Fool for Love

by Marie Force

  "I want you to come to Maddie's shower tomorrow at my mother's house."

  "I most certainly will not!"

  "You'd do that to your own daughter?"

  "Don't speak to me about my daughter! What do you know about it? What do you know about anything?"

  "I know she's the best new friend I've had in a long time. I know my brother loves her with everything he has and my family has fully embraced her and Thomas. Why would you want to force her to choose between you and us? Why does it have to be a choice?"

  "She's already made her choices," Francine huffed. "What I think of it apparently has no bearing."

  "How can you say that? When the whole island thought she was no better than a tramp, she didn't leave because you insisted on staying here after your husband left. Instead of going somewhere for a fresh start where no one knew her, she stayed here and put up with all the rumors and innuendo about her, because you wanted to be where he could find you."

  "She told you that?"

  "I totally understand why you'd want to stay. I'd want the man I love to be able to find me, too."

  Francine sagged against the door frame. "He's been gone twenty-five years. I don't think he's coming back."

  "Maybe not, but you have your daughters and your grandchildren, and next week you'll have a new son-in-law who'd do anything for you, if only you'd give him a chance."

  "You're asking an awful lot of me."

  "Actually, I'm really not. I'm just asking you to give him a chance. He's going to be your grandson's father. If you can't do it for Maddie, maybe you can do it for Thomas."

  Francine crossed her arms. "I'm not going to your mother's house."

  "You don't have to decide that now. I wanted you to know you're invited. That my mother and I, as well as Maddie and Tiffany, would love to have you there."

  "You'd love that, would you?"

  "Maddie would, so that's good enough for us."

  "You McCarthys like to think you're better than everyone else on this island."

  "No, we don't. My mother was big enough to admit she was wrong about Maddie. Maybe you can do the same for us?" Before Francine could answer, Janey turned to start down the stairs. "Two o'clock tomorrow," she said over her shoulder. "I really hope you'll join us."

  Based on the warm welcome Joe received from Grant, Adam and Evan McCarthy, he figured they hadn't heard yet about his relationship with their sister. With dark hair and blue eyes, all four McCarthy brothers resembled their father as a young man. Only Janey took after their petite, blonde mother.

  Evan, a singer-songwriter, had recently landed his first recording contract in Nashville. He was the first to notice Joe's arrival. "Hey!" he said. "It's the fifth McCarthy brother!" Embracing Joe, Evan lifted him right off his feet.

  "Dude!" Joe said. "Put me down, for Christ's sake!" Back on terra firma, Joe noticed that Luke had arranged tables and set out the food from Mario's. The cards, poker chips and Cuban cigars Joe had dropped off earlier were sitting in the middle of one table, along with the beer he'd provided, which had been loaded into a huge garbage can and iced. Perfect.

  Grant, an Academy-Award winning screenwriter who lived in Los Angeles, greeted Joe with a handshake and one-armed hug. "How's it going?"

  "Great," Joe said, going with the truth. What the hell? They'd hear about it soon enough. "Good to see you, man."

  "You, too."

  Joe admired that Grant hadn't let success turn him into an arrogant jerk. He had a cool, urbane way about him that dated back to high school and probably served him well in Hollywood.

  "Can you even believe why we're here?" Adam asked as he hugged Joe. A successful computer programmer who lived in New York City, Adam was six inches shorter than his brothers. They called him "Little Brother," even though Evan was the youngest.

  "Never thought I'd see the day, that's for sure," Joe said, his stomach twisting with nerves as he wondered if Mac was still pissed with him. "Where's the man of the hour?"

  "My dad is bringing him so he doesn't have to drive," Evan said.

  "Oh, good call. Did you guys get to meet Maddie?"

  "Briefly," Grant said. "Mac's truly gone over her, huh?"

  "Truly," Joe agreed.

  "I knew her years ago," Evan said with a hint of chagrin.

  Joe winced, recalling Evan's role in sullying Maddie's reputation in high school. "How was it to see her again?"

  "She was far more gracious than I deserved."

  "That sounds like her," Joe said. "She's amazing."

  Luke came in carrying two huge bags of ice. "Oh, hey, man. Everything look okay?"

  "It looks great," Joe said. "Thanks for the help."

  "No prob."

  "Let the games begin!" Big Mac bellowed as he walked in with Mac and Ned trailing behind him. Big Mac spread his arms. "All my boys! How fabulous is this?" When he was excited, his enormous personality got even bigger.

  Hit with a sudden burst of nerves, Joe got busy opening catering trays and setting out paper plates.

  "Hey," Mac said from behind him.

  Steeling himself, Joe turned. "How's it going?"

  "This is nice," Mac said, gesturing to the food. "Thanks."

  "Luke did most of the heavy lifting."

  "I'm sure you did your share."

  Joe shrugged off the praise. "I assume you'd do the same for me if my time ever comes."

  As Mac studied him with intense blue eyes, Joe couldn't get a reading on what his friend was thinking. "You're damned right I would."

  Relieved, Joe couldn't help but ask, "Even if the bride is your sister?"

  "Especially then."

  "Does this mean I'm forgiven?"

  "I'm told you were upstanding throughout the whole … um, encounter."

  Joe snorted with laughter. "You're extremely ridiculous when it comes to her. You know that, don't you?"

  "I've been told that as well."

  Cracking open beers for both of them, Joe laughed harder.

  Mac glowered at him and snatched the beer Joe offered. "I'm sorry I accused you of taking advantage of her. She said something today I can't get out of my head."

  "Which was?"

  "That I know you, and that should've been good enough. She's absolutely right about that."

  Joe clinked his bottle against Mac's. "You certainly know better than anyone how much I love her. I'd never do anything to hurt her."

  "I hope you know what you're doing. I don't want to see you hurt, either."

  "Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself."

  "Joseph," a booming voice intoned.

  Uh-oh. Joe looked up at Big Mac and flashed a grin. "Beer?"

  Big Mac made no move to accept the beer Joe offered. "May I have a word with you outside?"

  Joe glanced at Mac, who snorted behind his hand. "Um, sure. Now?"

  "Right now."

  Driving an elbow into Mac's ribs on the way by, Joe followed Big Mac outside. As they walked to the end of the long pier, Joe wondered if the older man intended to push him into the murky water and leave him for dead. When they couldn't go any further, Big Mac turned to him, hands on hips. "What's this I hear about you and my daughter?"

  "Well, um…"

  Thanks to the lights on the pilings, Joe could see that one of Big Mac's eyebrows was raised. That was never a good thing.

  "I'm waiting."

  "I love her. I've always loved her."

  Big Mac stared him down, but Joe didn't blink. "Is that so?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "So the minute her fiancé was out of the picture, you moved right in, huh?"

  "It didn't happen that way. Exactly."

  "How did it happen?"

  "First of all, she called me when her car broke down."

  "And the rest?"

  Joe rubbed at the stubble on his chin as a bead of sweat rolled down his back. Being tossed in jail had been far more pleasant than this interrogation. "I'd rather not talk about that. It's personal. Betwee
n Janey and me." He cleared his throat. "Sir."

  "I can respect that. I suppose. Where do you see this heading?"

  "If I had my way, we'd be the ones getting married next weekend. At this point, it all depends on her. She knows what I want."

  "She's interested in veterinary school. Are you aware of that?"

  "She told you that?" Joe asked, a burst of adrenaline kicking his heart into higher gear. Why hadn't she told him?

  "We had a conversation about it. Would you stand in the way of that?"

  "Hell no. Who do you think has been pushing her in that direction?"

  "And if she moves to Columbus, Ohio for the next four years?"

  "We'll figure that out when she gets in. No matter what, she's going."

  "That's what I want to hear."

  "You have to know I'd take good care of her if I'm lucky enough to have that opportunity."

  "It might be awhile before she figures out what she wants."

  "I'm not going anywhere, and I'd wait forever for her if that's what it takes."

  Big Mac studied him for a long, long moment before he finally extended his hand. "Be good to her," he said quietly. The tone was in sharp contrast to his usual booming voice.

  Overwhelmed by the blessing Big Mac had given him, Joe shook his hand. "Always."

  Much later, Joe stood off to the side watching Mac engage in a fight to the death with Grant, who was trying—and failing—to win back some of the money Mac had won at the poker table. The groom-to-be had been unstoppable all night long. Over the course of the evening, most of the old men who hung around on the docks had wandered into the party, and at some point Evan had unearthed his guitar.

  Under the influence of his brothers and a considerable amount of alcohol, Mac seemed to be having a fantastic time, which was all that mattered to Joe. However, he couldn't help but wonder what Janey was up to. Since all his guests were happily engaged, he stepped outside to give her a quick call.

  "Are you bored at the bachelor party?" she asked. "I told you to get strippers."

  Joe smiled, delighted to hear her voice. "You told me no such thing."

  "Well, I would have if you'd asked me."

  "Where does one get strippers on this island?"

  "If anyone would know, I would."

  "Do not tell me how you know that."

  Janey's sexy laugh sent an arrow of desire rocketing straight through him.

  "I miss you," he said, looking out at the moon reflecting on the placid Salt Pond.

  "You just saw me."

  "This morning seems like a really long time ago."

  "For me, too," she said softly, as if she didn't want someone to hear her.

  "Where are you?"

  "Over at Maddie's providing the bride with moral support while the groom is out drinking and carousing."

  "There's no carousing going on. Just some rather heated hands of poker. Tell Maddie that Mac has relieved Grant of five hundred bucks so far."

  He listened while she relayed the message.

  "She said that's great, but if he comes home drunk, she's blaming you."

  "Fabulous. So, if I bring him home later, maybe you'll still be there, and maybe I can give you a ride back to town?"

  "That might be possible."

  "I'm not working until twelve thirty tomorrow."

  "I'm not working at all. Got the shower."

  "Mmm, I'm picturing a lazy morning in bed."

  "We're on a diet," she reminded him.

  "I'm hoping you'll forget about that about five minutes after we get back to your place."

  She released a nervous giggle. "We'll see about that."

  "Yes, we will. Don't wait for me if it gets too late."

  "I'll wait."

  Joe wished he could leave right now and go to her.

  "Joe?"

  "What, hon?"

  "Thanks for the flowers. They're gorgeous."

  "I'm glad you like them."

  "I haven't gotten flowers in a really long time."

  "Is that right?"

  "Uh-huh."

  "Janey…"

  "Yes?"

  Overwhelmed with love for her, he took a deep breath. "I'll see you soon."

  "I'll be here."

  Chapter 21

  By midnight, no one else was willing to take on Mac at the poker table, so the cards were abandoned and the bullshitting began in earnest. They covered every old story about Mac's capers as a kid, as well as his considerable dating history. Joe kept them all in beer, whiskey and cigars, even though he'd quit drinking hours ago. No one seemed to notice.

  "So you know who was on the ferry this afternoon?" Evan asked. "Remember Sydney Donovan who used to come out in the summer?"

  Joe tuned right into the stricken expression on Luke Harris's face. He'd dated Sydney every summer for years before she went off to college and never came back.

  "She looked rough, man," Grant added. "Has she been sick or something?"

  Since Luke seemed paralyzed, Joe told the others about what had happened to Sydney's family.

  "Oh, man," Adam said softly. "God."

  "Apparently, she shattered her pelvis in the same accident," Joe said.

  "I heard she's here for the rest of the summer," Ned said. "Staying with her folks till she's back on her feet."

  "Poor kid." Big Mac shook his head with dismay. "How do you ever get over that?"

  "Wasn't she a friend of yours, Luke?" Mac asked.

  Luke seemed to snap out of his trance. "Um, yeah. Long time ago."

  "She was a friend of Maddie's, too," Mac said. "They worked together at the Scoop." He referred to the ice cream shop in town. "She'll be glad to know Sydney's back on the island."

  Mac was slurring his words, and Joe could tell Luke didn't want to talk about Sydney. "What do you say we call it a night? Thomas will have you up early."

  A big goofy grin spread across Mac's face. "He's so awesome. Isn't he awesome, Joe?"

  Joe helped Mac to his feet. "He sure is."

  "I love being a dad. Who knew?"

  Mac's brothers snickered as Joe guided him to the door.

  Mac tightened his arm around Joe's neck and kissed his cheek. "I'm so glad you're sleeping with Janey."

  A collective gasp rippled through the room.

  "Oops," Mac said.

  If looks could kill, Mac would be deader than dead just then.

  "You take him," Big Mac said to Joe. "I'll fill them in."

  Joe glanced over his shoulder to find the other three McCarthy brothers and Luke staring at him, mouths agape. Ned, on the other hand, had a satisfied smile on his face.

  "Thanks for coming everyone," Joe said. He moved Mac as quickly as he could to the company truck he'd commandeered for the evening and loaded him into the passenger seat. As Joe secured Mac's seat belt, his friend's eyes fluttered closed.

  "Sorry 'bout that," Mac said when Joe started the truck. "Shouldn't have blurted that out."

  "Ya think?"

  "They love you. They'll be happy 'bout it."

  "If you say so."

  "I say so," Mac said one second before letting out a huge snore.

  Joe laughed to himself and deemed the bachelor party a success.

  Arriving at Mac's house a short time later, Joe equated the effort to wake Mac to rousing a hibernating grizzly bear.

  "Come on, man." Joe somehow managed to get him out of the car and halfway up the stairs to the deck with no help at all from Mac. Just as Joe's back was about to break from the effort, Mac came to.

  "Hey! We're home. Maddie! We're home!"

  "Shut up, will you?" Joe hissed. "If you wake up Thomas, she'll kill you."

  "Shhhhh," Mac said. "Be quiet. Thomas is sleeping."

  Joe rolled his eyes and slid open the door to find Janey sacked out on one sofa, Maddie on the other.

  Maddie sat up when they came in. "Oh, lovely," she muttered.

  "Hey, baby," Mac said. "Come give me some love."

 
"I don't think so." She pointed Joe to the stairs.

  He wrestled Mac up the stairs to his bedroom. After propping him up in the bathroom so he could take care of business, Joe dropped him on the bed.

  Mac was out cold the second his head hit the pillow.

  "Might be a little ugly in the morning," Joe said to Maddie, who had followed them upstairs.

  "That's okay. Did he have a good time?"

  "I'd say so."

  "That's what matters, then. Thanks for bringing him home."

  "No problem."

  "Did you two work things out?"

  "I thought so, but then he blurted out the whole thing to his brothers, so now I'm going to have to kill him."

  "He did not!" Janey said from the hallway. "I'll help you kill him!"

  Joe reached for her. "We've officially gone public, honey."

  She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his chest. "How public?"

  "All the way."

  Janey groaned as Maddie giggled.

  Mac let out a huge snort and turned over in bed, reaching for something—or someone.

  "I guess that's my cue," Maddie said.

  "Don't let him breathe on you," Joe said.

  They all laughed.

  "Thanks for everything tonight, you guys," Maddie said.

  "May the Force be with you," Joe said.

  "He's going to need the Force with him in the morning," Maddie said.

  Laughing, Janey took Joe's hand to lead him downstairs. "We'll see you tomorrow." Janey collected her stuff and locked the door before sliding it closed behind them.

  On the deck, Joe stopped her from going down the stairs. "Come here."

  She dropped her purse and jacket and stepped into his outstretched arms.

  "Now that's what I've needed all damned day," Joe said.

  "Mmm," she said. "Let's go home."

  With his arm around her, Joe led her down the steps and into his truck.

  "Smells like a bar in here," she said, pinching her nose.

  "Thank your brother for that."

  "You didn't have any?"

  He reached for her hand. "A couple of beers much earlier. I figured one of us needed to maintain."

  "Did you guys talk?"

  "Yeah, it's all good, baby. Don't worry."

  "That's a relief."

  "I had an interesting chat with your dad, too."

  "Really?"