by Marie Force
“Tell me… I want to know.”
Shane gathered her into his arms, his muscular body pressed against hers. “You’ve got me completely addicted to you. Your sweetness, your laughter, your softness.” As he spoke, he began to enter her slowly, whispering into her ear, “Your tight, wet heat. I like talking to you as much as I like doing this.” He gave her more, making Katie moan from the overwhelming pleasure that overtook her. “God, Katie…
“You make me wonder how I survived for so long without you. Without this.”
After that, there were no more words as they moved together. It was different this time. Katie couldn’t deny there was a deeper connection between them now. And as she came apart in his arms, she accepted she was lost to him. Completely and totally lost. She’d given him everything, her heart, her body and her soul.
Chapter 32
News traveled fast in a small town. Seamus heard about Lisa’s grim diagnosis while waiting in line to pay for coffee at the diner. The words “lung cancer” and “too far gone for treatment” struck him like individual blows to the gut. He barely stopped his cup from crashing to the floor.
Outside the diner, he called Joe.
“Hey, what’s up?” Joe asked when he answered on the fifth ring.
“I need a favor.”
“Sure.”
“I know it’s last minute, but can you take my eleven and two o’clock runs today?” Seamus hated to ask him, because Joe had a new baby at home, but he also hated the thought of those two little boys coping with such a devastating blow without all the support they could muster.
“Is everything okay?”
“Just heard some grim news about a neighbor. You know Lisa, who lives next door to us?”
“Of course. What’s wrong?”
“Late-stage lung cancer.”
“Oh my God. That’s horrible.”
“Your mom and I have been helping out with the kids. I feel like I need to be there today in case they need anything.”
“Definitely. I’ve got you covered. Go do what you need to do.”
“Thanks, Joe. Sorry for the late notice.”
“It’s no problem. We weren’t doing anything today. Just the usual baby gazing.”
“I appreciate the help.”
“Keep me posted on what’s going on.”
“I will.” Seamus stashed the phone in his pocket and headed for the office to let his staff know he was going home and Joe was covering for him. Driving to the house, all he could think about was those two little boys and what would become of them when they lost their mother.
He’d been six when his grandmother, his father’s mother, got sick and died somewhat suddenly. The loss of someone who was part of his everyday life had traumatized him, but he’d had his parents to get him through it. Jackson and Kyle had no one.
Why the thought of that hurt him so much, he couldn’t say. When and how their problem had become his he also couldn’t say. All he knew was that he had to do something to help them.
As Seamus approached his house, he saw David Lawrence leaving Lisa’s driveway. He slowed to a stop and waited for David to pull up next to him. “I came as soon as I heard what’s going on,” Seamus said. “How is she?”
“Overwhelmed,” David said, seeming overwhelmed himself.
“There’s nothing that can be done?”
David only shook his head.
“Where’re the kids?”
“At home for now. Jared and Lizzie James have pulled off a minor miracle and brought a whole team of people out here to tend to her and the kids.”
“What happens to them?” Seamus asked, relieved to hear some immediate help had arrived. “After?”
“We haven’t gotten that far. She’s still absorbing the news.”
Seamus nodded in understanding. “You’ll let me know if there’s anything we can do to help?”
“I will. I’ve got to get back to the clinic, but I’ll check in later.”
“See you then.” Seamus pulled up to the house he shared with his lovely bride and was relieved to see Carolina’s car in the driveway. He got out of the truck and went inside, where she had set up her beads on the kitchen table. Under normal circumstances, he loved to watch her create her masterpieces.
She looked up when he came in, her brows furrowed in puzzlement. “What’re you doing here? You’re on the eleven.”
“Joe’s taking my runs today.”
“How come?”
He dropped into a chair and reached for her hand.
“What’s wrong? You’re scaring me.”
“Lisa… She’s in a bad way. Lung cancer.”
“What? Oh no! Oh, that poor girl and those poor kids!” Tears filled her lovely eyes. “How did you hear?”
“I was at the diner, and people were talking about it. I just saw David… I asked him if there’s anything that can be done. All he could do was shake his head.”
“So awful.”
“Those kids have no one else, love. I don’t know how they came to be so alone in the world, but they are.”
“It’s heartbreaking.”
He took a deep breath and looked her in the eye. “We could step up for them.”
“How do you mean?”
“Take them in. Give them a home. After…”
“You’re serious.”
“Only if you’re on board, too. It’s a huge big deal and a lot to ask. You’ve already raised your son, so I’ll understand if you don’t have it in you to do this. I can’t explain the why of it, but as soon as I heard the news, I had this feeling come over me that I had to do something for those kids.”
“You are so good,” she said with a loving smile. “All bluster and blarney with the softest heart there ever was.”
He scowled at her even as his soft heart skipped a beat from the way she looked at him. “It’s a lot to ask of you, love.”
“No, it really isn’t. They’re wonderful boys who’ve been dealt an awful hand. And you’re absolutely right that we could and should step up for them. But it’s quite possible Lisa has made other arrangements in case something happened to her. I don’t want you to get your hopes up only to have them dashed.”
“I want to see them taken care of. However that happens is fine, as long as it happens.”
“All we can do is offer. It’ll be up to her in the end.”
“Let’s go over there and see what we can do right now. There’ll be time for that conversation when the initial shock wears off.” When she stood to join him, he took a moment to hug her. “Thank you for this. No matter what happens, I appreciate that you didn’t tell me I was nuts to even suggest it.”
“You are nuts. And you have no idea what you’re getting yourself into if this should come to pass. But I love you so much for thinking of it and being willing to step up for them.”
“I love you, too.”
“Let’s go see how we can help.”
Since Maddie was acting like everything in their lives was perfectly normal, Mac didn’t see any reason not to go to the cookout his parents were hosting to introduce Mallory to the rest of the family. If it were up to him, he’d want to stay home and spend quiet time with his wife and children. But his wife seemed to want everyone but him, so they went to the party.
The longer the weirdness with Maddie went on, the more hollow Mac felt. Of course he’d known how essential she was to him and how much he relied on her to get through every day. But until she made herself unavailable to him for several days, he hadn’t known just how essential she really was or how dependent he was on her.
For the first time in the two years they’d been together, he had no idea what to do where she was concerned. He’d always known what to do, from the first day they met and he’d forced his way into her life, he’d known what she needed and how to give it to her. Sure, he’d fumbled a few times, but he’d always managed to right the ship and keep them on an even keel.
Until now. Until they lost their ba
by and he seemed to lose her at the same time. With every day that passed in this unusual state of discontent, his worries quadrupled to the point that he felt like he would explode if it went on much longer. He’d done what everyone had told him to do and had given her some space. He’d left her alone to cope in her own way while he tried—and failed—to cope on his own.
He was to the point now, after five long days of utter misery, where he wanted to shake her and force her to deal with him. But he’d never do that. He’d never lay a hand on her with anything other than love on his mind. But the anger simmered deep inside, just below the despair, making him wonder how long he could possibly contain it before it burst forth and made everything worse.
How could she do this to him? How could she make him feel like she was blaming him for what’d happened to both of them? How could she freeze him out when he needed her more than he’d ever needed her before? As he drove his family to his parents’ house, those were the questions that burned through his mind, torturing him with the lack of answers.
The only thing he knew for sure was that he would lose his mind if this went on for much longer. After he parked outside the home he’d grown up in, the house the locals referred to as “The White House,” Mac retrieved Hailey from her car seat while Maddie saw to Thomas, laughing and joking with the little boy like she hadn’t a care in the world.
As if she knew he needed some love, Hailey snuggled into the nook between his neck and shoulder, nearly reducing Mac to tears with her sweetness. His emotions had been all over the place this week as he tried to carry on as normal. But when he was by himself, driving to the marina or in the shower or alone on his side of their big bed night after night, the tears flowed freely.
Attending a happy family get-together was the last thing he felt like doing today, but he was going through the motions because he had no good reason not to as long as Maddie was up for going. Judging from the cars parked outside, other than Janey, they were the last to arrive. They went inside to a huge crowd that included his brothers, their significant others, his Uncle Frank and Betsy, Laura, Owen, Holden, Shane, Katie, Uncle Kevin, Riley, Finn and Mallory, the guest of honor.
Mallory caught him off guard with a kiss to the cheek. “Nice to see you again.”
“You, too.”
“How’re you doing?”
Mac shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”
She eyed him skeptically but didn’t pursue it. “And who is this little angel?”
Thankful to change the subject, he said, “This is Hailey. Hailey, meet your Aunt Mallory.”
“May I?” Mallory asked, holding out her hands.
Mac didn’t want to let go of his daughter or the comfort she had provided, but he also didn’t want to be rude, so he handed her over to Mallory.
“She’s adorable. Where does she get the blonde hair?”
“Her mom was blonde as a baby.”
Carrying Thomas, Maddie came over to say hello to Mallory and to introduce her to Thomas.
“Your kids are beautiful,” Mallory said, her expression wistful as she gazed at Thomas.
For a brief second, Mac saw a hint of sadness in Maddie’s eyes that was gone as quickly as it had come.
“We adore them,” Maddie said cheerfully. “Hailey likes you. She doesn’t go willingly to too many people.”
“I’m honored,” Mallory said.
Joe, Janey and P.J. arrived a few minutes later, Janey wearing an expression of trepidation as she was introduced to Mallory.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Mallory took the hand that Janey offered. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Nice to meet you, too. I’m sorry I wasn’t here the last time.”
“No worries,” Mallory said. “You’re here now.”
“Just don’t call me Brat, and we’ll get along fine.”
Mallory laughed. “You got it.”
Mac watched the proceedings with a sense of disjointedness. Normally he’d be thrilled to spend the afternoon with his family and to see Janey taking an important step with their new sister, but it was impossible for him to enjoy anything when he was at odds with Maddie.
Tucked up against Shane’s side, Katie felt like she had to be dreaming. He wanted her close to him all the time. If they were together, he was touching her in some way, regardless of who might be watching. Here now, in front of his entire family, he was making a very public declaration, and Katie loved it. She loved him.
She hadn’t said the words to him yet, but she wouldn’t be surprised if he knew how she felt.
Yes, it had happened fast, and yes, she was a bit dizzy from the whirlwind speed of their relationship. But she was also euphoric and excited and filled with anticipation of what was ahead for them. If only she hadn’t insisted on waiting awhile to talk about what came next for them.
He’d asked her to move in with him, and that was all she’d thought about since she received that note. She hadn’t told anyone, even Julia, that they were talking about such things out of fear that everyone would think she was crazy to go from never having had a boyfriend to living with the man who’d taken her on her first date.
But every instinct she had was telling her to go for it, to leap with both feet and let Shane catch her. If only it weren’t for the lingering, nagging doubts about whether he was truly over Courtney, she’d say to hell with the deadline and tell him now that she wanted the same things he did.
He hadn’t said or done anything to lead her to believe his mind was still locked in the past. She’d picked up on subtle things, such as the way he’d zone out sometimes, staring into space, his thoughts obviously somewhere far away from her. Though he was focused entirely on her except for those infrequent periods, the doubts festered despite her desperate desire to ignore them.
After they’d eaten a delicious steak dinner, Shane’s Aunt Linda asked her son Evan to play for them. Sitting on his uncle’s spacious deck with Shane’s arms around her from behind, the sun setting over the Salt Pond and Evan’s incredible voice singing “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith, Katie had never been happier or more content.
Shane whispered the words to the song in her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.
It took everything she had not to tell him right then that she’d stay with him forever if he’d have her. Later that night, while he made passionate love to her, Katie told herself she was a fool for worrying about where else his thoughts might be when he was so obviously devoted to her.
But the doubts niggled just the same, growing and multiplying in the week between the cookout and the wedding when his periods of melancholy seemed to grow more frequent. The closer they got to their self-imposed deadline, the more worried Katie became about whether it might be a huge mistake to give him everything.
While Shane was at Grant’s bachelor party, Katie went downstairs to the Bistro, where the girls were celebrating Stephanie’s second-to-last night as a single woman. The women were in high spirits as they drank champagne and toasted the bride, and Katie enjoyed the evening with women who were starting to feel like friends, especially her new sister-in-law.
“I miss drinking,” Laura said mournfully. “I feel like I’ve been pregnant for years.”
“Well, you kind of have been.”
“A few more months, and I’ll never be pregnant again.”
“Is Maddie okay? She was hitting the champagne hard.”
“I noticed that, too. Tiffany will get her home.” Laura shifted her gaze from watching Maddie to Katie. “So things are good with Shane?”
“Very good.”
“It’s nice to see him happy again.”
“Does he seem happy? Really?” As she asked the question, Katie realized how badly she needed an objective opinion. Was she reading more into his frequent silences than they warranted?
“Why would you ask that? Is something wrong?”
“I don’t know. I hope not, but…” She lowered her voice to ensure no one would hear her. The others were so c
aught up in the celebration that she and Laura could speak freely. “Sometimes, he seems… remote, as if something is weighing on his mind, but he doesn’t want me to know. When we’re together, he’s completely focused on me, but I still sense something is amiss. And I have absolutely no experience at this and no way to know if I’m overreacting, looking for something that isn’t there or have cause to be genuinely worried.”
“Have you asked him?”
“No,” Katie said with a sigh. “I haven’t, because I’m afraid of what he might say.”
“That’s a tough one. It’s possible—and I only say this as speculation, not because he’s said anything to me—that he might be still dealing with some fallout from Courtney’s sudden reappearance. But that doesn’t mean he’s not totally invested in you.”
“How can he be totally invested in me if he’s still thinking about her?” As Katie gave voice to her greatest fear, her stomach began to ache.
“I think you should talk to him. Ask him what he’s thinking about when he punches out.”
“The thought of asking him that makes me feel sick. I’m also afraid he’ll be mad, because he’s told me how he feels and what he wants. I’m the one who’s holding out, so what right do I have to question him? You know?”
“I hate Courtney for reopening that wound just when it was finally starting to heal.”
“Part of me is grateful to her because he got some answers, but the other part of me wishes he didn’t know that she never stopped loving him. I feel like I’m out on a huge limb in a stiff breeze in this situation, hanging on by my fingertips.”
“Do you love him?”
Katie nodded. “Very much so.”
“Tell him. That might make all the difference for him.” Laura rested her hand on Katie’s arm. “And for what it’s worth, I’m thrilled that you love him. I think you’re perfect for him.”
“Thank you.” She hugged her sister-in-law. “I know what I need to do.”
Chapter 33
Dan Torrington threw one hell of a bachelor party. Since Grant had been unwilling to choose one of his three brothers, he’d asked Dan to be his best man. They’d gorged on prime rib, lobster, top-shelf liquor and Cuban cigars at the party Dan had thrown for Grant at the marina.