Never Say Never: Gravel Hill Boys Book Two

56. Madison

“Is that what you’re wearing?”

I looked down at my leggings, hiking boots, and the flannel shirt I’d stolen from Ian that I wore over a camel-colored cashmere turtleneck. My hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, and I wore a pair of gold hoop earrings. I’d even put on a little makeup, so I really didn’t see the problem. Besides, I’d gotten dressed up for Thanksgiving three days ago. Going through that all over again seemed like too much work.

“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing? You keep telling me that I’m in the country, and I don’t need to impress anyone. We’re only going over to your parents’ house for leftover turkey sandwiches.”

He just blinked at me.

“Should I change?”

Like someone flipped a switch, he shook his head. “No. Sorry. You look fine.”

“Fine?” Not exactly a glowing endorsement. I could dig through the closet and find something else to wear, but to be honest, I just wanted to be comfortable. The baby was doing a number on my bladder and pulling tights up and down every fifteen minutes wasn’t much fun. Not that the leggings were much better, but my only other option was to stay home, and that meant no turkey sandwich for me and that was out of the question.

Ian swept me up in a hug and kissed my nose and then my mouth. He’d been super attentive and gentle, and I had no complaints about the way he’d been treating me, especially when goodnight kisses turned into so much more, followed by mornings waking in his arms.

The man owned my heart. I wasn’t quite ready to tell him. I just prayed that he took care of it.

“Better than fine. You’re beautiful. I’m still not used to this new country girl side of you. We should go see Brooklynn and get you a few goats to milk. I can build a chicken coop too. Fresh eggs every morning… what do you think?”

Laughing, I held up my hands. “Let’s not get carried away. Wearing your six-hundred-dollar flannel shirt hardly makes me a country girl. For what you paid for this shirt, you shouldn’t be allowed to call yourself a country boy anymore either.”

“True.” His phone pinged in his pocket. He pulled it out and read the message. Looking up, he asked, “You ready?”

“Who was that?” I asked, pulling my puffer coat from the closet. The weather had finally turned and you could tell that winter was right around the corner.

“No one. Just Beau. Just checking in. No big deal. Just band stuff. Ready?”

Okay, that was weird.

“You okay?”

Ian took my coat from my hand and held it out for me to slip into. “Yup. I’m good. Just hungry. I’ve been jonesing for a turkey sandwich. That’s the second-best part of Thanksgiving, all the leftovers.”

“Why are you acting weird.”

“No I’m not.” He whistled for Finn, who shot out the front door and went straight to Ian’s SUV. That dog loved car rides.

Ian unlocked the door. I waited a second, taking a deep breath before attempting to climb in.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m just a little uncomfortable.”

“You sure you’re up to going to my folks’?”

“And miss out on leftovers? Get in the car, Ian.”

He reached across my belly and fastened my seatbelt. “Yes, ma’am.”

Fifteen minutes later, I stepped through the front door of Ian’s parents’ house and almost went into labor.

The living room was packed with people, some I recognized, but the rest, I had no clue who they were. All of them were shouting.

“Surprise!”

I jumped back and slammed into Ian’s chest. He wrapped his arms around me from behind and laughed in my ear. “You okay?”

I looked up at him, and whispered, “I think I may have peed a little. Is this why you were acting so weird?”

“I’m a musician, not an actor. I was so afraid I would blow it.”

The Donohues’ living room had been transformed into baby central. A balloon sculpture in a variety of pinks, green, yellow, and white sat in the corner where an upholstered chair had been staged in front of a backdrop that read, “Oh Baby!” in gold lettering. Dozens of wrapped gifts and gift bags were piled high on either side of the chair.

A steady stream of people rose to greet us, starting with Ian’s mother, who swept me up in a familiar hug. “Hope we didn’t scare you too badly.”

“Not at all,” I lied.

“That’s good,” said Bridget. “We didn’t tell Ian until this morning. He never could keep a secret.”

Maylene squeezed her way in. She hugged Ian and then me. “We wanted to make sure you had everything for the baby so you won’t have to worry about a thing. Ian put together that gorgeous nursery, but with y’all bouncing between here and Philadelphia, you might need more than one of everything.”

“I’m a little overwhelmed, but in the best way.” Emotion crept into my voice. “Thank you.”

Scanning the room. I saw Brooklynn with her friends, Macie and Sarah Jane, and her Aunt Dortie. I recognized the woman who owned Roosters and one of the girls who waitressed there. Beyond them and Ian’s family, the rest were strangers.

Foolishly, I searched for my mother and Gibby. I hadn’t seen them since the night I’d told Tatty and Daddy about the baby. They all led busy lives. They probably weren’t even invited. Mrs. Donohue wouldn’t have known how to reach them. Maybe this shower was intended only for Ian’s friends and family.

Honestly, my family would never entertain the idea of a baby shower. They’d just buy me what I needed. And once the baby arrived, I was certain they’d all make an appearance. Even Daddy would come. It would be their first grandchild and great-grandchild. Of course they’d be here for me then.

“You okay?” Ian asked. “You look a bit pale.”

Fixing a smile onto my face and refusing to let thoughts of my family ruin something as special as my baby shower, I nodded. “I’m great. I’d like to sit though, and if you could get me something to drink?—”

“On it,” Ellie said. “Go sit on your throne over there, and I’ll grab you some punch. We’ve got strawberry punch or blueberry punch. We’re covering all our bases.”

I laughed. “Strawberry, please.”

Ian led me through the sea of faces and got me situated, but before he could get away, I grabbed his hand. “Don’t leave me.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I hardly know any of these people. Could you at least tell me who’s who?”

Before he could respond, there was a commotion at the front door.

“I’m here! I’m here. Excuse me.” Liane’s dark head popped into the room, her eyes scanning until she found me seated on my throne. For as touched and as emotional I was for this community to gather and celebrate me and Ian and our Little Satsuma, seeing my best friend was the calm I needed.

Ian leaned down and whispered in my ear. “Now that your girl is here, is it okay if I escape into the kitchen with the men folk and talk sports?”

I gave him a playful shove. “Fine. Get out of here.”

Heat crept up my neck when he tipped my chin up and planted two sweet kisses on my lips, eliciting a chorus of oohs and ahhs from the women crammed into the living room. He picked his way through the jumble of arms and legs, pausing to speak with his grandmother and get a sweet pinch on the cheeks.

How was this suddenly my life?

Ellie arrived with a cut-glass punch cup filled with sweet-smelling strawberry punch and another glass that held what must’ve been the blueberry punch. “I saw your friend had arrived, so I brought her a glass too. This way you can try ‘em both, see which one you like best.” She handed us the cups. “Although,” she eyed Liane, “these are the non-alcoholic versions. If you want yours with a little kick, we’ve got a bottle of rum in the other room.”

Liane excused herself to get a little splash of rum, and say hello to Ian’s mother and several other people she knew. I told her to grab me a turkey sandwich if she spotted any.

While I opened the gifts, the guests snacked and drank, ohhhing and ahhhing over everything I opened as I held up each unwrapped gift for all to see. This was a different type of experience for me, but after getting over my initial discomfort, I’d begun to settle in and it felt as if every gift I opened came with a new friend.

When it was time for me to open the last few gifts, I caught sight of Ian on the other side of the dining room, a huge grin on his face. He was in his element, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d be smiling as wide had we been surrounded by people from my social circle. An event that would’ve been stiff and stodgy compared to this. Where no one would be sitting on the floor or eating anything that remotely sounded like “pigs in the blanket,” which were delicious by the way. Simple food. Simple people. Simple pleasures. I loved it all.

Most of the family gifts had been saved for last. Ian’s grandmother insisted he sit beside me, and since I’d opened everything else, I let him have a turn. The gifts included a pale-yellow sweater, hat, and booties handknit by Meemaw; a soft sage and yellow baby quilt that Siobhan had made; and a stroller that Ian’s sisters had all chipped in on.

Thinking we were finished, I began to rise, but Liane stopped me.

“One more,” she said, pulling an envelope from her purse. “From your father. He apologizes for being unable to attend,” she said, more to the room than to me, since I doubted he’d have said any such thing.

I stared at the envelope in my lap, afraid to open it, especially with so many people watching. “Maybe I’ll open this later. I’m sure there’s a letter inside, and I don’t want to be rude reading it in front of you all.”

“Don’t be silly,” Aunt Dortie insisted. “We all want to see what your daddy sent you from France.” The idea of such an exotic location caused quite a stir and an unnecessary layer of excitement swirled through the living room.

“Do you know what’s in here?” I asked under my breath.

“No,” she whispered back, a stiff smile glued to her face. “But I’m sort of kicking myself for not giving it to you privately.”

“Open it,” Dortie crowed.

“What’s her father doin’ in France?” I heard Meemaw ask.

“Don’t she have a mother?” a voice I didn’t recognize asked.

Ian, God bless him, recognized my reticence. “Maddie’s mom is out of the country for work right now and was unable to return in time to be here. And her father is headquartered in Paris where their family business is, so he couldn’t make it either.” He rubbed his big palm over my knee, calming and reassuring me.

“Baby showers really aren’t a thing in France,” I tried to explain, “so he probably just sent me a check and a note.”

“Damn, girl, you could’ve opened it by now.” Dortie was practically growling at me, and it seemed her impatience had spread to several of the women seated near her who added their unwelcome opinions.

Ian’s mother tried to make her way through the tight gathering toward us but was unable to get very far. Instead, she spoke from across the room. “We’ve got cake and cookies in the other room. Maddie, honey, can you and Ian c’mon in here so we can grab a few photos before we cut that beautiful cake?”

“Siobhan,” Dortie snapped. “Don’t be rude. She was just about to open her father’s gift.”

“What are you worried about?” Ian whispered.

“Nothing. It’s fine.” I forced a smile as I tore the flap open. The room quieted as I pulled out the card, which was an illustrated image of the Eiffel Tower. Nothing baby-related. I opened the card and read the inscription silently.

Ma belle. Love, Papa

My stomach sank. The handwriting wasn’t my father’s, and I’d never once called him “papa”. His secretary had most likely written it.

“Well? What’s it say?” the woman next to Dortie asked. “Is it in French?”

The business-size check that had been tucked into the envelope was folded in half still, but Ian pulled the card from my lap where I’d dropped it. He held it up and began to read.

“My dearest Madison, I’m sorry that an emergency here at our Paris facility is keeping me from joining you and your young man to celebrate the imminent arrival of our grandchild. Your mother and I wish we could be there, but we are with you in spirit. We can’t wait to see you very soon and welcome the newest member of the Enright family.

“With love, Mama and Papa.”

A chorus very much like the one earlier when Ian had kissed me circled the room.

I schooled my features and held tight to my response as I unfolded the check. It was a good thing that I had.

“Jesus Christ,” Ian whispered, leaning over to see what was written on the check.

It wasn’t even a personal check. Instead, it was drawn on one of brE Global’s accounts in the amount of fifty thousand dollars. A ridiculous amount of money that meant nothing to my father, especially since it wouldn’t even come out of his pocket. The only thing he’d done was sign the check, and there was a better than good chance even that had been signed by an automatic check signing machine.

I folded the check in half, then in half again; stuck it back in the envelope with the card; and handed it back to a worried-looking Liane. “Can you take this?—”

“I got it.” She grabbed it and jammed it back into her purse. “I bet his secretary never even told him I’d called to invite them and only asked him what to send you as a baby gift.”

Ian rubbed my knee on one side of me, while Liane tried to soothe my hurt feelings on the other.

“Don’t make excuses for him,” I said. “We both know it wouldn’t have mattered.” My throat was so dry that the words came out as if they’d been rasped through sandpaper.

Ian took my hand and gently urged me to my feet. “Madison and I want to thank all of you for coming and for this wonderful surprise.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

I pressed a hand to my chest. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are all very kind and generous. I’m truly grateful that I got to meet most of the female population of Ashwood this afternoon. I would like to say a very special thank you to Ian’s mom and his sisters…” I leaned forward a bit and caught sight of Danny hovering in the kitchen near the dessert. “…and his dad.” He looked up, a cookie halfway to his mouth, and smiled. “Danny and Siobhan; Maylene, Bridget, Fiona, and Ellie, in just a short time, you’ve all made me feel part of your wonderful family, and I couldn’t be happier or more honored.”

Most of the guests rose and stretched, especially the ones who had been sitting on the floor and made their way into the dining room and the kitchen where the rest of the food had been set up, herded by Ian’s sisters who had somehow understood that I needed a moment.

“You okay?” Liane said, standing up beside me.

“ I will be.” I shrugged. “It’s just…that’s my parents, right?”

Liane shot Ian a look, that I knew wasn’t meant for me to see. He turned me toward him and held me in his arms, close against his chest, and it was a spot that warmed me despite the humiliation of my father’s coldness and Ian feeling the need to lie for me.

When the last guests had gone, I remained in the warm embrace of a family that I’d come to cherish and languished in the arms of a man I had fallen so very deeply in love with.