by Marie Force
“Nice place you have here,” Bobby said, casting a tentative glance at Big Mac, who remained seated and stone-faced.
“Thank you. We’re happy with it. I believe you know my father-in-law.”
Bobby nodded. “Mac. Good to see you again.”
Big Mac replied with a steely stare that was so far out of character for him that Maddie nearly laughed.
Realizing he wouldn’t get anywhere with Big Mac, Bobby returned his attention to Maddie. “I, um, thank you for seeing me. I know you didn’t want to.”
Since Maddie couldn’t deny that, she withheld comment. “Would you like something to drink?”
“That’d be nice.”
Maddie hated the slight tremble in her hands as she poured the three glasses. “Have a seat.”
The three of them sat at the table in uneasy and awkward silence for a long time. Maddie knew she could make this easier on her father, but why should she? This was his show, so she waited. And waited.
“Are your children here?”
“One of them. She’s sleeping.”
“Oh. I would’ve liked to have met them.”
Maddie would’ve like to have told him that he lost the right to know his grandchildren the day he left his family, but that wouldn’t do much to accomplish her goal of getting this meeting over with as quickly as possible.
“I understand you don’t like me very much.”
“I don’t know you. You’re no one to me.”
Bobby winced. “Ouch.”
“What did you expect me to say? Or I should ask, how did you expect me to feel?”
“I suppose I hoped you’d be a little more forgiving. I don’t deny I made some rather significant mistakes—”
“Is that how you see it? A mistake? You left your family and never looked back. In this day and age, you could be put in jail for abandoning your children with no means of support.”
“You remind me of your mother,” he said disdainfully.
“Be careful. If you say one word to disparage my mother, this meeting is over.”
“I only wanted the opportunity to talk to you, to tell you I’m sorry for what I did, that I regret it. I wish I could have my life to do over again. I would’ve done things differently.”
“That’s good to know.”
“Do you have anything you want to ask me?”
“I’d like to know why you left.”
Bobby looked away from her. “I wish I could give you an explanation that you’d find satisfying, but the truth of the matter is I never should’ve gotten married. I wasn’t cut out for family life, even though I loved your mom and you girls.”
Maddie raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
“I don’t blame you for not believing me, but it’s true. I did love you—very much. I always have. I just couldn’t live on this island, and your mother didn’t want to live anywhere else.”
“Don’t you dare blame her.”
“I’m not blaming her. The blame is all mine. Some men aren’t cut out to be family men. I was one of them.”
“Too bad you didn’t realize that before you brought two kids into the world,” Big Mac said, breaking his silence.
“I was hoping I’d feel differently once I had kids.”
“I think I’ve heard enough.” Maddie stood to let her father know she was done. “I’ve given you what you wanted. Now please give my mother what she deserves—the chance to finally be happy.”
“Is that the only reason you saw me? So I’d give your mother the divorce?”
“Yes.”
He didn’t seem pleased to hear that but nodded and got up to leave. “Thank you for seeing me. I’m sorry I let you down.”
“You let yourself down, too, Chester,” Big Mac said. “You’ll never know the two amazing women you fathered or their beautiful children. You missed the only thing that really matters in this life by being selfish. I feel sorry for you.”
“Stuff your pity. I don’t want it. I’m sure you consider yourself father of the year—”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Big Mac said, “but I’ve been there for my kids every day of their lives, and I’m proud to say I’ve never missed anything important with any of them—or the extra ones I picked up along the way.”
“It’s time for you to go now,” Maddie said to her father, gesturing to the stairs.
Bobby started to say something else but thought better of it and headed down the stairs. They heard him drive off a minute later.
“You all right?” Big Mac asked.
“Surprisingly, yes. I didn’t expect to gain closure from seeing him again, but that’s what I got.”
“Let’s hope he holds up his end of the bargain,” Big Mac said as he stood to hug her. “Your mom and Ned have waited long enough.”
“I agree.” Maddie returned his embrace. “Thank you so much for being here and for what you said about Tiffany and me.”
“I only spoke the truth.” He kissed her on the forehead and released her. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you after you’ve made my boy so happy.”
Maddie smiled. “He’ll be very happy to hear I got through that unscathed.”
“Yes, he will. I’d better get back to the marina to give Luke a hand.”
“Thanks again for coming.”
“Any time.”
Chapter 23
Blaine picked up Sarah at the hotel and drove her to Daisy’s place. He could tell she was nervous by the way her hands twisted repeatedly in her lap.
“Wow, look at the fog!” Sarah said as they drove past the ferry landing. The entire harbor was shrouded in a thick, soupy cloud that chilled the air.
“I heard they called off the morning races shortly after they began,” Blaine said. “An auspicious start to Race Week.”
Sarah was quiet for a long time before she said, “Are you sure it’s a good idea for me to talk to her?”
“I’m not sure of anything. But I can’t help but think it would do her some good to hear how many times you took back your husband before you realized he was never going to change. Might save her some time and heartache, not to mention it could save her life.”
“When you put it like that, it seems like a worthwhile effort.”
“That was my thinking.”
“Why is it that you don’t seem yourself this morning?”
He looked over at her, surprised by the question. “I don’t?”
She shook her head. “Not at all. I could tell from the minute you came into the hotel that something was off. Call it mother’s intuition.”
Blaine rubbed a hand over the stubble on his jaw and imagined what the mayor would say about the scruffy beard that matched his scruffy hair.
“Girl trouble?”
He thought of Tiffany and the erotically charged night they’d spent together and felt guilty—for about the hundredth time—for going at her like a madman when she’d been so sick.
“Has to be girl trouble,” Sarah said. “I see all the signs. Hangdog expression, sleep-deprived eyes…”
“It’s not trouble, per se,” Blaine said, giving in to her.
“Then what?”
“My mom doesn’t approve, for one thing.”
“Because of the store.”
Blaine knew he shouldn’t be surprised that people in town knew he and Tiffany were seeing each other, but it was surprising to hear it was common knowledge. “Partially. She’s worried I’ll end up endangering my job by helping Tiffany.”
“And would you? Endanger your job to help her out?”
“Probably.”
“You must care about her an awful lot.”
“I do.”
“Then do what you have to do to protect her.”
“Think maybe you could have a chat with my mom?”
Sarah laughed. “You’re on your own with her, pal.”
“Jeez… Thanks a lot.”
“She must have a good a reason for being worried about you.”
“I’ve given her ample reason over the years.”
“Then don’t judge her too harshly for not wanting to see you hurt.”
“I’ll try not to.”
“Motherhood is the best and worst job in the world. No matter how great a job you might do, you always feel like there’s more you could’ve and should’ve done. That’s certainly true for me. Sometimes we overcompensate for the past by hovering a little too closely over our adult children.”
“She doesn’t have anything to compensate for. She was a great mom.”
“Yet still you suffered and stumbled. Any mother worth her salt would do what she could to keep that from happening again.”
What Sarah said made a lot of sense. “And you think you have no wisdom to impart to Daisy.” He parked in front of Daisy’s house and cut the engine. “Thank you for doing this.”
“I only hope it helps.”
“It can’t hurt, that’s for sure.” He went around the truck and held the door for her while she got out.
“Your mother might be giving you fits, but she raised you right.”
“I’ll let her know you said so,” Blaine said, amused by her.
Daisy met them at the door and let them in. “Hi, Blaine.”
“Daisy, this is my friend, Sarah. I wanted you to meet her.”
Daisy’s hand went up to the fading bruises on her face. “I’m not really prepared for guests.”
Sarah stepped forward and put an arm around Daisy, leading her to a sofa. “Don’t you worry about that, honey. I’ve been right where you are, and I know all about bruises you did nothing to deserve.”
“You do?”
“I sure do. Let me tell you all about the elegant, charming, young air force officer who turned out to be a monster.”
Watching Daisy hang on Sarah’s every word, Blaine felt comfortable enough to take a phone call from Linc Mercier, the coast guard captain who ran the island’s search and rescue outpost. Stepping onto the front porch, he said, “What’s up, Linc?”
“Hey, Blaine. I’m glad I caught you. We’ve just had a report that one of the boats heading out for Race Week collided with a freighter in the fog, with at least one confirmed fatality. Word is there were some islanders on the boat. I thought you might be able to figure out how many people were on the boat and who they were.”
“We’ll do our best. What was the name of the boat?”
“Shadow Dancer. Navy blue hull, about thirty-eight feet. Don’t have the make or model. We’ve got three of our boats heading to the scene now. I should have more info soon.”
“Got it,” Blaine said. “I’ll get back to you.” He went inside to find Sarah hugging Daisy. “I have to go,” he said. “Can you get home?”
Sarah nodded and used her free hand to gesture for him to go. “I’ll call Owen.”
“Thanks, Sarah. Bye, Daisy.”
Blaine jumped in the truck and headed for North Harbor, stopping first at McCarthy’s. Mac and his dad knew everything that went on in the harbor and would be the best possible resources. He made a rare exception to his no-lights-unless-absolutely-necessary rule and skidded to a stop at McCarthy’s a few minutes later. The fog was so thick, he couldn’t see five feet in front of him. Taking off at a run, he found Mr. McCarthy on the far end of the main pier, bullshitting with a bunch of guys.
Business as usual, even in the fog.
“Blaine?” he asked. “What’s got you in such an all-fired rush?”
“Do you know of a boat named Shadow Dancer that was heading out to the races?”
Big Mac went entirely still—so still that Blaine got a very bad feeling. “What about it?”
Blaine looked the older man in the eye when he said, “There’s been an accident. The boat collided with a freighter—” For the rest of his life, Blaine would never forget the sound that came from Mr. McCarthy. It was a cross between a roar and a scream, and it chilled Blaine all the way to his bones.
“My boys,” Big Mac said haltingly as several of his friends surrounded him. “My boys are on that boat.”
Blaine forced himself past his own shock and dismay to ask, “Which ones?”
“All three of ’em.”
Since Adam was in New York, that meant Mac, Grant and Evan. Jesus. Blaine swallowed his own panic to ask, “Was there anyone else?”
“The skipper… I can’t recall…”
“Steve Jacobson,” Luke Harris said, looking stricken by the news.
“And Torrington.” Big Mac ran a trembling hand through his wiry gray hair. “Dan Torrington, Grant’s friend.” His eyes filled with tears that nearly undid Blaine. Big Mac McCarthy had been his Boy Scout leader, and there were few men Blaine respected more. “Tell me what you know.”
Blaine shook his head.
“Tell me.”
“I—”
Big Mac placed one of his huge hands on Blaine’s shoulder. “Tell me, son. Please tell me what you know.”
“There’s one confirmed fatality.”
“Oh God,” one of the other men uttered.
Big Mac’s face drained of all remaining color and animation.
Luke put an arm around Big Mac. “Let’s go sit down and figure out what we can do to help find them.”
“Yes,” Big Mac said, snapping out of his stupor. “We have to help. We have to go out there and find them.”
“The fog is too thick,” Luke said. “You can’t endanger yourself—”
“I don’t care about myself! I need to find my boys!”
“The coast guard is searching with high-tech equipment,” Blaine said. “They’ll find them.”
“I need to be out there,” Big Mac said to Luke, who held him back.
Blaine took his other arm and helped Luke escort the older man up the dock to the restaurant.
“My wife,” Big Mac said. “She went into town to get her hair done and something…else.”
“Can we call her?” Luke asked.
Stephanie, who was working behind the counter, looked up when they came in.
“We can’t do that to her over the phone,” Big Mac said.
Stephanie took one look at Big Mac’s ashen face and came around the counter to him. “What?” she asked. “What’s wrong?”
Luke settled Big Mac in a chair and turned to Stephanie. “There’s been an accident. The boat Grant and the others were on was hit by a freighter.”
“Nooooooooo.”
Her primal scream brought everyone in the room to tears.
“We don’t know anything yet.” Luke refrained from sharing the one thing they did know. He gave her a tight hug. “You have to stay strong until we know more.”
“Grant,” she said with a whimper. “Please, no. Please.”
“Sit.” Luke held a chair for her. “I’ll get you something to drink.”
Big Mac held out his arms to Stephanie, and she launched into his embrace.
“This can’t be happening,” she said between sobs.
Big Mac held on tight to her while she cried her heart out.
“What’s going on?” another woman asked.
Blaine recognized her as the one who was running the launch service. Kara…that was her name.
In a halting voice, Stephanie filled her in.
“Oh my God,” Kara said, sinking into a chair. “I was just with Dan. I saw him this morning. He was fine. He has to be fine, right?”
Stephanie reached out for Kara’s hand and squeezed.
“I’ve got to call Linc back with the names, and then I’ll go find Mrs. McCarthy in town,” Blaine said to Luke.
“I’ll be here with them,” Luke said.
“No matter what, don’t let him go out on the water,” Blaine said, glancing at Mr. McCarthy, who stared blankly over Stephanie’s shoulder.
“I won’t.”
“Blaine.”
The single word from Stephanie stopped him. “Someone needs to tell Grace and Maddie.”
“I’ll take care of it.”<
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“Thank you.”
With a heavy heart, he walked out of the restaurant and headed for town.
Tiffany was still celebrating the excellent news from Dan when the bells on the door jingled, and Laura McCarthy came in, looking pale and wan.
“Laura! I heard the flu hit you, too.”
“It was awful, but I feel almost fine today. Almost, but not quite.”
“Me, too. I didn’t think I’d see you out and about today with the hotel opening tomorrow.”
“It’s Owen’s mom’s birthday, so I need to get her something while she’s out with Blaine.”
At the mention of his name, Tiffany was instantly curious. “Where did she go with Blaine?”
“Did you hear about what happened to Daisy?”
“Yes,” Tiffany said, shaking her head. “It’s so awful. Daisy is such a sweet girl.”
“Blaine thought Sarah might be able to help her, so he asked her to talk to Daisy.”
“Oh.” Tiffany had heard about Sarah’s dramatic exit from her violent marriage last fall. “What a great idea.”
“He’s always thinking, that one.” Laura held up a slinky nightgown and turned toward the mirror.
“I thought you were shopping for Sarah,” Tiffany teased.
“Well, I do have a wedding and honeymoon to prepare for.”
“You’ve come to the right place for that.” As she said the words, it occurred to her that it might be fun—and good for business—to host a lingerie shower for Laura. She made a note to discuss it with Maddie, who was one of Laura’s bridesmaids.
“I have no idea what to get Sarah.” Laura replaced the nightgown on the rack. “You have gorgeous things, but she might not be ready for sexy yet. She only just started seeing Charlie.”
“Stephanie’s stepfather?”
“Yep. He asked her to go to the opening of the restaurant with him, and I heard they snuck off afterward without a word to anyone.”
“Good for them. Can you think of two people who deserve to be happy more than they do?”
“Not really. Well, except for my poor brother. He deserves to be happy after what his ex-wife put him through.” Laura turned a calculating eye Tiffany’s way. “You just got divorced, too, right?”