Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 10-12

by Marie Force

  “Done.”

  Shane laughed. “That was easy.”

  “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about it for a while now, but I was so worried you’d tell me you were going back to Providence after the season that I chickened out. Luke’s been after me to talk to you about your plans.”

  “There’s nothing for me in Providence anymore. Everything—and everyone—I care about is here.”

  “That’s what I wanted to hear. The rest of the family will be equally thrilled to hear you’re staying. I’ve talked to Riley and Finn about sticking around for the off-season, too, and they’re thinking about it.”

  “That’s great.” Their younger cousins worked in construction and would be excellent additions to their team on the island.

  Mac checked the time on his phone. “I gotta go. Maddie and I have an appointment with Victoria at the clinic. I can’t be late for that.”

  “Good luck.”

  “Thanks. You know what one of my buddies in Miami said when I told him I was having a third kid?”

  “What’s that?”

  “‘When you go from two to three,’ he said, ‘you go from a man-to-man defense to a zone.’”

  Shane laughed at the basketball analogy. “I can’t imagine three kids under age five, so better you than me.”

  “The thought of it gives me hives, but don’t tell Maddie,” Mac said with his trademark grin. “She’ll tell you it’s all my fault for knocking her up in the first place.”

  “Which I’m sure was such a sacrifice for you.” His cousin was wild about his wife and made no effort to hide it.

  “You know it. The things I do for that woman.”

  “Get out of here before you make me barf,” Shane said, laughing.

  The sound of more serious coughing from upstairs sobered them.

  “Don’t forget to talk to David,” Shane said.

  “I won’t. I’ll let you know what he says.”

  “Thanks again, Mac. For everything.”

  “Same to you. Later.”

  * * *

  Mac drove away from the job site, thinking about Lisa and her boys and the other families they’d helped through the affordable-housing project. He gave Maddie full credit for the idea that had kept his construction company busy for the last year. Lisa’s family would be the third to move into one of the houses, and he took tremendous satisfaction in knowing he’d had a hand in making those families’ dreams of home ownership come true.

  Life on Gansett Island could be difficult for people who worked in the service industry, as Maddie had before they met. The tourist season was short, and the winter long and cold and quiet. Maddie had helped him to see how challenging it was for people whose livelihoods dried up in the off-season. She’d even suggested they offer a community Thanksgiving dinner at the marina to help out those in need. It had been a huge hit last year, and they were looking forward to doing it again this year.

  On the way to the clinic, he thought about how lucky he’d been to step off a curb more than two years ago and collide with the love of his life. If he could rewrite their story, the only thing he would change was the fact that she’d been badly injured in the fall from her bike. Other than that, every minute they’d spent together had been pure bliss.

  Well, except for the night she delivered their adorable daughter, Hailey, at home during a tropical storm with the island’s only doctor off-island at the time. Mac could’ve done without that drama. He shuddered now, even after all this time, thinking about what could’ve happened if David Lawrence hadn’t been home visiting his family.

  The baby they were expecting now had been an “accident,” if you could call the miracle of a new life an accident. It was the happiest kind of accident. Thinking back to the night that Maddie had gotten drunk on champagne and ordered him to “do her” could still make Mac laugh out loud more than two months later. He’d been powerless to resist her, so powerless that he’d forgotten all about the protection they’d been using while she continued to nurse Hailey. That had also been the night their son, Thomas, had caught them in the act. A memorable evening all the way around.

  He pulled up to the clinic a few minutes later to find Maddie sitting in the black SUV he’d bought when they first started dating so he could drive her and her son, Thomas, around on the island. Now Thomas was his son, too, and they’d added a second car seat when Hailey was born. Soon enough, a third seat would join the other two in the back, and he was excited to meet their new son or daughter. Either was fine with him as long as the baby and his beautiful Maddie were healthy.

  This time he was leaving nothing to chance. They were moving to the mainland six weeks before her due date. He’d already secured the use of his brother-in-law Joe’s house and had a doctor lined up to see to Maddie’s needs in the final trimester. He hadn’t mentioned his plans to her quite yet, but he had a feeling she wouldn’t protest too vociferously. Hailey’s delivery had scared the hell out of both of them, and only because of David’s quick action had their daughter even survived the birth.

  No way was anything like that happening again. Not on Mac’s watch.

  Maddie was ending a phone call and waved, smiling brightly at him.

  He got out of his truck and went to her, as powerfully drawn to her today as he’d been the day he met her. More so, he decided, after everything they’d already been through together. She made him feel things that no other woman ever had or ever could, and she was the center of his entire world.

  She got out of the car and started to say something, stopping short when she took a closer look at him. “What?”

  He put his arms around her and backed her up against the warm black paint on her SUV.

  “Mac?”

  “I just need this for one minute. We’ve got one minute, don’t we?”

  “Yes,” she said, relaxing into his embrace. “We’ve got one minute, but not much more.”

  “Okay.”

  He loved the way her body felt pressed against his. The overly abundant breasts she hated so much, the still-flat belly where their baby resided, the heat between her legs and the sweet smell of summer flowers in her hair… He was filled with gratitude to be able to hold her and touch her any time he wanted or needed to, which was pretty much all the time.

  “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. I just wanted to hold my wife for a minute.”

  “I’m glad you did, but we need to get going. Victoria is always on a tight schedule.”

  He brought his hands up to cup her face. “One kiss and then we can go in.” He stared at her precious face for a long moment before he brought his lips down on hers, keeping his eyes open and focused on her.

  “What’s gotten into you today?”

  “Nothing that’s not in me every other day.” He slung his arm around her as they headed for the main doors to the clinic.

  “Mac?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Love you.”

  “And now my day is made.”

  She laughed and nudged his ribs with her elbow. “You already knew I love you.”

  “Hearing it is the best part of my day.”

  “You’re so easy.”

  “So you tell me.”

  They checked in at the main desk and were told to take a seat and that Victoria would be out for them in a few minutes.

  “So tell me what kind of traumas I can expect to experience at this appointment.”

  “What kind of traumas you will experience? Are you the one half-naked with your feet in stirrups getting probed in front of your husband, whom you hope will still want to have sex with you after what he’s about to see?”

  He swallowed hard. “Um, no, I’m not the one in the stirrups, and newsflash, babe, your husband will always want to have sex with you.”

  “Good to know. Vic said she’s going to do an ultrasound at this appointment, even though I’m only at eight weeks. The usual routine is to wait awhile, but because we’re on an island, they like
to do it earlier in case there’s anything to be concerned about.”

  A pang of fear stabbed his belly at the thought of anything wrong with her or the baby. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “It’s perfectly routine, and if there’s anything going on, wouldn’t you like to find out now so you can whisk me to the mainland and boss people around at the hospital?”

  “I can’t even think about anything going on.”

  “Don’t worry, Mac. When you worry, you stress me out.”

  “Sorry. I’m trying, but Hailey’s birth is still fresh on my mind and then P.J. ...” He shuddered over how close his sister had come to bleeding to death when her son was born. Once again, David Lawrence to the rescue. Thanks to his heroics in both cases, Mac had all but forgiven the guy for cheating on Janey.

  “Stop. You’re spinning. Breathe.”

  He panted in an imitation of Lamaze breathing, which made her laugh as she patted his leg.

  “Very good.”

  Chapter 15

  Victoria called them back a few minutes later. The dark-haired nurse practitioner-midwife greeted Maddie with a hug. “You look great!”

  “I’m being more careful about what I eat this time around,” Maddie said with a frown. “I was way too indulgent with Hailey and paid for it after.”

  “You were gorgeous when you were pregnant with Hailey,” Mac said.

  “Gorgeous and fat.”

  “Not that I ever saw.”

  “You have to say that. You did this to me.”

  “Oh no. Not this time. This one is all on you.”

  Victoria laughed at their banter. “I’m not even going to ask…”

  “Suffice to say there was champagne involved,” Maddie said with a laugh.

  After Maddie was weighed and provided a urine sample, Victoria handed her a gown. “You know the drill. Everything off from the waist down.”

  “Oh joy,” Maddie said.

  “Victoria,” Mac said, “before I forget. Do you know Lisa Chandler?”

  “Sure, she comes in with her kids to see David. Haven’t seen her in a while, come to think of it. The boys must be healthy.”

  “They are, but she’s got an awful cough. She told my cousin Shane she can’t afford to come to the clinic.”

  “Ugh,” Victoria said. “I’ll tell David. He’ll stop by to check on her.”

  “Thanks,” Mac said, relieved to know Lisa would get some help.

  “I’ll be right back,” Victoria said.

  “I’d be happy to help you out of your clothes,” Mac said to Maddie when they were alone.

  “Stay over there. This is a no-hanky-panky zone.”

  “You’re no fun.” Deciding to make his own fun, he started opening drawers in the exam room, checking things out. Some of the items were positively draconian and made him cringe as he imagined what they might be used for. “Holy shit, they’ve got a gross of condoms in here. Wish I’d known that when I was sending Janey out to buy them for me. Could’ve saved me a ton of grief.”

  “Mac! Knock it off. Close that drawer and don’t touch anything.”

  “What? I’m just looking.”

  “You’re stressing me out worrying that she’s going to come in here and catch you.”

  “What’ll she do? Kick me out?”

  “Mac.” She pointed to the spot right next to the exam table.

  Because she was adorable and he loved her, he moved to the appointed spot. “Happy now?”

  “Stay. Behave.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Am I allowed to put my arms around you?”

  “That and nothing else.”

  “I love when you’re stern with me. It turns me on.”

  “Mac! Shut up.”

  He was still laughing when Victoria knocked on the door and came into the room.

  “Sorry for the delay. Things are crazy as usual here today.” Always efficient, Victoria got right down to business, moving Maddie to the edge of the exam table and settling her feet in the stirrups.

  “Do not look down there,” Maddie said to him. “You’re allowed to look right here and nowhere else.” She pointed to her eyes.

  “Yes, dear.”

  While Maddie grimaced her way through the internal exam, Mac did as he was told, even though he’d much rather be watching the goings-on below. But he knew his wife well enough by now to know when she was being dead serious.

  “Don’t you know most guys don’t want to see what goes on down there when their wives are being probed?” Maddie asked.

  “Very true,” Victoria said. “Most of them require smelling salts after their wives have a routine pelvic exam.”

  “I’m not most men.”

  Maddie grunted out a laugh. “No, you’re not. You’re a freak show.”

  “Thanks, love.”

  Maddie rolled her eyes at him.

  The snap of latex gloves indicated the end of the invasive part of the program.

  While Victoria washed her hands, she said, “As I mentioned last time, we do a quick ultrasound at eight weeks to make sure everything’s going according to plan. If we see anything that needs further examination, we send our moms to an OB on the mainland. It’s all perfectly routine, okay?”

  “Yep,” Maddie replied, reaching for Mac’s hand.

  Victoria covered Maddie’s lap with a sheet and raised her gown over her belly. Next came some gel stuff followed by the ultrasound wand.

  Even though he’d seen this done before with Hailey, Mac was fascinated by the view that appeared on the screen. Not much more than a blob, but that blob was his kid. Mac’s heart melted at the first sight of their baby.

  Victoria ran the wand around on Maddie’s belly, watching the screen intently. “Hmm,” she said.

  “What?” Maddie asked.

  “I’m going to have you turn onto your left side for me, if you will.”

  With Mac’s assistance, Maddie shifted into the requested position.

  “What’s wrong, Vic?” Maddie asked.

  “Just give me a minute.” She moved the wand around while continuing to watch the screen, almost without blinking.

  A tingle of anxiety went down Mac’s spine.

  “Let’s try it vaginally.” They moved her to her back for the more invasive procedure that ended when Victoria removed the wand.

  “Hang on just a second, Maddie,” Victoria said before she left the room.

  “What’s going on?” Mac asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  She sounded scared, and Maddie never sounded scared. While they waited for Victoria to return, Maddie gripped his hand tightly.

  After about five very long minutes, Victoria returned. When Mac saw that David was with her, his heart sank. That couldn’t be good.

  “Hey, guys,” David said, his tone friendly and relaxed.

  “What’s wrong?” Mac asked the man who would’ve been his brother-in-law.

  David glanced at Victoria, who took a deep breath before she spoke. “I wasn’t able to find the baby’s heartbeat.”

  “Oh God,” Maddie said, her eyes filling. “No.”

  Victoria rested her hand on Maddie’s shoulder. “David is going to give it a try before we jump to any conclusions.”

  David went through the same ritual with the gel and the wand, but the room remained stubbornly silent.

  In all his life, Mac had never heard a louder silence. God, please. Please don’t let this happen.

  After a thorough exam with lots of clicking on the computer screen, David removed the device from Maddie’s belly and used a paper towel to wipe up the gel.

  Mac felt like he was going to be sick or pass out or something equally unpleasant while he waited to hear what David had to say. The small room was suddenly closing in on him. Since flaking out on Maddie, who was crying silently, wasn’t an option, he forced air into his lungs and swallowed frantically to keep from puking.

  “We’d like to do a blood test to get some more information,” David s
aid.

  “Am I… Did the baby…” Maddie fumbled over her words as she continued to sob.

  “We don’t know anything for certain yet.” David rested his hand on Maddie’s shoulder. “The blood work will tell us more.”

  Mac had only felt this helpless one other time—the night Hailey was born during the storm.

  “I’ll get that going right away,” Victoria said, scurrying from the room.

  “David, please…” Mac cleared his throat. “Be straight with us. What do you think is happening?”

  “I’d hate to say before we have all the information.”

  “Please,” Maddie said, hiccupping. “Just tell me.”

  David sighed. “I’m so sorry to say that we could be looking at a miscarriage, but we won’t know anything for certain until we run the blood work.”

  Mac’s chest ached as he tried to comfort Maddie from an awkward angle. Her heartbroken sobs destroyed him.

  Victoria returned and made quick work of drawing the blood.

  “We’ll be as quick as we can,” David said before he and Victoria left the room.

  When they were alone, Mac said, “Let me hold you, sweetheart.”

  Maddie let him help her up so he could sit behind her, his arms around her.

  “It’s m-my f-fault,” she said.

  “Why in the world would you say such a thing? It’s not your fault. You’re a wonderful mother.”

  “I-I didn’t want to be p-pregnant again. How many t-times did I say that?”

  “Maddie, honey, of course you didn’t want to be pregnant again so soon after Hailey was born. But just because we didn’t plan this baby doesn’t mean we didn’t want him or her.”

  “I wanted him. He’s a b-boy. I know he is. I wanted him.”

  “I know, honey. I did, too.” Mac wanted to weep and wail, but more than that, he wanted to comfort her. “No matter what happens, sweetheart, it’ll be okay. I promise.” He would make it okay for her or die trying. “We have each other and our two beautiful kids.” With the back of his hand, he brushed away his own tears, determined to stay strong for her.

  David and Victoria returned, and their grim expressions told the story.

  “I’m so sorry,” Victoria said, “but we believe the fetus is no longer viable.”