Chapter 26
E arly the next morning, Tiffany told her mom and Ned, who’d brought coffee and doughnuts from the marina, that she wanted to go see Maddie.
“I’ll drive ya over,” Ned said.
“I can take the SUV,” Tiffany replied, still mourning for her beautiful Bug.
“No need. I’ll take ya.”
She understood that the dear man who was now her stepfather, and truly the only father she’d ever known, wanted to do something to help. So she let him. “Thank you, Ned. That’d be great. Let me get the girls ready.”
They set out fifteen minutes later, bringing the rest of the doughnuts for the kids to enjoy with their cousins.
Ashleigh had lit up with delight at being told she’d be seeing her cousin and best friend, Thomas. If anyone could make her feel better, Thomas could. With only a few months between them, they’d been raised like siblings from the beginning, and he was still her favorite person in the whole world. She also adored Addie, Hailey, Mac and the twin babies. But Thomas was her person, and their mothers loved the tight bond their children shared.
From the back seat of Ned’s cab, with her girls strapped into the seats Ned always had handy for them, Tiffany watched the familiar scenery go by while feeling oddly detached from the place she’d called home most of her life. She’d left only to help Jim through law school. They’d returned to set up his island practice right after he graduated.
His discontent had set in soon after they came home to the island. She saw that now. For a long time, she’d tried to pretend that nothing had changed as she went through the motions of being a wife and mother, supporting his dreams the way she always had while fighting for a few of her own. She’d run an at-home daycare and a dance studio then, trying to do her part to supplement his income while he built the practice.
But nothing she’d done had been enough. After working multiple jobs while he was in law school and giving him a beautiful daughter, he’d simply checked out of their marriage right when they were on the cusp of finally realizing the life they’d envisioned for themselves.
Suddenly, he’d no longer wanted that life—or her.
Tiffany was amazed at how, even after all this time, after years of marriage to a man who worshipped the ground she walked on, that it could still hurt to think about the way Jim had discarded her.
Things had gone rapidly downhill between them, culminating in a messy divorce that had turned most of the island against him and his practice and led to him making a series of disastrous decisions, one of which had landed him in jail after he slashed Dan Torrington’s hand open during Dan and Kara’s engagement party.
Speaking of Dan, she’d gotten a text from him and Kara the night before that she’d failed to respond to.
She withdrew her phone and read it again.
Hey, Tiff, Kara and I were sorry to hear the news about Jim. Like you, I’m sure, we’re shocked and saddened. We’re thinking of you, Ashleigh and your family at this difficult time. Sending much love from Maine!
Thank you so much for your kind note. You’re right that we’re shocked and saddened, which is the ultimate paradox, right? I wanted him gone, but not like this. I’m sure you understand better than most. Everyone is rallying around Ash, and she’s holding up as well as can be expected. It’s a lot for a six-year-old to understand. We heard about why you went to Maine, and we’re sorry to hear Kara’s family is going through that. With you on their side, we have no doubt her brothers will be exonerated, and you’ll be back here where you belong in no time. In the meantime, we’ll miss you very much. Please stay in touch and let us know how you’re doing. Much love back to you!
Two of Kara’s brothers had been charged with murder. Tiffany didn’t know the details, but she hoped that what she’d said was true and their friends would be back on the island soon.
Ned pulled into Maddie’s driveway on Sweet Meadow Farm Road, where Linda’s yellow Bug was parked next to Maddie’s SUV.
Tiffany recalled being intensely jealous of her older sister after she’d fallen for Mac McCarthy and ended up in this palace of a home with him.
Those days seemed long ago now that she’d found her own prince and built a whole new life with him, but the loss of Jim had resurrected a lot of old and unwelcome emotions. She’d hated being jealous of Maddie and the rift her jealousy had caused between her and her sister for a time. They were long past that now, thank goodness.
Ashleigh was out of the car and up the stairs the second after the car came to a stop in the driveway.
Tiffany freed Addie from her car seat and gathered the big bag she took everywhere that had them covered for any potential disaster while away from home. As she shouldered the bag and followed her mom and Ned up the stairs to Maddie’s deck, she realized how long it had been since anything that could be called a disaster had happened. There’d been a time when it seemed like a new disaster occurred almost daily.
Thanks to Blaine and their blissful relationship, she’d known a kind of peace and tranquility that had eluded her all her life before him. Unlike Maddie, she had no memories of their father living with them on the island. He’d been long gone by the time Tiffany was aware of his absence.
A shrink would probably have a field day with her latching on to her high school boyfriend, the first “man” to ever come close to filling the void her father had left. With hindsight that came from being in a loving relationship with Blaine, she could see that Jim had never been capable of giving her what she needed most.
So how was it possible that his death had left her feeling completely flattened by grief?
It made no sense.
They stepped into the usual chaos in Maddie’s open-concept home, which was littered with toys and baby equipment and shrieks of excitement at the arrival of cousins.
Addie squirmed in her arms, wanting to be put down to join the fray.
“Welcome to Bedlam,” Maddie said as she got up to hug Tiffany.
The sisters held on to each other for a long time while Linda, Ned and Francine tended to the kids.
“I’m sorry we didn’t make it to the marina last night,” Maddie said.
“Don’t be. I can’t get two kids out of the house. Not sure how you manage five of them.”
“It’s a s-h-i-t show.”
“I know what that spells,” Thomas shouted.
They laughed as they pulled apart.
Maddie put her hands on Tiffany’s face. “How are you? Really?”
“I’m heartbroken, and I can’t, for the life of me, understand why.”
“Aw, honey.” Maddie hugged her again. “Of course you are. You were with him for ten years, had a child with him. Despite how it ended, he was a big part of your life.”
Tiffany hated that she was once again crying over the man who’d broken her heart plenty of times when he was still alive.
A tug on her leg had Tiffany pulling back from her sister’s embrace.
Addie looked up at her. “Mommy sad.”
Tiffany bent to pick up her little lady. “Mommy’s okay. Don’t worry.”
Addie wiped the tears from Tiffany’s face. “No sad, Mommy.”
“No sad.” She forced a smile for her daughter. “All better, thanks to Addie-pooh.”
The little girl flashed a big, satisfied grin that reminded Tiffany of Blaine. People said she was another Tiffany mini-me, but at times she embodied Blaine’s smug grin to perfection.
She put Addie down to go back to playing.
“Mommy is allowed to be sad,” Maddie said.
“I know, but I gotta keep it together in front of the kids.” Tiffany wiped the remaining dampness off her face, determined to stay focused on her children, nieces and nephews, the sources of so much joy. “What’re you hearing about Abby?”
“Total bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy.”
“Damn,” Tiffany said with a gasp as Liam ran past with baby Mac. “How’s that gonna work?”
“They’re trying to figure that out now.”
“You should go home to pack and get Liam,” Abby told Adam after he’d slept curled up to her all night in the narrow hospital bed.
He’d gone to the hotel to shower and change and had returned an hour later with breakfast sandwiches for both of them.
“I don’t want to leave you. I can ask the parents to pack for us and to bring Liam.”
“I think you should do it. You know best what we need and what Liam will want. It’s too much to ask of others, even the grandparents.”
“When I think of leaving you here, going to that damned island and not being able to get back to you if something happens… I feel like I’m having a heart attack.”
“Don’t do that.”
Adam finally cracked the smallest of grins, the few she’d seen since David and Vic had recommended the flight to the mainland.
Abby reached out to him.
He took her hand.
“This is going to be a long slog for both of us. You’re not going to be able to be here every second of the day and night. You can’t run yourself ragged worrying and not sleeping or eating right or working out. We have to manage your stress as much as mine.”
“Yours is what matters most.”
“No, Adam, that’s not true. I can’t do this without you, so please… I need you to promise me that you’ll take as good care of yourself as you are of me and Liam.”
“I hear you. And I promise.”
“If you leave now, you can grab an Uber to the ferry and be back on the last boat tonight. Call Seamus. They always save a spot for emergencies. He’ll get the car on for you.”
“Are you sure you won’t do something dramatic, like have four babies while I’m gone?”
“I’ll do everything in my power to keep that from happening. But if it does, no matter what, I’d never blame you for not being here when I was the one who sent you.”
“Okay, then,” he said with a deep sigh. “I’ll go, and I’ll be back as fast as I possibly can.”
“Kiss me and make it a good one to tide me over until you get back.”
Smiling, he leaned over the bed rail and laid a hot, sexy kiss on her.
“Now that is what I’m talking about.”
“Text me a list of what you want from the house and what I should bring for Liam, so I don’t forget anything.”
“I will. It’ll give me something to do while you’re gone. One more kiss, and then I’m kicking you out.”
His kisses were always the best, but they were extra special today.
“While you’re on the boat, think about that first day and how far we’ve come from there and how much we have to look forward to.”
“Where’s Zen Abby coming from today?”
“I’m trying to stay focused on the gratitude. Remember when we thought we’d never be able to have one baby? Now we have our precious Liam and four more on the way. All that matters is getting them to the finish line. I don’t care what I have to do to make that happen.”
“I’m so freaking proud of you.”
“Aw, thanks. That means everything to me.”
“I guess if I leave now, I can catch the one o’clock boat to the island.”
“Don’t forget to call Seamus about getting the car on later.”
“I won’t.”
He kissed her one last time. “I love you. Behave while I’m gone.”
“I love you, too. Hurry back and bring me my son.”
“Will do.”
After he left, Abby rested against the pillows and released a deep breath full of angst and worry and stress that she’d had to put aside so she could convince him she’d be okay without him for a few hours. Since yesterday, she’d talked to everyone she knew—or so it seemed—as they’d called and texted with support and encouragement and plans to visit.
Despite the amazing outpouring and the best husband any girl could ever hope to have, she was scared and intimidated at the thought of being in bed for months. She was terrified of how much weight she’d gain that she might never lose again and whether she’d be up to caring for four babies after all that inactivity.
Izzy had told them that physical therapy would be brought in to keep her muscles from atrophying, but she wondered how effective that would be.
Her phone rang, and she took the call from her mother. “Hey.”
“How’re you doing, honey?”
“Hanging in there. Adam just left to make a quick trip home to grab Liam and pack up what we need for the long haul.”
“Are you sure you want to bring Liam there? I talked to Linda this morning and told her we’re available to help, too.”
“I know you are, and we so appreciate that and what Adam’s parents have already done. But we don’t want to be away from him for weeks.”
“I get it. You waited a long time to be a mommy. You don’t want to miss anything.”
“Yes, exactly. Adam is great with him. He can handle taking care of him on his own.”
“I have no doubt you two can get through this.”
“Thank you for the vote of confidence. It’s feeling a bit daunting now, but I’m trying to focus on the goal of bringing these four little boys into the world as safely as possible.”
“Four more McCarthy boys. Is the world ready?”
Abby laughed. “Probably not, but here they come, ready or not.”
“I’m proud of you, sweetie. You’ve had more than your share of upheaval and drama, and you’re handling this latest challenge with aplomb.”
“That’s nice of you to say.”
“I mean it, and Daddy feels the same way. You’re amazing, and we can’t wait to meet those babies.”
“I can’t either.”
“You and Adam will have plenty of time to figure out what you’re going to name them.”
“That’s true. We’ve gone in circles on that, but it’s probably time to start making some decisions.”
“Yes, embroidery needs to begin soon to ensure they have the most stylish going-home outfits.”
“As always, your priorities are straight.”
“You know it, honey. Call me later?”
“I will.”
“We’ll be over to spend some time with you this weekend. Daddy booked a room at the Westin.”
“I can’t wait to see you.”
She took calls from both her sisters as well as a cousin before she received a text from Adam that he was on the ferry and awaiting her packing list.
Sorry, I’ve been busy since you left!
Tell me the truth — are you having a fling?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. No.
What kept you busy?
Phone calls from Mom and the girls. I’ll make the list now.
K.
Having a fling? Was he out of his mind? She could only imagine her online dating profile: Bedridden mom pregnant with quads seeks a nice, stable, handsome man to take on her and her five baby sons. They’d be lining up at her door!
As she cracked up at her silliness, she gave Adam credit for making her laugh when she needed that more than ever. She couldn’t wait to see him and Liam in a few hours.
Ashleigh followed Thomas upstairs to his room. He wanted to show her the new truck he was keeping hidden from his baby brother, Mac, who liked to break things. That’s what Thomas thought anyway.
Mac didn’t really know better yet, so he was always throwing toys around, which made his brother mad.
“Daddy told me to keep it up here if I want it to be safe,” Thomas told his cousin.
Ashleigh wasn’t all that interested in trucks, but Thomas was her best friend, so she pretended to be fascinated with the things the truck could do. He used the remote to show her the lights and the beeps and how he could raise the bed to dump a load of Legos onto the floor.
“That’s super cool.”
“I know, right?” He looked over at her. “I’m, um, really sorry about your daddy.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you… Are you sad?”
Ashleigh nodded. “I’m so sad.”
“I’d be so sad if my daddy died. I wish it hadn’t happened to yours.”
“I do, too.”
“Can I give you a hug?”
“Sure.”
Thomas came to her and held out his arms.
Ashleigh hugged him back.
“Does that help?”
“So much.”
“I wish you weren’t sad.”
“Blaine told me I won’t be this sad forever, but I’ll always miss my daddy.”
“That’s probably true. I was sad when Mommy and Daddy told me the twins were girls. But I’m not sad about that anymore. They’re kinda cute.”
“They’re so cute.”
“I hope happy lasts longer than sad, because sad is no fun.”
“Nope.”
“Will you come back to school soon?”
“Mommy said I can go back whenever I feel ready.”
“I hope it’s soon. I miss you there.”
“I miss you, too.”
Thomas told her all about what’d gone on at school while she’d been out. One kid had thrown up during lunch, and another had broken his little finger at recess. “It was so gnarly.” He showed her what Anthony’s finger had looked like after he fell off the swing.
“Ew. I bet that hurt.”
“He was screaming.”
She giggled at the face Thomas made as he pretended to scream like Anthony had.
“I like it when you laugh.”
“I do, too. Crying makes my eyes hurt.”
“If you ever feel sad, you can call me.”
“I will.”
“Tell your mommy to call my mommy.”
“Okay.”
“I’m hungry. Do you want another doughnut?”
“Yes!”
Thomas took off toward the stairs.
Ashleigh ran after him, yelling at him to wait for her.