by Marie Force
He’d keep trying, Adam decided, until he wore down his brother and got him to talk about what was troubling him. With no job to return to in New York, he had nothing but time to give one of the most important people in his life. He’d make a nuisance out of himself until it became easier for Grant to talk to him than to put up with him.
Adam smiled. He liked that plan.
“Mac! Hey, Mac, is that you?”
Adam bit back a groan. All his life he’d been mistaken for his oldest brother. Though Mac was three inches taller than him, Adam couldn’t deny the striking resemblance between them. He turned to see who had made the mistake this time and saw his Aunt Joan chasing after him. You’d think their own aunt would be able to tell them apart!
“Oh, Adam! I’m so sorry! I didn’t hear you were home.”
He hugged his aunt and kissed her cheek. Like his mother, her sister was petite and blonde and still pretty well into her sixties. “Nice to see you, Auntie.”
“You, too, honey. Your mom will be thrilled to have you home, especially after recent events.” Joan shook her head with dismay. “What an awful thing.”
“I can’t even think about it. How’s everyone in your family?”
“Oh, good, you know. Busy with all the little ones. You must be excited about a new niece or nephew coming soon.”
“I can’t wait. I love being an uncle.”
Joan smiled affectionately. “I’m sure they adore you. How long are you here?”
“Not sure yet.”
“Well, I won’t keep you, but it was lovely to see you.”
“You, too.” He hugged her again. “Tell my cousins I said hello.”
“I’ll do that.”
Adam walked more swiftly as he covered the last half mile to North Harbor, forgoing a stop at the pharmacy to see Evan and Grace. With his mother’s sister in the know that he was home, he needed to see his mom before Joan called to gloat that she’d seen him first.
The McCarthy’s “White House,” as the islanders called it, came into view, and Adam accelerated to a jog. He burst through the front door just as the phone rang.
“Of course I knew he was coming,” Linda said testily as Adam slid to a stop in the kitchen. She scowled playfully at him and held out a hand to him. “Is that the only reason you called?” Linda paused before she said, “Thank you, Joan. I appreciate that. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Sorry,” Adam said with a grin as he squeezed her hand. “I ran as fast as I could after I saw her in town.”
“No one is faster at spreading island gossip than my dear, darling sister.”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
Linda hugged him. “And you did. What a wonderful surprise.”
Adam returned her embrace, comforted by the scent of home, his mother’s familiar perfume and the warmth of her affection. He hadn’t realized how badly he needed all of that until he was in her arms. He held on much longer than he normally did now that he was all grown up. He’d been through hell in the last couple of days, thinking about what could’ve happened to his family if even one of his brothers had been killed in the accident, let alone all three. Not to mention the work calamity at the same time.
When his mother pulled back from him, he was surprised to see tears in the eyes of the normally indomitable Linda McCarthy.
“Sorry,” she said, dabbing at her eyes. “I’ve been a wreck the last few days. I suspect I’m driving your brothers crazy hovering over them.”
“You? Drive us crazy? Never.”
“Oh, hush up. I promised Dad I wouldn’t check on them today, but I’m not sure I can keep that promise.”
“How about I do it for you?”
“Oh, Adam! Would you?”
“Sure I will. That’s why I’m here. I wanted to do some hovering of my own. Reassure myself they’re really okay.”
“That’d be such a big help. They’re sick of me, but they’ll be thrilled to see you.”
“Grant didn’t seem too thrilled.”
“So you saw him already?”
Adam nodded. “On the way over here. He’d just gotten up and looked all disheveled. That’s not like him.”
Linda frowned at that news. “I’ve been most concerned about him. Mac and Evan seem fine, but Grant… Something’s not right.”
Adam took an apple from a bowl on the counter and took a bite. “Did you talk to Stephanie about it?”
“Uh-huh. She agrees he seems off but chalked it up to the long day in the water. Did you know he saved Dan’s life?”
“I heard that. Maybe it was more traumatic than he led us to believe.”
“How could it not be traumatic? A whole day in freezing water trying to keep one of your best friends alive?” Linda shuddered. “I can’t even imagine. Dad has had nightmares about it, not that he admits to them, but he wakes up in a cold sweat just about every night.”
Adam hated to hear that but wasn’t surprised his softhearted father was suffering from the aftereffects of nearly losing three of his sons. “It’s going to take some time, but they’ll all be fine. I know it.”
“I hope you’re right, honey.” She hugged him again, even tighter than before. “It’s so good to have you here. Thank you for coming. I know how busy you are.”
At some point, he’d have to tell them about the business, but one telling of that story was enough for today. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
Linda released him and checked her watch. “Damn, it’s later than I thought. I’m meeting Carolina for lunch in town. Do you want to use my car while you’re here?”
“Ah, thanks for that kind offer, but I’ll pass.”
“I don’t know why you boys disparage my little yellow bug the way you do,” she said, grabbing her purse as she clucked with dismay.
“Because it’s a chick car that none of us would be caught dead in. I’ll borrow Dad’s truck.” He pushed out his chest and flexed his biceps. “Much more manly.”
“Suit yourself. When you see you brothers, invite everyone to dinner. We’ll put some steaks on the grill.”
“With baked potatoes?” he asked with his most charming grin.
“Naturally,” she said, rolling her eyes at him as she kissed his cheek. “All your favorites.”
“Have you rented out my old room, or is it okay if I crash up there?”
“It’s more than okay. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be back in a little while.”
“See you then.”
She stopped at the door and turned to him. “I love you so much, Adam, and I’m thrilled you’re home.”
“Right back atcha, Mom.” He was, he realized, indeed thrilled to be home where he was loved and respected and appreciated. After the week he’d had, that was exactly what he needed.
Chapter 3
Fortified by her visit with Adam, Linda rushed into town to meet her dear friend, Carolina Cantrell. Since Caro’s son Joe had married Janey, the two women had been closer than ever, especially now that they were expecting their first shared grandchild.
Linda arrived at the South Harbor Diner only five minutes late, which wasn’t bad, considering she should’ve left ten minutes earlier than she did. “Sorry, sorry,” she said, dropping a kiss on Caro’s cheek and sliding in across from her. “Adam was on the noon boat, and he came home just as I was leaving.”
“You must’ve been happy to see him.”
“Extremely. He’s here to see his brothers after the accident.”
Caro shook her head with dismay. “It’s all I think about. How close we came to utter catastrophe.”
“I can’t even let myself go there. When I think about poor Steve’s family and what they must be going through…”
“He was so young.”
“The same age as Evan. It’s unbearable. I’ve been thinking about reaching out to his mother, but I don’t know what to say. My boys made it, and hers didn’t.”
Caro reached across the table to cover Linda’s hand with her own.
“Maybe.” Linda shook off the sadness. “Anyway, this isn’t why you wanted to get together.”
“No, it isn’t.” Caro withdrew her hand and crossed her arms, seeming nervous all of a sudden.
“What is it? Is something wrong?”
“No. Everything is actually quite right for once.”
Linda raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
Caro released a deep sigh and leaned forward to rest her elbows on the table. “Do you remember last fall when I told you I’d met a man?”
Nodding, Linda said, “A much younger man who you wouldn’t name, if I recall correctly.” Caro’s face flushed with color that made Linda laugh. “Are you blushing?”
“Perhaps. A little…”
“Spill it, sister. You’ve had me wondering for months who this younger man is.”
“Seamus,” she whispered so softly that Linda almost didn’t hear her.
“Seamus O’Grady? As in the Seamus who runs the ferry company for Joe?”
“Shhh, keep your voice down. No one knows, well, except for Joe and Janey. They know now.”
“Well, well, well… Girlfriend gets herself a boyfriend and what do you know? She gets the cutest, sexiest, most eligible guy in town now that most of my sons are off the market.”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Caro said, seeming mortified by the word.
“My apologies. I should’ve said lover.”
Caro cringed. “Oh God, that’s even worse.”
“What would you call him?”
“He defies description.”
Linda howled with laughter. “You have to tell me everything. Leave no detail unshared—especially the part about how you told Joe and Janey. How did he take it?”
“Better than expected, to be honest. He was extremely shocked, but he handled it quite well, all things considered.”
Over salads and iced tea, Caro related the story of how Janey had helped her to find the courage to tell Joe the truth. “So Joe went down to the ferry landing to confront Seamus. Janey and I were worried that Joe might punch him the way he did David that one time, so we went running after him. Joe wasn’t happy that we suspected he might get violent until Janey reminded him that he does have a bit of a track record.”
Linda shook with laughter. “It sounds hilarious, even though I suspect it wasn’t all that funny to you.”
“It was excruciating, but your daughter was amazing. She really smoothed things over with Joe, and I think he took it better than he would have without her help.”
“That’s very nice to hear about Janey, but Joe wants you to be happy, Caro. You know that.”
“I do know, but…”
“But what?”
Carolina met her gaze, seeming tortured and uncertain. “Seamus wants to get married.”
“Oh wow! How exciting!” As Linda said the words, she realized Carolina didn’t seem excited. “Isn’t it?”
“It’s so complicated.”
“What’s complicated? Does he love you?”
“Apparently.”
“And you love him?”
“It seems so.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Do I really have to spell it out for you? He’s almost twenty years younger than me, for one thing. For another, he says he doesn’t care about having children and a family of his own, but what if someday he regrets that? And what will people say?”
“If I have to guess, I’d bet a lot of the women will be jealous and the men will be looking at you with all-new interest.”
“Ugh, that’s gross! I don’t want their interest.”
“Carolina,” Linda said with a laugh, reaching across the table for her friend’s hands, “do you love him? Do you want to be with him?”
“Yes,” she said on a moan. “I want him, I love him, I was miserable without him.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Just because I love him and love being with him doesn’t mean I have to marry him, does it?”
“It seems rather important to him.”
Carolina sagged into her seat. “He’s very old-fashioned sometimes.”
“Probably the way he was raised.”
Caro let go of Linda’s hands and flipped a spoon between her fingers. “Speaking of how he was raised… You know what I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about?”
“What’s that?”
“His mother.”
“His mother?” Linda said with a laugh. “What about her?”
“I’m thinking about it from her point of view. How would we feel if our sons told us they wanted to marry a fifty-six-year-old woman? How would we feel if our sons were in love with a woman who could never give them children or a family? I can’t help but put myself in her shoes and hate me on her behalf.”
Linda thought about that for a moment and had to admit Caro made a good point. It would be upsetting to learn that one of her sons would never be a father, but nearly losing three of her four boys gave her a different perspective than she would’ve had before. “After what happened last week, it’s safe to say that all I care about is my boys are healthy and happy and loved. That’s all that matters in this life, Caro. What else is there?”
“Children. There are children, and he’d be such a wonderful father.”
“Yes, he would, and if that’s meant to be, then somehow he’ll be a father.”
Carolina recoiled in horror. “There’s no way I’m having a baby at this age!”
“Relax,” Linda said laughing. “As you well know, there are plenty of other ways to become parents.”
“So you don’t think it would be a big fat Gansett Island scandal if Carolina Cantrell the cougar married sexy, young Seamus O’Grady, the dashing Irishman?”
“It’ll be a huge scandal for a week, maybe two, and then people will get over it and go on with their lives. Look at Tiffany. Her store was all people were talking about until the town council meeting when Blaine basically told them to get a life. Now the store is accepted, it’s busy, and some of the same people who spoke out against the store have been seen patronizing it. Scandals come and go. Love is forever.”
“I hate when you make sense. It drives me crazy.”
“My children would completely agree with you.”
Moaning, Carolina dropped her head into her hands. “I can’t believe I’m even considering this madness. Marrying a thirty-nine-year-old! I’d be securing my place in hell, that’s for sure.”
“As Mac and I like to say, we’ll be in good company down there.”
That drew a reluctant laugh from Carolina.
“And I’ll tell you something else, I won’t stand for anyone speaking poorly of you around me. You’ve spent thirty years completely alone. No one deserves to be happy more than you do.”
Caro blinked back tears. “Thank you, Lin. I was never completely alone with Joe and you and Mac and your brood to prop me up.”
“If you love this man, we’ll love him, too. I promise.”
The man in question came through the door to the diner and lit up with pleasure when he saw Carolina sitting with Linda.
“Oh God,” Carolina muttered, making Linda laugh again. Glancing up at Seamus, Carolina said, “What’re you doing here?”
“Looking for you, love.”
Linda didn’t think she was capable of swooning, but the heated look the sexy Irishman gave her friend was positively swoon-worthy.
He nodded to her. “Mrs. McCarthy. Nice to see you again.”
“Since you and my friend are apparently an item, you should probably call me Linda to keep me from feeling too ancient.”
The comment was met with a scowl from Carolina and a wide grin from Seamus, who slid into the booth next to Carolina, forcing her to move over to let him in. Carolina’s face was bright red, and she radiated discomfort, whereas Seamus seemed relaxed and at ease with taking their relationship public.
“So she’s been talking about me, aye?”
“That she has.”
He leaned forward, green eyes twinkling. “What’d she say? Anything good?”
Linda couldn’t help but laugh, even though she knew Carolina wouldn’t appreciate it. “I’ll never tell.”
“Darn.” He slipped an arm around Caro, oblivious to the attention they were attracting from nearby tables, kissed the top of her head and drew her in close to him. “I missed you last night.” To Linda, he said, “Had to spend the night on the mainland because of a meeting this morning. I couldn’t talk her into coming with me.”
Caro nudged his ribs with her elbow.
“What? Did I or did I not try to convince you to come with me so we wouldn’t have to sleep apart?”
“And that is my cue to leave,” Linda said, putting a twenty on the table as she stood.
“You don’t have to go,” Carolina said desperately as it seemed to dawn on her that without Linda there to block the prying eyes of the other diners, the word would be all over town about her and Seamus before the hour was up.
“I have to get to the grocery store. Adam is home, and the family is coming for dinner. Got to run, but you think about what I said, do you hear me?”
Carolina grumbled something in reply that Linda couldn’t make out.
“You know,” Linda said, as a deliciously evil idea came to her. “You two should join us for dinner tonight. Joe and Janey will be there, along with the rest of the family.”
As Carolina’s eyes went wide with dismay, Seamus said, “We’d love to. What time?”
“Six thirty,” Linda said, avoiding Carolina’s glare on her way to the door. “See you then!”
“I hope she didn’t leave on my account,” Seamus said when they were alone.
“Of course she did. If you’re going to start prattling on about our sleeping arrangements, she’s not going to hang around for that.”
“Seemed like you might’ve already mentioned our sleeping arrangements before I got here.”
“That’s not the point! And stop laughing at me. Go sit over there before the whole town is talking about us.”
-->