Chapter 18 #2
“Damn. Oh, well, I’ll see them when they get back.”
Grant realized Ned and his brothers were subtly moving toward Ned’s cab to give him a moment alone with Abby.
As she re-secured the ponytail that’d broken loose during her sprint, Grant zeroed in on her impressive engagement ring.
He expected to feel something—sadness, yearning, disappointment.
Curiously, he only felt happy that she’d found someone she wanted to share her life with.
Sure, he’d always be a little sorry that things hadn’t worked out between them, but he’d never be sorry for all the good years they’d spent together.
It had once been very good—before it all went very wrong.
“What?” she asked.
Grant realized he was staring. “Nothing, sorry. I was just thinking that it’s cool you’re so happy with Cal.”
She looked up at him with those big brown eyes that used to slay him. Not anymore. “Really? You mean that?”
“Yeah, I mean it. You deserve to be happy. I’m sorry I was so clueless and that I didn’t pay more attention to what you needed. I want you to know that.”
“Oh, jeez, Grant,” she said, dabbing at suddenly damp eyes. “I came to see Janey off, and now you’ve got me blubbering.”
“Sorry,” he said with a smile.
“No, no, it’s fine. I appreciate you saying that. It helps to know that you get why things happened the way they did.”
“I get it, and I regret it.”
She reached out to squeeze his arm. “Thank you. I meant it when I said I want us to still be friends. I can’t imagine my life without you and all the McCarthys in it.”
“We’re not going anywhere.”
“Will you be heading back to LA now that the wedding is over?”
Grant wished he could tell her about the offer his agent had called with earlier, but the days of hashing out career moves with her were over. “I’m not sure yet. I’ve got a few things to take care of here before I make any plans.”
“Like Stephanie?” she asked with a teasing grin.
“Maybe.”
“Don’t forget what I used to tell you all the time—you can write anywhere, Grant. Anywhere at all.”
Her words went straight to the heart of his current dilemma. “How’s Cal’s mom?”
Shaking her head, she said, “Not good. They think she’s going to survive the stroke, but apparently she’s in bad shape.”
“Damn, that sucks.”
“It really does. I guess he’s going to be there awhile.”
“Wow, what does that mean for the clinic?”
“I heard they asked David Lawrence to stay on for a couple of weeks to fill in for Cal, and he accepted the offer.”
“Interesting,” Grant said. “That’s the job he always wanted. Before he got sick with lymphoma, he was in line to take over the clinic when Doc Robach retired.”
“I know. Cal and I have talked about how his illness created the opening at the clinic. Without that, we never would’ve met.” She checked her watch. “Well, I’d better get up the hill and open the Attic for the day. We’ve had a nice break thanks to the storm, but back to reality today.”
“For me, too. Back to the marina.”
She went up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Take care of yourself.”
“You, too.” As he watched her walk away, Grant discovered he was truly over her.
In fact, he couldn’t wait to get to the marina so he could see Stephanie again.
Making his way to Ned’s cab, Grant felt lighter and freer than he had in a long time.
Knowing that Abby forgave him for the way he’d treated her and wanted to remain friends made it possible to move forward guilt-free.
Ned, Evan, Adam, and Mac with Thomas on his shoulders eyed Grant with thinly veiled curiosity.
“What?” Grant asked them, exasperated by the way Gansett Islanders were always minding other people’s business, especially in his family.
“What yourself,” Adam said. “What’d she have to say?”
“Better yet,” Evan added, “what did you say to make her all weepy?” He made a pout face and dabbed at his eyes.
Enough, Grant decided as he lunged for his youngest brother and had him in a headlock in under a second. He’d forgotten, of course, how freakishly strong his “baby” brother was, which was how he found himself rolling on the pavement under Evan.
“Oh, for Christ’s sake, you guys,” Mac said as Thomas giggled at his uncles’ antics. “Get up before Mom hears you’re brawling in the parking lot like a couple of drunken tourists.”
Mac knew exactly what to say to stop the wrestling match before it spiraled further out of control. None of them had any desire to be compared to a tourist. Year-round Gansett Island residents had a love-hate relationship with tourists. They loved their money but often hated their behavior.
Grant got up and brushed gravel off the seat of his shorts. His recently injured hand pulsated with pain, and he hoped he hadn’t busted open his stitches. He glanced at Ned and gestured to the cab. “Still good for a ride?”
“Thought ya’d never ask. I’m ready fer a doughnut after three days without.”
“Let’s go.” While Grant felt like a fool for engaging in idiotic behavior in public with Evan, he’d succeeded in dodging their questions about Abby.
The arrival of the first ferry in days had brought a flood of people and cars and bikes. Ned carefully navigated the downtown area, dodging baby strollers and mopeds and pedestrians.
“What a madhouse,” Grant muttered.
“Nice ta be open fer business again.”
“I guess.”
“Yer brothers are just razzing ya, same way ya would them.”
“I know that.” Grant instantly regretted his snappish tone. Ned had been a good friend to all of them and had covered his ass more than once when he was a teenager. “Sorry to be cranky with you,” Grant said, staring out the window. “I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
“Yer thinking about Stephanie.”
“Among other things.”
“Has she told ya ?bout her troubles?”
Surprised by the question, Grant looked over at Ned. “Has she told you?”
Ned shook his head. “I got the Google. I know how ta use it.”
Amused by Ned’s indignant tone, Grant asked, “What’re you doing Googling the employees?”
“Somethin’ about her was familiar. Couldn’t put my finger on it. So I used the Google.”
Grant wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all, but there was nothing funny about Stephanie’s situation.
“So has she told ya?”
“Yeah.”
“Whataya gonna do about it?”
“I have a few ideas in mind.”
“Yer uncle Frank might be able to help.”
“He’s at the top of my list.”
“Good,” Ned said, seeming satisfied that someone was planning to do something to help Stephanie. “If she needs money, ya come to me, boy. I like that gal. I’d be happy ta help her out.”
“That’s really nice of you, Ned, but I doubt she’ll take money from any of us.”
“Damned foolish pride ain’t gonna get her stepdaddy outta prison.”
“How do you know he shouldn’t be in prison?” Grant asked.
“I read about how she’s been fightin’ for him ever since he’s been there. Figured she wouldn’t a been doing that if he was guilty.”
“She says he never laid a hand on her. It was her mother who beat her up and left all the bruises they found on her.”
“Ya believe her?”
“I do.”
“Then ya gotta help her. Poor gal has been fighting a long battle all by herself.” Ned pulled into the marina and cut the engine.
“Let me ask you something, Ned.”
“Anything ya want.”
“How is it you always know what’s going on before the people involved even know?”
The question was met with a smirk from Ned. “Cuz I pay attention. Ya might want ta try it, my friend.”
Grant rolled his eyes at Ned, but he couldn’t deny he’d been told that before. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Don’t let that little filly get away,” Ned said, eyeing Stephanie inside the restaurant. “I have a feeling she’s just whatcha need, Grant McCarthy.”
Since he’d been having the same feeling himself lately, he didn’t bother to deny it. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Any time.”