by Ann McMan
Maddie periodically caught Syd’s eye and winked at her lovingly—saying more with a single glance than she could have said if they had been able to converse freely.
After lunch, they took Henry by the Concord airport to see Maddie’s plane. He was completely in awe of it. Syd watched the concentration on his tiny features as Maddie explained its operation to him, and she was reminded of the photos she had seen of Maddie at nearly the same age—equally entranced as her father introduced her to his love of flying.
At three, they dropped Henry off at Elise Manning’s house in Kannapolis and promised to call him the next day. He hugged them both warmly before he ran off to meet up with Elise’s son, Jason, and another boy, who were playing Frisbee in the small front yard of the Manning’s mill house. By three forty-five, they were back in the air, en route to Jefferson.
“YOU WANT TO keep him, don’t you?” Syd asked.
Maddie looked at her with a stunned expression. “What makes you say that?”
Syd laughed. “Oh come on, baby. I’d have to be an idiot not to see how you look at him. I’ve only ever seen that expression on your face when you look at me, and that’s not something I’m very likely to miss.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
Syd laid a calming hand on her thigh. “Relax, sweetheart. It’s not a contest. I’m not jealous.”
“Good. You shouldn’t be.” Maddie covered her hand with hers. “I’ve never loved anyone as much as I love you.”
“I know that. But I also know how much room you have in that big heart of yours. And I think young Mr. Lawrence is on his way to staking out a hefty-sized piece of real estate in there.”
“Maybe.” Maddie’s voice was noncommittal.
“So?”
Maddie met her gaze. “So?”
“So, did Ada ask you to keep him while she’s in rehab?”
Maddie looked at her in amazement. “Do you have some secret powers of omniscience or prognostication that you’ve carefully kept hidden from me?”
Syd smiled back. “What makes you think I wasn’t just lurking outside her hospital room door eavesdropping?”
“That was going to be my next guess.”
Syd squeezed her thigh. “I’m so sure.”
“Come on. How did you know?”
“Well, as much as I’d like to take credit for possessing psychic powers, I guess I have to confess that Elise told me she was going to ask you about it.”
Maddie looked incredulous. “She did?”
“Um hmm.”
“You mean, you knew about this all afternoon?”
“Yep.”
“And still you acted completely calm and seemed to have a good time with him?”
“It would appear so.”
“I think I’m having an out-of-body experience right now.”
“Well, try and retain the use of your faculties until this thing is safely on the ground, okay? You can take all the time you need to freak out once we’re back in Jericho.”
“Syd?”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
Syd kissed her warmly on the cheek. “It’s a good thing you do, Stretch. You’d be S.O.L. otherwise.”
Maddie looked thoughtful for a moment. “Not that I’m disagreeing with you or anything, but why, exactly, would I be shit outta luck if I didn’t love you? I mean, I’m asking just for discussion purposes.”
Syd sighed. “Because without me on hand to cook for him, Henry would last less than a week on your pathetic diet of Ramen noodles and pimento cheese.”
Maddie seemed to think about that. “So, does that mean we’re considering Ada’s request?”
“Were you in any doubt that we would consider it?”
“I guess not.”
“I have only one request.”
“What’s that?”
“Whatever you do, don’t ask my father for his opinion.”
Maddie laughed. “Understood.” After a pause she added, “But you do have to admit that this a damn sight easier than in vitro fertilization.”
Syd snorted. “And I thought that getting a spare house key was a big step.” She eyed Maddie critically. “Is there anything you do with baby steps?”
Maddie looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
“Bad choice of words. Forget I said that.”
Maddie squeezed her hand. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget this conversation.”
“Me either.” They were quiet for a moment. “We must be nuts.”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
They fell quiet again, and then Syd laughed.
“What is it?”
“I was just thinking about poor Tom. Somehow, I think this announcement might trump an accidental kiss.”
“Aw, shucks. You mean I don’t get to lay one on you in front of him? I was really looking forward to that.”
“Honey, I think you’ve laid enough on me for one day, don’t you?”
“I suppose so.”
“But you know,” Syd moved her hand up and down Maddie’s thigh, “maybe later, I can lay something on you.”
Maddie regarded her with a sober expression. “You do realize that this is an open mike, right?”
Syd felt herself blush up to the roots of her hair. “Please tell me that you’re kidding?”
Maddie just chuckled and refused to answer. Syd’s entreaties ended only with the flight.
Chapter 25
Maddie and Syd arrived at the Inn just after six-thirty. Syd noticed Tom’s car in the parking lot, and was surprised to see Lizzy’s Subaru. She hadn’t seen Lizzy since the horrible events with Beau earlier in the week. She looked at Maddie as they pulled into a space next to Tom’s SUV.
“Did you know that Lizzy would be here?”
Maddie shook her head as she unclipped her seatbelt. “No. I suppose it could be a coincidence, but, knowing David, I doubt it.”
Syd smiled. “Well, I hope he did invite her. I think she certainly qualifies as extended family, now.”
“I do, too.” They got out and began the short walk to the wide front porch of the Inn. “She hasn’t mentioned anything to me about the dynamics she observed between us that night. I respect her reticence, but I’m sure she’s beyond curious about everything.”
Syd laughed. “Well, she needs to get in line.” She poked Maddie on the arm. “We should charge admission.”
“Yeah. Normally, I’d be enjoying this fifteen minutes of fame.”
“You mean you aren’t now?”
“Not so much.”
They started up the steps to the porch. Syd looked up at her in the ambient light. She appeared completely distracted. “Why not?”
Maddie shrugged. “I’m too preoccupied with everything we’ll have to do to kid-proof the house.”
Syd laughed and tugged her to a dark corner, away from the light that was pouring out of the big front doors. “Honey, he’s five, not two. He isn’t going to be playing with knives or putting his hands on the top of the stove. He already knows how to swim, and I’m fairly certain he knows how to navigate a flight of stairs.” She gave her an ironic smile. “And I doubt that he’ll have much interest in taking apart your mother’s piano.” She pulled Maddie closer. “Relax. We can figure all of this out.”
Maddie looked dubious. “You sure?”
“Positive.”
Maddie sighed, then kissed her on the forehead. “We have to be crazy. Why aren’t we starting smaller—like with another dog, or something?”
Syd leaned into her for a moment. “I don’t want to scare you, but I really do believe that things happen for a reason.”
“Syd . . .”
“I know, I know. You’re the hardboiled scientist, here. But admit it. Cause precedes effect. We each make the choices we make for a reason.” She smiled up at her. “You chose to let Henry be seated next to you on that long flight. You could just as easily have said no.”
“But I didn’t
.”
“No. You didn’t.”
Maddie sighed. “You could have said no to fostering him, too.”
“I could have.”
“But you didn’t.”
“I didn’t.”
“I guess you’re right, then.”
Syd smiled. “And David says you aren’t trainable.”
Maddie rolled her eyes. She took Syd by the arm and steered her back toward the entrance to the Inn. “Let’s go, Lucy. You got some ’splaining to do.”
Inside, they heard voices and laughter emanating from the bar. Tom was the first one to spot them as they entered. He had been standing next to Lizzy near the back of the room, but he excused himself and walked forward as soon as he saw them. He warmly embraced his sister.
“Hey there, shortstop. Clearly, some people will go to any lengths to get a few days off.” He stood back and looked her over. The bruise on her face had completely faded. He kept an arm around her shoulders as he leaned forward and kissed Maddie on the cheek.
“Hi ya, Doc. Thanks for keeping this one off the streets, and for giving me such a convenient excuse to see more of you.”
“It’s good to see you again, too, Tom.” Maddie smiled. “And don’t give me too much credit. I’m getting the better end of this deal.”
Tom looked smugly at Syd, clearly pleased with this response.
Syd decided that there was no need to forestall the inevitable. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Tom, but I think you’ve got your wires crossed on this one.”
He looked back and forth between them. “Why? Am I missing something here?”
Syd took hold of Maddie’s hand. “Don’t think of it so much as missing something. Think of it more as gaining something. In this case, think of it as gaining a sister-in-law.”
Tom looked at her in confusion. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Syd stepped closer to Maddie and raised their linked hands. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “We’re gay, Tom.”
Tom stood there slack-jawed. “You’re . . . you mean . . .” He waved his hand between them. “You two? No way. I don’t believe it.”
Syd nodded patiently. “Believe it. Mom and Dad know. You can ask them.”
Tom stared at her in stunned silence. “You’re gay? When the hell did this happen?”
“It would take a philosopher to answer that question, but we’re together now, and I’ve never been happier.”
“Holy shit.”
Syd smiled. “My sentiments, exactly.”
He looked at Maddie. “You’re gay?”
Maddie nodded. “It would appear so.”
He shook his head. “I need a drink.”
Maddie placed a calming hand on his shoulder. “Fortunately, we’re in the right place for that. Come on, I’ll buy.”
He looked at her in amazement. “Thanks . . . Sis.”
She laughed and led him back toward the bar.
Syd stood there, watching them depart. Then she made her way to the big front window, where Lizzy stood with a glass of wine.
Syd gave her a hug, stood back, and held her at arm’s length. “I’m glad to see you here.”
Lizzy inclined her head toward David, who was busy behind the bar. “I didn’t have much choice. He can be pretty compelling.”
Syd laughed. “Don’t I know it? Have you met my parents yet?”
“No.” Lizzy gestured toward Maddie and Tom. “But I have met your brother.”
Syd laid a hand on her forearm. “I apologize in advance for Tom.”
Lizzy looked confused. “Whatever for?”
Syd smiled. “Just consider it a preemptive measure.”
Lizzy looked toward the bar. Maddie and Tom stood laughing and talking with David. “I can’t imagine why you’d feel the need to apologize. He seems perfectly charming.”
Syd looked at her in amazement. “Are you sure you’ve completely recovered from our recent ordeal? Do you have some lingering fever? Paranoid delusions? Night terrors? Anything that would cloud your normally perfect judgment in this disturbing way?”
Lizzy just laughed. “I can see that you and your brother share the same level of devotion and attachment that my sister and I enjoy.”
“Families,” Syd quoted. “Can’t live with ’em—”
“Can’t live without ’em,” Lizzy finished.
They smiled at each other.
“How are you, really?” Syd asked.
Lizzy considered her question. “I’m okay. I went back home the next night. I felt I needed to. I didn’t want to give Beau that kind of power over me, you know?”
Syd nodded. “I understand perfectly.”
“How about you? Will the library reopen? Will you be able to return to your apartment any time soon?”
“The state feels confident that we could reopen the library as soon as the restoration work is completed, but that might take as long as a month. The county, however, is less optimistic. A lot of the decision about whether or not to reopen will be driven by how expensive it is to repair the building itself. The state only insured the contents of the facility, not the physical structure. At best, I think we might be looking at some reductions in the level of service.”
“And at worst?”
“It might not reopen at all.”
Lizzy’s face fell. “Oh, no. That would be a horrible thing for the county.” She hesitated. “And for you.” Syd noticed her eyes cut quickly to Maddie. “What would you do?”
Syd shrugged. “I don’t know. I’d have a lot to figure out.”
Lizzy nodded. “You would.”
“Well, let’s not embrace doomsday scenarios until we have to. For tonight, we have a lot to celebrate.” She smiled. “Maddie and I have some interesting news to share, and it’s guaranteed to set tongues wagging from one end of this county to the other.”
“Really?” Lizzy looked like she was trying hard not to smile.
“Really,” Syd replied. “And it’s not what you think.” She paused. “Well . . . it’s not only what you think.” She sighed and shook her head. “Okay, it’s exactly what you think, but with a surprising twist.”
“Okaaaayy. So how long do we have to wait to find out?”
Out of the corner of her eye, Syd saw her mother and father enter the room from the hallway. Michael and Phoebe Jenkins were just behind them. “Not long. It looks like the gang’s all here.”
DAVID SIDLED UP next to Maddie. Tom had drifted off with a freshly filled mug of beer, plainly headed toward Lizzy. Maddie watched him as he walked away.
“I see that you’ve dashed the hopes of yet another wannabe suitor,” David observed.
Maddie sighed. “Do you ever get tired of spinning all these yarns?”
“Nope. Just call me Clotho. Besides,” he nudged her as they watched Tom join Syd and Lizzy, “I think his broken heart might mend, and soon.”
Maddie looked at him. “Meaning?”
“Duh. Is there something wrong with your eyesight, Cinderella? Methinks the hot and hunky Mr. Murphy might just want to play a game of tell-me-where-it-hurts with your lovely Miss Clara Barton over there.”
Maddie rolled her eyes. “Oh, give me a break.”
“Fine. Don’t say I didn’t call it first.”
Against her will, Maddie looked at Tom and Lizzy. They were laughing and standing together in postures that suggested openness, and interest. Holy shit, she thought. Could he be right? She thought she saw Lizzy pass something that looked like a business card to Tom.
David chuckled.
“Oh, shut up,” she said. “Get me a glass of something.”
He raised his hands. “I hear and obey.”
“That would be a first.”
David retreated behind the bar and poured her a generous glass of red wine. “Why do you persist in abusing me?” He shook his head. “I think it must be tied to the appalling dearth of male pheromones in your life.”
Maddie took a healthy sip of her wine. “O
h, really?”
“Yes. I’ve spent some time exploring this idea. You lash out at men—me, in particular—because you have next to no experience with how to relate to us.”
Maddie rolled her eyes. “Don’t think the fact that I’m not flinging this drink into your face signifies any kind of agreement with your ridiculous hypothesis. I just happen to be very thirsty.”
“On the contrary. I think you know I’m right.”
“You’re right?”
“I am.”
“I suffer because I have no experience in how to deal with men?”
“No. I believe what I said is that I suffer because you have no experience in how to deal with men.”
She set her wine glass down on top of the bar and crossed her arms. “So, illuminate me. Besides knowing that I need to look before I sit down on a toilet seat, what sage and searing insights into the male experience am I missing?”
“I refuse to dignify your lack of sincerity with a thoughtful response.”
“Uh huh. Well, hold that thought, because the universe may have provided a means to address what, by your account, are my shortcomings.”
David raised an eyebrow. “Does it involve elective surgery?”
Maddie sighed. “No.”
“Hormone injections?”
“No.”
“Flannel shirts or bowling shoes?”
“Not even close.”
“Then color me intrigued. What stunning revelation is about to befall us?”
“What makes you think I’m poised to reveal anything?”
“Why else would we all be gathered together here?”
She waved her hand at the room. “You tell me. You invited half the guests.”
“That wasn’t me. Your in-laws were the ones who wanted to host a party. I merely facilitated.”
“Right. By setting Lizzy up with Tom?”
“Does it look like she’s complaining?”
Maddie looked at the couple in question. They definitely did not seem unhappy to be in each other’s company. She sighed. “No. I have to bow to your superior judgment on that one.”
“Thank you. I do have my moments.”
“That you do.”
“And, hey? You aren’t the only one with interesting news to impart. My mama has an intriguing announcement of her own to make. That’s why I asked her to join us.”