“Well, give my love to everyone. I’ll see you, so…” Byron had already hung up. Deep in thought, Jack hung the phone up slowly.
He couldn’t even consider visiting the island again. Things were just too busy at home. Kimberly knew that, even if she didn’t like it. There were a million things to be done at the new property, to get it up and running in three months. Otherwise, it would be a financial drain during a time it should be producing. He couldn’t afford to miss the holiday rush. A week ago he’d approved the advertising brochure. He was sending out packages to area businesses, letting them know the pub would be available to host holiday parties.
Jack shook his head. He couldn’t get away to while away a few days on the island. He had to do the responsible thing.
He wanted the brewpub completely renovated in less than three months, in plenty of time for the holiday season. He’d open with holiday specials. His brewmaster was even developing a special beer for it.
When Jack first opened, he’d been the brewmaster for his pub. He liked that part of the business, but didn’t have the time or opportunity to participate in that any longer.
Jack heard raised voices. He left the hallway and went back to the competition.
He’d call Kimberly from the hotel room tonight. At least they’d have some connection. She’d know he was thinking of her.
Devin helped Kimberly from the small sailboat.
“That was great.”
“Jack should see you now. Your hair’s all windblown. Your face is animated and healthy from the sea breeze. Call him, Kim. Ask him to join you here. He loves you.”
The cheer left Kimberly. For a space of time, she’d been able to put Jack and their situation to the back of her mind. She shook her head. “He’s much too busy. But thanks for taking Byron fishing. It’s going to be the highlight of his vacation.”
“Kim—”
“Devin, I don’t want you to take time off to entertain me. I’m fully capable of being on my own.”
“You spend too much time alone,” he said. “But you have to understand that being the oldest, Jack always…” He sighed, searching for words. “We always took things in stride. And since we weren’t the oldest, we weren’t driven quite as hard. Jack was closer to Dad than the rest of us. He took on his drive and—”
“Whatever success he has will never be enough. He has to have more—to the exclusion of everything else,” Kimberly finished for him. “I understand.”
“But it doesn’t make it easier for you. You know Janice and Mom will be there for you. We all will.”
“Yes, I do, thank you very much. But I can deal with this baby alone.”
“Kim—”
“Devin, I have to either accept things the way they are or make a change. I have to make a decision that doesn’t include Jack. The most crucial thing I’ve learned through all this is I can’t change him. I can only control what I do.” She touched his hand. “I want to spend the next few days considering my options.”
“You’re pregnant, sis. You don’t have any options.”
“Oh, yes, I do.”
Kimberly wanted to smile at the alarm crossing Devin’s features. “Now, don’t be hasty,” he said. “You’ve been married seventeen years to my brother. That’s a long time in this environment. You must have found something to love about him.”
“I know how long I’ve been married.”
They secured the boat and Devin drove Kimberly to the cabana.
“Kim, I will coach you through this delivery.”
“Oh, Devin, you can’t do that.”
“It’s not like Jack will do it. I don’t want you to go through it alone. I’m going to take a vacation beginning a week before your due date.”
Really touched, Kimberly touched Devin’s cheek. “That’s so sweet of you, but you’re going to do that for your wife one day. I’ll be fine. I’m an old hand at this now.” Things got very personal in a delivery room, and Kimberly couldn’t imagine baring all in front of Jack’s brother.
“Thanks for the offer. It means so much to me.” Kimberly slipped out of the car and knew Devin watched her until she closed the cabana door behind her.
Devin knew he had to intervene or his brother would find himself losing the best thing in his life. Jack was just too thickheaded to see farther than his nose.
You’re going to do that for your wife one day. Kimberly had no idea how those words hurt. Byron and April were the closest to “his own” that Devin was ever likely to have.
Devin sighed. What to do? He beat out the tune of the music against the steering wheel. Kimberly’s phone was on the seat beside him. He started to open the door, but checked the impulse. If Jack tried to call her cell phone he wouldn’t reach her. And if he called the hotel’s operator, Devin would have the operator dial a number that wouldn’t be answered.
Devin chuckled at his own wit. It was time to show the old goat he had a few things to learn.
Jack should be on top of the world. Most of the things he wanted in life were in place. He’d won the blue ribbon for the new beer that would earmark the grand opening of the new brewpub.
He was being congratulated. Acquaintances and business associates took him out to dinner and drinks afterward. But he left early, not really in the mood for celebrating.
Now he lay in bed thinking of the many things to be done at home, but his mind kept veering to Kimberly and the kids. April hadn’t called him once this week. It should be a good sign that she was enjoying the Caribbean. But she usually called him all the time, wanting to talk—even when she was in the Caribbean. Of course that could be a sign that she was growing up, but still…She was Daddy’s little girl. They enjoyed a close relationship that he reveled in.
Of course, Kimberly gave him enough grief for several people, but she hadn’t called him either, to complain or otherwise. But worse, she hadn’t called him to let him know where she was.
Even now, he pictured her dancing on the beach, her face animated with laughter. Her perfume washing over him in the island breeze as he held her close, dancing. Jack closed his eyes. He imagined her soft body in his arms while they danced by the ocean, and his own body tightened with intense need.
He picked up the phone and dialed her cell number. He just wanted to hear her sweet voice, but her cell phone immediately put him into voice mail. Kimberly’s phone was never turned off, just in case one of the children needed her. Then he called the hotel’s number. When the operator connected him, the phone rang and rang. When the message center came on he hung up before listening to the prerecorded drivel.
Kimberly hadn’t even told him she was going to the island. That still hadn’t sunk in. It was eleven-thirty, for God’s sake! What was she doing that time of night? She usually went to bed early. She needed more sleep, now that she was pregnant.
A knot lodged in Jack’s throat. He didn’t expect to feel this need, this isolation, this sense of urgency. Why now, when he hadn’t felt it before?
Jack frowned, lying back in the bed with his hands under his head. He should be fishing with his son and indulging April. He should be sailing with his wife.
In May, Devin had taken Kimberly snorkeling while Jack had worked on his proposal. And while she was on the beach alone, some guy was actually trying to pick her up. He’d always trusted Kimberly. That wasn’t an issue. But was someone trying to pick her up now?
She wasn’t showing. She was still a beauty.
An hour passed and Jack still hadn’t fallen asleep. He punched the pillow and tried to call Kimberly again—and still received no answer. It was after midnight. Where the heck could she be?
“I’m sorry, Mr. Canter, I don’t know where your wife is,” the hotel’s manager said.
What had he expected? To be met by everyone with open arms? So much for the first spontaneous, impulsive move of his adult life.
“What about Devin?”
The guy looked embarrassed. “He won’t be back until tomorrow, sir.”
/>
“Tomorrow?”
“I’m afraid so. May I get you a room?”
“A key to my wife’s room, please,” he said.
As Jack was driven to the cabana, he thought of all the rescheduling he’d done to be with his family. And now everyone was away—even the kids.
He’d put Lauren in charge of keeping the wheels turning with the new pub. She would be presiding over meetings with the managers, meetings he should attend.
And Kimberly wasn’t even at the hotel. She wasn’t with the children. And Devin, his own brother, was suspiciously missing, too.
Jack’s phone rang the next morning while he was pacing the floor, waiting for Kimberly and Devin to return. He snatched it up.
“Jack, get to the marina,” Devin said. “A boat is waiting to take you to the main island. Kimberly’s in the hospital. She was mugged and the guy hit her.”
“Hell! How is she doing?”
“Just get to the hospital. I’m on my way there.”
“You weren’t with her?”
“No. I just got the call.”
A thousand regrets flew through Jack’s mind as he made his way to the hospital. A thousand what-ifs.
My God. His life would be nothing without her. Just knowing she was home—a place for him to come to—was enough.
He’d been a fool.
The hour it took to get to Kimberly was the longest hour of Jack’s life.
He rushed into the hospital. Kimberly had a bandage on her head but she looked fine. Devin sat on the chair beside the bed, looking the worse for wear. His mother and his children were there as well.
“How is she?” Jack asked.
“She’s going to be okay, but she’s sleeping now,” he whispered.
“And the baby?”
“Okay, too,” Devin said, leading him out to the hallway. “She has to stay off her feet for a couple of days. I never should have let her go shopping alone. I should have been with her.”
Jack dug his hands into his pockets. “That was my job.”
“Yeah, it is, but where were you?” Devin said angrily.
“Everywhere I shouldn’t have been.”
“I’m glad you finally realized that. Or is this a crisis decision? What happens when everything is running fine again?”
“I know I’ve been focusing on the wrong things, okay?”
“That’s nothing new.” Devin swiped a hand across his face. “The whole family’s made plans to be there when she has the baby. You don’t have to bother. The family will take care of your wife if you won’t.”
“I’ll be there for my wife,” Jack said, angry that his family thought he wasn’t responsible enough to look to the welfare and needs of his own wife.
“It shouldn’t have taken an accident to make you see the light. I shouldn’t have had to play games with you.”
“Games?”
“Yes, games. I took Kim’s cell phone so you couldn’t reach her. I had the switchboard reroute her calls.”
“You’re interfering in something that’s none of your business. You had no right to interfere with my calls to my own wife.”
“What else would make you panic enough to come after her? You’re here, aren’t you? That says it all.”
Jack bunched up his fists. “I should knock you flat on your ass.”
Devin pounced on him. “You can try.”
“Boys!” their mother said, coming between them, giving both of them stern looks. “This is a hospital, for heaven’s sake. What’s wrong with you?”
Jack regarded his brother and went back into the hospital room where Kimberly was still sleeping. He pulled up a chair beside the bed, gathered her hand in his, and sat.
When Kimberly awakened two hours later, Jack had nodded off.
“Jack?”
Jack awakened with a start. “How are you, baby?”
“I’m fine, except for a few aches. The baby’s fine,” she said. “The doctor’s just taking precautions. Devin made sure of that.”
Jack felt a stab of regret and something else—that his brother had to see to the welfare of his wife.
“How did you get here so quickly?” Kimberly asked.
“I was already here. I stayed in our cabana last night.”
“What are you doing here?” Kimberly asked, puzzled.
He could do no more than tell her the truth. “I missed you.”
“Missed me?”
“I’ve been without you too damn long, baby. I can’t take this separation any longer.”
“You’ve got a ton of work to do.”
“Lauren’s taking care of it. I decided it can get done without me.”
“I think you need to be in this bed.”
“I should have had my head examined a long time ago.”
“You’re feeling this way because you’re afraid for the baby. But it’s going to be fine.”
“It’s you I miss. As much as you don’t believe that I love you and I would have married you anyway, it’s the honest truth. After all is said and done, in the end it’s going to be just us, babe. Just you and me.”
“I want to believe you, Jack.”
“I’m going to prove it to you.”
Silence rang in the room for long moments.
“I was just so frightened I’d lose you,” Kimberly said. “We were growing further and further apart. We even lived separate lives. I didn’t know what to do to bring us back together. I never wanted a separation,” she said. “But I realized at the island that if I wanted you I’d have to be willing to put up with your absences.”
Jack squeezed her hand. “There won’t be any more absences. I’ve been thinking a lot, and I know I have to make changes for you, because I’m not the best person I could be, and I want to be the best for you.”
Kimberly regarded him as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Do you really mean that?”
Jack nodded, knowing that he meant every word. It wouldn’t be easy, but he was determined.
“Hey, slide over so I can hold you in my arms. Baby, I have to hold you.”
Jack lifted Kimberly’s back up and wrapped his hand lovingly around hers. She’d already snapped his head off several times after he’d said something inappropriate during contractions.
“Okay, push,” Vicky said.
Kimberly pushed. And—Christ Almighty! She crushed his hand. It had to be broken. At the end of the contraction, Jack slid his hand away and shook it. She was paying him back for missing April’s birth. But in reality, she didn’t even know his hand hurt like hell.
“Here he comes,” Vicky said, and out slid a red-faced, mucus-covered, wriggling thing of beauty.
Devin Canter II was born on February 28 at 11:58 p.m.
“Oh, God! Oh, God!” Words couldn’t begin to express Jack’s joy. “Look at what you’ve done, baby,” Jack said to Kimberly. Her hair was a mess, but she was still the most gorgeous sight he’d ever seen. He had to hold her or burst. He gathered her tenderly in his arms and kissed her. The delivery had been long and hard and she was totally wiped out.
“Thanks for being here, Jack.”
“Never thank me, baby. Thank you.”
How could he not treasure this woman? Experiencing the birth of his child was better than any brewpub opening.
Epilogue
Their Mother’s Day celebration was held in a meeting room at the brewpub this year, and both Jack’s mother and Kimberly’s were present as well as most of the rest of his family—and her mother’s friend, Frank. Kimberly was overjoyed having all her family there. Even Lauren was present.
Kimberly never envisioned a friendship with the younger woman, but she’d grown to like her very much. As a matter of fact, one of Jack’s brothers was eyeing her closely. Jack told her that he’d come into the brewpub often, mostly to catch sight of Lauren.
Jack had surprised her. He worked fewer hours now. And he took most weekends off. She actually had dinner with him most nights and most
of the time they actually went to bed together. Kimberly never believed he could give up that much control of the pubs. But Jack being Jack, he still worried Lauren half to death. She seemed to take it in stride.
He eyed her now from the head of the table. She sat at the foot with Frank at her left. She’d enjoyed talking with him through the meal.
Jack had made a speech earlier a celebration of mothers and everyone had toasted. He’d ended with, “To mothers for their enduring love and devotion.”
Jack’s gaze met Kimberly’s with love and desire, and her eyes misted.
Soon everyone left the table to mingle.
“Kimberly, why didn’t you bring little Devin?” Jack’s sister asked. “I would have held him.”
“He was sleeping so I left him with the housekeeper.” Jack had convinced her to hire a live-in. Kimberly found it convenient for times like these. It didn’t intrude on her family life as much as she’d thought it would.
After Kimberly spoke to the rest of the family, he hustled them into the car and they headed home. Frank and her mother were spending the rest of the day with Jack’s mother.
Little Devin was up and Kimberly played with him for a while before the housekeeper came for him. Needless to say, the older Devin was flattered beyond belief when he heard the baby was named after him.
“Is the little bugger asleep?” Jack asked.
“Of course not,” Kimberly said. They both looked at little Devin as the housekeeper walked away. He had begun to fill out.
“He’s going to break some woman’s heart.”
Kimberly eased Jack out the door and they went to their bedroom.
“Kim, I was never made more aware of how precious mothers are until after little Devin’s birth. You give so much of yourself for the children, for me unselfishly. And we want you to know how much we appreciate you.”
“Oh, Jack. Thank you. That’s the best gift you could have given me.”
“Okay.” He took her shoulders between his hands. “Close your eyes.” He turned her around. “Now you may open them.”
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