Never Say Never: Gravel Hill Boys Book Two

42. Madison

Maylene whippedopen my front door and squealed as three more women converged in my foyer. There were whoops and hugs and shouts of laughter.

“I brought wine,” the tallest of the three proclaimed, holding up two bottles. An overnight bag hung from her shoulder, and she kicked her shoes off as she entered. Seeing me standing near the stairway, she pointed and added, “But none for you.” Then she laughed. “But don’t you worry, I brought something else for you.” She sat the bottles on the kitchen island, let her overnight bag slide down her arm, and then swallowed her mother in a big hug

Not once in my life could I ever remember seeing a warmer greeting between a mother and her daughter. I grew up with air kisses and hand clasps. Arms were rarely involved.

This woman was bright and bubbly and all-American gorgeous, with her dark red hair, freckle-covered face, and brilliant blue eyes. She was also tall. Even barefoot, she had to be pushing six feet.

“Hey there, girlie,” Mrs. Donohue said, giving her one last squeeze before moving onto the next daughter. This one had long, wavy blonde hair with just a hint of strawberry. Not as tall as her sister, she was equally beautiful.

The genes in this family were top notch. I could only imagine what Ian’s father must look like.

“Madison,” Mrs. Donohue looped her arm through the arms of two of her daughters. “This here is Bridget. She lifted the hand of the tall redhead. “My oldest.”

Bridget bumped her hip into her mother’s. “Hey now. No need to point that out.”

The blonde laughed. “Bridge has been overly sensitive about her age since she turned thirty.” She let go of the handle of a small pink suitcase and held out her hand. “I’m Fiona, but everyone calls me Fi.”

I scooted toward her and shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Fi.” I turned to Bridget and attempted to shake her hand, but like her mother, I was swallowed up in a bear hug. She grinned down at me.

“Can I touch?” Bridget asked, pointing to my belly. “I hated when people rubbed my belly without asking. I think everyone in Ashwood copped a feel, but I’m itchin’ to connect with my little niece or nephew in there.”

Instinctively, I placed my hands over the small bump beneath my dress. The only person to have rubbed my belly was Ian, and thankfully, he’d known enough to ask or wait for me to invite him to feel the baby kick. Asking to touch a complete stranger was odd, but since she would be my child’s aunt, I steeled myself to suffer through it.

“Sure,” I said. “Although she’s been pretty quiet this afternoon.”

Bridget placed a gentle hand on my tummy. “Not for long, if her hearin’s any good,” she said, lowering her voice. “Fair warnin’, hon. It’s likely to get loud.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. While the afternoon had been fun, making biscuits and talking with Maylene and her mother, it hadn’t been loud. The soundtrack to the afternoon had featured music from a recently released acoustic folk album by one of my clients, an instrumental guitarist/composer from New York. It had been playing softly on speakers throughout the downstairs level. Although I had to admit, since the arrival of Ian’s sisters, I could no longer hear Scott’s mastery of six strings over the animated chatter of five women who surprisingly, saw each other multiple times a week, yet were still excited to be together.

I often went months at a time without seeing either of my parents, yet we never carried on like this. I’d say I felt left out, but that would be a lie, since I’d been swept up with hugs and belly rubs.

If Maylene, Fiona, and Bridget were beautiful, the fourth sister was an absolute stunner. Dark, chestnut hair and light eyes, she was the most petite of the four. Had she been taller, she could’ve commanded runways from Paris to Milan and around the globe. My mother would’ve been impressed.

Mrs. Donohue pulled her in for a hug and then led her over to me. “This here is my middle child, Eleanor, but we all call her Ellie.”

“Or Ellie Belly,” Bridget shared. Clearly, she was the trouble-maker.

Ellie shot her oldest sister a glare before reaching out to shake my hand. This sister was quieter than the rest; maybe even shy. I didn’t know what came over me, but before I knew it, I’d reached out and hugged her. She stiffened slightly—which was my go-to in these situations—but she soon relaxed into my hug and gave me a gentle squeeze.

“Oh, hell no,” Fiona said, pushing her sister out of the way. “Where’s my hug?” I laughed as she came over and wrapped her arms around me.

“Hey, y’all,” Bridget said, doing a little dance. “I hate to interrupt this meet and greet, but I’m about to piddle. Madison, if you don’t mind, where’s the ladies?”

“Oh dear. The last one to piddle on my floor got booted along with your brother.” I pointed toward the foyer. “The powder room is to the right of the entry on the right. You can’t miss it.”

Bolting toward the entryway, she called over her shoulder, “Soon’s I get back, I want to hear about what that little asshole did.” She spun around, laughing, before disappearing down the hall. “And I don’t mean the dog.”

My day had ventured off the rails, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that it was the most fun I’d had in a long time.

“C’mon, girls,” Mrs. Donohue said. “Soon’s Bridget’s done, y’all take care of business and wash up. Dinner’s ready.”

“If you don’t wish to wait, there are three more bathrooms upstairs,” I offered. It seemed silly to have two women waiting to use the bathroom when there were more available.

Fiona grabbed Ellie’s hand and dragged her up the stairs. “Oh, hell yeah. I’m dying to get a look at this place. I ain’t never been in a penthouse before.” Ellie trotted after her sister, looking like she’d just as soon wait downstairs.

Maylene, on the other hand, bolted from the kitchen for the stairs. “Wait for me. I gotta pee too.”

“Good lord.” Mrs. Donohue shook her head and chuckled. “Let me apologize for my girls. They’re just excited to get to know you—and your beautiful home it would seem. She cupped my elbow and led me to a place at the head of my table. “Now, you sit down and tell me what you want to drink. I had Maylene make us some sweet tea a little while ago. Would you like that, or can I get you something else?”

“Mrs. Donohue, please, you don’t need to wait on me in my own home.”

“Now, honey, I already told you to call me Siobhan or Ma. And that’s just nonsense; that’s why we’re here. We’re gonna help you out for a little bit and get to know my grandbaby’s mama.” Her arm wrapped around my shoulder and she gave me a gentle squeeze. “Now how about some sweet tea?”

I had no idea what that was, but I nodded, not trusting my voice, as tears were already prickling behind my eyes.

I’d never experienced such unfettered kindness. No one fetched me a drink or cooked for me or taught me how to do something unless they’d been paid for their time and expertise. Aside from Liane, of course, and more recently, Ian.

Ian, who’d bent over backwards to take care of me; who made sure I was resting and eating healthy; who’d single-handedly created a beautiful nursery for our baby.

And who’d bought a puppy—not to annoy me—but for his child because he believed a child should have a puppy.

The same Ian who’d swept me off my feet months ago and given me one of the best nights of my life.

My face warmed and my eyes filled. I snatched my napkin off the table and dabbed at my eyes before Mrs. Donohue returned with the pitcher of tea.

“Oh, honey, are you okay? You’re lookin’ mighty flushed right now.” She poured me a tall glass of tea, handed it to me, and then watched while I drank it. Meanwhile, Ian’s sisters, who’d been joined by Bridget the moment she stepped out of the downstairs powder room, were carrying on, laughing and talking over each other upstairs. Any other time I’d be furious that someone had invaded my privacy, so it was an odd sensation to wish I was upstairs laughing with them.

When she seemed certain that I was okay, Siobhan went to the bottom of the stairs and called her daughters. “Quit nosin’ around and git down here. Y’all are embarrassin’ me.”

Dinner was an ultra-casual affair. The heavy pot was set in the middle of the table with a towel folded beneath it. Maylene ladled stew out for each of us, and the plates were passed around the table. The salad went right on the same plate, with the dressing bleeding into the stew. I tried to keep the two separate, but it was no use.

My biscuits, which were wrapped in a linen napkin in a bowl, were praised as light and fluffy as they made their way around the table. My chest was so puffed up with pride, it was competing with my baby bump in size.

Over the course of the evening, while I sipped sweet tea and feasted on good food and delicious carbs, Ian’s sisters polished off two bottles of red wine and had me laughing until my belly hurt. By the time the third bottle was opened, the banter turned to embarrassing stories about Ian. I thought I would wet myself when Bridget told a story about walking in on Ian in the bathroom when he was fourteen with his pants around his ankles and a Victoria’s Secret catalog. He freaked out, tripped over his pants, and hit his chin on the sink, needing six stitches.

“Oh my lord, is that what happened?” Siobhan sputtered. She’d had had two glasses of wine and was as tipsy as her girls.

“Poor Ian.” I wiped tears from under my eyes. “How embarrassing.”

“It was his own fault for hogging the bathroom,” Bridget said. “From the time he discovered girls until he was fifteen, it was nearly impossible to get into the damn bathroom. We had to use the shower in Mama and Daddy’s room.”

“So he learned to control those…um…urges when he turned fifteen?” I asked.

“Oh, hell no,” Fiona jumped in. “Daddy added a second bathroom downstairs and told Ian to use that one.”

“Good lord! I wondered why after years of me tellin’ your daddy we needed a second bathroom for you kids he finally listened.” Siobhan wiped away her own tears. “Guess it had nothin’ to do with me naggin’ him after all, and everything to do with keepin’ you girls from killin’ your brother.”

“Pretty much,” Fiona told her.

Ellie topped off her glass. “Remember when Ian applied to be on The Bachelor?”

“What?” I was as loud as the rest of them, and I didn’t even care.

She nodded, while there was a chorus of groans and laughter around the table. Mrs. Donohue was full-on crying she was laughing so hard.

“It was early in the band’s rise, and he was convinced he was a shoo-in,” Ellie continued. “In case you haven’t noticed, my brother has a king-sized ego. When they finally offered him a slot, he turned it down.”

“Why would he turn it down?”

“Because they offered him a spot on The Bachelorette instead, and he wanted to be the ‘headliner’.” Ellie hooked her fingers into air quotes. “He’s still bitchin’ about that.”

“No wonder he refused to binge watch it with me.” My laughter quieted, and I wiped at the tears running down my cheeks. “But honestly, that might have worked out for the best,” I said, as much for me as for Ian’s family. “Those were the times he’d disappear and work on the nursery.”

Siobhan’s gaze softened as she leaned back in her chair. “You have a nursery already?”

I nodded, suddenly ashamed that I’d never thanked Ian for the incredible job he’d done in creating a perfect room for our baby. My eyes filled again, but this time, with guilt instead of laughter. Emotion overwhelmed me, and those damn pregnancy hormones took over.

“It’s beautiful,” I sobbed. “And I never told him how much I loved it.”

“Aw, honey. It’s okay.” Siobhan rose and wrapped her arms around me, rubbing my back and cooing softly, which made me cry harder.

This was all foreign to me. Camaraderie and affection. Laughter and tears. In my experience, family didn’t behave like this. I was jealous and hurt and wanted more than anything to keep it.

“Ian and I aren’t a couple,” I cried. “You’re all being so nice to me, and you don’t have to. In fact, I threw him out because he bought the baby a dog, yet you’re all here, taking care of me. Making me laugh. Feeding me. You’re making me feel like I’m part of something, and it’s wrong. I don’t deserve it.”

I was sobbing so hard, gulping at the air, that my head began to hurt.

“Oh, honey.” Siobhan rocked me in her arms while Ian’s sisters gathered around. A glass of water appeared in front of me, and I took a sip, then cried harder because why were they still being so nice.

“Madison, you listen to me right now,” Siobhan insisted. “It don’t matter what your relationship is with my son. You are my grandchild’s mother, and you will always be part of this family.” She rubbed my back and I melted into her embrace. “Isn’t that right girls?”

There was a soft chorus of agreement. Someone stroked my hair, while another squeezed my arm. I rested my forehead on Siobhan’s shoulder. The weight in my chest was heavy. I’d never experienced grief, but in that moment, it felt like I was grieving something I’d never had—the love of a close family.

“I’m sorry,” I gasped, trying to compose myself. “Damn hormones,” I muttered, knowing there was more than hormones at work here. A wad of tissues was pressed into my hand. I wiped my face, grateful that I hadn’t put on makeup that morning.

“I’m gonna kick that boy’s ass,” Bridget announced. “Getting a dog. What the hell’s wrong with him?”

Despite all the heaviness, I laughed. “It’s not his fault.” I sat up, blew my nose, and took in all the sympathetic looks. “Do I want a dog? No, but he meant well. I just need to loosen up a bit.”

Fiona wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “Stick with us, honey. We’ll get you nice and loose.”

I snort-laughed and blew a snot bubble out of my nose, which set everyone to laughing even harder. I wasn’t even embarrassed. These women were exactly what I needed in my life.

The laughter died down, and when I was certain that I wouldn’t blow another snot bubble or pee my pants, I asked if they would like to see the nursery.

“Hell, yeah,” Bridget announced. “I also want the official tour of this place.”

“Me too,” Ellie chimed in.

Standing, I dabbed my eyes again. “You got it. And bring your bags upstairs; you’re all staying with me.”

“Oh no,” Ian’s mother said. “I was hoping to stay, but the girls booked themselves a hotel.

Absolutely not,” I insisted. “I want you all here. I mean it. You said we’re family, right?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Fiona answered.

“Well, isn’t this what family does? Besides, I have three guest rooms upstairs if you don’t mind doubling up.”

“No, honey, we’re not looking to make extra work for you,” Ian’s mother said.

“You’re not. My housekeeper comes three times a week. It’s just a couple extra loads of laundry for her. Really. I don’t mind and neither will she.”

Strange how I’d never thought about what my housekeeper thought of the work she did for me. Not that it was ever much, unless I’d hosted a dinner or an event of some kind. I kept the place neat and made sure she never had to do anything unreasonable.

“Please, I would love for you all to stay.”

Bridget grabbed her overnight bag and headed up the stairs. “Works for me. Who’s sharing a room with me? Fi? You good?”

Fiona grabbed the pink suitcase. “Right behind you. Hurry so we can grab the best room,” she whisper-shouted. The two of them stomped up the stairs like a pair of seven-year-olds.

“That leaves you and me, Ellie Belly,” Maylene announced. “Feel like cuddling up with me tonight so Mama can have a bed to herself for once?”

Ellie rolled her eyes. “Long as you don’t hog the bed.”

“No promises. Owen’s been deployed for months now, but I’ll do my best.”

“Swell,” Ellie muttered. She shot me a wink as she followed her sister up the stairs.

“Are you sure about this?” Siobhan asked when it was just the two of us at the base of the stairs.

“Absolutely.” I hooked my arm through hers and led her up the stairs. “Now come and see what your son did.”

When everyone had selected their rooms and deposited their suitcases, they gathered in front of the nursery, waiting for the unveiling. They also had to wait for me to swallow the huge lump in my throat and blink back more tears.

“Ready?” I asked, knowing I was the only one not ready.

“You better hurry or there’s going to be a Bridget-shaped hole in that door,” Maylene warned me. Laughter helped sweep away the emotion, so before it could creep back in, I turned the doorknob and swung the door open wide.

For the next thirty seconds, you could’ve heard a pin drop; that’s how quiet it was. Siobhan was the first to speak. She walked into the room and looked around, tears filling her eyes.

“Our Ian did this?” she asked, her hand pressed up against her mouth.

My eyes filled again, and my throat grew thick. I simply nodded.

“Holy shit,” Fiona said. “It’s beautiful.”

I wiped my eyes and laughed. “It’s perfect. It’s the white and clean look I like, but it’s soft and comfortable. I’d already picked out the crib and the dresser, but the rest of it—it’s all Ian.”

Siobhan walked around the room, touching the creamy white drapes covering the windows and the swivel rocker. She picked up the chenille bunny leaning against a pillow on the rocker and held it to her chest. “Our Ian really did this?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Well, fuck, Ian,” Bridget said reverently. “Ya done good.”

Fiona sat down on the rocker and sighed. “Forget you, Bridge. I’m sleeping here.”

Maylene bent down and ran her hand over the flokati rug in front of the crib. “I might curl up right here.”

I giggled. “I promise, as comfortable as that chair and the rug are, the beds won’t disappoint.”

“I can’t believe our Ian did this,” Ellie said, hanging back in the doorway and taking it all in. She blinked away a few tears and chuckled. “I think our little boy is finally growing up.”

Maylene looked over at me and smiled. “You know, Madison, we had a great time tonight, laughing and joking around, most of it at Ian’s expense, but you should know that he’s turned into the best uncle.”

“That’s true,” Bridget added. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve called him to sing to Callum since he’s been teething. He always acts all mad, but I just threaten to call TMZ to tell them I caught him choking his chicken to a photo of Margaret Thatcher when he was eighteen, and he starts singing like a canary.”

“Bridget!” Siobhan gasped. “I swear there are devil horns under all that hair of yours.”

Bridget waggled her eyebrows and I fell into another fit of giggles. I couldn’t remember ever laughing as hard as I had this evening.

“Margaret Thatcher?” I asked, laughing so hard I could hardly catch my breath. “And I thought he was fourteen.”

Bridget snickered. “He was, and it wasn’t Margaret Thatcher, but desperate times call for desperate measures.”

“He came and stayed with me for a few days last month and took over so I could get some rest,” Maylene said. “It hasn’t been easy being by myself with Owen overseas. Thankfully, that’s almost over, but Ian… Other than never getting Ellery’s name right until recently, he’s been incredible. I caught him riding the lawnmower with her strapped to his chest and wearing a set of headphones to protect her little ears.” She wrapped her arm around mine. “Had me in tears seeing that. I didn’t let on that I’d seen him either, so don’t say nothin’.”

I shook my head. “I won’t.”

“Mama calls him the Baby Whisperer,” Maylene snickered. “Probably because he’s a big kid himself, but little kids adore him.”

“He’s been reading too,” Ellie said. “He came up to visit me in Morgantown, and when I went to put fresh towels in the bathroom, I noticed he had a stack of pregnancy and parenting books on the nightstand.”

Maylene stood before me and took both of my hands in hers. “He’s going to make a great father, Madison,” she said. “This baby of yours has changed him in the best way. He’s more like the brother I remember growing up. More family, less rockstar.” Her eyes filled. “Give him a chance. I think he’ll surprise you.”

Tears burned behind my eyes and the lump in my throat prevented me from speaking; the best I could do was to nod. Deep down I believed that the guy who’d accidentally fathered my baby and left me a Starbucks gift card was gone, and in his place was a man ready and willing to step up and be a father.

I felt a strong flutter.

It might’ve been the baby, but I think it was my heart.