Chapter 15 #2
He recalled Diana as a dark-haired, vivacious beauty with a zest for life and a yearning for adventure.
She’d talked about the traveling she wanted to do and the places she hoped to see.
None of her plans had fit with his goal of building his ramshackle marina on Gansett Island into a flourishing business.
In fact, she’d teased him that he would lose his mind on the isolated island.
But he’d been determined to pursue his dreams, as had she, so they’d gone their separate ways when it became obvious that their divergent dreams would never jell.
He’d liked her a lot, but he hadn’t loved her.
Probably because he’d always suspected theirs was a temporary relationship at best. When he met Linda, he’d immediately seen the potential for much more than he’d ever had with Diana or anyone else for that matter.
Following his instincts where Linda was concerned had resulted in the kind of love most people could only dream about.
And here they were, going strong thirty-nine years later, and he’d never had a single regret where she was concerned.
Despite their fleeting relationship, it saddened him to hear that Diana had died.
In her letter, she’d told Mallory that she’d been tied to her home and her family, which was why she’d been unable to pursue a relationship with him.
There’d been no mention of travel or adventure.
He wondered if she’d gotten to do any of those things she’d wanted so badly, or if taking care of their child had derailed all her hopes and plans.
The thought of that possibility pained him greatly.
The screen door slapping against the doorframe, a sound as familiar to him as anything in his life, indicated Linda’s arrival.
“Honestly, Mac. I was right in the middle of coffee with Doro when I got your text. I’m enjoying our summer of love as much as you are, but I do have commitments, you know.
” She stopped short in front of him and looked up, expectantly.
“Well? I’m here.” She ran her finger down the center of his chest and then hooked it into the waistband of his shorts. “You said it was urgent.”
She was so damned beautiful, and when she looked at him that way, he would give her anything. He had to force himself to say the words. “I need to talk to you.”
Before his eyes, she took a closer look and registered something amiss. “What’s wrong?”
“Something happened today.”
“The kids?”
“Are all fine. It was something else, something completely unexpected and out of the blue.”
“Okay…”
“The winter before I met you, I dated a woman named Diana Vaughn for a couple of months.”
He watched her guard go up against whatever she was about to hear. “That name doesn’t ring a bell with me.”
“I probably never mentioned her. It was short-lived. We had different paths in life, and it wasn’t meant to be. By the time I met you, it’d been over for a while.”
“So why bring it up now?”
“Because her daughter came to find me today.”
Linda’s blue eyes widened with surprise. “What did her daughter want with you?”
He forced himself to meet her gaze when he said, “It seems I’m her father.”
Her mouth moved with words that didn’t materialize.
She shook her head. “That can’t be right.
How is that even possible? I mean, I know it’s possible, but you’ve never been irresponsible about those things.
And why did she keep her from you for all this time?
” His heart broke when he realized she was on the brink of tears. “I don’t understand.”
“I was never irresponsible. I swear to you about that. But nothing is a hundred percent foolproof.” Big Mac withdrew Diana’s letter from his pocket and handed it to her. “This might help to explain why Diana kept her from me.”
Warily, Linda took the letter from him and began to read it, her eyes flying over the page. Shaking her head, she covered her mouth with her hand, her shock palpable.
“Lin, listen to me. I had no idea. I swear to you. I didn’t know.”
“Of course you didn’t. If you had, you would’ve done something.”
“Yes,” he said, relieved but still worried nonetheless. “I definitely would have.”
“What is she like? Mallory?”
“She’s gorgeous. She has dark hair and eyes. She’s an emergency room nurse in Providence.”
“So she looks like her mother?”
“Yes, I guess she does, but I could see Janey in her, and my mother. The picture I have of my mother as a young woman—Mallory is her all over again.”
Linda swallowed hard and looked up at him with tearful eyes. “Did you love her? Diana?”
“No, I liked her. A lot. But I didn’t love her.
The only woman I’ve ever loved is the one I married, and you know that.
” He reached for her and was thankful when she came willingly into his arms, wrapping hers around him.
“I haven’t told anyone else. Mac was there, and Frankie…
I could tell they wanted to know what was going on, but I came right to you. ”
“Thank you for that.”
“What’re we going to do about this, Lin?”
“I’d like to meet her. Is that possible?”
“I hoped you’d say that, so I talked her into staying at the hotel for the night.”
“Invite her for dinner.”
“I was hoping you’d say that, too.” He held on tight to her. “What do we tell the kids?”
“Nothing for now. Let’s talk to her and figure things out between the three of us before we involve them.”
“Mac will be wondering what’s going on. He saw me talking to her.”
“He can wait. It won’t kill him.”
“It might. You know how he is.”
The small gurgle of laughter that came from her told him it was going to be okay. They were going to be okay. “What’s he going to say when he discovers he’s not the oldest anymore?”
He drew back to look down at her. “Oh Jesus. And when Janey hears she’s not my only daughter…”
Her smile faded as the implications for their children set in. “Janey has nothing to worry about where you’re concerned.”
“No, she doesn’t, but still… It’ll be a shock to her. To all of them.”
“No more than it was for you.”
“This isn’t going to cause trouble between you and me, is it? Tell me it isn’t, because I couldn’t bear that. I’m floored by this entire thing, but even knowing she’s alone in the world, if it meant trouble with you, I’d let her walk away. I hope you know that.”
“I’d never ask that of you. It would kill you to do that to a child of yours, even one you didn’t know you had.”
“I know you’ve heard this before, but I’ve never meant it more than I do right now. The luckiest day of my life was when you walked into the party at Frankie’s.”
“That was a pretty good day for me, too.”
He forced a smile for her sake. “Only pretty good?”
“It’s right up there among the best days of my life, as you well know.” She laid her head against his chest, seeming content to stay there for as long as he’d have her, which was forever. “Will you call her now and invite her?”
“If you’re sure that’s what you want.”
“It is.”
Though he was reluctant to let her go, he did as she asked, withdrawing his phone and Mallory’s card from his pocket. His fingers felt clunky and awkward as he dialed the number. While he waited for her to answer, he put his free arm around his wife.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Mallory. It’s Mac McCarthy.”
“Hi.”
“I take it you’re settled at the hotel?”
“Yes, they were very nice, but then I did drop the owner’s name.”
“Never hurts anything.” He cleared his throat, astounded by the unusual bout of nerves. “I spoke with my wife, Linda. We’d like to invite you to join us at the house for dinner, if that’s all right with you.”
“That would be very nice. Can I bring anything?”
Linda shook her head.
“Just yourself. You remember which house it is, right?”
“I do. What time would be good?”
“Six,” Linda whispered.
“Six o’clock?”
“I’ll see you then, and thank you. For the invitation.”
“Sure thing. See you then.” He ended the call and met his wife’s gaze, uncertain of what he’d find there. But as always, she looked at him with love and compassion and understanding. “Thank you for this, Lin,” he said gruffly.
“You’re welcome.”