by Marie Force
His face sagged with shock and dismay. “Oh. Shit. I never even thought of it.”
“You were the sober one! You should’ve thought of it!”
“So this is my fault, too?”
“Yes!”
Grinning and shaking his head, he held out his hand to her. “Come to bed.”
“In a minute.” She went to use the bathroom and brush her teeth. All the while, her heart beat an out-of-control rhythm as the possibility of another pregnancy left her flat-out terrified. With her hands on the countertop, she let her head drop as the implications settled into a hard knot in her belly.
Mac came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, his face warm against her back. “I’m sorry, honey. You got me so worked up, I never gave it a thought.”
“I knew you’d find a way to make it my fault,” she teased.
He urged her to turn to face him. “Just because we slipped up once doesn’t mean you’ll get pregnant.”
“It’s been two weeks since my period,” she said, watching his face carefully as the information registered with him.
“Still, that doesn’t mean it’ll happen.”
“I hope not. I’m not ready to be pregnant again.”
“I’m not ready for you to be pregnant again either. I may never recover from the last time.”
That drew a small smile from her. “What’re the odds of something like that happening again?” she asked of their daughter’s wild home delivery during Tropical Storm Hailey.
“I have no desire to find out anytime soon.” He hugged her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “No matter what happens, we’re in it together, you and me. All the way.”
His words went a long way toward defusing the panic that had gripped her since she realized they’d forgotten protection. But the panic would gnaw at her until she knew for sure that she wasn’t pregnant. It was going to be a very long ten days.
Chapter 3
Daisy was up early the next morning to get ready for work. Since Mrs. McCarthy had put her in charge of the housekeeping department on a trial basis earlier in the month, she was trying to get there early every day so she was ready when the others arrived. She only had the job at all because Maddie had put in a good word for Daisy with her mother-in-law, but Daisy was determined to do the best job she could and earn the position permanently.
Emerging from the house, she was dejected to realize it was raining. Normally, she walked the mile and a half to work every day and enjoyed the exercise and the scenery along the way. But with the rain coming down hard, she went back for her umbrella and headed to the ferry landing to hail a cab.
Ned Saunders waved her over to his cab, running around the front to open the passenger door for her.
“Thank you so much, Ned,” Daisy said as she got in and shook off her umbrella before Ned closed the door.
“Not a good day fer walkin’ about, doll,” Ned said as he fired up the old station wagon and took off toward North Harbor without even asking Daisy where she was going.
Such was life in a small town. Everyone knew your business, which wasn’t always a good thing. However, since the awful night with Truck, the island community had been extra nice to her. She hadn’t heard a word of derogatory gossip about her, though that didn’t mean there hadn’t been any.
“How ya been feelin’?”
“Much better. Thank you again to you and Francine for the casserole and the brownies. That was very nice of you both.”
“I gotta give my gal credit for that. I was just the delivery boy.”
Daisy smiled at him. He was so damned cute and crazy in love with Maddie’s mother. They gave romance losers like her hope that there might be someone out there for everyone. “Just the same, it was nice of you, and I appreciated it.”
“Our pleasure, honey. Glad to see ya up and around and back ta work. I hope yer not lettin’ Linda push ya around at the hotel. She runs a tight ship, but she’s a lot more bark than bite.”
Daisy had learned as much since she’d been promoted. “She’s been very nice to me, especially since I had to call in sick for a whole week right after I got the new job. And she brought me dinner, too.”
“That sounds like the Linda I know and love.”
He was quiet for a moment but glanced over at her twice.
“What is it that you’re dying to say to me, Ned?”
“Tisn’t my place to interfere.”
Daisy smiled at him, well aware of his sweet yet meddling propensities. “And yet…”
“I’m concerned ’bout yer new friend, Dr. David.”
“What about him?” Daisy asked, not wanting to hear anything about David that would change her opinion of him.
“His track record ain’t the best. I’d hate to see ya git hurt again, ’specially after what happened recently.”
“That’s very nice of you, Ned, and I know there are things in his past he’s not proud of. In fact, he’s going to tell me about it himself the next time I see him. If it’s all the same, I think I’d like to hear it from him.”
“Fair ’nough. So long as ya know there’s somethin’ ya need to hear. And fer what it’s worth, it’s good he wants ta tell ya ’bout it. Says somethin’ ’bout him.”
“I agree.”
“Sorry to be nosing in where my nose don’t belong.”
“You were looking out for me, and that’s very sweet of you.”
“Aww, shucks, t’ain’t nothing I wouldn’t do fer my own girls.”
Daisy thought it was doubly sweet that he thought of Maddie and her sister Tiffany as his girls, especially since their own father had been a total deadbeat until recently. Anxious to change the subject as they approached the last intersection before the hotel, Daisy tried to think of something else to talk to him about. And then she knew what she wanted to ask him.
“How does Maddie seem since her dad came back around? She told me he set up college funds for the kids.”
“Yep. Too little too late, if ya ask me, but ain’t no one askin’ me.”
“It’s something, anyway, but I do see what you mean. I can’t help but wonder if he did that to guilt them into spending time with him.”
“’Twas my thought as well.”
“Hmm, well, we’ll have to keep an eye on her and make sure he can’t hurt her again.”
“On that we agree.” He brought the car to a stop at the bottom of the grassy hill that led to the hotel. “If it’s still rainin’ this afternoon, I’ll be back to getcha at four.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want ta do it, so don’t give me no sass.”
Daisy laughed and shook her head at him as she reached for her wallet.
His hand covered hers. “Keep yer money, doll. Tain’t no good here.”
Charmed by him, Daisy leaned over to kiss his cheek. “You’re the best. Thank you.”
Daisy scrambled up the hill under the umbrella, thinking about her chat with Ned and more concerned now about whatever it was that David had to tell her.
She tried to push those worries aside as she got busy preparing the schedule for the next week and organizing the supply order that was due by noon so the delivery could make the Friday ferry.
At nine-thirty, she met with “her” team of housekeepers, which still made her feel like an imposter. What was she doing overseeing Sylvia, Betty, Sarah and Maude, who, along with Maddie, had taught her everything she knew about hotel housekeeping? When their old boss Ethel retired, Maddie had been promoted. After Hailey was born, she’d decided to stay home with her kids and had recommended Daisy for the job, which Daisy still couldn’t believe.
She’d cried like a baby when Maddie first told her that she’d encouraged Mrs. McCarthy to put her in charge. And she’d totally understood when Mrs. McCarthy asked for a summer-long probationary period so they could make sure it was a good fit for both of them before they made it permanent. Daisy had never had a job with benefits or paid vacation or the kin
d of salary she was earning. Even with the increased salary, however, the cost of living on the island was rising all the time, and she was constantly short on cash.
However, she had health insurance for the first time since she left home ten years ago at eighteen, and she was going to do this job brilliantly even if it killed her. Some days she wondered if it would actually kill her, because she was working as hard as she ever had, even if the labor wasn’t as physical as it used to be. As the manager, she still ran up and down three flights of stairs all day long and was wiped out at the end of every shift—more so since she’d been injured.
She didn’t want Mrs. McCarthy to think she couldn’t handle the job, so she’d been pushing herself since she’d come back to work. As she returned to her office at noon, her entire body ached, and she was anxious to take a painkiller to get through the afternoon. Two pills would be ideal, but the second one would put her to sleep. One pill would take the edge off the pain radiating from her ribs.
Daisy popped the pill and chased it with a drink of water.
Maddie came to the door, looking a little bleary-eyed, which was to be expected after her big night out.
“Hungover?” Daisy asked with a cheeky grin for her friend.
“Maybe a little.”
“I’m surprised you can move today,” Daisy said, inviting her into the office.
Maddie slid into the visitor chair and took a closer look at Daisy. “Are you okay? You’re pale.”
“Little bit of pain, so I just took a pill. It’ll be better soon.”
“I hope you’re not pushing yourself too hard, Daisy. You were seriously injured, and you only took a week off.”
“I’m fine. I promise. I love the job, and I want to be here.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
“I hired two new girls for the summer. They’ll be here next weekend. My first hires. Fingers crossed.”
“Look forward to meeting them.”
“I can’t thank you enough for giving me this opportunity. You have no idea what it means to me.”
“Yes, I do. It wasn’t that long ago that I was living on a shoestring. I understand how new opportunities can change a life. And you don’t have to keep thanking me, Daisy. I recommended the person who I thought would be best for the job.”
“It feels weird sometimes, being the boss of Betty, Sarah, Maude and the others. They’ve been here forever.”
“And they don’t want to be the boss. I had the same concerns, but Linda told me they didn’t want the job. They were nothing but supportive of me when I was in charge.”
“They’ve been great to me, too. They kept me in food while I was recovering.”
“It’s a nice group, and they’ll take good care of you.”
“Keep the assurances coming. I need as many as I can get.”
“You won’t believe what happened last night after you left.”
“What?”
“Thomas caught us… you know…”
“No way.” Daisy laughed at the tortured look on Maddie’s face. “What did he say? What did you say?”
“It was awful. He wanted to know why Daddy was hurting me.”
Daisy laughed so hard tears ran down her cheeks.
Maddie balled up a tissue from the box on Daisy’s desk and threw it at her. “It’s not funny!”
“Yes, it is.” Daisy wiped her face with the tissue. “You must’ve been dying.”
“I still am. He doesn’t understand why mommies and daddies like to snuggle without their clothes.”
That set Daisy off all over again.
Even Linda McCarthy’s appearance at the door couldn’t stop the laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Linda asked, bending to kiss her daughter-in-law’s cheek.
“I can’t tell you,” Maddie said. “It’s too embarrassing.”
“Can I tell her?” Daisy asked, wiping her face again.
Maddie put her hands over her ears. “If you must.”
“Thomas caught them…” Daisy rolled her hand, encouraging Linda to fill in the blanks.
“Daisy’s right. That is funny.”
“Glad you think so,” Maddie grumbled.
“Tell her the part about mommies and daddies snuggling without their clothes,” Daisy said, losing it all over again.
Linda joined in the laughter, clearly enjoying Maddie’s dismay.
“Mac caught us once when he was about Thomas’s age,” Linda said. “We were on the sofa getting busy, and then there he was. I let out an ungodly scream that scared the heck out of him and my husband.”
“He didn’t mention it last night, so I don’t think he remembers.”
“Let’s not remind him,” Linda said.
Maddie grimaced, which made Daisy laugh some more. “I’d like to forget the whole thing happened, so quit laughing.”
Daisy dabbed at her tears with the tissue. “Can’t help it.”
“I’m never drinking champagne again,” Maddie said.
“Can we get that in writing?” Linda squeezed Maddie’s shoulder affectionately. “I’ve got to run to a hair appointment in town. See you girls later.”
“Thanks for the laughs,” Daisy said to Maddie when they were alone.
“Happy to entertain you with my mortification, but that’s not the reason I stopped by.”
“What’s up?”
“I wanted to talk to you about David.”
“What about him?”
“Even in my tipsy state, I couldn’t help but notice we might’ve interrupted something when we came home last night.”
“Maybe.”
“I just hope you’re being careful where he’s concerned. There’re things about him that you should know—”
Daisy held her hands up to stop her friend from going any further. “I’ve already heard that.”
“What do you know?”
“That there’re things he needs to tell me.”
“And how do you know that?”
“Because he told me, and I want to hear it from him.”
“You know that Mac and I are thankful every day for what he did for us when Hailey was born.”
“Yes, and I know there’re things in his past he’s not proud of. We’re going to talk about that when he gets back on Tuesday.”
“Where is he?”
“He had to go to Boston for a couple of days.”
“What’s he doing there?”
“He didn’t say, and I didn’t ask. Listen, Maddie, I appreciate you looking out for me. I really do, and I know I’ve given you and all my friends ample reason to worry about me. But I’m okay. And I’m enjoying whatever this is with David.”
“I want you to be careful. You’ve been through so much, and I’d hate to see you hurt again.”
Daisy got up and went around the desk to hug her friend. “You’re sweet for being worried about me, but I’m fine and well aware that there are skeletons in his closet that he needs to tell me about.”
Maddie, who had stood up to hug Daisy, patted her back. “Make sure he tells you soon. It’s something you’re going to want to know.”
The warning made Daisy’s stomach drop with anxiety. She didn’t want to hear anything about David that would change the way she was beginning to feel about him. But she refused to ignore potential trouble signs. She’d done that too many times in the past, most recently with Truck, and nearly got herself killed. Never again.
Maddie left to hit the grocery store while Mac was home with the kids, and Daisy went back to work, the warnings from Maddie and Ned weighed on her mind.
David’s return couldn’t get here soon enough for her.
*
Janey sat on the exam table, wrapped in a paper robe that barely stretched around her hugely extended belly. Hoping to relax before her appointment, she flipped through a fashion magazine without noticing much of anything. Her focus had been shot to hell as her pregnancy progressed. At times she felt like she was sacrificing a
ll her own brain cells to the baby.
Joe paced from one end of the small exam room to the other. “How much longer do you think she’ll be?” He glanced at his watch. “I’m on the four o’clock boat.”
“I know, babe. That’s why I made the appointment for two. You’ve got plenty of time, so stop stressing me out.”
“Sorry.” He landed in a chair but tapped his fingers relentlessly on the countertop next to the sink.
Janey looked at him, then at his fingers.
“Sorry,” he muttered as he folded his arms. He lasted four whole minutes before he was up and pacing again.
Janey gave up on the magazine and tried to find a comfortable position on the table. Her back was killing her, as always, and sitting without something to rest against made it worse.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, zeroing in on her. “Does something hurt?”
“My back. As usual.”
“You should’ve said something.” He came over to sit behind her, putting his arms around her so she could lean into his chest.
The relief was immediate and intense. “Much better, and it keeps you from pacing, too.”
“Sorry, baby. I feel like my nerves are stretched so tight they’re about to snap, and I’m not even the one having the baby.”
“Joe—”
“I’m scared every time I leave the island for even a couple of hours that you’re going to need me, and I’m not going to be here. I should have Seamus take me off the schedule—”
“Joe! Stop! Listen to me. I’ve got eight weeks to go. Everything is fine. You heard what Victoria said at the last appointment—most first babies are late anyway. We’ll move to the house on the mainland in four weeks as we planned, and we’ll be right where we need to be when the baby comes. You have to calm down. You’re making me nuts.”
She hated that they would miss her cousin Laura’s wedding to Owen Lawry in early August. However, there was no way she’d convince Joe to stay on the island past the end of July with the baby due on August 15, especially considering his phobias about train wreck deliveries. Because he’d been so wound up, she hadn’t even bothered to suggest they come out to the island for the day of the wedding and return to the mainland right after.
His forehead landed on her shoulder, his breath warm against her back. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make you nuts. It’s just that I can’t stop thinking about the night Hailey was born and how many things could’ve gone wrong. And if David hadn’t been there—”
