Chapter 18 #3
“Have a seat and take a load off,” Grant said, tugging her down onto his lap.
Stephanie had never been so happy to sit in her life. In fact, she decided as Grant’s arms came around her, she’d never been so happy, period. Here were most of the people she loved best in the world, less those who were home sick and those who were tending to them.
Evan, who’d provided the evening’s entertainment, strummed his guitar and had them all laughing when he turned “Hotel California” into “Hotel Sand & Surf.”
Sarah came outside carrying a plastic shopping bag.
“What’ve you got there, Sarah?” Stephanie asked.
“A little treat for the late-night crowd.” She handed the bag to Stephanie, who laughed when she looked inside and found the makings for s’mores. “To break in the new fireplace.”
It had been Stephanie’s idea to offer s’more makings to guests enjoying the fireplace on the porch. Laura and Sarah had been all for it.
“I forgot to bring the sticks for toasting the marshmallows,” Sarah said. “Be right back.”
Stephanie watched as Charlie followed her into the hotel. “Something’s up,” she whispered to Grant.
“With Charlie?”
“And Sarah.”
“Really? Wow, that’d be cool, right?”
“I adore her, but I worry about him.”
“Old habits are hard to break, but he doesn’t need you to worry about him anymore. He wants nothing more than for you to be happy and worry free. That’s what I want, too.”
The spring breeze off the water was chilly, so she snuggled in closer to him. “I’m happier than I ever hoped to be.”
“Good,” he said, kissing her forehead and then her lips.
“So, hey,” Mac said, “who’s in for sailing tomorrow? I’ve gotten a definite from Grant. Anyone else? Going once…”
“I’ll go,” Evan said. “I’m at a standstill until my equipment gets here. May as well play while I can.”
“I could use one more able body,” Mac said.
“What for?” Dan asked.
Mac explained about the crew that’d been sidelined by the flu.
“I’ll do it,” Dan said.
“Do you even know how to sail, Torrington?” Grant asked with a laugh.
“I’ll have you know I was on the sailing team at Yale,” Dan retorted.
“Oh, pardon us and your Grey Poupon,” Grant said in a snobby tone, making the others roar with laughter. “You might be too good for this crew.”
“I can probably teach you a few things,” Dan said with a good-natured grin.
“You’re in,” Mac said. “I’ll text the captain and let him know we’re good to go. Zero seven hundred, boys,” he added to groans from the other guys.
“Better call it a night, then,” Evan said.
“Oh, poor baby needs his beauty sleep,” Grant said, rubbing his eyes and making baby-crying noises.
Evan threw an empty beer can at his brother. “Shut up.”
“Children,” Linda said from her perch on her husband’s lap. “Try to behave in public.”
“It’s him, Mom,” Evan said with a pout. “He’s bothering me.”
“Grace, would you please deal with him?” Linda asked.
“Happily,” Grace said, looping her arms around Evan’s neck and kissing the pout off his lips.
Evan slid his arms under her and stood so quickly that Grace might’ve toppled off his lap if he hadn’t been holding her so tightly.
She let out a squeak of surprise. “If she’s going to deal with me, it’s not going to be in front of you jokers,” Evan said to groans from his brothers and parents as he carried his girlfriend toward the steps.
“Great time, Steph. Best of luck with the restaurant.”
“Thanks for coming, and Grace, thanks again for the help.”
“My pleasure,” Grace called over Evan’s shoulder.
He made a comment about her pleasure that earned him a slap on the back from Grace. “Not in front of your parents,” she said loud enough that everyone on the porch heard her and laughed.
“Thank goodness we have her to manage him now,” Grant said.
“And thank goodness we have Stephanie to manage you and Maddie to manage him,” Linda said, gesturing to her firstborn.
“Hey,” the brothers said in stereo.
“Hay is for horses,” their mother said. “If only we could find a nice girl to manage Adam, I’d have nothing left to worry about.”
“Good luck with that project,” Mac said.
To her husband, Linda said, “Take me home, my love.”
“With pleasure, babe.” Big Mac followed his son’s lead by picking up his wife and heading for the stairs.
“Check it out,” Grant said, grinning. “The old man’s still got game.”
“You know it,” Linda said suggestively to gagging noises from her sons.
“Disgusting,” Mac said.
“Totally revolting,” Grant added. “Good thing Janey and Joe already left, or she’d be barfing all over the place hearing that.”
“We’re out, too,” Luke said, standing with Sydney in his arms.
“Another man refuses to be outdone by Evan McCarthy,” Grant said as they bade good night to Luke and Syd.
“Are you going to be outdone by Evan McCarthy?” Stephanie asked, raising a brow in inquiry.
He patted her bottom. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
Stephanie loved when he looked at her in that particular way, letting her know she was the most important person in his life. She wasn’t sure, exactly, how he managed to convey so much emotion in a look, but she’d learned not to question their amazing connection.