by Marie Force
“Do yourself a favor, Oliver,” Mac said, “and don’t listen to too much of what goes on with the four of them. You may find yourself in need of bail money if you do.”
“He’s fulla crap,” Ned said. “Stick with us. We’ll show ya a good time.”
“Are we still fishing this afternoon?” Frank asked.
“That’s the plan,” Big Mac said. “You’re welcome to come along, Oliver.”
“That’s very nice of you. Let me see what Dara wants to do today before I commit to anything.”
“Spoken like a wise man,” Kevin said.
“What brings you to our fair island?” Frank asked as he helped himself to a second doughnut.
“My wife and I were in need of a reset after we lost our three-year-old son.”
“Oh God,” Kevin said. “I’m so sorry.
The other men chimed in with their condolences.
“Thank you. It happened more than a year ago, but we’re still reeling. When I saw the ad for the lighthouse keeper’s job, something about it spoke to me. I’m hoping we can start over here and figure out a way forward.”
“You’ve come to the right place,” Mac said. “We have so many friends and family members who’ve come here at difficult times in their lives and found peace in this place.”
“That’s good to hear,” Oliver said. “We’re in bad need of some peace.”
“If there’s anything we can do…” Kevin said.
“Kev’s a therapist,” Big Mac said. “A damned good one, too, from what I hear.”
“Wow, you guys have it all here, huh?”
“We have everything you need,” Big Mac said.
“Except fer power,” Ned said, making everyone laugh.
As Big Mac watched Oliver join in the laughter, he had a feeling his island was going to be good for his new young friend.
Chapter 28
Seamus was up long before the boys and Caro and had already drunk two cups of coffee he’d brewed on the gas grill by the time she joined him on the deck.
“Another scorcher,” she said, grimacing at the heat.
“Looks that way.”
“Still no power?”
“Nope.”
“We need a generator for the next time this happens.”
“I already made some calls about getting one installed this fall.”
“Did you sleep?”
“Nope.”
“Seamus…” She sighed as she lowered herself into the chair next to his. “You can’t make yourself sick over this.”
“Too late.” He got up, poured her a cup of coffee and handed it to her. “I wouldn’t trust the cream at this point.”
She made a face at the thought of drinking it black.
“I’ve been thinking…” Seamus returned to his seat, shifting so he could look directly at her. “What if we allowed the boys’ father to see them, but we introduce him as a friend of ours, not as their father. We could offer him that in exchange for him leaving us be. Then later, when they’re older and more settled, we could tell them who he really is, and it’d be up to them whether or not they wish to continue seeing him.”
“What if he wants more than that?”
“He can’t have more than that. We’re their legal guardians.”
“He could challenge us in court.”
“I don’t think he will. There’s a reason Lisa kept him out of their lives and didn’t even consider contacting him when she knew she was dying. He knows what that reason is, and it probably wouldn’t take much digging on our part to discover what it is. What do you think of my idea?”
“I worry the boys will resent us someday for not telling them who he is from the beginning.”
“I think we could say—truthfully—that we wanted the chance to get to know him and make sure he’d be a good influence in their lives before we told them the truth. There’s also a chance he might want to see them once, and we’ll never hear from him again. If we tell them who he is, and he disappears after seeing them, then they have someone else to mourn.”
“That’s true.” She reached for his hand and linked their fingers. “You seem calmer than you were yesterday.”
“On the outside, maybe. Inside, I’m still a mess of fear and anxiety.”
“You’re hiding it better today.”
“I keep reminding myself of what Dan said, how the law is on our side because Lisa made us their legal guardians. I’m trying to have faith in that.”
“You’re a wonderful father, Seamus. Those boys are so lucky to have you.”
“You really think so? Half the time I feel like I’m making a regular mess of it.”
“I really think so, and you’re not making a mess of it. They adore you. They follow you around like two little puppies, hanging on your every word and watching everything you do.”
“I love them so much.”
“And they know it. I think you should pitch your plan to Dan so he has that information if he needs it when he talks to the other attorney.”
“You’d be willing to let him see them under the conditions I mentioned?”
“If it meant keeping everything the way it is now, I’d be willing.”
“And we agree that not telling them who he is, not now, anyway, is the right thing to do?”
“I think so. If he continues to come around, we’ll owe them the truth at some point. But not yet. It’s too soon after they lost their mother.”
“I’m glad we’re in agreement.”
“Do you feel better?”
“Much. It helps to have a plan.” He withdrew the cell phone he’d charged overnight using a portable charger and texted Dan.
Call me when you have a minute to talk strategy.
Dan called a few minutes later, and Seamus pitched the idea to him. “What do you think?”
“That could work. Let me contact the attorney first thing tomorrow morning and see what he wants. I won’t offer anything until we know what he’s after. I’d also want to know why Lisa cut him out of their lives before we open the door to possible visitation.”
“That’s a good point.” And one he should’ve thought of.
“I’ll call you the second I’m off the phone with him.”
“Thanks, Dan. Appreciate the help with this.”
“No problem at all, my friend. Keep breathing. It’s going to be okay.”
“Thanks for the reminder. Talk to you tomorrow.”
“He likes the idea,” Seamus told Carolina. “He’ll keep it in mind if need be.”
“That’s good. Now let’s try to relax and enjoy your day off.”
Seamus felt better after formulating a plan with Carolina and discussing it with Dan. However, he wouldn’t rest—or relax—until he knew for sure the potential threat to his family had been neutralized.
Chapter 29
Awaking to sunlight streaming in through the blinds he’d left open, Cooper James stretched and jumped out of bed, pulling on a pair of shorts before using the bathroom that adjoined his room. His brother’s island house was sweet and much homier than the ultrahip contemporary penthouse Jared had made available to Coop while he was at NYU.
He’d had some rad parties at that place, not that Jared knew anything about that. Like he’d care. Ever since he’d married Lizzie, his brother had spent almost no time in the city, preferring this cozy house on the island he’d retreated to when he decided to leave the Wall Street rat race.
Jared was happy here. Anyone could see that. That was due in large part to his adorable wife, who was one of the nicest, most genuine people Coop had ever met. Take what she did yesterday, bringing a young mother and her newborn home with her while she herself was mourning yet another failed round of IVF.
That took a special kind of person, capable of putting aside her own pain to step up for someone else. And Lizzie was a very special person.
Coop wandered into the kitchen and was surprised to realize he was the first one up. That never happened when h
e was around his family. Thanks to a whole-home generator, Coop was able to make some coffee that he took outside to the pool deck. He stopped short at the sight of a goddess swimming in Jared’s pool.
Who in the hell was that?
She wore a white bikini and cut through the water with a smooth, efficient crawl stroke and flip turns that indicated swim-team training.
He was mesmerized watching her as he sipped from his coffee mug. The girl could’ve been an Olympian with the way she ate up the water.
By the time she finally came to a stop at the end of the pool where he was standing, he was seriously intrigued. When she removed her goggles and looked up at him, his heart nearly stopped. What in the ever-loving fuck was Gigi Gibson doing in his brother’s pool?
“Hey, cutie,” she said. “What’s your name?”
“Uh, Cooper?”
“You’re not sure?” She pulled herself up and out of the pool with practiced grace.
He tried and failed not to gawk at her smoking-hot body, finally diverting his gaze so he wouldn’t embarrass himself. His very own wet dream was standing before him—and dripping wet. Stuff like this didn’t happen to mere mortals like him.
“Hello? Earth to Cooper, if that’s your name.”
“It is. Cooper James. I’m Jared’s brother.”
“Now that you mention it, I see the resemblance.”
“Wh-what’re you doing here?” He never, ever, ever felt nervous around women, but this wasn’t just any woman. This was the woman, his hall pass, the one he canceled plans for so he could watch her show.
She pointed to the garage apartment. “I live here.”
“You live here? On Gansett Island?”
“For a few more weeks.”
“Why?”
“Jordan and I are shooting the new season of our show here. You see, it’s like this. My girl came to Gansett after her disastrous marriage ended, fell in love with the tall-as-a-motherfucker fire chief, and next thing I knew, she wanted to film the show here rather than in LA, and so here I am.”
How had he not heard about this? Perhaps because he’d been working night and day on his business since he graduated and hadn’t paid much attention to anything else. “I can’t picture you two anywhere but there.”
“No one can, which is what makes it fun to do it here. We wrap in three weeks.”
“And then what?”
“I’m heading home.”
“Will that be the end of the show?”
“We’re not sure yet. I guess that depends on how this season is received.”
“I’m sure it’ll be great. You two are amazing together.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You watch our show?”
“Sweetheart, every red-blooded man in America watches your show. I can’t believe I’m standing here talking to Gigi freaking Gibson.”
Placing a hand on her hip, she struck a pose. “In the flesh.”
“Uh-huh, I see that.” Cooper wasn’t one to ogle famous women or indulge in one-sided crushes that had no hope of ever coming to fruition. He was more of a realist when it came to women. Gigi Gibson was so far out of his league as to be laughable, but she was, in fact, standing before him in the flesh, which gave him the courage to make his next move. “You want to hang out later?”
“And do what?”
“I’m sure we can find some trouble together.”
“I’ve been here for months and haven’t found any trouble yet. If there’s a more boring place in this world than this island, I haven’t seen it.”
“Aw, come on. Gansett’s not that bad.”
“When you’re used to LA, it’s bad.”
“I suppose that’s true. I live in Manhattan.”
“So you know what I’m talking about.”
“I do, but there’s something charming about this place. It’s relaxing.”
“It is, and it’s beautiful. I definitely see why people love it. But it’s not my jam long term.”
“Fair enough. So are we hanging out later?”
She gave him a thorough looking-over, so thorough he nearly ended up sporting wood from the way she studied him. “I suppose we are.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven.”
Smiling, she said, “You’re awfully cute. Are you even legal?”
“I’m twenty-four,” he said, offended.
“Such a baby.”
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-nine.”
“Oh damn. That’s kinda old for me. I might need to reconsider this plan to hang out.”
“Really?” She seemed genuinely surprised.
“No, not really,” he said, laughing. “I’ll see you at seven.”
“See you then.”
As she walked away—really, it was more of a strut than a walk—he stood frozen in place, taking in the beautiful sight of the back of her, laid nearly bare by a thong bikini.
He was definitely sporting wood after that show.
When she reached the stairs to the garage apartment, she looked back, caught him staring and flashed a satisfied grin.
The woman was too sexy for his own good. As soon as he got himself under control, he went inside to find Jared and Lizzie had gotten up while he was living out his own personal wet dream outside. “Jared, I need to borrow the Porsche later.”
“That’s not happening.”
“Let him have it, Jared,” his new best friend Lizzie said. “What is it you always say? It’s insured.”
Jared’s scowl took in both of them.
“Where you going, anyway?” Lizzie asked.
“It seems I have a date with Gigi Gibson.”
“Oh dear God,” Jared said. “She’s way too much woman for you, little brother.”
“She’s just the right amount of woman for me,” Cooper said with a dirty grin.
Jessie came into the kitchen, carrying the baby and looking as if she hadn’t slept at all. “Is there coffee?”
“Coming right up,” Lizzie said. “How do you like it?”
“Cream and sugar, please.”
“You got it.” As Lizzie fixed the mug for her, she glanced at Jessie over her shoulder. “Were you up all night?”
“Pretty much.”
“I read that babies often get their days and nights mixed up the first few weeks,” Lizzie said, “which is why you have to sleep when she does.”
“I need to go to work.”
“You can’t work the day after you gave birth, Jessie.”
“If I don’t work, I don’t get paid.”
“Don’t worry about money,” Jared said gruffly. “We’ll take care of whatever you and the baby need.”
Jessie’s chin wobbled. “I can’t let you do that.”
She was such a sweet girl, and Coop found himself wanting to know more about her and how she’d ended up a single mom on Gansett Island.
“It’s already done,” Jared said. “Don’t worry about anything.”
“Are you people for real?” Jessie asked as she took the seat Jared pulled out for her. “You just help people you don’t even know?”
“She does.” Jared used his chin to indicate his wife, smiling as he looked at her. “She helps people all the time.”
“Using his money,” Lizzie said. “Spending his money to help others is one of my favorite hobbies.”
“And she’s exceptionally good at spending our money to help people,” Jared said.
Lizzie beamed at him as she delivered Jessie’s coffee to her at the table. “You can stay here as long as you need to.”
“I can’t do that. You guys don’t need a newborn screaming your house down.”
Jessie couldn’t know how true that was, Cooper thought, amazed by his brother and sister-in-law’s ability to extend such generosity to a new mother while dealing with their own private grief.
“Thank you,” Jessie said, seeming on the verge of tears.
“Here,” Coop said, “let me take her while you have something to ea
t. Lizzie’s eggs are to die for.”
“Oh, um, are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” Coop took the baby from her and settled her in the crook of his elbow. She was a cute little thing with a bow-shaped mouth and feathery eyebrows that came together in an expression that made her look confounded. “Good morning, my little peanut. What’s this I hear about you keeping your mommy up all night?”
While the others ate breakfast, Cooper walked her around the spacious house, keeping up a nonsensical conversation with her. She seemed interested in everything he said. Although he’d been an uncle for years, he hadn’t given much thought to having kids of his own. That fell into the “maybe someday” category for way off in the distant future.
“You’re good with her,” Lizzie said, leaning against the doorframe as she watched him.
“I’ve been an uncle since I was fourteen,” he reminded her. “My older sisters have five kids between them.”
“Ah, yes, that’s true.”
“She’s a cutie.”
“She sure is,” Lizzie said wistfully.
“Why did you bring her home if having a baby here was going to hurt you, Lizzie?” He knew she wouldn’t mind that Jared had told him what they were going through.
Lizzie shrugged. “She needed somewhere to go. We have room.”
His heart went out to her. “Lizzie…”
“I’m okay. I swear.”
She said what he needed to hear, but heartbreak was written all over her face.
“Do you want to hold her?” Coop asked. He had no idea if he should offer that, but then again, he was clueless about how to navigate this situation.
“Um, sure. I’ll take a turn. Go have some breakfast.”
Cooper transferred the baby to her. “You good?”
“I’m good.”
He was hesitant to walk away, but after a minute, he left the room to return to the kitchen.
“Where’s the baby?” Jared asked.
“Lizzie has her.”
He got up and went after his wife.
“Tell me the truth,” Jessie said. “Is it really okay that I’m here?”
“It’s okay,” Cooper said, hoping he spoke the truth.