McCarthys [10] Meant for Love

by Marie Force

  And how was he doing? Depended on when he was asked. Other than the unpleasantness with Sharon, last night had been awesome, from the moment he got to Jenny’s until Paul had called about their mom’s chest pains. Today had mostly sucked, except for when Jenny had driven him home and offered to help. That had been great. Being around her made him feel good, which was more than enough to keep him going back for more time with her.

  The ups and downs of his daily life lately were nausea inducing, a thought that reminded him he needed to eat. But getting up to find food would take energy he just didn’t have, so he stayed on the sofa and called Jenny. He wanted to hear her voice. No, he needed to hear it, which was a thought that should’ve scared the shit out of him. But it didn’t. The thought of her soothed him.

  “Mmm, hello?”

  “Hey, it’s me. Were you sleeping?”

  “Yeah. I conked out. How’s your mom?”

  Alex pictured her in her bed, her face rosy from sleep. “Home and resting in her own bed.”

  “Glad to hear it,” she said. “And how are you?”

  “I feel like someone beat the shit out of me.”

  “Funny, I feel the same way. I’ve been wondering if it might be more than a night without sleep and other stuff…”

  “Other stuff?” he asked with a laugh. “Is that what we’re calling it?”

  “What would you call it? No, wait, don’t answer that. I’m afraid of what you’ll say.”

  He’d been on the phone with her for five minutes, and he was already grinning like a loon. “Can I come over later?”

  “Sure, but I’ll warn you, I may have the flu, and there’s not going to be any ‘other stuff.’”

  “Are you sore?”

  “That might not be a good enough word for what I am.”

  “I know just the thing to fix you right up.”

  “Not. Happening.”

  Chuckling, he said, “What’re your flu symptoms?”

  “Complete lack of interest in anything resembling food, general lethargy and a possible fever.”

  “Ugh, a fever in this heat?”

  “I know. It’s a drag.”

  “I’ll come over when I can bust free here. Not sure what time it’ll be.”

  “I’m not going anywhere. I was supposed to get together with my friends, but I already called to tell them I’m staying home. If it is the flu, they don’t need it—and neither do you, for that matter.”

  “The way I see it, I’ve already been extremely well exposed to whatever’s ailing you, so there’s no reason for you to be miserable alone.”

  “I suppose you have a point.”

  “Mmm, yes, I do, and he’d really like to see you again.”

  “Alex! Oh my God! You’re like a fifteen-year-old boy!”

  “I know, right? I didn’t hear you complaining about my stamina last night.”

  “I’m hanging up now.”

  “I’ll be over when I can.”

  “I’ll leave the door unlocked for you.”

  “Jenny…”

  “Yes?”

  “I can’t wait to see you.” He ended the call before she could reply. Let her think about that until he saw her again. As he closed his eyes to take a quick nap, he smiled at the thought of seeing her soon. He really couldn’t wait.

  ***

  Maddie was frightfully late to the gathering at Syd’s house to plan Tiffany’s shower, but she had a good excuse. She and Mac had run away together for the afternoon, since his parents had the kids, and they had a rare opportunity to spend some time alone. Hours after she’d gotten the happy news from Victoria, Maddie still wasn’t sure if she should tell her friends or hold off because of Sydney’s situation.

  She hadn’t resolved the internal debate when she gave a quick knock on Syd’s door and stepped into the house. “Hello?”

  “Out here,” Sydney called from the back deck.

  Maddie went through the kitchen to the sliding door.

  “Grab a glass of wine and come on out,” Sydney said. “We found a breeze.”

  “If you can call it that,” Stephanie muttered. She was fanning herself with the latest issue of the Gansett Gazette.

  Since there’d be no more wine for the foreseeable future, Maddie fixed a glass of ice water and went outside, where the heat hung low and heavy over the island. The word “incinerator” came to mind. “How much longer is this grossness supposed to last anyway?” she asked as she ran the glass over her face, looking for relief anywhere she could find it.

  “I heard on the news that it’s here to stay for a couple more days,” Laura said.

  “Days?” Abby asked. “As in more than one?”

  “Afraid so,” Laura said. “They’re predicting thunderstorms later in the week.”

  “Can’t happen soon enough for me,” Maddie said. “Hey, where’s Jenny?”

  “Sick,” Sydney said. “She has a fever.”

  “Ugh, that’s too bad.” Maddie sat next to her mother on a lounge chair. “Hi, Mama.” She leaned in to kiss Francine’s flushed cheek. “Glad you could make it.”

  “Why have you been crying?” Francine asked, taking a long perusing look at her eldest daughter.

  “What? I have not.”

  “Yes, you have. What’s wrong?”

  Everything stopped as the others stared at her, and Maddie wilted as much from the heat of their stares as the thick humidity. “Um, well, so it’s kind of funny, actually.”

  “What’s so funny?” Grace asked.

  Maddie glanced at Sydney and saw that her old friend was waiting to hear what she had to say. “It seems that, despite my histrionics the other day, I’m pregnant after all.”

  The girls went wild screaming and hugging Maddie until she was in tears all over again.

  “I knew it,” Francine said smugly. “You had that look about you. Same as the last two times.”

  “I’m glad you knew it, because I had myself convinced I wasn’t.”

  Sydney came over to hug her. “Congratulations, Maddie. I’m so happy for you.”

  “I’ve got my fingers and toes crossed for you, too.”

  “If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. Don’t let my situation take anything away from your excitement. Do you hear me?”

  Sydney’s kind words had Maddie bawling her head off all over again. “You can’t be nice to me, or this happens. Don’t anyone be nice to me for the next nine months.”

  “All right, bitch,” Stephanie said. “Stop your damned blubbering, and let’s plan this shower for your sister.”

  “Much better,” Maddie said, laughing as she mopped up her tears with a tissue her mother handed her.

  “How’s Mac handling the news?” Francine asked.

  “Surprisingly well. He’s very excited but also very determined to move to the mainland in plenty of time to ensure there’re no more train-wreck deliveries.”

  “I bet he won’t have to twist your arm on that one,” Abby said.

  “Not at all. I learned my lesson with Hailey. There’s no way that’s happening again.” Despite the seemingly never-ending need to bawl her head off over every little thing, Maddie forced a watery smile for her friends. “I talked to Patty today,” she said of Tiffany’s assistant at the store. “She gave me the schedule for this week so we’ll know when Tiffany is off. Looks like Tuesday is our shopping day and Saturday is our party day.”

  “Have you mentioned this idea to Blaine?” Francine asked. “They might have plans on Saturday if that’s their only day off.”

  “I was thinking we should make the party for both of them so it’ll be super embarrassing when she’s opening presents from the store,” Maddie said.

  “Oh, I love that idea,” Abby said. “We’ll invite all the guys and tell them they have to come to support Blaine. They don’t need to know what kind of party it is.”

  The others howled with laughter at the thought of the guys at a sex-toy-and-lingerie party.

  “It’s
the least of what they deserve after the number of times they’ve crashed our girls’ night out,” Maddie said.

  “Absolutely,” Grace said. “But if you guys do this to me, I’ll kill you all. You hear me?”

  “I see a new tradition in the making,” Stephanie said, rubbing her hands together as she directed a diabolical smile at Grace.

  “No way,” Laura said. “I’m next, and they haven’t invented a naughty nightie that’ll fit this body.”

  “Is that a challenge?” Maddie asked her husband’s cousin.

  “Oh God,” Laura groaned. “Me and my big mouth!”

  “This is perfect for Tiffany,” Francine said. “She’ll love it.”

  “So will Blaine—but he won’t love it until they get home with the goods,” Sydney said.

  “This is going to be awesome,” Maddie said. “What’s the plan for getting them to the lighthouse?”

  “I have the perfect idea,” Sydney said. “Here’s what I think we ought to do.”

  Chapter 11

  She waited until the five o’clock ferry cleared the South Harbor breakwater before she approached the Gansett Island Ferry Company ticket window.

  “Mrs. Cantrell.” The young woman working the car reservation line seemed surprised to see her. “How are you?”

  “I’m great. Thanks for asking. I’d like to book my car on the nine o’clock ferry in the morning.”

  “Oh, um, could you hold on for just one minute?”

  “What’s your name, honey?”

  “Kristen.”

  “No, Kristen, I will not hold on while you call your boss and tell him I’m here trying to get my car on the boat.” Carolina kept her voice calm and friendly, even if her words were anything but. “My son and I own this company, and I’m asking you to make me a reservation.”

  “Ye-yes, ma’am.” Kristen’s hands trembled as she typed on the computer and then reached for a slip of paper from a printer. “Here you are. I’m sure you know to be here an hour before the boat leaves.”

  “I sure do. Thanks for your help, Kristen.” Carolina picked up a pen, wrote her phone number on a slip of paper and slid it across the counter. “If your boss gives you any trouble over this, you call me, honey, okay?”

  Kristen took the paper and tucked it into her pocket. “I will.”

  Satisfied that she’d taken care of business, Carolina turned away from the ticket window to find her fiancé, Seamus O’Grady, standing with his legs parted and his arms crossed over his broad chest. Even with his brows narrowed in displeasure, he was one sexy devil. “What’re you about, love?”

  “Taking care of a little business, which is none of yours.”

  “What business of yours isn’t mine?”

  Carolina poked her index finger into his chest. “The business of my grandson, who I am going to see tomorrow.”

  “But you’ve been so sick—”

  “Past tense. I’m fine now. The fever is gone. The congestion is gone. If I don’t see that baby, my son and daughter-in-law, I’m going to kill someone. And since you’re handy, it’d be in your best interest to stay out of the way of these plans.”

  “I’ll make some calls.”

  “What calls? If you cancel my reservation or give that very nice girl Kristen a hard time for helping me—”

  “I was going to call in one of our part-time captains to cover for me tomorrow so I can go with you.”

  Chastened, Carolina said, “Oh.”

  He ran his thumb over her cheek, making her want to lean into him even when she was sort of fighting with him. “I want to see them, too, love. It’s been killing me that you were too sick to go, because I knew it was breaking your heart to be kept from them.”

  “I can’t go one more day without seeing them.”

  “I understand.”

  “You understand, yet you’re the one who’s been telling me I can’t go.”

  He tossed his hands up in frustration. “Because you were contagious. You couldn’t take that around a premature baby.”

  “I know that! I just wanted to…” She shook her head, filled with frustration that fizzled as she looked up at his gorgeous, sincere face. “You’re right. I know you’re right, but I’m going crazy stuck on this island while they’re in Providence. I’ve already missed so much with my grandson.”

  His warm smile softened his demeanor, and his delicious Irish accent had the same effect on her as it always did. “Caro, love… You haven’t missed any of the good stuff. That boy is going to love you so damned much.” He put his arms around her and kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry I was a hard-ass about keeping you from him, but I knew you’d never forgive yourself if you passed along a germ that did him harm.”

  “It wasn’t enough that I shredded myself in the thorn bush. Then I had to get the flu on top of it.”

  “It was very unfair indeed.”

  She looked up at him. “Are you done working?”

  “Yes, thank God. I’m exhausted, overheated and starving.”

  “Let’s go to the Beachcomber for dinner and then straight home to bed.” While she was no longer contagious, her energy level still wasn’t what it could’ve been. “We’ve got an early morning tomorrow.”

  “Sounds like heaven to me, love.” He kept his arm around her as they strolled up the hill toward the iconic white hotel that anchored downtown Gansett. “While we’re on the mainland, how about we do a little shopping?”

  “For what?”

  He brought her ring finger to his lips. “Something sparkly for this lovely finger.”

  “I don’t need that, Seamus.”

  “What if I do?”

  “There’re so many better things you could spend your money on.”

  “Name one.”

  “Surely there’s something you want that you don’t have.”

  His arm tightened around her as his lips slid over her hair. “Now that you’ve agreed to marry me, there’s not one damned thing I want that I don’t have, and you’re getting a ring. That’s all there is to it.”

  Carolina had learned over the last year to choose her battles wisely with him. She suspected this was one she couldn’t win. “If you say so, dear.”

  His bark of laughter over her unusually easy capitulation had other people on the street looking at them, probably wondering what a hot young guy like him was doing with an old fool like her. Let them wonder, she thought as she slid her hand into the back pocket of his khaki uniform shorts. Every sexy, bossy, overbearing inch of him was all hers.

  ***

  A slamming door and a loud voice woke Alex from a sound sleep. He rubbed his face as Paul came in from work, talking on the phone. Alex checked his watch, which indicated that two hours had passed. He was up and heading for the hallway to check on his mother before he was even completely awake.

  Thankfully, she was resting comfortably in her bed and hadn’t escaped while he was dead to the world. He went back to the kitchen, where Paul had cracked open a beer and was leaning against the counter with his cell phone wedged between his ear and shoulder.

  “That sounds good,” he said. “I’ll meet your ferry. We’ll look forward to seeing you on Saturday.” Paul ended the call and put his phone on the charger. “That was the nurse, Hope, who we talked to the other night. She and her son will be out on Saturday to check out the place.”

  “And us.”

  “And us.”

  So much was riding on this, and they both knew it. The only hope they had of keeping their mother at home was if they could persuade a qualified medical professional to come to work for them, and they had exactly one person interested in the position.

  “Kinda funny that her name is Hope, right?” Alex said.

  “Seriously.”

  “So listen… A friend of mine has offered to help out at the store. She has an MBA from Wharton and a lot of retail experience—not in horticulture, but she’d probably figure out what she needs to know. What do you think?”

&n
bsp; “A friend, huh? And does this friend have anything to do with the fact that you didn’t come home last night?”

  “I called you to tell you I was staying out, and you said it was fine, so don’t bust my balls. Do you want her help or don’t you?”

  “Will your Wharton MBA be satisfied with twelve bucks an hour?”

  “She’s not in it for the money. She heard we’re in a tight spot, and she offered to help. Nothing more than that.”

  Paul eyed him skeptically. “Nothing more than that?”

  “Paul… Will you shut the fuck up and answer the question? Do you want her help or not?”

  “Sure,” Paul said with a calculating smile. “I’d love to have your friend’s help at the store. Tell her to call me in the morning, and we’ll set up a meeting.”

  “You’re such an asshole.”

  “That’s why you love me.”

  “Right, keep telling yourself that. I’m taking a shower. Are you going to be home tonight?”

  “Where else would I be?”

  “Do you care if I go out for a while?”

  “I don’t care, but when you say a while, do you mean a couple of hours or all night?”

  “Ugh,” Alex said, grunting with aggravation as he left Paul laughing in the kitchen and went to take a shower. Even though he wanted to punch his brother for being such an asshole, he couldn’t deny that if the situation had been reversed, he would’ve done the same thing.

  They’d been busting each other’s balls for as long as they could talk. In fact, ball busting had been at the heart of their relationship until they were forced to come together to care for their mother. It was kind of nice to know that underneath all the drama and despair of their mother’s illness, his relationship with his brother remained intact.

  Dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, Alex entered the kitchen, where Paul was eating dinner with his laptop open on the table next to him. “This computer is giving me heartburn.”