He tore open the envelope and removed two sheets of faintly scented stationary.
My dearest Sam,
As I write this, I’m hoping you’ll never read it, but if you are, then something has happened to me and Robert. I know it must be hard for you to imagine that I had enough foresight to prepare for the worst, but that’s what maturity and having a family does to a carefree spirit like mine.
I suspect you’re pretty angry with Robert and me for picking you as Bobby’s guardian, but he and I agreed that you’re the absolute best choice. I think I know you even better than you know yourself. For years you’ve been running from the past—our past—but that’s no way to find what you truly need. To do that you need to fall deeply in love and create the kind of family we never had. I’ve done that with Robert and our boy. I think Bobby will be that blessing in your life, too.
You can do this, Sam. You’re a better man than our dad. You’re a forever guy. If I didn’t believe that with my whole heart, I’d have let Robert’s parents take Bobby. But our son needs exactly what you can provide if you believe in yourself. You’ll give him a home and stability—I’ll bet you already have, haven’t you?—and you’ll give him the taste of adventure every little boy needs to thrive, too.
We love you, Sam. We’re trusting you with the most valuable part of us. I know you won’t let us down. Don’t let yourself down, either, and grab every ounce of happiness that’s out there for yourself.
Love, Laurel and Robert
The pages, dampened with Sam’s tears, fluttered to the ground. He thought of his sister and the faith she had in him, of Carrie and the trust she’d placed in him. And he thought of Bobby, who believed that Sam could make everything in his life okay.
“Carrie was right,” he murmured. “I am an idiot.”
And at the very first opportunity, he was going to claim the happiness that just a few short hours ago he hadn’t felt he deserved. He just prayed he wasn’t too late.
* * *
Susie was clinging so tightly to Mack’s hand, she’d almost cut off the circulation.
“What’s taking so long?” she asked for what had to be the tenth time.
“It’s not as if we’re picking up produce at a farm stand,” Mack soothed. “I’m sure there’s a lot of paperwork and Connor’s probably doing everything he can to make sure we’re protected.”
They were sitting in a conference room at Connor’s old law offices in Baltimore, waiting for the moment when they would finally hold their baby.
“Do you suppose we’ll have to see the mom?” Susie asked.
“Do you want to?”
“I do and I don’t. I want to thank her for doing this, for giving us this amazing gift. Then I think about all the heartache and I want to snatch the hair right off her head.”
Mack knew she wasn’t entirely joking. He was pretty much filled with mixed emotions, too. “Let’s just focus on the gratitude,” he suggested.
Just then the door opened and Connor walked in, a baby girl—their baby girl—cradled in his arms.
“Susie, Mack, I’d like you to meet your daughter. Her mom’s given her a name, but you’re free to change it. I’m thinking you might not want to.”
Mack watched as his wife took a hesitant step forward, then reached out and gently brushed a finger along the baby’s cheek. Tears were streaming down Susie’s face. His own eyes were welling up—at this incredible, long-awaited moment and at the joy shining in Susie’s eyes right along with those tears.
Susie held out her arms and Connor carefully placed the baby into them. “I’m shaking,” Susie whispered.
“You’re doing fine,” Connor assured her. His eyes looked a little damp, too.
“What did the mom name her?” Susie asked.
“Josephine,” Connor said. “She’s been calling her Jo.”
Susie’s gaze lifted in shock. “My mom’s name?”
Connor nodded.
“I think it’s perfect,” Mack said. “What do you think, Suze?”
Blinking back tears, she looked into his eyes. “I think this was meant to be, don’t you?”
His throat tightened at the pure joy on her face. “I think it’s the miracle we’ve all been praying for.” He cast a quick look in Connor’s direction. “It is, isn’t it?”
“It’s as airtight as I can possibly make it,” Connor promised. “She’s yours.”
Mack moved to his wife’s side and gazed down into that sweet, precious little face that had captivated him from the instant he’d set eyes on her tiny picture. He put an arm around his wife, then tucked his other hand beneath the baby, feeling the weight of her, close enough now to draw in that baby smell that women always grew so nostalgic about. Susie looked up into his eyes, then down into the face of their daughter.
“Jo, I’m your mom and this is your dad. We’re going to love you so much it’ll probably make you crazy, but you are our gift from God, and we’ll never forget that.”
“Never,” Mack said, his heart suddenly so full he couldn’t help wondering how he’d ever thought their life would be complete without this tiny little princess in his wife’s arms.
Now, at long last, they had their family.
* * *
On Sunday, Sam once again found himself at the big family dinner at Mick O’Brien’s, though this time it was Mack who’d insisted he come.
“We’re celebrating the opening of Carrie’s day-care center. You should be there,” Mack had said. “I don’t care what sort of disagreement the two of you had. Today’s a day for showing that we support her.”
“Shouldn’t the focus be on you and Susie and your new baby?” Sam had asked. Though he was eager to make things right with Carrie, he wasn’t sure this was the occasion for it. “This will be her introduction to the family, right?”
The bemused look of a new dad passed across Mack’s face. “Believe me, everybody in the family has been by the house at least once to get a peek at her. The christening is coming up in a couple of months, once we’re certain the adoption is going to be finalized. I imagine she’s going to get passed around to every female present on Sunday, but the day is really about Carrie. I know you care about her. Be there to share this with her.”
Sam had been just desperate enough for a glimpse of Carrie to agree. She’d been surprisingly elusive ever since she’d walked out of his house a few days earlier. No question that she’d been deliberately avoiding him. What else had he expected since he’d all but told her that he didn’t intend to get involved in anything serious.
Now that he’d come to his senses, in part because of his sister’s reassurances from beyond the grave, he was ready to take it all back. He wanted Carrie to know that he was crazy in love with her.
Bobby clearly adored her, too. In fact, the second they’d arrived at Mick’s and he’d spotted Carrie in the yard, he’d gone running off to throw his arms around her. She’d glanced Sam’s way, then, just as quickly, looked away. With her cheeks pink, her hair tousled and kids swarming around her, she was everything the perfect mother should be, not a thing in the world like the sad, broken woman with whom he’d grown up.
How had he ever thought he could turn away from that, he asked himself. Even a six-year-old had sense enough to gravitate straight to her. As his sister had essentially told him, it was time for him to start running toward something, rather than away from it. People who loved deeply got hurt. They suffered terrible losses. It was unavoidable. But loving deeply was the only way to truly live.
Gathering up his courage and all the strength that came from knowing this was the right thing to do—for him and for Bobby—Sam walked slowly across the yard. He was halfway to Carrie, when she noticed his approach. Gazes locked, she extricated herself from the kids and took a half step in his direction, then stopped and waited. Clearly, she was leaving whatever happened next up to him. He got that. He’d rebuffed her too many times before.
“Hi,” he said inanely when he reached her.
A smile tugged at her lips. “Hi.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For?”
“Being an idiot.”
“I have it on good authority, you’re not the first man to excel at it.”
“How are you at forgiving it and moving on?”
“I’m not sure,” she said. “I haven’t been tested that often.”
“I love you, Carrie.”
Shock registered in her eyes. Clearly she hadn’t expected the words to come out here, maybe ever. “Seriously?”
“Don’t tell me I’ve finally surprised you.”
“You said something about moving on. The love thing is pretty much out of the blue.”
He held her gaze. “Is it?”
“For you, I meant. Not for me. I saw the handwriting on the wall for us weeks ago.”
“Yeah, about that handwriting. It took me a while to translate it into a language I could understand.”
“English?”
“No, the language of the heart. I’ll admit I had a little help.”
“From?” A horrified look crossed her face. “Please tell me my grandfather didn’t have anything to do with this?”
“No. I had a letter from my sister.”
Her eyes widened. “Seriously?”
“Apparently Robert’s parents found it as they were cleaning out the house. She told me why she wanted Bobby to be with me. She had so much faith that I could get this right, and she encouraged me to take a chance on happiness when I found it, so that’s what I’m doing. I’m going for broke here. I’m willing to choose love over fear.”
“Fear?”
“That I could lose you.”
She tucked her hand into his. “I’m not going anywhere, Sam.”
He nodded, choosing to have faith. He swallowed hard. “Okay, then. If you’re not afraid to take a chance on a guy who never imagined he’d settle down in one place with a wife and a houseful of kids, then I’m not afraid of that anymore, either.”
She searched his face. “You’re sure, Sam? Really sure? Because once we go inside and people find out we’re together, there will be hell to pay if you decide later to bail on me.”
“No bailing,” he swore. “Not on my side.”
A full-fledged smile broke across her face then. “Not on mine, either.”
“Then I guess it’s safe to tell Bobby, your parents and your grandfather,” he said, pulling her into his arms, then murmuring against her lips, “Maybe not right this minute, though.”
But by the time he’d kissed her thoroughly in front of what grew to be a cheering throng of O’Briens, he figured there was no need to make any sort of announcement. The news that he’d come to his senses was clearly out!
Bobby danced around them, his excitement contagious. “We’re getting married,” he announced to anyone who’d listen.
“Hey, pal, that news is supposed to come from me and Carrie,” Sam told him, though he couldn’t help being grateful for the help in making that final leap.
Abby and Trace were quick to offer their congratulations, then Mick O’Brien headed their way. He hugged his granddaughter, then gave Sam a hearty slap on the back. “Welcome to the family, son!”
“Thank you, sir. You’ve set the bar for this family pretty high. I’ll do my best to deserve to be a part of it.”
“You just love my girl here with your whole heart and you’ll have done everything I’ve ever asked of anyone.” Mick looked around, a beaming smile on his face. “Ma sent me out here to get all your hooligans inside and around the table. Dinner’s ready. Wait till she hears this news. I imagine she’ll be raiding my fancy wine cellar for my best champagne.” He cast a meaningful look toward Mack, Susie and their baby girl. “O’Briens have a lot to celebrate today and more blessings than any man has a right to ask for.”
“Amen to that,” Megan said, linking her arm through his.
As Sam, Carrie and Bobby joined the others heading inside, Sam stopped for a moment to look into Carrie’s eyes. He needed to be sure she understood exactly how he was feeling.
“Just so you know, marriage was part of that whole speech of mine a while ago, even if Bobby kind of stole my thunder by getting the actual words out before I could. I love you, Carrie.”
“I love you, too, with all my heart.” She reached for Bobby’s hand, too, and winked at him. “We’re getting married!”
“Awesome!” Bobby declared.
Sam caught Carrie’s gaze and held it. “It is pretty darn awesome.”
In fact, he couldn’t think of a single thing to top it. Then he glanced at Susie and Mack staring down into the face of their daughter, their expressions filled with awe. Except, perhaps, that, Sam thought. A baby would complete things.
Even as the thought struck, he waited for panic to follow. When it didn’t come, when the only thing stirring inside him was anticipation, he knew all the adventures he’d ever need were right here.
Epilogue
Mick sat at the head of the massive table in his dining room for Sunday dinner and looked around with satisfaction. Smaller tables had been added here and there, squeezed into corners, for his grandchildren. So many leaves had been added to the main table, it actually stuck out of the room and into the foyer. Even so, he could see everyone who mattered to him in this life.
Megan was right next to him. When it came to his greatest blessings, she was right up there. He was thankful every day that they’d made their peace. Their marriage was on a more solid foundation today than it had been at any time since they’d first wed so many years ago.
Ma was at the opposite end of the table, reunited with Dillon, the Irishman who’d been her first love and who’d come back into her life just a few years ago, a timely if unexpected reunion that allowed them to live out their days together.
In between, his brothers and their spouses and their grown children, all married now. His own children were there, too, most of them parents themselves now. Abby’s twins were the first of his grandchildren to marry and Caitlyn had even given him his first great-grandchild, little Jackson McIlroy. Too bad about that Scottish heritage, but Mick could live with it as long as his girl was happy. He had a feeling it wouldn’t be long before Caitlyn’s sister, Carrie, added yet another baby to the mix. She and Sam had the look of two people who couldn’t wait to get started on adding to their family.
He was blessed, to be sure! Everyone always thought that this town that he’d designed and built from scratch, butting heads with his brothers all the way, was his pride and joy. To be sure, Chesapeake Shores was the crowning achievement of his career. It was a community the way a community was meant to be, filled with good people who cared about one another.
But the crowning achievement of his life was right here in this room, a strong family with a solid foundation of values and love. They’d made their share of mistakes, him most of all—not that he’d ever admit it aloud—but they’d learned from those mistakes. They were stronger for having weathered tough times. They were stronger for having each other.
As if she sensed his thoughts, Megan reached over and took his hand in hers. He lifted their clasped hands and brushed a kiss across her knuckles.
“It’s a little overwhelming sometimes, isn’t it?” she said quietly. “Looking around and seeing this family gathered together, thinking of everything we’ve been through.”
“It is, indeed,” Mick said.
For most men the sight would have been satisfaction enough, evidence of a life well-lived, but his glance strayed to the little ones at those tables Ma had tucked into corners of the room. They were the future of the O’Briens, and until they were grown and settled, his work here was far from done.
Megan smiled. “You know, Mick, there are always going to be more O’Brien babies in this world,” she said, as if once more she’d been reading his mind. “We can’t stick around to guide them all. Sooner or later we’ll just have to trust that the lessons you’ve passed on, the values
your mother taught you and your brothers are in their hands.”
Mick nodded, suddenly aware of his own mortality. He squeezed his wife’s hand. “But not just yet,” he said softly. “Not just yet.”
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from DOGWOOD HILL by Sherryl Woods.
“Sherryl Woods writes emotionally satisfying novels about family, friendship and home. Truly feel-great reads!”
—#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber
Looking for more incredible stories from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods? Return to Chesapeake Shores for a little holiday magic in this heartwarming Christmas tale:
The Christmas Bouquet (November 2015)
Catch up with the O’Brien family in Chesapeake Shores, where stories of friendship, family and love await—you may never want to leave. Collect the complete series today!
The Inn at Eagle Point
Flowers on Main
Harbor Lights
A Chesapeake Shores Christmas
Driftwood Cottage
Moonlight Cove
Beach Lane
An O’Brien Family Christmas
The Summer Garden
A Seaside Christmas
Dogwood Hill
Willow Brook Road
“Woods’s amazing grasp of human nature and the emotions that lie deep within us make this story universal.”
—RT Book Reviews on Driftwood Cottage
Take a trip to Serenity, South Carolina, where the Sweet Magnolias are always in season and heartwarming romance is only ever just a stone’s throw away:
Stealing Home
A Slice of Heaven
Feels Like Family
Welcome to Serenity
Home in Carolina
Sweet Tea at Sunrise
Honeysuckle Summer
Midnight Promises
Catching Fireflies
Where Azaleas Bloom
Swan Point
“Woods employs her signature elements—the Southern small-town atmosphere, the supportive network of friends and family, and the heartwarming romance—to great effect.”
Willow Brook Road Page 32
