by Marie Force
“Just remember… You’ll get past this. It might take awhile, but you guys are solid, and you’ll bounce back. Maybe you’ll even have another baby someday.”
“Maybe.” Mac wondered if either of them would be willing to try again. “I’m sorry it happened to you.”
“I’m sorry it happened to you.”
“Do you still… You know… Think about the one you lost?”
“All the time. I figure he had to be a boy because we had four boys before we got our girl. He’d be thirty-eight now.” Big Mac shook his head at that realization. “But then if we’d had him, we might not’ve gotten you when we did, because it would’ve been too soon after him. And I simply can’t imagine this world without you in it. So things work out the way they’re meant to, you know? Even shitty things like this.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“I’m going to tell Mallory this isn’t a good weekend to come out to the island.”
“Damn, I forgot she was coming.” They’d recently discovered that Big Mac had fathered a daughter before he was married. Mallory had come to the island to find her father after her mother’s death.
“She’ll understand.”
“Don’t cancel on our account. You wanted to get together with her again before Grant’s wedding, and that’s coming up soon. Keep the plans. We might not be there, but the rest of you can carry on without us.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.”
After a long, companionable silence, Big Mac said, “How long did they say it would take?”
“Couple hours.”
Big Mac nodded.
“Hey, Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Means the world to me that you came.”
“Had a feeling it might help to have some company.”
“It does. More than you’ll ever know.”
* * *
After breakfast with Katie, Shane headed for the marina, hoping he could borrow his uncle’s truck, since Mac had taken his to the mainland. However, when he arrived, he found his dad and Ned sitting with Luke Harris at the picnic table where Big Mac usually held court in the morning.
“Hey, guys,” Shane said when he joined them.
“Hey, son,” Frank said with a big smile for Shane. “What brings you to the meeting of the minds this lovely morning?”
“I was actually looking for Uncle Mac.”
“He’s gone over to keep Mac company,” Frank said.
Of course that was where he was, Shane thought, knowing his own father would’ve done the same thing, because that’s how they rolled. “I assume he took his truck?”
“Since he wouldn’t be caught dead in Linda’s yellow bug, you assume correctly,” Frank said as Ned grunted with laughter.
“I’m kind of in a bind,” Shane said. “I’ve got a ton of stuff to pick up at the ferry today and no truck.” It was time to look into getting one of his own.
“Take mine,” Luke said, producing the keys.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. With both Macs off-island, I’m here for the day.”
“Thanks a million.”
“You need help with the delivery?” Frank asked.
“I wouldn’t say no to some help if you feel up to it.”
Frank flexed his biceps. “I’m up to it.”
“Shit…” Ned muttered. “Don’t hurt yerself.”
Shane took the time to have a coffee and a couple of doughnuts before he and his father left to meet the ferry. On the way there, Shane glanced over at his dad in the passenger seat. “So I talked to Mac the other day about the off-season, and I’ve decided to stay.”
“That’s great news, son.”
“He says there’s plenty of work to keep me busy, so no sense leaving when everything and everyone I care about is here.”
“Good thinking.”
“It’s that baby’s fault. He’s got me totally hooked. I can’t imagine not seeing him every day.”
“Babies do that to the best of us. I’ve got a bad case over him myself, and two more coming soon. Lots to look forward to.”
“Yeah, there is. For the first time in a long time, that’s very true.”
“So just a few babies keeping you here?” Frank asked, trying to affect a casual tone that Shane saw right through.
“Why don’t you say what you really mean?”
“Which is?”
Shane laughed. “Same tricks, different decade. You’re still trying to pry personal info out of me.”
“That’s my job.”
“Am I staying because of Katie? Is that what you’re asking?”
“I’m wondering if she factored into the decision.”
After last night, she definitely factored into the decision, but he kept that thought to himself. “She’s part of it. I haven’t known her long, but we’re having fun together. But it’s more than that. I feel at home here. You’re here, Laura’s here, the rest of the family… It’s a good fit.”
“I’m glad you feel that way. I do, too.”
“What about Betsy? Is she staying for the off-season?”
“She hasn’t decided anything yet. I hope she’ll stay.”
“Are you going to be okay if she doesn’t?”
“Sure I will. I’ve been through worse. But I’ll sure as hell miss her if she goes.”
“Are you doing everything you can to get her to stay?”
“Um…”
“Does she know you love her?”
“Oh, well,” Frank said, sputtering, “I don’t think it’s come to that.”
“Hasn’t it?”
Frank was quiet for a long moment. “Yeah, it has.”
“Then tell her.”
“I’m not sure she’s ready to hear it.”
“Don’t let her get away, Dad. I’d hate to see you have regrets later. Put your cards on the table.”
“What if she doesn’t feel the same way?”
“Then at least you’ll know, but I don’t think she’s going to be unhappy to hear it. She seems really into you for some strange reason.”
“Ha-ha, very funny. I could say the same about Katie.”
“Don’t try to turn this around on me. We’re talking about you.”
“Now we’re talking about you.”
“I walked right into that, didn’t I?” Shane asked, amused by his dad.
“She’s a nice girl.”
“She’s a nice woman.”
“That, too.”
“I nearly screwed it up this morning.”
“This morning, huh?”
“Pay attention, Dad.”
“Oh, I am. What’d you do?”
“I got a little bossy with her, which was totally Laura’s fault, but Katie didn’t like it and let me know that. It’s a touchy issue for her after everything with her dad.”
“That family’s been through the wringer. I know Owen has his demons where his father is concerned. It’s only natural that Katie would, too. Owen, Katie and her twin, Julia, are the oldest. They witnessed the worst of it.”
“Despite everything, she’s very sweet and sincere. She’s cautious but willing to take some risks, too. I like her. A lot.”
“Thrills me to hear you say that. For a long time, I feared you’d never date again, let alone anything else.”
“Who says ‘anything else’ is going on?”
“A father knows these things.”
“Oh Jesus…” As skeptical as he sounded, Shane was all too familiar with how tuned in to both his kids Frank was. It had driven them nuts as teenagers, and now was no different. “Do me a favor and keep the speculating to yourself. She’s special, and I’m trying not to screw it up before it even starts.”
“My lips are sealed.” After a long pause, Frank said, “Just one more thing, and then I’ll shut up.”
“Promise?”
Laughing, Frank said, “Yeah, I promise. I only wanted to say that I hope you won’t let w
hat happened with what’s her name keep you from going all in again with someone else, maybe even Katie.”
Shane thought about that. “A few months ago, I would’ve said no way to going all in again. It’s just not worth the aggravation. But now… I might be open to changing my mind on that.”
“Which is the best news I’ve heard in weeks.”
“I don’t want you to worry about me. I have absolutely no desire to ever again be where I was when she left me. I’m being careful.”
“Good. I never want to see you in that place again. Ever.”
“You won’t. Don’t worry.”
“Of course I’ll worry. That’s my job.”
Chapter 21
Shane and Frank arrived at the cargo area at the ferry landing, which was bustling with forklifts moving freight around with a precision that made sense only to them. Emerging from the truck, Shane waved to Seamus, who was directing traffic with a clipboard in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.
“Big load for you today, Shane.” Seamus tucked the clipboard under his arm to shake hands with Shane and Frank. “You need some help? I might be able to spare a couple of guys for an hour or two.”
“I’ll take you up on that.”
“Hey,” Frank said. “You’ve got me.”
Shane pointed to the huge refrigerator box.
“On second thought,” Frank said, “we’ll gladly take you up on that.”
Seamus laughed. “Thought you might.” He whistled to a couple of young guys who were chasing after one of the forklifts. “Help Mr. McCarthy load up his truck and then go with him to offload. Get your asses back here, pronto.” He handed over keys to the taller of the two young men. “Take my truck, too, so you can do it in one run.”
“Yes, sir.” They ran off to get Seamus’s truck.
“Thanks so much,” Shane said. “That’s a huge help.”
“No problem. I heard what’s going on with Mac and Maddie. Happy to help him out where I can.”
“I’ll let him know that. I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”
As they loaded the freight into a couple of borrowed trucks with the borrowed guys helping them, Shane thought about the sense of community on Gansett Island. Everyone was willing to lend a hand to whomever needed help. He liked being part of that. From the house he was building for Lisa and her kids and the satisfaction he got from meaningful work to his adorable nephew to the burgeoning relationship with Katie, Shane had a lot to be thankful for these days.
After everything he’d been through, he’d never take any sort of happiness for granted ever again.
* * *
Between the four men, they managed to get the appliances into the house and in position in the kitchen before the ferry workers left to go back to work.
“Thank goodness Seamus offered them up,” Frank said, wiping a bead of sweat from his face.
“No kidding. We never could’ve done this on our own. I should’ve planned it better, but I thought Mac would be here to help.”
Frank rubbed his throbbing biceps. “All’s well that ends well.”
“Take some painkillers at bedtime.”
“I believe I will. If I was looking for a reminder that I’m not as young as I used to be…”
“Happy to be of assistance.”
Frank took a good look around at the house his son had been working on all summer. “This place looks great. You’ve gotten a lot done since I was here last.”
“We’re almost there.”
“Who’s getting this one?”
“A woman named Lisa Chandler and her sons, Kyle and Jackson.”
“Incredible thing you guys are doing for them and others here. I’m proud of you and Mac for taking this on.”
“I give him and Maddie all the credit. It was their idea.”
“And your hard work. You deserve part of the credit.”
“It’s been fun. The boys are so excited about their new house. They were here yesterday.” Shane’s brows furrowed as he seemed to remember something unpleasant. “Lisa hasn’t been feeling so good lately. She’s got an awful cough. I asked if she’d been to the clinic, and she said she couldn’t afford it. Mac was going to ask David to stop by to see her. I wonder if he got around to that with everything else that happened yesterday. I’ll have to check on them later. Anyway… Let me give you a ride back to the marina so I can grab my bike.”
“I hope you’re being careful on that contraption.”
“I love that contraption.”
“I hate it.”
“You should take Betsy for a ride on it. Chicks dig guys with bikes.”
“They also dig guys with all their limbs intact, so I think I’ll pass.”
“Chickenshit.”
“Yep.”
Fortified by the quality time with his son, Frank parted company with him, promising to talk soon. He loved seeing Shane doing so much better and moving on with his life. If he ever ran into his ex-daughter-in-law, he’d have a few choice words for her after the way she’d treated Shane. Same could be said for the ex-son-in-law. Laura had gotten it right the second time around, and Frank could only hope the same would be true for Shane.
He liked him with Katie, who was a total sweetheart. Anyone could see that after a few minutes in her presence. Despite everything she’d been through with her father, there was an aura of serenity about her that Frank respected. Anyone who could grow up the way she had and come out of it serene was a winner in his book.
Leaving the marina, he thought about what Shane had said regarding Betsy. Once again he found himself heading for her house rather than his own. That had been happening more and more often lately, and she never seemed to mind his visits.
Today he found her outside in the garden doing some weeding. Her face was flushed from the heat, and she wore a huge floppy hat that made her look about twelve. She was incredibly lovely no matter what she wore.
She greeted him with a big smile as she got up and brushed dirt off her hands. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself.” Without hesitation, he went right up to her and kissed her. Her arms encircled his neck and kept him there for a second kiss. “Nice to see you, too.”
She smiled up at him, and all of a sudden he could no longer hold back the things he wanted to tell her.
“What is it?” she asked, taking a closer look at him.
“I need to tell you something.”
“Bad news?”
“No, sweetheart, the best kind of news. At least I think it is. I hope you will, too.”
“Okay…”
“It seems that at some point over this amazing summer we’ve spent together I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with you, and my son told me I ought to tell you that so you know.”
“He said that, huh?”
Frank nodded and then kissed her again. “I’m hoping that might make a difference when you’re thinking about whether to spend the winter here. And perhaps the spring, too. And maybe next summer as well.”
Betsy laughed. “Are you making some plans, Your Honor?”
“I don’t know. Am I?”
“Sounds that way to me.”
“Is that okay?”
She took hold of his hand and led him inside, shedding the hat as she went. In the kitchen, she turned to him and put her arms around him at his waist. “It seems,” she said as she kissed him, “that I’ve fallen rather hopelessly in love, too, which was the last thing I expected to happen when I came here looking for answers about Steve’s accident.”
Frank experienced a profound sense of relief at hearing she shared his feelings. “And does this development make you happy?”
“Very happy. Happier than I’ve been in a long time, which also makes me feel guilty in some ways.”
“Because of Steve.”
She nodded. “Like, what right do I have to be falling in love when his life is over?”
“Would he want you to feel that way?”
“Oh God, no. He was t
he ultimate optimist. ‘Everything will work out,’ he’d say, no matter the situation.”
“Then perhaps it might be okay for you to follow his lead and allow yourself to be happy if that’s what he would’ve wanted for you.”
“It is. He was always after me to start dating since he was grown and out of the house.” She looked up at him with the soft brown eyes that had slain him from the first time he saw her. “He’d like you.”
“Would he? That’s nice to hear.”
She nodded. “He liked honorable men who did the right thing as a matter of course and not just when it suited them.”
“That’s a very nice thing to say.”
“It’s true.”
“So…”
“So…”
“Where do we go from here?” he asked.
“How does bed sound?”
Frank hadn’t expected her to say that and laughed at her audaciousness. “It sounds like an exceptional idea. Except… I was working with Shane all morning. Once again, I could use a shower.”
“I’m kind of dirty myself after gardening.”
She took off toward the bathroom, and Frank followed her, feeling like a teenager caught in the throes of first love.
* * *
Katie hitched a ride to the clinic with her mother, who’d spent the morning working with Laura in the hotel office and was on her way to the hair salon. “I’ll pick you up after my appointment,” Sarah said when she pulled up to the main doors of the Gansett Island Clinic.
“Take your time. I have no idea if David will be able to see me today.”
“I’ll text you when I’m leaving the salon.”
Katie smothered a laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“You and your texting. We all think it’s funny.”
“Why? You can teach an old dog new tricks. I’m proof of that.”
“Yes, but we had to tell you that LOL means ‘laugh out loud’ not ‘lots of love.’”
“Why can’t it be both?”
Katie leaned over to kiss her mother’s cheek. “I suppose it can be.”
“Do you need help with the crutches?”
“Nope. I got it. See you in a while.” As Katie hobbled inside, she thought about her mom and the texting. Her father had refused to allow Sarah to have a phone of her own when they were together. So when the seven Lawry kids received a text message with their mother’s new cell phone number, it had been cause for celebration, despite the teasing.
