“Stacy’s pregnant.”
Exhaling an audible breath, Nate showed no visible reaction that he was about to be an uncle for the third time. “Was it planned?”
“What do you think? Hell, no, it wasn’t planned.”
Running a hand over his face, Nate felt his temper rising. He counted slowly to ten. “First thing, calm down. Whatever problem you’re facing is your problem. It’s not mine, Dad’s, or Odessa’s, so dial down the attitude.”
Lowering his head, Bryce stared at his bare feet. “I’m sorry, Nate. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m not ready to become a father.”
Nate curbed the urge to hug his brother. He wasn’t about to lecture Bryce about the fact that if he hadn’t been ready for fatherhood, then he should’ve taken the necessary steps to prevent an unplanned pregnancy.
“I take it Stacy plans to have the baby.”
“Yeah.”
“If that’s the case, then you have to get ready. She didn’t make this baby by herself, so you’re going to have to step up.”
“It’s…it’s not that I don’t love her, but…”
“But what, Bryce?”
“We talked about getting married.”
“Okay. So what’s the problem?” Nate asked.
“Stacy plans to teach until the baby comes, and together we make enough to rent a place in Charleston, but there’s not going to be much left over for food, health insurance, and things we’ll need for the baby.”
“You can’t live in Charleston. Remember, Bryce, the terms of your probation mandate that you live here.”
“Can’t I get my probation officer to change that?”
“Is that what you really want?” Nate asked his brother. “The reason you’re on probation is because you weren’t able to stay away from your crackhead friends. All they have to hear is that you have a place where they can hang out and Stacy will bring either your son or your daughter to visit you in the county jail.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“So you say. Wake the hell up, Bryce. You’re twenty-two years old and you’re about to become a husband and father. That means you can’t hang out with your friends whenever they call. And trust me, they’re going to come calling. You were always the one with the car and a little spare change. You were the only one who finished high school and went to college. They are who they are—certified bums who will bring you down. Do you think they care how many times they’ve been arrested? For them it’s become a badge of honor to say they’ve done a bid. Shaws don’t do jail.” He’d clearly enunciated the last four words.
Bryce threw up a hand. “That’s all I hear from Dad. Shaws don’t do this or Shaws are expected to do that.”
Bracing his arms on the back of the chair, Nate glared at the younger man. “Don’t forget your girlfriend is carrying a Shaw. Stacy only got back with you after you’d promised her you would go back to college, get your degree, and complete your probation. That sounds like a woman who not only loves you but also has a lot of faith in you. Please, Bryce, don’t prove her wrong.”
“This is not about Stacy,” Bryce countered.
“Yes, it is. You have to stop thinking about yourself. It’s about you, Stacy, and your baby.” Nate reached out and held his brother’s arm. “I envy you, Bryce. You’re going to have what I always wanted.”
“Why would you envy me? You have everything, Nate. You have money up the wazoo and you can come and go whenever and wherever you please. What more do you want?”
A beat passed as Nate tried swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat. “A woman who loves me as much as I love her. The happy anticipation of starting a family.”
A sheepish expression crossed Bryce’s face. “I never looked at it that way. I’m sorry your marriage didn’t work out.”
Nate’s hand tightened on his brother’s arm before releasing it. “I’m not. Now I get to be here to bounce my new baby niece or nephew on my knee. I missed that with Gregory and Gabrielle.”
Leaning back in the cushioned chair, Bryce closed his eyes. “I’m sorry I got in Dad’s face, but I’ve had enough of him telling me to grow up.” He opened his eyes. “In case he hasn’t noticed, I am grown. What he doesn’t get is I can’t be like you. You’ve always been the good son, while I can’t seem to get anything right.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Bryce. I’ve had confrontations with Dad, but the difference between you and me is I never disrespected him. Don’t tell me you’re sorry. Tell him.”
Bryce exhaled an audible breath. “I will.”
The seconds ticked by as the brothers stared at each other. “I think I can help you out,” Nate said, breaking the silence.
“How?”
Nate could hear trepidation in the query. “After you and Stacy marry, you can live in the apartment in the barn until you finish probation.”
Excitement fired the gold flecks in Bryce’s eyes. “But that’s not going to be for another sixteen months.”
“I happen to know how long it is.”
“What about you, Nate? Where will you live?”
“I’ll live there, too, but in the smaller bedroom.” Nate had to tell Morgan his plan to convert the second bedroom into a home office would have to be scrapped. And that meant he would have to reconfigure an office space on the first floor.
“You would do that for us?”
“Come on, Bryce. Wouldn’t you do the same for me?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Nate’s eyebrows lifted. “You guess so?”
“Of course I would.”
Nate smiled. “That’s better. I’ve ordered furniture, but it won’t be delivered for at least another three weeks. Have you and Stacy talked about setting a wedding date?”
“No.”
“I suggest you start planning your future. I’m not going to charge you rent, so that will allow you to save some money. I am going to establish a few rules, though.”
Bryce narrowed his eyes. “What kind of rules?”
“You and Stacy will not move in until you’re married.” Bryce nodded. “And you have to keep it clean.” Nate had overheard Odessa arguing with Bryce about cleaning up his bedroom.
“That’s not a problem. Stacy’s a neat freak.”
“How in the world did she hook up with you?”
“I read somewhere that romance is about the little things. I suppose it’s the little things Stacy likes about me.”
Nate nodded. Bryce was right. It was the little things he liked about Morgan. It was her smile, her laugh, her quick comebacks, her dedication to her family and career, and the sensuality he suspected she was totally oblivious to.
“You’ve got a lot going for you, Bryce. You’ve got skills me and Dad will never have. Making furniture by hand is like weaving sweetgrass baskets. If it wasn’t for Shaw Woodworking and Miss Rose over in the Cove and some of the other older ladies here in the Creek giving lessons, both would cease to exist here on the island. I’ve heard Sharon tell Gregory that even if he doesn’t want to make furniture, as soon as he’s old enough to use a carving knife he’s going to learn to work with wood. And who better to learn it from than you, Bryce?”
“I think I’d like to have Gregory as my apprentice.”
Throwing back his head, Nate laughed. “There you go.” He sobered quickly. “After you get your degree you may decide you want to do something else, but remember there are always people with money willing to pay for something made exclusively by hand.”
He told Bryce about the businessman who’d paid him two million dollars for the ornate doors into which he’d carved Greek and Roman mythical creatures, Gothic-inspired gargoyles, and kings and saints from the Old and New Testaments, making the wood into a work of art.
“Damn,” Bryce drawled. “I had no idea you could make that much money working with a piece of wood. How long did it take you to complete it?”
“It took me two years.”
“Why
so long?”
“I was still working for a developer, and I’d taken on this project as an independent contractor. I’d rented space in a warehouse, and whenever I had a few hours to myself I’d work on it. Now I know what Michelangelo must have felt like when he lay on his back for four years painting the Sistine Chapel. There were a few times when I was going to call it quits, but something wouldn’t let me give up. It was the first and last time I ever took on something of that size and scope. But I bet it’s something you’d like, because you love to draw.”
Bryce ran his fingertips over his chin. “You’ve given me an idea. Maybe I could carve a few doors in my spare time and try to sell them.”
Nate stood up. “It sounds ambitious. Remember you’re going to have a wife and child to look after in the not-too-distant future, so you may not have too much spare time.”
“I’ll find the time. Even if it’s only an hour a day.”
“And I’ll help out whenever I can. Once you and Stacy work out what you’re going to do, then let me know. I’m going inside to talk to Dad before I go home.” Nate held out his arms and he wasn’t disappointed when Bryce rose to hug him. “Congratulations, little brother.”
Bryce pounded Nate’s back. “You’re the best brother a dude could have.”
“You say that because I’m your only brother. I want you to wait until I leave before you go in and apologize to Dad.”
Nate left Bryce on the porch when he opened the door and walked into the living room, where his father sat with Odessa. He gave both a warm smile as he sat across from them. “Everything’s going to work out. Bryce is talking about marrying Stacy, and I’ve offered to let them live with me until they get on their feet.”
Odessa covered her mouth with her hand. She blinked back tears. “Bless you, Nate.”
He turned his attention to his father. “Dad, you’re going to have to lighten up on Bryce until he moves out.” Nate held up a hand when Lucas opened his mouth to interrupt him. “Please, let me finish. I told him about disrespecting you, and I don’t think that’s going to happen again.”
“He’s always been somewhat of a wild child,” Odessa said.
“He is what you’ve allowed him to be,” Nate countered. “You can’t wait until he’s an adult and then try to establish boundaries. It’s much too late for that. He’s going to have to inform his probation officer that he’s getting married and that he’s also changing his address.”
Lucas nodded. “I’ll go with him.”
“I’ll do that,” Nate volunteered. “After all, he’ll be living with me.” He stared at his stepmother. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying and his heart turned over in empathy. He smiled and she returned it with a tentative one. “Congratulations, Grandma.”
Clasping her hands together, Odessa bit her lip to still its trembling. “Thank you, Nate. And thank you for coming so quickly.”
He gave her a long, penetrating stare. “We’re Shaws, Odessa. You call and we’ll come. That’s what we do.”
Odessa went completely still. “Are you saying I’m not a Shaw?”
The accusations Nate wanted to fling at her died on his lips. He knew this wasn’t the time or the place to attack her, to finally rid himself of the bitterness he’d carried for years. “No, I’m not saying that. You’re as much a Shaw as Bryce, Sharon, or me. And especially now that you’re going to become a grandmother to another generation of Shaws.” He stood up, and fatigue descended on him like an anchor pulling him down to the bottom of the ocean. “I’m going to sleep in my old bedroom, because right now I don’t think I can make it back to Sharon’s house without falling asleep behind the wheel.”
Odessa jumped up. “I’ll get it ready for you.”
Lucas rose to his feet. “Thanks, son.”
“It’s all right, Dad. Just think about your new grandchild.”
“That’s all I’ve been thinking about. I’m hoping Bryce is mature enough to take on a family of his own.”
Nate rested a hand on his father’s shoulder. “If he’s not, then he has time to mature. Stacy seems to be a levelheaded woman, and that means she’ll be good for him.”
Lucas blew out a breath. “You’re right. She convinced him go back to school.”
“They’ll work it out, Dad. Most young couples do.”
Lucas’s light brown eyes were fixed on his firstborn. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you.”
“Come on, Dad. You know and I know that it wasn’t going to last. So please stop apologizing.”
“I kind of blame myself because I feel I put the mout on your marriage.” Lucas had slipped into dialect.
“You did nothing of the sort. It was what it was. Now, if you’ll excuse me I’m going to bed.”
“Do you know something?” Lucas asked when Nate turned in the direction of the bedrooms.
He stopped, but didn’t turn around. “What is it?”’
“This will be the first time you slept here since you’ve been back.”
“Yeah, I know.” Nate walked into the bedroom as Odessa walked out. “Good night—or should I say good morning?”
She gave him a tender smile. “Good morning. What do you want for breakfast?”
“Anything.”
“That’s not saying much.”
“Grits, eggs, bacon, or ham. And lots of black coffee,” he said to Odessa’s departing back. Nate closed the door to the bedroom where he’d spent his childhood, stripped off his clothes, and got into bed. He fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.
“Morgan, I’m going home for lunch.”
Her head popped up and she nodded to Samara. “I’ll see you later.” The heat wave was over, and the island mandate for businesses to close down from twelve to four had been rescinded. Morgan would’ve gone home herself if she didn’t have a one o’clock meeting with Bobby. It was only days from the beginning of the Island Fair, and she wanted to start rolling out crusts for her mother’s pies. She also had to go to the supermarket to buy the ingredients she needed for her gumbo.
“Do you want me to lock the front door?” Samara asked.
“Please.”
Leaning back in her chair, Morgan stared at her to-do list. She had to call the furniture manufacturers to order the pieces for Nate’s apartment. She also had to call Mr. Fletcher at the Harbor Fishery to place an order for shrimp for the gumbo. She’d modified the traditional recipe, omitting the crabmeat and oysters.
Her cell rang and she picked it up when she saw Rachel’s number. “What’s up, Sis?”
“My water just broke.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m at home.”
Morgan closed her eyes. “Please don’t tell me you’re alone.”
“I am,” Rachel squeaked. “James dropped Amanda off at his mother’s this morning.”
“Did you call him?”
“Yes. He’s on his way. But I don’t think I’ll be able to hold on until he gets here.”
“You have to hold on, Rachel. Where are you?”
“I’m lying on some towels on the bathroom floor.”
“Are you doing your breathing exercises?”
“They aren’t doing me much good right now,” Rachel admitted. “I feel like someone is stabbing me. After I have these babies, I’m through.”
These babies. Morgan’s grin was so wide her face hurt. So Irene was right when she dreamed about Rachel holding a fish in each hand. Their sister had concealed the fact that she was carrying twins.
“Talk to me, Rachel. It’ll keep your mind off the pain.”
“Wait a minute, Mo. James and the EMTs are here.”
“Tell James to call me when—” The line went dead, and Morgan knew she would have to wait to find out whether she was going to be an aunt to nieces, nephews, or one of each. The office phone rang and she picked up the receiver. “M. Dane Architecture and Interiors.”
“Good afternoon, Ms. Dane.”
A shiver of excitement ed
died over her when she recognized Nate’s voice. “Good afternoon, Mr. Shaw. How may I help you?”
Reaching for a pen, she scribbled down notes on a legal pad. Nate had decided not to use the smaller bedroom as an office. “You still want the office furniture?”
“Yes. I’ll subdivide space on the first floor for an office.”
Morgan wondered what had happened to make Nate change his mind. “What size bed do you want in the second bedroom?”
“What do you suggest?”
“A queen, because anything larger will overpower the space.” She pulled up the floor plans for his apartment. “I’m sending pictures of the styles you like to your cell.” Morgan didn’t have to wait long for Nate to tell her his choice. “You caught me just in time, because I was going to call the warehouse today.”
“You still haven’t told me how much I owe you, Mo.”
She made interlocking circles on the pad. “I’ll let you know once the order is confirmed, and you can pay them directly.” Her hand stilled as she closed her eyes. She thought back to the night she’d told Nate to leave before she begged him to make love to her. She wanted him; wanted him so much she found it hard to sit still. “I know I promised you breakfast,” she said, biting back a smile. “Are you available Thursday morning?” Thursday was July first, the beginning of the Island Fair.
“For you, I’ll be available every morning.”
And for you I’ll be available every night. The heat that began in her face spread to her chest, settling in her belly when she tried to imagine waking up with Nate beside her. “Let’s start with one morning.”
“Oh, so there’re going to be a lot of mornings, Mo?”
“We’ll have to wait and see, now, won’t we?”
“There’s one thing you should know about me.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m a very patient man.”
Morgan couldn’t help but laugh. “And there’s something you should know about me, Mr. Nathaniel Phillip Shaw.”
“Whatever it is must be serious if you’re calling me by my government name.”
She laughed again. “I just wanted to tell you I’m the most patient woman on Cavanaugh Island.” She’d been waiting far too long for him to make love to her.
Haven Creek Page 22
