by Marie Force
Laura was so happy for Janey, who deserved every bit of happiness with Joe. After Janey had spent thirteen years with the wrong man, Joe had swept her off her feet and finally let her see how much he’d loved her from afar for so long. And then he’d rearranged his entire life so he could go to Ohio with her when she realized her lifelong dream of getting into veterinary school. Her sweet cousin had landed herself one of the good guys, and Laura couldn’t be happier for her.
If only she could say the same for herself.
“Aren’t you cold out here?”
Startled by a deep voice, Laura spun around to find Owen Lawry removing his jacket and handing it to her. She was so numb she hadn’t even realized she was cold. Wrapping the jacket around her, she was engulfed in his warm, masculine scent. The thoughtful gesture brought a lump to her throat that Laura cleared away, determined to keep a tight lid on her despair in the midst of such happiness. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” Like he had earlier, he lowered himself to her height to meet her gaze. The light from inside the house cast a faint glow over the deck, making it possible for her to make out his features in the dimness. “Everything okay?”
“Never better.”
“Somehow I don’t believe you.”
Unprepared for his insight, Laura bundled deeper into the coat.
“I heard you’re a newlywed yourself.”
She winced at his casually inquisitive tone.
“I guess your husband couldn’t make it for the wedding.”
What the hell? They’d all find out eventually. “It was more that he couldn’t make it for the marriage.”
There was just enough light for her to see the shock register on his face. “You wanna run that by me one more time?”
“We were married in May,” she said, her heart aching as she recalled the happiest day of her life. “A big, beautiful wedding in Providence. In June, two of my bridesmaids came to me looking like they hadn’t slept for days. One of them had seen his picture on an online dating service and had queried his profile anonymously thinking he’d tell her he’s married now. Except that’s not what he did.”
“Oh, man.”
“Exactly. He made a date with her, and she went to the restaurant just to see if he’d actually show. There he was, my husband, waiting to meet her. She made sure he never saw her.” Laura couldn’t believe she was sharing her nightmare with a perfect stranger when she hadn’t even worked up the nerve to tell her aunt, uncle or cousins yet. No doubt it was easier telling him than it would be to tell them. “When they came to my house, I could tell something was terribly wrong, but I never thought…I never suspected…”
“Why would you?”
Shrugging, she rested a hand on the rail that framed the deck as the wind whipped at her shoulder-length hair. “Afterward, with hindsight, there were signs. I guess I chose to ignore them because I was so happy. We’d dated for three years, and I finally had everything I’d always wanted. Or at least I thought I did.”
His hand landed on her shoulder, offering comfort. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Princess. He was the fool who didn’t know how lucky he was to have you.”
“That’s nice of you to say, but you don’t even know me. How do you know I wasn’t a total shrew of a wife?”
Owen laughed softly. “I guess I don’t.” Raising a rakish eyebrow, he said, “Were you?”
“I might’ve been if we’d made it to the second month.”
“That’s usually when the trouble starts.”
“And you know this from experience?”
His face twisted with feigned horror. “Hell, no. I’ve heard rumors. That’s all.”
“Ahh,” Laura said, amused by his attempts to prop her up. He seemed like someone who’d make for a good friend. “I see. Rumors. Do you believe everything you hear?”
“Hardly. I’m sorry such a shitty thing happened to you. No one deserves to be treated that way.”
“You’re right about that.”
“If it had to happen, at least it was before kids were involved.”
“Yeah.” Laura stared into the darkness, feeling dead inside. “Thank goodness for that.”
“I have some news that might lift your spirits,” he said with that effortlessly charming grin he did so well.
“What’s that?”
“I talked to my grandmother this afternoon and told her about our tour earlier. She wondered if you might be interested in a job.”
Intrigued, Laura folded her arms to tighten the coat around her. “What kind of job?”
“Running the Sand & Surf.”
She gasped. “You’re not serious.”
“I’m very serious, and so is she. I told her how much you’ve always loved the place, how excited you were to see the inside, and she said you sounded like the answer to her prayers. That’s a direct quote, by the way.”
Astounded, Laura stared at him. “But I don’t know a thing about running a hotel! I majored in history.”
“I talked to Libby, who runs the Beachcomber. She said she’d be happy to lend a hand to get you started. Of course, the old girl needs some work after being closed up the last few years, but you’d have the winter to get her ready for next season.”
Laura was reeling. “You’re really serious.”
“As serious as I ever get about anything.”
“Wow. I just… Wow.”
Owen laughed and tugged on a strand of her hair. “You don’t have to decide anything tonight, Princess. Think about it for a couple of days.”
Laura wondered how she’d manage to think of anything else now that the possibility had been presented to her. “What’s in it for you if I agree to this?”
“Nothing more than knowing my grandparents have some peace of mind. They mean a lot to me.”
Evan stuck his head out the door. “Hey, O. You wanna play?”
“Be right there.”
“Cool.”
Owen returned his attention to her. “So you’ll think about it?”
“I will. Thank you for the offer.”
“Sure thing. You know where to find me when you decide.”
“Oh, your coat.”
He stopped her from removing the jacket. “You need it more than I do.”
“Um, don’t say anything. About what I told you. I haven’t gotten around to telling my family. Not only is it embarrassing and humiliating, I didn’t want to bring all my crap to Janey’s wedding.”
Owen surprised her when he leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “They won’t hear it from me.”
Nodding, Laura bit her bottom lip to contain a sudden rush of emotion brought on by the kindness of a stranger.
“Any special requests?”
Confused, she looked up at him. “What do you mean?”
“A song,” he said with an indulgent smile.
Without hesitation, she said, “Anything by James Taylor.”
“You got it, Princess.”
He left her on the porch, and through the screen door, she heard him talking to Evan as they set up. A hush fell over the room as the two guitars found perfect harmony. When she heard the opening notes of “You’ve Got a Friend,” she couldn’t contain the smile that spread across her face.
Ned’s heart ached as he watched Francine play with her grandchildren on the other side of the big room. Owen and Evan were keeping the group entertained with their music, but Ned couldn’t seem to pull his gaze off her and the babies.
As if she sensed him watching her, Francine looked up all of a sudden and locked eyes with him.
Ned felt the impact in every cell of his body. Damned if he hadn’t reacted to her the exact same way from the first time those green eyes connected with his at the ferry landing the day she first arrived on Gansett. He knew he should look away but couldn’t seem to actually do it.
Normally, he’d be over there with her, playing with the babies, enjoying the party together. Normally, she’d be whispering pithy co
mments in his ear that made him laugh even when he didn’t mean to.
Little Ashleigh tugged on a lock of her grandmother’s hair, and Francine finally looked away from him.
A piece of him died at the loss of the brief contact. It took all he had to remain seated, to pretend he was engrossed in the music, that he cared about anything other than why she’d pushed him away when everything about them together worked. It worked just as well now as it had more than thirty years ago, before Bobby Chester showed up and ruined everything.
While he nursed a beer and pretended to keep his focus on Evan and Owen, Ned was keenly aware of Francine’s every move. That’s how he saw Mac scoop up Thomas and take him to kiss his mother on their way upstairs, presumably to put the little guy to bed. A minute later, Tiffany came to claim Ashleigh, who kissed her grandmother good night. They made a stop at the sofa so Ashleigh could hug and kiss her Aunt Maddie before they left to go home.
Sitting by herself, Francine’s hands twitching nervously in her lap as if she had no idea what to do with them. When Ned realized she’d gotten up and was walking toward him, his heart beat funny and his hands got all sweaty. He waited until she was standing right in front of him before he bothered to glance up at her.
“Something on yer mind, doll?” He was rather proud of the nonchalant tone, if he did say so himself.
“I, um, I wanted to, um, tell you…”
Ned reached up to link their fingers. “Whatever ya gotta say, just say it. Ya’ll feel better after.”
“I have some things…I need to take care of.”
“Anything I can help ya with?”
She bit her lip and shook her head.
Even though he wanted to drag her out of there and force her to tell him what had her so distressed, he squeezed her hand and released it. “Ya know where I am if there’s anything I can do for ya.”
“I’m sorry…for—”
“Don’t be sorry ’bout nothin’. Take care of what ya gotta take care of and then come find me. Don’t be a stubborn old cuss and think I won’t want ya because of whatcha said earlier. I’ll always want ya.”
Tears filled her eyes, and she looked away. “I never was good enough for you.”
“Now yer just trying to piss me off, doll.”
That drew a reluctant smile from her. “Thanks for understanding.”
He wanted to tell her he didn’t understand anything, but he kept the thought to himself. Rather, he nodded because he didn’t trust himself to speak. Maddie waved to get his attention and pointed to her mother. “Looks like yer girl wants to see ya.”
Francine turned to look at Maddie. “I guess I’d better go check on her.”
“Don’t let me keep ya.”
“I’ll be back, Ned.”
“I’ll be waiting, doll.”
His heart about stopped when she bent to press a kiss to his forehead. He watched her walk away, filled with hope that whatever had her all worked up wouldn’t be the end of them.
Maddie had tried to ignore it all night. Braxton-Hicks contractions, she’d told herself. Everyone had them in the last trimester. Except, as the night wore on, she could no longer deny the truth. The tightening in her abdomen, the regular waves of increasingly sharp pains, the growing urge to push… She was in labor, two months early, on an island that was currently cut off from the mainland by a slow-moving tropical storm and not a doctor to be had.
She wanted to weep with regret for being so mule-headed about staying on the island after the first early labor scare. How could she have been so foolish to risk her baby and herself this way? Why hadn’t she listened to Mac when he’d tried to convince her to move to the mainland and live at Joe’s place until the baby was born?
“None of that matters now, you fool,” she whispered to herself as a new pain stole her breath and caused her to break out in a cold sweat. Her eyes darted around the room, and she was relieved to see no sign of Mac, who was still upstairs with Thomas. She had to figure out a plan before he returned.
She tried to get Janey’s attention, but her sister-in-law was all wrapped up in Joe and talking to her cousin Laura. Her mother was having an intense conversation with Ned, and her sister Tiffany had left to take Ashleigh home to bed.
“Everything okay?”
Maddie looked up to find Stephanie standing beside the sofa.
“Ah, well…” Another sharp pain stole the words and the breath from her lungs.
Stephanie squatted next to the sofa. “What’s wrong? You’re pale as a ghost and sweating.”
“I think I’m in labor,” she whispered.
“Oh my God!”
Maddie clutched the other woman’s arm. “Please, before Mac gets back, go tell Abby to find Victoria. She’s the midwife who works for Cal. Abby might know where she is. Tell her to hurry.”
While Stephanie, wide-eyed and panicked, scurried off to find Abby, Maddie focused on the breathing exercises she’d been taught before she had Thomas. His birth had been easy and uncomplicated. This one would be the same. She was sure of it. The baby might be coming early, but he or she would be just fine.
Tears burned her eyes as a wave of overwhelming fear was upstaged by another strong contraction that had her biting back the need to push. As Abby came over to her, Maddie’s water broke in a gush of liquid that soaked the blanket she’d put under her, just in case.
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “Oh my God.”
Chapter 9
Mac helped Thomas into his new “big-boy” bed and tucked the covers in tight around him, the way he did every night.
“Now remember, no getting out of bed unless you have to go potty,” Mac reminded him. Since Thomas moved from the crib, they’d woken to a visitor in their bed on many a night and were trying to get him used to staying in his own bed.
“Okay, Dada.” He reached his chubby arms up for a hug, and Mac melted into his sweet embrace. Blowing kisses on the boy’s neck that made him squeal with delight, Mac tried to remember what it’d been like to be a confirmed bachelor with no plans for a family of his own.
Then he’d knocked Thomas’s mother off her bike in an accident that turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him. Now he couldn’t imagine life without Thomas or his mother. That another child would soon join their little family filled Mac’s cup to overflowing.
“Love you, buddy,” he said, giving Thomas one last noisy kiss.
“Love you, Dada.”
His speech reverted to baby talk when he was tired, and his blue eyes were struggling to stay open at the moment. “See you in the morning.” From the doorway, Mac watched Thomas roll to his side and pop his thumb into his mouth. He’d be out cold in under a minute. Hopefully, he’d stay that way until at least seven the next morning, which was probably wishful thinking. His son was an early riser, and Mac had adjusted his own internal clock to match Thomas’s, especially since Maddie had been stuck on bed rest.
Anxious to check on her, he headed for the stairs, set the gate that would keep Thomas contained if he got up and stopped short when he realized the music had stopped and everyone was gathered around the sofa.
Sensing trouble, Mac couldn’t quite seem to make his feet move to take him down the stairs where he’d no doubt learn something he didn’t want to know. His sister looked up, saw him there and gestured for him to come. The urgency in her gesture and the expression on her face stopped his heart.
“Maddie.” On shaky legs, he raced down the stairs. The group parted to let him in. He took one look at her pale face and caramel-color eyes wide with fear and knew his worst nightmare had come true. Dropping to his knees next to her, he took her hand.
“I’m so sorry,” she said as tears spilled from her eyes. “I should’ve listened to you.”
“What do you mean—”
Her sharp cry sent a bolt of fear racing through him as she released his hand to brace her extended abdomen.
Janey squeezed his shoulder. “She’s in labor, Mac. Her
water broke a few minutes ago.”
“Did someone call for Cal? We need him!” He spun around, looking for Abby. “Did you call him?”
Abby looked down at the floor. “He’s…ah…”
“He’s off-island,” Joe said. “He left earlier today because his mother had a stroke in Texas.”
Mac’s mind went blank as Joe’s words registered. When Cal hadn’t come to the party, Mac had assumed he was working. Jesus… No doctor. A tropical storm. No way off the island. This was far worse than all the dramatic scenarios his overactive imagination had conjured in the last few weeks.
“Victoria, the nurse midwife, is on her way,” Abby said. “She’ll be here any minute.”
“It’s time for everyone to go home,” Linda said, taking charge. “We’ll let you know as soon as we have some news to share.” She ushered the subdued group from the house.
“Janey!” Maddie panted her way through another contraction. “Stay. Please.”
“I’m not going anywhere, honey,” Janey said, smoothing the sweat-soaked hair off Maddie’s forehead.
Mac’s brothers squeezed his shoulder in support as they departed. His mother told Evan to take their father home because she was staying. He heard Joe say that he’d stay, too, in case they needed him.
“I’m not going anywhere until my grandbaby is born,” Big Mac bellowed, sounding more like his old self than he had in weeks. “It’ll be okay, son,” he said, bending to embrace Mac’s shoulders. “She’s young and strong, and everything will be fine.”
Though he clung desperately to his father’s reassuring words, Mac’s heart raced with fear, and his eyes were glued to Maddie.
“Mac…” Her voice was tense and her breathing erratic. “Need you.”
Those two small words punctured the layer of shock, snapping him out of the stupor. It didn’t matter if they were stuck on an island in a storm or the doctor was gone or that she hadn’t listened to him. Right now, the only thing that mattered was that she needed him, and he wouldn’t let her down.
“I’m here, baby,” he said.
“So sorry,” she panted. “Should’ve listened to you. You were right.”