by Natalie Ann
Amanda looked over at her, but she kept her lips sealed and grinned.
When Kayla came back, she handed the baby to Amanda and then went to get the bottle.
“You look so natural there,” she said. “Are you counting your time down? I can’t believe you haven’t picked a date yet for the wedding.”
“We did,” Amanda said.
“What? And you didn’t tell me?”
“I planned on telling you both today. We picked it over the weekend. But now you need to wait. And I want to hear about your and Mac’s love words first.”
“I’m back,” Kayla said. “Do you want to feed him?”
“I sure do,” Amanda said, taking the bottle. “He’s a greedy little gun.” Ben was slurping at the bottle like he hadn’t eaten in days rather than hours.
“He likes to eat. Nicole said Hunter was the same way. I can’t tell you how nice it was having her here those first few nights. Hunter and I were stumbling around trying to feed him, get the bottle just right, half awake. Nicole just kind of took over and let us only get up once and then sleep and recharge. Having that sleep that first week made it much easier to function now.”
“That’s so sweet of Nicole,” Sidney said. “She’s back in Boston now or on the island?”
“Boston this week. They will be back on the weekend. Hunter and I have this down now. Hunter goes to bed around nine and I stay up until Ben is down, then crawl in bed. The next time Ben wakes around one to eat, Hunter takes care of it while I sleep. Then when he’s up at four to eat again, I deal with it, letting Hunter sleep until he gets up for work.”
“This way you are both only getting up once and both manage to get enough hours of sleep. Are you napping when Ben does during the day?” Amanda asked.
“Not really. I mean I’m taking it easy, but if I’m tired I lay down. I’m kind of bored when he’s sleeping. We’ve got someone who cleans a few times a week, so there isn’t much for me to do and Ben sleeps so it’s not like he’s much entertainment.”
“Don’t even think of going back to work,” Sidney said.
Kayla laughed. “Not happening. I mentioned wanting to do it part time when Ben was older and that didn’t go over well. Hunter said if there were things I wanted to do, he’d find me part time work that I could do at my time or schedule, but I’m not going back to the front desk and not any time soon. That I should enjoy my time off as I’ve worked hard most of my life.”
“Again, very sweet of him. It’s a compromise,” Amanda said.
“I know. I’m still getting used to this lifestyle and don’t want to take advantage of it.”
“No one thinks that and you know it,” Sidney said.
“Okay. No more about me,” Kayla said. “You and Mac. Spill it. Then Amanda, wedding date. Both of you came bearing good news. I’m not sure what is more exciting.”
She had more to share too as she planned on giving Kayla the copies of her six books, but she’d do that after the other news was spoken.
“Not much to say. I told him about my sister Anne and my family. Then we talked about my career and what I wanted to do and my steps toward it.”
“What?” Kayla said. “What am I missing there?”
“Dang it. I planned on telling you that afterward.”
“No. It goes together,” Amanda said. “Tell her while you tell the rest. You told me all, but you need to catch Kayla up.”
“Fine,” she said, standing up and going to her bag and pulling the books out. “I’ve published six children’s books. I told you I went to college for English and Art. Those are my illustrations in the books.”
“I can’t believe you’ve never told me,” Kayla screeched, causing Ben to stir and stop sucking, then go right back at it. “Oops. I should know better than to disturb him. At least he didn’t start to cry. Thankfully he doesn’t cry too much.”
Kayla reached for the books and started to flip through them. “Love your pen name. Your last name and your sister’s?”
“Yeah. We always thought we’d do this together but the truth is, it’s not what she wanted. It was just something we talked about. Those are for you. Amanda told me I had to sign them. Your first books for Ben’s nursery.”
Kayla lifted her eyes, tears in them. “That is so sweet. I can’t wait to read these to him. He’s going to be so proud of his auntie.”
Her heart swelled being considered Ben’s auntie. “I’ve got another one I’m working on now with Mac. He’s actually going to help me. It’s about trusting a police officer. The Friendly Officer is the title. But after that, I think I’d like to pick your brain and do one about a new baby. Or a new sibling. Not sure. I had another idea too, but I’d need your help.”
This one she wasn’t sure of and thought it might be touchy, but Kayla was the one to help her with it.
“Anything,” Kayla said. “These are awesome and I’m so annoyed you never said a word about it.”
She was finding out that though everyone was supportive they were all ticked she’d never told them. She was starting to wonder why she kept it a secret for so long now.
“I’d like to do a book about a foster child. Either one that is adopted or having a friend that is in foster care so others would know they aren’t really different. But I understand that might be a little hard for you.”
“I think it’s wonderful and I’d love to help you with it when the time comes. Sidney, you are such a caring soul.”
She laughed. “I’m not sure I’ve ever been told that. I guess after I showed this all to Mac, he said the same as you two. He couldn’t believe I was embarrassed over it and kept it to myself. Then he told me how proud he was of me and he loved me.”
Amanda looked up, her eyes glossy this time. “That is the sweetest thing. These Bond men. They try to act all tough and macho but deep down they are soft and squishy.”
“I think Mac would object to being called soft and squishy,” Sidney said, “but I totally agree with you there. Now tell me about your wedding date, please.”
“Yes,” Kayla said. “Wedding details.”
“Wow, Ben just downed half of this already. Burp now, right, Kayla? Halfway through?”
“Unless you want to wear that bottle, then yes. Hunter and I found out the hard way. One of those things Nicole had to teach us.”
Amanda put Ben on her shoulder once she had the burp cloth there and started to pat his back. “We are getting married this fall. No reason to wait. We decided this weekend and whatever date we can get here at The Retreat in Sept or early October—if we even can—that will be the date.”
“You know darn well Hunter will give you any date you want,” Kayla said. “Not just because you are marrying his cousin but also because you’re my best friend.”
“I know,” Amanda said. “If we can’t do a Saturday we are almost thinking a Friday night beach wedding.”
“I like that,” Sidney said.
“And I’d like you both to be in it. Kayla, my matron of honor, Sidney, my maid of honor.”
“Yes,” they both said at once.
“Look at us. Three best friends and dating men in the same family. Kayla and I will have the same last name soon. Maybe you’re next, Sidney,” Amanda said.
“Now you’re jumping the gun. We just said we loved each other. Long term isn’t anything we are talking about at the moment.”
But a few hours later when they were back home, Sidney decided there was one more thing she could do. She could call her parents and tell them that she was ready for them to come visit.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Sidney. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Why?”
“You never call me. I always call you.”
She knew that, but she wasn’t going to let it stop her from taking this step. It seemed the weekend for a lot of first steps. “I know. I thought of what you said the last time we talked. About coming to visit me. Some things have happened and it just made me realize that maybe I’v
e been hard on you guys. Or immature. I’m not sure the word.”
“First off, we are all suffering. It’s not something that is going to go away anytime soon. What has happened? Anything bad? Serious?” her mother asked.
“No. I’m dating someone. For the first time, I think I’m really in love. Mac’s ancestors started this island. They founded it. I’ve got two best friends that were or are roommates. One is married to Mac’s cousin, the other engaged to one. I guess I’m realizing that all of us are different, but I shouldn’t forget where I came from either.”
“I’m so happy to hear this, Sidney. Your father will be so thrilled to see you. When can we come?”
“The weather is beautiful and the tourists really start to pick up toward the end of May. July and August can get nuts once the kids are out.”
“I’ll talk to your father and see if we can find a place for late May then,” she said. “Any recommendations? You know the island and where it’s best to stay.”
“You guys wouldn’t be into staying at the Casino. The Retreat is probably too high end too. We are simple folk,” she said, laughing. She was thinking Atlantic Rise might be the best hotel for them. It was nice and mainstream pricing and clientele. They’d feel the most comfortable there.
“We are,” her mother said. “God, I miss your laugh too.”
“Mac’s cousins have a hotel they opened a few years ago. Atlantic Rise. It’s probably a nice in between. I’ll send you the site and you can check it out.”
“Sounds good. I’m so happy, Sidney.”
“Yeah. Me too. One more thing,” she said. It was time to tell her mother about her books too. Her mother was the only one who knew it was a dream of hers and she shouldn’t have kept it from her.
“What’s that?”
“Go to Amazon and check out author Holly Anne.”
“Oh my God. You published your book,” her mother screeched.
Figures she’d get it right away. “Six of them. More on the way.”
“I’m so proud of you, Sidney. I’m hanging up. I need to check them out. I need to buy them. Oh, I’m telling everyone I know. I can, right?”
“You can,” she said, smiling. “Go right ahead.”
31
Stand Up Person
At the end of March, Mac found himself having lunch with Drew, Hunter, and Eli. He wasn’t sure who he was going to call for this meeting, but figured he was actually the closest with these three of the family.
Budget numbers came in and he didn’t get what he asked for. They were funding the rest of the new position. That was great and it was ongoing and huge, but he shuffled numbers around as best he could and he was still shy thirty thousand for the new cruiser.
Asking for money never sat well with him and this was an in-person request, not something in a letter. He couldn’t count on more fundraising to fill the gap either. He needed the money upfront to order the cruiser. Or at least had to know it was coming in guaranteed.
“Thanks for meeting with me, guys. I know you’re all busy.”
“I like meeting face-to-face,” Eli said. “Hunter is the one who sits in his office all the time and never leaves.”
“Not true,” Hunter said. “I leave plenty but why have meetings nonstop like you want when we can do them remotely? Not all of us walk around chatting with people daily.”
“I do,” Drew said. “Or used to.”
“You two are more social,” Mac said to Eli and Drew. They were first cousins. Hunter and Mac distant cousins from everyone. It didn’t matter though, they were close personally. “Hunter and I are the grouches.”
“Speak for yourself,” Hunter said. “Kayla doesn’t think I’m a grouch.”
“From what I heard, neither does Sidney think Mac is,” Drew said. “Sounds like things are getting pretty serious for you.”
He should have known this would come up too. “They are,” he admitted. “She’s a good girl.”
His three cousins started to laugh. “Only you would say that about your girlfriend,” Eli said. “No woman wants to be told they are a good girl. She didn’t look like any ‘girl’ to me when you two were at the casino.”
“You know what I mean,” he argued.
“No, we don’t,” Drew said. “She’s a great person. But I’m not sure good girl is what I’d say about her.”
“Asses,” he said to them. “I’m saying she is a stand-up person. We get along well.”
“Ha. Mac is in love and is afraid to say it,” Hunter said. “We know. We’ve heard all about it, right, Drew?”
He narrowed his eyes at Hunter and Drew and knew it was girl talk between Sidney and the guys’ significant others. “Fine. Sidney and I are getting close. Happy now?”
“And I heard she’s published six books,” Eli said. “Never saw that coming.”
“Why is it a surprise?” he asked, ready to defend her. His mother thought it was great and he suspected she was telling everyone about it. Or maybe it was Kayla and Amanda telling everyone. He wasn’t sure, but it wasn’t a secret anymore. At least Sidney seemed cool with it all.
Not only that, he was working with her on this officer book. It was kind of fun, but he didn’t want to admit that to the guys.
“Not in a bad way,” Eli said. “It’s just she’s young and single. No kids, yet she is writing children’s books. I haven’t seen them since I’ve got no need to, but I did hear they were really good and looked like she’s reached top seller status or something.”
“She has?” he asked. Sidney never said that to him. It’s not like he looked at her rankings either.
Eli shrugged. “I just heard it. You know how things are on the island.”
He did. Things got exaggerated, but he’d find out when he talked to her later tonight. “Anyway, that isn’t why I asked you guys here.”
“What?” Hunter said. “You don’t want dating advice?”
He snorted. “Please. You two were single just as long as me until recently. Eli is only out for fun. I found my woman just fine on my own.”
“His woman,” Eli said with a massive grin. “You all heard him. Mac took the fall.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” he said fast.
“We are embarrassing you worse than your brothers,” Hunter said. “I wasn’t sure that was possible. So, tell us what is going on. Something on the island we need to be aware of?”
“No. I hate to do this, but I’ve got no choice. I went to the board and submitted my budget and didn’t get what I need. I’m hiring an additional officer full time, but we need a cruiser. I’m short thirty thousand. I’ve exhausted all other options.”
“That’s it? That’s all you need?” Hunter said. “Geez. I’m insulted that you seem so nervous about asking us. Done. I’d rather go back to talking about your personal life. It’s much more entertaining when someone else is squirming on the hot seat of family ribbing.”
He laughed. “Thanks, Hunter.”
“Why don’t we each give you twenty thousand?” Eli said. “It’s a business write off for us and the island needs it. Are we fine with that?” he asked, looking at Drew and Hunter.
“I don’t need that much,” Mac argued. “Ten thousand each covers it if you want to split it. That was kind of my hope, not that one of you would say you’d cover it all.”
“I’m sure you could find a lot of things to do with that extra thirty thousand or put it away for when you need it,” Drew said.
“Yeah. There is always stuff that is getting pushed aside. Thanks, guys. I hate asking.”
“We know,” Drew said. “Get over it. You aren’t asking personally. It’s for the island and we always do what is best for the island.”
He knew that. The Bonds had always been that way. “Just wish I could contribute more myself.”
“Are you kidding me?” Eli said. “It’s easy for us to write a check. Much harder for you to do that work. Get over yourself. Or better yet, how about we say thank you for all you do.�
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“I second that,” Hunter said.
“Same here. Now that the work part of this is done,” Drew said, “let’s eat. I’m starving.”
Mac was more humbled than he could say to the words these three guys had just spoken and knew if he didn’t change the subject, he might get a little sappy when he tried to be so tough.
“Not sure why you are hungry. I hear you have someone cooking meals for you all the time, not to mention baking,” Mac said. “I’ve had some of Amanda’s cookies that Sidney brought. Damn, you lucky dog.”
“We get cookies all the time too,” Hunter said.
“Not fair,” Eli said. “I don’t get squat.”
“Maybe you need to find yourself a woman then,” Mac said.
“I’m having too much fun,” Eli said. “But if you can find someone, there is hope for the rest of us.”
Sidney looked up when she heard a knock at the door. She’d been sitting there staring at her computer for five minutes ever since she’d read the email that just popped up.
Rod. How the hell had he gotten her personal email?
It was more of the same, like his letter. Just missing her. Hoping to reconnect. He even made a comment that she might not have known how to reach out to him from his letter and was trying not to be upset over it.
The fact someone was knocking on her door though was causing her heart to pound louder than drums in Jumanji.
She slid the laptop off her legs and walked forward, pushing the curtain aside and seeing the chief’s SUV in the driveway. She let out a breath and opened the door to Mac. Talk about good timing.
“Hey you,” she said, going right into his arms. “What are you doing here? You never come here in the middle of the day.”
“I know. I can’t stay long either. I’m working and it wouldn’t look good.”
“Come on in. Can I get you something to drink or did you come here for a quickie? Oh no, not you. You’re too straight-laced for that.”
He laughed. She’d do anything to get her mind off the fact of that email. “I wish,” he said. “But duty calls. I could see it now, I’d get some emergency call and have to jam my feet into my jeans and go hopping out the front door like the scene of some horrible chick flick where the husband came home and the boyfriend was escaping.”