Time for Love , The McCarthys of Gansett Island, Book 9 Read online

  “So are we,” Mac said. “I’m putting a moratorium on babies in this family. I can’t handle the stress.”

  “You can’t, huh?” Maddie said. “You might want to rethink that, because I’m officially late, my love.”

  The look on Mac’s face as he absorbed her announcement was nothing short of priceless.

  “I need a really big drink,” he muttered as he left the women laughing in the kitchen.

  “Do you think you’re pregnant?” Daisy asked her friend.

  She shrugged. “I’m regular as clockwork, so probably. I have half a mind to kill him for knocking me up again so soon after Hailey was born, but I love him too damned much to kill him.”

  Daisy hugged her again. “Keep me posted.”

  “I will and thanks again, Daisy.” Maddie lowered her voice. “Your handsome doctor seems very smitten.”

  “He’s in love,” Daisy whispered.

  “Is he now?”

  Daisy nodded.

  “And you?”

  “Crazy in love.”

  “Oh, I’m so happy for you! You so deserve to be happy after all that’s happened.”

  “Apparently, it’s not over yet.” Daisy told Maddie about Truck being released and how they suspected him of vandalizing her home.

  “You’ll be with David, right? Until they find him?”

  “He won’t let me out of his sight. Don’t worry.”

  “I will worry until I hear they’ve put Truck back where he belongs.”

  “They’ll find him,” Daisy said confidently as Maddie saw them out. “He’s hard to miss, especially when he’s high and enraged.”

  When they were in the car, David reached for her hand. “I won’t let him get anywhere near you, so don’t worry.”

  The man she loved was holding her hand, and he loved her, too. What did she have to worry about?

  *

  Janey’s first conscious thought was that everything hurt. She fought her way through the confusion, trying to make sense of the pain. Her eyes were too heavy to open, and her mouth felt thick and dry, so dry. “Joe.”

  “Janey! Janey, talk to me. Oh God, honey. Please talk to me.”

  “What happened?”

  “You wouldn’t wake up, and you were bleeding.”

  At that news, she forced her eyes open and blinked him into focus. He looked like hell, and was he crying? “The baby.” She tried to move her arms to feel the baby, but they wouldn’t cooperate. They felt like lead weights had been attached to them. “Where’s the baby?”

  “Our son is in the neonatal ICU. I’ve been with him all afternoon.”

  “It’s too early!” Her voice broke on a ragged sob. “It’s too soon.

  “He’s beautiful, Janey. The doctors say he’s going to be okay. He’s going to be here awhile until his lungs develop some more, but he’s going to be okay, and so are you.” Tears rolled down his cheeks as he bent over her, kissing her forehead and stroking her hair. “You scared me so badly. I’ve never been that scared in my whole life. I was so afraid I was going to lose you.”

  “I don’t understand what happened. We got to Mac’s early. You wanted to get me settled before everyone started coming. I was tired…”

  “Yes,” he said, his lips soft against her face. “You took a nap, and when I went to wake you up so you could see Tiffany and Blaine come in after the wedding, you wouldn’t wake up. You wouldn’t wake up. Thank God David was there, and he knew what to do. He got you to the clinic and did an emergency C-section.”

  “Why was I bleeding?”

  “David said you had what’s called a partial placental abruption, which is very rare and happens suddenly.”

  “Did I do something wrong to make that happen?”

  “No, honey. It wasn’t your fault. One of the nurses told me she’s seen instances of the mom and baby both dying from an abruption. We were so lucky that David was there and he knew what to do.”

  “David… I need to talk to him, to thank him.”

  “There’ll be time for that when you’re feeling stronger.”

  “Where are we now?”

  “In Providence. The life flight helicopter brought us over. Your parents are on their way with Slim. I’ve talked to them twice since we got here, but I know they can’t wait to see you.”

  “They must be so worried.”

  “We all were.”

  “I want to see the baby.”

  “You can’t get up quite yet, but I took some pictures for you.” He turned on his phone and took her through the series of photos he’d taken of the baby through the incubator.

  “He’s so small.”

  “But he’s perfect. See his little fingers and toes? And his nose is just like yours.”

  “Can we have others?”

  “We should be able to. The doctors here said David did an excellent job.”

  “We owe him so much.”

  “We owe him everything.” He kissed her nose and her lips and the tears on her cheeks.

  She tried again to move, but the pain brought tears to her eyes. “Hurts.”

  “What does?” he asked, alarmed.

  “Everything.”

  “Let me get the nurse.”

  He returned a minute later with a nurse who adjusted Janey’s pain meds and taught her how to use the morphine pump to get immediate relief.

  When they were alone again, she held on tight to his hand. “Joe.”

  “I’m here, honey.”

  “After seeing the pictures, I know what I want to name him.” They’d been debating names for weeks now without settling on one. “Peter Joseph, after your father and you. We’ll call him P.J. What do you think?”

  “I think P.J. Cantrell is the nicest name I’ve ever heard, second only to Janey McCarthy. Thank you so much for my son and for honoring my dad with his name and for not dying and leaving me all alone to raise him. I never could’ve faced the rest of my life without you.”

  “I’m going to be around to give you grief for a long, long time.”

  “Thank God for that.”

  Her parents came bursting into the room and stopped short at the sight of her talking to Joe.

  “Oh, thank you, Jesus,” Linda said, bursting into tears.

  Janey couldn’t remember the last time she saw her mother cry like that—or her dad who was crying just as hard. “I’m okay,” she said when Joe stepped back to let them see her. “And so is the baby. His name is P.J. Peter for Joe’s dad and his middle name is Joseph. What do you think?”

  “That’s a lovely name,” Linda said.

  Big Mac nodded in approval. “P.J. Cantrell. Welcome to the family, P.J.”

  “I wanted to name him McCarthy, but Joe and I decided we have enough Macs running loose in this family.”

  “Probably so,” Linda agreed.

  “However, I reserve the right to use that name in the future,” Janey added.

  “So you can have others?” Linda asked.

  “That’s what they told Joe, but we’ll be waiting awhile. We got way more than we bargained for this time, right, Joe?”

  “We sure did.” His voice broke on the last word. “I…ah, I’ll be right back.”

  “Daddy, go after him,” Janey said.

  Big Mac bent to kiss Janey’s cheek. “You got it, Princess.”

  Chapter 17

  On the verge of completely losing his composure, Joe hurried from the room and took a couple of deep breaths in the hallway. But nothing could stop the flood of tears or the overpowering relief of knowing she was okay. They were both okay. When Big Mac emerged from the room, Joe tried to mop up the tears that kept coming.

  “Come here, son,” Big Mac said, holding out his arms to Joe.

  Like he had from the first time he met the strapping man who’d been his best friend’s father, Joe gravitated to him, even if he was embarrassed to be caught crying like a baby by the man he idolized.

  “Big day for any man to welcome his first child, bu
t this… This would’ve been too much for anyone. You held up well. You took good care of your family, and I’m proud of you.”

  “Actually,” Joe said, laughing through the tears, “David Lawrence took good care of my family.”

  Big Mac smiled. “Thank goodness he was right there when it happened. Life has a funny way of coming full circle, doesn’t it?”

  “It does, indeed.”

  “He might’ve done the heavy lifting, but you were strong for them, and that matters, too.”

  “The only thing that matters is that she’s okay, and that the baby’s okay. I had some rough moments today imagining life without her. I don’t know what I’d do…”

  “I know exactly what you mean. I had a few of those moments myself.”

  “How’d you like to meet your new grandson?”

  Big Mac’s smile lit up his tanned face. “What do you think?”

  Joe glanced at the door to Janey’s room.

  “Her mom is with her. She’s in good hands.”

  Joe nodded and headed down the hallway with Big Mac’s arm around his shoulders, excited to introduce his son to his grandfather.

  *

  After she tucked Thomas and Ashleigh into bed, Maddie came downstairs and went into the kitchen wishing for a big glass of wine but settling for ice water on the outside chance that she might be pregnant.

  What a day this had been! Tiffany and Blaine married, Janey’s baby born in dramatic fashion, and her closest friends still gathered around the fire pit in the yard, ready to rehash it all.

  As Maddie filled her glass, Mac came into the kitchen. “Everyone in bed?” he asked.

  “Yes, finally. They were so excited about the wedding and the baby. I didn’t think I’d ever get them settled down, but I promised them a trip to the beach tomorrow if they were very good and went to sleep. I think it worked.”

  He kissed her forehead. “Good job, Mom.”

  “How’re you doing?”

  “Okay. I guess. I wish my hands would quit shaking.”

  Maddie put down her glass and took hold of his hands, which were, in fact, trembling. “What can I do?”

  “I could use a hug.”

  “I’ve got one for you anytime you need it.”

  He stepped into her outstretched arms and held on tight. “I can’t deal with all this crazy shit that keeps happening to people I love. My dad falling off the dock, you delivering Hailey during that storm, the sailboat accident and now Janey… It’s too damned much.”

  “I know.”

  “And now you might be pregnant again, and while I’d love to have another baby with you, I can’t bear to think about all the things that could go wrong. Maybe we should move to the mainland. I could come out here to work and—”

  Maddie kissed him, putting every ounce of love she felt for him into the kiss. “This is our home.” She gestured to the deck and yard. “Those are our people. Let’s go join them and get our minds off it all for a little while.” She knew he was on overload and would rather call it a night, but he followed her down the stairs to the yard, where his brothers and all their closest friends had formed a tight circle around the fire. As usual, Evan was messing around with his guitar as everyone talked and laughed and traded insults and good-natured jabs.

  “We were just taking bets on whether or not you two were fooling around while we’re in your yard,” Evan said. “But even you aren’t that quick, Mac.”

  “Bite me,” Mac muttered. “I have little kids. I can be quick when I need to be.”

  “Mac!”

  Maddie’s outrage sparked laughter as the circle widened to make room for them.

  “Any more news from Providence?” Stephanie asked from her perch on Grant’s lap.

  “Just that my folks are there, Janey’s awake and they have a beautiful son named Peter Joseph, who will be called P.J.”

  “That’s such a relief,” Grace said.

  “Seriously.” Adam put his arms around Abby and buried his face in her hair, apparently needing a moment to himself after hearing good news about his sister.

  “How is she?” Grace asked.

  “Sore but asking lots of questions and wants to see the baby. He’s in the NICU. They said his lungs need to develop some more, so he’ll be there awhile, but otherwise, he’s doing great.”

  “Thank goodness,” Sydney said.

  “I love his name,” Stephanie said.

  “Pete was Joe’s dad’s name,” Mac said. “He died when Joe was seven.”

  “It’s so nice they named the baby after him,” Maddie said. “I love that.”

  “Carolina will, too,” Mac said.

  “I sure hope Janey can have other kids,” Laura said, her hand resting on the belly that had sprouted early in her pregnancy.

  “I bet no one is talking about the next one tonight,” Evan said.

  “No shit,” Mac replied. “I’m putting a moratorium on babies around here.” This was said with a meaningful look for his wife. “No more.”

  Maddie stuck out her tongue at him and patted her belly, which made him scowl playfully at her.

  “Dude,” Owen said, “you’re sitting smack in the middle of what could be the biggest potential baby boom in Gansett Island history.”

  Mac’s groan had everyone laughing and throwing empty beer cans at him. “Knock it off! You’re getting me all wet.”

  “You’ve always been all wet,” Adam said, earning an obscene gesture from his oldest brother.

  “We’d like to respectfully request a variance to your moratorium,” Luke said, earning a warm smile from Sydney.

  “I’ll grant it for you,” Mac said. “But the rest of you have been warned.”

  “Whatever,” Evan said. “Always the big bossy brother.”

  “And don’t forget it,” Mac said.

  “While we’re all here,” Sydney said, rubbing her hands together and turning her attention toward Jenny, “you have to tell us how the date with Mason went.”

  Jenny’s deer-in-the-headlights expression was comical. “I do?”

  “Oh yeah,” Abby said. “Do tell.”

  “It was…nice. He’s very nice.”

  The guys went crazy moaning and groaning.

  “What?” Jenny asked. “He is nice!”

  “No guy wants to hear that you had a ‘nice’ time after a date,” Shane McCarthy informed her. “That’s like saying a girl has a ‘nice’ personality.”

  “What is wrong with the word nice?” Jenny asked.

  “Are you going to see him again?” Grant asked.

  “I…uh, I mean…”

  “There you have it,” Grant said. “Nice is a nonstarter when it comes to dating.”

  “Don’t listen to them,” Kara said to Jenny. “There’s something to be said for nice guys. I’d like to find one for myself.”

  “Hey!” Dan said as the others howled. “That’s just rude!”

  “What? Nice is hardly the word I’d used to describe you. Irritating, annoying, persistent…”

  “Charming, sexy, a god in bed,” Dan finished for her.

  “Extremely full of yourself,” Kara countered, starting a new wave of laughter.

  Dan hugged her from behind and kissed her neck.

  “So who’s our next fix-up for Jenny?” Stephanie asked.

  “Here’s a big idea,” Jenny said. “Let’s talk about this another time.”

  “No time like the present,” Laura said, glancing at her brother.

  All eyes turned to Shane, who held up his hands defensively. “Don’t look at me. I’m far too nice for her.”

  “Very funny.” Jenny threw a marshmallow at him. “I want that,” she said wistfully, glancing at Dan and Kara. “I want what all of you have. I want what I had with Toby.”

  “You’ll find it, Jenny,” Sydney said. “Probably when you least expect it. That’s what happened to me. Just stay open to the possibilities.”

  “I know. You’re right.” Jenny paused and seemed
to make an effort to shake off the unusual melancholy. “Anyway… Enough about me.” She turned to Abby. “Are you guys all moved in?”

  “Getting there. He has a lot of stuff.” Abby used her thumb to point at Adam. “Where am I supposed to put four computers in that little house?”

  “You get me, you get my computers,” Adam said.

  “Oh jeez.” Mac sat up straight. “That just made me think of Janey and her traveling zoo. Someone needs to go over there to let them out and feed them.”

  “We’ll do it,” Adam said as he and Abby got up to leave. “I’m fully trained on the menagerie.”

  “I’ll take the morning shift,” Mac said.

  “We’ll all take turns until they get back,” Evan said.

  “We’d better go, too.” Owen helped Laura to her feet. “Our days start early with Holden.”

  “And the puking,” Laura said. “Let’s not forget the puking.”

  “I’d love to forget the puking,” Owen said with a grimace.

  “I hope it lets up soon, Laura,” Maddie said. “That’s got to be so miserable.”

  “It’s horrible. I can’t wait to get through this trimester and hopefully start to feel better. I’m just glad I felt up to coming today after my visit to the clinic yesterday. I would’ve hated to miss Tiffany and Blaine’s big day.”

  “Let us know if you need anything,” Grace said. “I’m happy to help with Holden if need be.”

  “Thanks, Grace,” Laura said. “We may take you up on that. Thank goodness Sarah is with us. I’d be lost without her.”

  “You’d better hope my dad doesn’t steal her away from you,” Stephanie said with a teasing smile.

  “Bite your tongue!” Laura said.

  As the party broke up, Mac and his brothers put out the fire and gathered up the last of the empty cans and cups. Mac and Maddie walked to the driveway to wave them off and then went into the house, shutting off lights as they went.

  “If the mess is any indication, another successful party,” Maddie said, eyeing the mountain of dishes in the sink.

  Mac took her hand, shut off the kitchen light and led her to the stairs. “It’ll still be there in the morning.”

  “I’m going to pretend the magic fairies are coming overnight to make it all go away.”