Chapter 2 #3
The more Abby thought about it, the more certain she became that busting loose for a few months was exactly what she needed to get past this latest setback in her life plan.
At the end of the summer, she’d reevaluate where things stood, and maybe then she’d have an idea of what her next step ought to be.
Until then, it was high time she had some fun.
Walking from Grant’s house toward North Harbor, Adam nodded to a few people he recognized from around town but didn’t stop to talk to anyone. Rather, he stewed over the fact that his brother had seemed so detached and exhausted, as if he hadn’t slept properly in days.
Something was terribly wrong, a realization that filled Adam with anxiety.
While he didn't see his siblings as often as he’d like to, he talked to them all frequently and knew them as well as he knew anyone.
To see one of them deeply troubled over something and working so hard to hide it from everyone was upsetting.
Of course, Grant had just been through a major trauma and was no doubt still reeling from the close call.
From what he’d been able to piece together, his brothers had been asked to fill in as crew members on a Race Week boat captained by a guy named Steve Jacobson when the rest of Jacobson’s crew had been felled by the stomach flu.
The sailboat had been on its way back to the island in deep fog when a freighter hit it. Steve had been killed.
Adam’s brothers had spent enough time in the cold Atlantic to suffer from hypothermia.
Grant had been hailed for saving the life of his good friend Dan Torrington, who’d been the most seriously injured with broken ribs and a broken arm.
Maybe something else had happened that Grant wasn’t able to talk about yet.
He’d keep trying, Adam decided, until he wore down his brother and got him to talk about what was troubling him.
With no job to return to in New York, he had nothing but time to give one of the most important people in his life.
He’d make a nuisance out of himself until it became easier for Grant to talk to him than to put up with him.
Adam smiled. He liked that plan.
“Mac! Hey, Mac, is that you?”
Adam bit back a groan. All his life he’d been mistaken for his oldest brother.
Though Mac was three inches taller than him, Adam couldn’t deny the striking resemblance between them.
He turned to see who had made the mistake this time and saw his Aunt Joan chasing after him.
You’d think their own aunt would be able to tell them apart!
“Oh, Adam! I’m so sorry! I didn’t hear you were home.”
He hugged his aunt and kissed her cheek. Like his mother, her sister was petite and blonde and still pretty well into her sixties. “Nice to see you, Auntie.”
“You, too, honey. Your mom will be thrilled to have you home, especially after recent events.” Joan shook her head with dismay. “What an awful thing.”
“I can’t even think about it. How’s everyone in your family?”
“Oh, good, you know. Busy with all the little ones. You must be excited about a new niece or nephew coming soon.”
“I can’t wait. I love being an uncle.”
Joan smiled affectionately. “I’m sure they adore you. How long are you here?”
“Not sure yet.”
“Well, I won’t keep you, but it was lovely to see you.”
“You, too.” He hugged her again. “Tell my cousins I said hello.”
“I’ll do that.”
Adam walked more swiftly as he covered the last half mile to North Harbor, forgoing a stop at the pharmacy to see Evan and Grace. With his mother’s sister in the know that he was home, he needed to see his mom before Joan called to gloat that she’d seen him first.
The McCarthy’s “White House,” as the islanders called it, came into view, and Adam accelerated to a jog. He burst through the front door just as the phone rang.
“Of course I knew he was coming,” Linda said testily as Adam slid to a stop in the kitchen. She scowled playfully at him and held out a hand to him. “Is that the only reason you called?” Linda paused before she said, “Thank you, Joan. I appreciate that. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Sorry,” Adam said with a grin as he squeezed her hand. “I ran as fast as I could after I saw her in town.”
“No one is faster at spreading island gossip than my dear, darling sister.”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
Linda hugged him. “And you did. What a wonderful surprise.”
Adam returned her embrace, comforted by the scent of home, his mother’s familiar perfume and the warmth of her affection.
He hadn’t realized how badly he needed all of that until he was in her arms. He held on much longer than he normally did now that he was all grown up.
He’d been through hell in the last couple of days, thinking about what could’ve happened to his family if even one of his brothers had been killed in the accident, let alone all three.
Not to mention the work calamity at the same time.
When his mother pulled back from him, he was surprised to see tears in the eyes of the normally indomitable Linda McCarthy.
“Sorry,” she said, dabbing at her eyes. “I’ve been a wreck the last few days. I suspect I’m driving your brothers crazy hovering over them.”
“You? Drive us crazy? Never.”
“Oh, hush up. I promised Dad I wouldn’t check on them today, but I’m not sure I can keep that promise.”
“How about I do it for you?”
“Oh, Adam! Would you?”
“Sure I will. That’s why I’m here. I wanted to do some hovering of my own. Reassure myself they’re really okay.”
“That’d be such a big help. They’re sick of me, but they’ll be thrilled to see you.”
“Grant didn’t seem too thrilled.”
“So you saw him already?”
Adam nodded. “On the way over here. He’d just gotten up and looked all disheveled. That’s not like him.”
Linda frowned at that news. “I’ve been most concerned about him. Mac and Evan seem fine, but Grant… Something’s not right.”
Adam took an apple from a bowl on the counter and took a bite. “Did you talk to Stephanie about it?”
“Uh-huh. She agrees he seems off but chalked it up to the long day in the water. Did you know he saved Dan’s life?”
“I heard that. Maybe it was more traumatic than he led us to believe.”
“How could it not be traumatic? A whole day in freezing water trying to keep one of your best friends alive?” Linda shuddered. “I can’t even imagine. Dad has had nightmares about it, not that he admits to them, but he wakes up in a cold sweat just about every night.”
Adam hated to hear that but wasn’t surprised his softhearted father was suffering from the aftereffects of nearly losing three of his sons. “It’s going to take some time, but they’ll all be fine. I know it.”
“I hope you’re right, honey.” She hugged him again, even tighter than before. “It’s so good to have you here. Thank you for coming. I know how busy you are.”
At some point, he’d have to tell them about the business, but one telling of that story was enough for today. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
Linda released him and checked her watch. “Damn, it’s later than I thought. I’m meeting Carolina for lunch in town. Do you want to use my car while you’re here?”
“Ah, thanks for that kind offer, but I’ll pass.”
“I don’t know why you boys disparage my little yellow bug the way you do,” she said, grabbing her purse as she clucked with dismay.
“Because it’s a chick car that none of us would be caught dead in. I’ll borrow Dad’s truck.” He pushed out his chest and flexed his biceps. “Much more manly.”
“Suit yourself. When you see you brothers, invite everyone to dinner. We’ll put some steaks on the grill.”
“With baked potatoes?” he asked with his most charming grin.
“Naturally,” she said, rolling her eyes at him as she kissed his cheek. “All your favorites.”
“Have you rented out my old room, or is it okay if I crash up there?”
“It’s more than okay. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be back in a little while.”
“See you then.”
She stopped at the door and turned to him. “I love you so much, Adam, and I’m thrilled you’re home.”
“Right back atcha, Mom.” He was, he realized, indeed thrilled to be home where he was loved and respected and appreciated. After the week he’d had, that was exactly what he needed.