Chapter 5 #2
“Have you always been this annoying, or am I only noticing it for the first time?”
“I’ve always wanted what’s best for you.”
“I know.”
“You’re probably going to need a lawyer at some point, sweetie.”
“Who do you suggest I hire when my husband is the island’s only attorney?”
“Don’t say you heard this from me, but Grant’s friend Dan Torrington is coming over soon to help out with Stephanie’s stepfather’s case.”
“Dan Torrington? Like the Dan Torrington?”
“The one and only. Grant knows him from his Hollywood days. Apparently, Stephanie’s stepdad is in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Grant asked Dan to look into it. They offered to meet him in Providence, but he was curious about the island.”
“I’m sure one of the top criminal defense attorneys in the country would be all for taking on a piddling divorce case—if it even comes to that.”
“All you’d need is to let Jim think Dan Torrington is taking your case.”
“That’s very devious, Madeline. I’m shocked and appalled to discover this evil side of you.”
“It’s been there all along.” Maddie shifted the baby to her shoulder for burping. “I only save it for the most critical moments.”
“Does Mac know about this unsavory side of you?”
Maddie hooted with laughter. “He’s my favorite victim.”
Grace took the noon ferry to Gansett Island on the Saturday after Labor Day weekend.
The boat was all but empty except for an animated threesome at the table next to her.
She’d hoped for a quiet passage to calm her churning mind.
When she’d told her parents about her weekend plans, they’d been disdainful of her desire to return to the island.
Not that she was surprised. They were rarely ever supportive of her.
Thinking of them made her sad. They were both extremely overweight and unhealthy, which made them unhappy.
Not that they would ever admit it. They’d been adamantly opposed to her having the surgery and unsupportive in the aftermath.
She’d realized over time that they’d been threatened by her efforts to better herself.
It had become increasingly clear that she needed to get away from their negativity if she had any prayer of a life of her own.
That made what she was about to do so wildly out of character.
But when she thought about the proposal she planned to submit to Mr. and Mrs. Gold, a waterfall of tingles attacked her spine, filling her with excitement and anticipation.
Other than the surgery, this was the most audacious thing she’d ever done, and she couldn’t wait to get things moving.
“So who’s running McCarthy’s?” the blonde woman sitting next to her asked.
“Grant is still helping out even though Mac is back to work this week,” the man said. “Evan has been helping, too. He’s also been playing at the Tiki Bar with Owen.”
Before she could take a minute to contemplate whether it was totally rude to butt into their conversation, she was spinning around to face them. “Sorry to interrupt, but are you guys talking about Evan McCarthy?”
A pretty woman with long red hair smiled at her. “Yes, we are. Do you know him?”
“I met him last weekend when he helped me out of a major jam.”
“Come join us,” the blonde woman said, waving her over.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Of course not,” the man said. He had dark hair and eyes. His foot was resting on a pillow, and crutches were propped next to him.
Grace slid into the booth next to the blonde, careful to avoid the injured man’s foot between them. “I’m Grace Ryan.”
“Sydney Donovan.” The redhead extended her hand to Grace. “This is Luke Harris and Laura McCarthy, Evan’s cousin.”
“It’s great to meet you all.”
“So tell us everything.” Laura, the blonde, propped her chin on her hand. “How did you meet Evan?”
Grace relayed the story about Trey abandoning her on the island—leaving out the about-to-have-sex and the nasty-wager-with-his-friend parts, both of which became a “big fight” in the retelling—and how Evan had come to her rescue.
“Wow,” Luke said. “The guy just left you there?”
“Yep.” Grace had gone from being infuriated to enjoying the reaction people had at hearing what a jerk Trey had been. Rather than being devastated over what he’d done, she’d decided she was damned glad she’d seen his true colors before their relationship progressed any further.
“Did you get your stuff back?” Sydney asked.
“Under threat of police action, which was Evan’s idea. Trey delivered it all to a mutual friend’s house the next day. Good riddance.”
“What’s with men these days?” Laura asked indignantly. “Are they all dogs or what?”
Sydney linked her arm with Luke’s. “Not all of them.”
Luke flashed her a sexy grin that made Sydney blush.
“I agree with Sydney,” Grace said. “Evan restored my faith by coming to my rescue.”
“What brings you back to the island?” Luke asked.
“I owe Evan some money, and I wanted to pay him back.”
“Hmm,” Laura said with a knowing grin. “And that’s all it is?”