by Cate Beauman
Nate gave his best buddy a solid slap on the shoulder. “Just a couple more months.”
Brad nodded again. “Things are pretty wrapped up for the wedding, but we’re still making decisions on a few of the finer details for the house. Gwen was giving Molls a hard time about choosing some of the paint colors yesterday.”
Cade smiled as he brought the bottle back to his lips, remembering Gwen complaining about Molly’s indecisiveness while they’d sat on a couple of the swings in the city park. “The pale green or blue for the bathroom.”
Brad frowned as he looked at Cade. “Yeah. How’d you know?”
Cade shrugged. “Gwen mentioned that a ladies’ night was happening tonight. The paint conversation came up shortly afterward.”
“I bet it did.” Brad grinned, flashing his famous dimples. “Those two are driving me fucking crazy.” Chuckling, he shook his head. “I swear I’m going to pick a color of my own and paint the damn bathroom myself.”
Cade and Nate laughed.
“Two strong women with stronger opinions.” Cade lifted his bottle in an air toast to Brad, wishing him luck.
“God bless the Carter sisters.” Chuckling again, Brad lifted his own bottle.
“Amen.” Nate shook his head, his smile fading as he looked at Cade. “Speaking of sisters. Thank you for heading over to Boston with Gwen today.”
Cade nodded. “No worries, mate. We’d planned to get some work done anyway.”
Nate clenched his jaw. “It sounds like Callie’s watching Kaitlyn on Tuesday because that didn’t happen.”
Cade shrugged, trying to keep things light, recognizing the temper heating Nate’s eyes. “She had a rough go of it for a bit, but we had some lunch while we waited for Kaitlyn. Things were fine after that.” It wasn’t his place to say much more. It probably wasn’t his place to say anything at all, knowing in his bones that Gwen wouldn’t be pleased that her family now knew that she’d been upset, but clearly, they were concerned about the entire situation.
“Liam’s a fucker,” Brad chimed in.
Nate steamed out a breath. “I don’t like this whole thing. Something’s up. That bastard hasn’t had anything to do with Kaitlyn since the beginning, so why now?”
Cade frowned. “What do you mean he hasn’t had anything to do with Kaitlyn?”
“He was barely home during Gwen’s entire pregnancy. As far as I know, today was his first attempt to see her.”
Cade tightened his grip on his bottle, loathing Liam O’Leary more and more. He now understood why there were no pictures of a loving father in the baby’s nursery. Poor Kaitlyn didn’t have one. “Why?”
Nate jerked his shoulders in an agitated shrug. “Hell if I know. Gwen’s been closemouthed about everything since she found that son of a bitch in bed with his sidepiece—and that’s a problem, because my sister and I used to talk about a lot of things.”
He understood a brother’s love for his sister—the need to protect. “I’m sorry about that.”
Nate shrugged again. “I just want her to be okay—for them both to be okay. And I know she isn’t.”
Cade restlessly scratched at his jaw, debating whether to make his intentions known. “Since we’re on the subject of your sister, I imagine I should put it out there that I’m interested in Gwen.”
Brad winced as Nate’s gaze flew to meet Cade’s. “And what does that mean, exactly? That you’re interested in Gwen?”
He held Nate’s steely stare. “It means I like spending time with her. She’s intelligent and beautiful.”
“She’s also a single mother.”
“I’m well aware of Gwen’s status. I like kids. I like Kaitlyn.”
Nate steamed out a breath, shoving his fingers through his hair. “Fucking-A, Cade.”
Cade clenched his jaw. “Let’s be clear that I’m not asking for your permission. Something tells me archaic bullshit like that would piss Gwen off, anyway.”
Nate’s lips twitched as Brad snorted out a laugh.
Cade smiled as the tension seemed to vanish. “As your friend, I wanted to give you a heads-up. I felt like I owed you that.”
Nate kicked at one of the pebbles littering the construction site. “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say about any of this.”
“You don’t have to say anything at all. Gwen’s a hell of a woman. I feel damn lucky that Liam was too stupid to see that.”
Nate nodded, pulling another sip from his beer. “What does she think of you?”
He smiled. “I’m still trying to figure that out.”
Nate grinned. “Do you have plans for the Fourth?”
He felt his brow furrow at the abrupt change in subject. “Not currently.”
“You should join us in town at the park. Mom and Dad will be busy helping the Deacons navigate the chaos. I’m on duty, and so is Brad, so it’s hard to say how long we’ll be able to stick around. But Gwen loves the fireworks. Next to Christmas, the Fourth of July is her favorite thing.”
Cade nodded, holding out his hand, understanding that Nate was giving him his blessing. “Thanks.”
Nate nodded, returning his handshake. “Gwen’s always been independent—does what she wants when she wants. Treat her right—treat my niece right—and everything should work out fine.”
“I wouldn’t treat them any other way.”
Chapter 11
Gwen hummed along with the radio as she poured melted white chocolate into the bowl of cream cheese and freshly whipped cream, then folded the ingredients together. “This, Baby Girl, is what we call pure heaven.”
Kaitlyn jabbered away on the floor in her stars-and-stripes romper, playing with her toys on her pink play mat.
“Let’s see what we think.” She slid her finger along the spatula, sampling her contribution for tonight’s festivities, beaming when it tasted just right. “It’s perfect—super-creamy and delicious. And this is Mommy’s very own recipe. Aunt Molly makes the best food, but Mommy’s no slouch, either.”
At ease and officially back in her groove after the weekend’s turmoil, she smiled, delighted with life in general. She and Cade had made serious progress in the city yesterday afternoon, ordering in several sample items for the airport. Kaitlyn seemed to be back in her routine, too, which meant a few solid hours of sleep for both of them. And today was one of her favorite holidays. Sunshine, fireworks, and family—it didn’t get much better.
“I’m going to get this into the fridge so the flavors can meld a bit more.” She wrapped the bowl with plastic, setting it on the top shelf of the refrigerator, then started arranging the plump strawberries and pretty grapes on the wooden platter, leaving room in the center for the fruit dip. “Today’s a special day. It’s called the Fourth of July—Independence Day.”
She looked up, laughing when Kaitlyn rolled to her stomach, grinning at herself in the baby-safe mirror Gwen had brought home from the city. “Who’s that sweet little girl staring back at you?”
Kaitlyn cooed at herself, drooling all over the plastic.
“Is that Kaitlyn in the mirror?” Unable to resist, she abandoned her task, walking over to her daughter, crouching down, brushing back Kaitlyn’s hair. “Is that you, Baby Girl?”
Kaitlyn stopped her talking, focusing on the movement of Gwen’s hand in the reflection.
She wiggled her fingers, fascinating the baby further. “It’s magic, huh?” Chuckling, she picked up her daughter, smiling as her baby girl smiled at her. “You’re six months old today.” She peppered her cheeks with kisses. “How are you half a year old? Stop growing so fast, okay?”
Kaitlyn reached for Gwen’s mouth.
“Are we supposed to play the new game Cade started?” Obliging her daughter, she growled as she snacked on her baby’s fingers with her lips.
Kaitlyn laughed.
Gwen laughed, too. “You’re the best. I love you so, so much.”
Then her phone alerted to a text.
Kaitlyn’s head whipped in the direction o
f the chiming sound.
“What was that? Let’s go see what someone wants to tell us.” She wandered over to the counter, glancing at the message from Rory Gilbert, Mini’s top-selling real estate agent at Carter Island Realty and Rentals.
Seashore Drive is officially under contract. The buyers love the décor. They want to negotiate pricing to keep most of the accents and furnishings. Let’s set up a time to talk about another staging.
“Yes.” She did a little boogie, delighting Kaitlyn. “The house Mommy was working on sold, which means we’ve got a quarter percent coming our way.” She danced around the room some more. “We’ve got a long way to go, but we’re getting there.”
Kaitlyn looked toward her play mat.
“Do you want to do a little more playing before you have your dinner and we head into town?” She kissed Kaitlyn again. “Everyone’s going to be there: Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Callie and Uncle Nate, Aunt Molly and Uncle Brad. Even Cade.” She settled Kaitlyn on the floor again, taking a seat next to her. “We’ll have so much fun, watching all the pretty colors in the sky.”
She reached for the silly grinning cow rattle as her phone started ringing. “It’s a busy day around here. You have fun with this.” Handing off one of Kaitlyn’s favorite toys, she hurried to her feet, frowning as she snatched up her phone, not recognizing the number. “Hello?”
“Gwen, it’s Uncle Aiden.”
Her frown deepened. “Aiden.”
“I hope you don’t mind me calling.”
“No. Not at all. Is Liam okay?”
“Liam’s fine. From what I understand, he’s spending the holiday in the city with some friends.”
She pressed her hand to her stomach, not quite sure what to make of Liam’s uncle reaching out to her. She figured that after the divorce she would never hear from the O’Leary’s again. “How are you? How’s Peggy?”
“We’re good—thrilled. We were tickled pink when we received the pictures.”
She shook her head. “Pictures?”
“Of Kaitlyn fast asleep in her little stroller.” He chuckled. “The last picture we got was from the night she was born. She looks just like you, Gwen.”
She closed her eyes as her heart sank, fully understanding why Liam had wanted two hours of his daughter’s time. “She’s getting big,” she heard herself respond.
“Savor each moment. They go fast.”
“Yes,” she said, because she didn’t know what else to say to the man who’d raised Liam and his older brother after Liam’s parents had died in a car accident his freshman year of high school.
Aiden sighed. “Peggy and I were devastated to hear about the ending of your marriage, especially when it was so abrupt, and Liam took things hard. But we’re so pleased that the two of you are working together to co-parent that adorable baby girl.”
She shook her head with the rush of rage, biting her tongue as she started pacing, wanting so badly to burst Aiden’s bubble. Liam’s aunt and uncle had always been kind. They were also naïve and overbearing, using Aiden’s status as executor of the O’Leary trust to keep their nephews in line. College, prestigious careers, marriage, and children were expected by the staunchly conservative retired federal judge.
“Malcolm and Cheryl would have been proud of Liam—proud of their first granddaughter,” Uncle Aiden continued.
Poor Malcolm and Cheryl were probably rolling over in their graves. How disappointed Rhode Island’s top thoracic surgeon and his high-society wife would have been to know that their youngest son had grown up to be a morally bankrupt snake. “I imagine.”
“I know how important it was to Malcolm and Cheryl to leave a legacy. Liam mentioned using the additional payout to start Kaitlyn’s education fund, which Peggy and I strongly approve of.”
Gwen stopped in her tracks. Of course, there’d been a bump in Liam’s annual payout—most likely a significant one to help with the many expenses that came with raising a child. But the money sure as hell wasn’t going toward Kaitlyn’s day-to-day needs or being tucked away for her future. She made a sound in her throat, unable to choke out any further deceptions.
“Perhaps Kaitlyn will follow in the O’Leary footsteps and attend Princeton,” he added. “Peggy found the sweetest little black-and-orange sweatshirt and a tiger we’d like to send along.”
Her eyes filled. Oh, how she yearned to tell him to kiss her ass—to tell him that Kaitlyn would make her own choices about college free from familial expectations, but upsetting Aiden would be a mistake. Liam would make sure of it. “Of course.”
“Peggy grabbed a nine-month size, I believe.”
She rubbed at the sudden throbbing in her temples. “That should be perfect.”
“We’re having an event here in Jamestown in October—a friendly gathering. I can’t remember the date off of the top of my head—Peggy’s better with that sort of thing.” He chuckled. “We would love to have you and Kaitlyn join us. We still think of you as family, Gwen.”
She needed this conversation to end—and for the O’Leary’s to leave her daughter the hell alone. “We’ll have to see how things line up. Molly’s getting married, and Nate and his wife are expecting their first baby.”
“Keep it in mind.”
“I will.”
“We’ll talk again soon. I’m looking forward to meeting my grandniece. And we’re always eager for more pictures.”
“Happy Fourth of July. Please give Peggy my best.” She hung up the phone, gripping the side of the island, staring at her sweet little girl before she settled her face in her hands, bursting into tears.
“Oh God,” she whispered on a quiet sob, recognizing what Aiden’s call meant—what Kaitlyn would be forced to endure for the next seventeen and a half years. She’d foolishly let herself relax when Liam made no mention of wanting to “visit” with his daughter again. But he would be back. It was only a matter of time before he would need more pictures to continue his charade as the doting dad. Kaitlyn was her father’s bankroll. A few posed shots here and there were guaranteed to keep Uncle Aiden happy—and the money rolling in.
Cade maneuvered his way through the hectic traffic on Highway 1, finding that driving away from Sanderson’s downtown limits did little to eliminate the heavy flow of cars and pedestrians clogging the busy road. The Carters weren’t kidding when they said the island would turn into absolute chaos. The pandemonium had started earlier this morning, when the first ferry docked with a boatful of visitors. Now that the sun was quickly setting, people were everywhere.
“Come on,” he muttered, eager to get back to Mansion Row and check on Gwen. He hadn’t thought much of it when she and Kaitlyn had run late to join the Carter family picnic at the park. Nate and Brad had been called away almost immediately, both of them responding to the same emergency among the insanity. But twenty minutes had turned into thirty before Molly and Callie received the same text—Gwen deciding that she and the baby were passing on the evening after all.
He'd promptly packed up his lawn chair, making his excuses before heading for his truck, well aware that something was wrong. Gwen had bubbled with excitement when she spoke of the Fourth of July festivities while they ate their lunch in the city yesterday. It was hard to believe that the noise and commotion of the night had suddenly become a problem, especially when they’d spent half an hour wandering through a couple of the Boston stores, finding Kaitlyn a stars-and-stripes romper. He’d been so caught up in Gwen’s enthusiasm, he’d ended up purchasing a sleeveless American flag shirt to wear with his favorite pair of black athletic shorts, anticipating an enjoyable holiday as much as Gwen.
“Finally,” he said, flipping on his blinker, pulling onto Mansion Row, then into the Carter House driveway. Making quick work of getting out in the increasing darkness, he moved up the steps, noting that several of the lights were still on as he rang the doorbell.
Seconds later, Gwen opened the door dressed in black capri yoga pants and a red tank top. She’d pulled her hair up
in a ponytail and ditched her contacts for her sexy glasses, clearly ready for a relaxing night at home.
“Cade.” Frowning, she adjusted Kaitlyn in her arms. “What are you doing here?”
He smiled at the baby, taking her from Gwen when Kaitlyn reached for him. “Hello, sweetheart.” He kissed the top of her head, smelling baby shampoo, noting that she wore a pair of pale-blue polka-dot pajamas. Someone had just had a bath and was ready for bed. He gave his attention to Gwen as he stepped farther inside the entryway. “We missed you at the park.”
She jerked her shoulders. “It seemed like a hassle to try to pack everything up. Plus, Kaitlyn’s finally back on her schedule, and I’d like to keep her that way.”
He held her gaze, studying her stormy blue eyes. Something had happened over the last few hours. “What about the fireworks—the gotta-see best show around?”
She shrugged again. “We’ll catch them next year.”
“All right. What about your white chocolate fruit dip that you’ve been bragging about? It seems a little mean to talk something up like that, then not deliver.”
She smiled. “It’s in the fridge. Feel free to take it with you.”
He wasn’t going anywhere unless she was. “Come watch the fireworks with me up on the rooftop.” It was the brilliant idea that had popped into his mind on the endless drive back.
She shook her head. “I need to get Kaitlyn to bed.”
He nodded, realizing that convincing Gwen to enjoy the show wasn’t going to be quite as easy as he’d thought. “Kaitlyn will sleep wherever there’s a comfortable chest to cuddle against. She can use mine.”
She shook her head again. “Cade—”
“Please, Mummy,” he said, switching tactics, speaking in a high-pitched voice as he lifted Kaitlyn eye to eye with her mother, dancing the baby around.
Gwen laughed, as did Kaitlyn.
Grinning, loving when they both laughed, he continued as if he were still Kaitlyn. “I want to watch the fireworks. It’s my very first Independence Day. We should join Cade on the deck so that we can see all the pretty colors. We should bring the fruit dip, too.”