Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 10-12

by Marie Force

  Maddie held on tight to him, fortified as always by his love.

  “But you’ll be having this one in the biggest, safest hospital I can find—on the mainland. You got me?”

  “Yes, Mac. I’ve got you.” And she was never, ever letting go.

  * * *

  David discharged Marion Martinez at two o’clock with instructions to follow a bland diet for a couple of days. Paul had left to deal with the store and its employees while Alex waited with their mother, who’d been asking every two minutes when his father was coming to get her. The same question, repeated over and over again, had worn on Alex’s already frayed nerves.

  “I’ll just wait for Daddy,” she said when Alex told her it was time to go home.

  “Dad isn’t coming,” Alex said.

  “Of course he is. He always comes for me.”

  “He died, Mom. Ten years ago. You know this.”

  “Why would you say such an awful thing?” she asked, horrified. “What have we ever done to you to deserve such behavior? We’ve loved you and cared for you and put up with your nonsense.”

  Nonsense, he wanted to ask. What nonsense? As far as he knew, he and his brother had been model sons. But if he asked the question, it would only further agitate her, and that was the last thing he wanted to do.

  “I’m waiting for your father, and that’s the end of it.”

  “Marion,” David said as he came into the room. “I just heard from George, and he said he got tied up at a job. He wants you to go home with Alex, and he’ll meet you there.”

  Alex waited breathlessly to hear what she’d say.

  “Well, let’s go, Alex. I don’t want to keep your father waiting.”

  As Alex pushed the wheelchair out of the room, he looked at David. “I could kiss you right now,” Alex said under his breath.

  “That’s a lovely offer, but I think I’ll pass.”

  David walked alongside Alex as he pushed the chair to the main door of the clinic. “You’re a lifesaver, David. In more ways than one.”

  “Happy to help. Call me if you need anything—day or night.”

  “We’ll never be able to properly thank you.”

  “You don’t need to. This is why I spent all those years in school. I wanted to be able to help people.”

  “You’re making one hell of a difference for our family. Don’t ever doubt that.”

  “That’s nice to hear. I’ll wait with your mom while you get the truck.”

  Alex jogged across the parking lot, taking note of a few aches and pains he couldn’t attribute entirely to the hard work he did every day. He’d been dying to call Jenny, just to hear her voice if nothing else, but he’d held off until he could focus entirely on her.

  With the air-conditioning blasting, he drove up to the clinic entrance and got out to help his mother into the truck.

  “Turn down that horrible air-conditioning, Alex. I’m freezing.”

  “You have to be the only person in the state of Rhode Island who’s freezing today.”

  David laughed at their banter as he waved them off and went back inside with the wheelchair.

  “You’re driving too fast,” his mother said when Alex pulled out of the clinic onto Ocean Road.

  “I’m barely moving.”

  “Don’t talk back to your mother.”

  Alex bit the inside of his cheek to keep from snapping at her. She couldn’t help it. Maybe if he kept telling himself that, he’d eventually believe it. He drove home as slowly as he possibly could. By the time he turned into the driveway to Martinez Lawn & Garden, a line of cars was piled up behind him, but at least his mother wasn’t angry with him.

  Before the illness, she’d hardly said a cross word to him or Paul in their entire lives. She’d been a strict mother who set high expectations for her sons, but she’d also been kind and sweet and generous. He missed those qualities the most. The dementia made her angry, suspicious and impulsive, among other things that were hard to live with.

  An hour later, he had his mother settled in her bed for a nap before dinner. Alex wandered into the living room and stretched out on the sofa. The workday was a total bust, and he couldn’t leave his mother alone anyway. He withdrew his cell phone from his pocket and went through the text messages from clients as well as a couple of friends who’d checked in to see how he was doing.

  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 w
asn’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 w
ere 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.”