey in the tub. As usual, he got as wet as they did, just like he had the long-ago first night with Thomas when he’d been brand-new to babies and baths. Now he was a seasoned professional.

  By the time he read the three stories he’d promised and got them tucked into their beds, Mac was ready to drop from the long, emotional day. He went downstairs and had a few bites of the dinner Maddie had left for him and locked up before going back upstairs to shut off the rest of the lights. Unbuttoning the dress shirt he’d worn to the funeral, Mac stepped into the master bedroom, where Maddie was in bed reading a home decorating magazine. He took off the wet shirt and T-shirt under it, tossing them on the foot of the bed.

  “My hero,” she said, welcoming him with a warm smile. “Is everyone in bed?”

  “For the moment.” Bedtime was often a rolling event with a variety of ups and downs until everyone was asleep. “Fingers crossed they stay there.”

  “How was it?” she asked.

  “As awful as you might imagine.”

  “And Shane?”

  “He seems okay. It’s going to take a while, I suppose.” He sat next to her on the bed and linked his fingers with hers, feeling like he could finally breathe again after a long, stressful day off the island. “I was out of my mind leaving you guys here while I went to the mainland.”

  “We were fine.”

  “I know, but the thought of not being able to get back to you for whatever reason made me nuts.”

  She released his hand and held out her arms to him. “Come here.”

  He crawled into her outstretched arms and breathed in the sweet scent of summer flowers that reminded him of their beginning. “I was thinking about the first time I ever gave Thomas a bath.”

  “You got as wet as he did.”

  “I still do. My shirt is soaked.”

  “Your hair is wet, too,” she said, laughing.

  “Some things never change.”

  “I’ve never been as happy to see you as I was tonight.”

  “You’re really tired?”

  “It’s insane! I wake up tired, and I feel like I’m slogging through quicksand all day long.”

  “Hopefully that’ll pass after the first three months.”

  “I hope so, too, or the inmates are going to overtake the asylum around here.”

  “Nah, we won’t let that happen.” He forced his mind and body to relax. Everything was fine. They were okay, so he was okay. “Big family news on the ferry ride home.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Adam and Abby got a text from the adoption agency. They’ve got a baby boy for them. They’re picking him up the day after tomorrow.”

  “Oh, Mac. Oh my God. That’s the best news I’ve ever heard!”

  “I know. They’re so excited—and shocked.”

  “We’ll have to help them get ready. They’ll need everything. Between all of us, we can get them what they need to start with.”

  “I’m sure they’ll appreciate that. Let me up so I can brush my teeth. I’m ready to end this long-ass day.”

  He went into the bathroom to finish getting ready for bed, sliding into his side five minutes later and immediately reaching for her.

  She turned off the light and snuggled up to him. “Were there a lot of people at the service?”

  “It was packed.”

  “I never knew her, and I feel so sad about her death.”

  “I know. I do, too. Makes me so damned thankful for what I have with you.”

  “Me, too.”

  “I told my dad about the baby—or I should say, he got me to tell him.”

  “And how did he do that?” she asked, sounding amused.

  “In his usual Big Mac way. He could tell I was wound up today being off the island while you guys were here. He promised not to say anything about it.”

  “I don’t mind that you told him. Everyone will find out soon enough. They probably think we’re like a couple of bunnies.”

  Mac snorted with laughter. “Let them say whatever they want. I’m more than happy to be like bunnies with you.”

  “It’s not funny.”

  “Yes, it is.” He tipped her chin up to receive his kiss. “It’s hilarious.”

  “Easy for you to laugh. You’re not the hare in this metaphor.”

  “You’re not a hare. You’re a queen. My queen. The mother of my five children, the center of my universe, the love of my life.”

  “Don’t be sweet and charming when I’m trying to be depressed.”

  Laughing, he kissed the pout off her lips.

  “Thank you for saying we have five children.”

  “Connor counts. He’ll always count.”

  She nodded. “Yes, he will.”

  “Close your eyes and get some sleep while you can.”

  “Only if you will, too.”

  “I’m not going to have any trouble sleeping tonight,” he said. “Being stressed out all day is exhausting.”

  “I love you, Mac, and I love the way you love us.”

  “I love you, too. You and our babies are everything to me.”

  Chapter 21

  Long after Katie had gone to bed, Shane sat in the dark, a glass of bourbon in hand, his heart and mind full of Courtney after the funeral. Her family had given her a beautiful send-off that paid tribute to her life and her struggles in the most respectful way possible. His amazing family had rallied around him the way they always had, making an awful week less so with their unwavering support and encouragement.

  And Katie… She’d been incredible, rarely leaving his side in the days that’d followed the dreadful news. He couldn’t have gotten through the shock and despair without her there to light the way.

  If only he could stop thinking about the odd vibe he’d gotten from her the other night when he’d asked her why they never talked about getting married. They’d been engaged for more than a year, and until their conversation three nights ago, neither of them had ever mentioned setting a date to make it official. He’d been waiting on her to bri
ng it up without even realizing it. Now he suspected she never would’ve brought it up if he hadn’t.

  Had he gotten complacent? Should he have mentioned it before now? The not knowing had been working on his already shredded nerves during the last few days. Of course, he understood that after growing up with a violent, abusive father, legally binding herself to any man was a bigger deal to her than it would’ve been for anyone else.

  But he’d shown her, every day of their lives together, that she would never have anything to fear from him. He wanted only to keep her safe, happy and loved for the rest of her life. Had he done a good enough job of telling her that? Of making sure she knew that there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her?

  He’d downed the last of the bourbon and was thinking about going to bed when Katie came out of the bedroom, looking sleep-rumpled and adorable in a silk nightgown he’d bought her for Christmas at Tiffany’s shop. As it always did, his heart gave a happy little jolt at the sight of her. She loved to tell people that he’d saved her life, but the opposite was true. She’d saved his life in every way that mattered.

  She came to him and slid onto his lap, making herself at home in his arms.

  He’d loved Courtney. God help him, he had loved her. But he’d never loved anyone or anything the way he loved Katie Lawry.

  “Can’t sleep?” she asked.

  “Haven’t tried yet.”

  She kissed his face and smoothed the hair back from his brow. “You ought to try. You have to be exhausted after the last few days.”

  “I am.”

  “Let’s go to bed.”

  When she would’ve gotten up, he stopped her by tightening his arms around her. “Hey, Katie?”

  “Hmmm?”

  “The other night when I asked you about whether we’re going to get married one of these days, I got the feeling that the question upset you. And I was just wondering if there’s anything I need to be worried about.”

  “No,” she said emphatically. “You have nothing at all to be worried about where I’m concerned.”

  “You don’t either. I hope you know that.”

  “I do, Shane. Of course I do.”

  “Then let’s set a date for our wedding.”