Chapter 20 #2
“You guys get started, and I’ll help as soon as I say hi to Mommy.”
“No kissing,” Thomas said, making a disgusted face.
“Yes kissing,” Mac said, cuffing his son’s chin. “Lots of kissing.”
“Gross,” Thomas said.
Mac couldn’t wait to remind him of that when he reached the age when kissing was no longer gross. Standing upright, he went to his wife, taking the baby from her. “Hi, honey, I’m home.”
“Thank God,” she said, weariness clinging to every inch of her.
Mac leaned in for a kiss and was surprised when she pulled back.
“I stink like sour breast milk and a variety of other substances that can’t be easily identified.”
“I don’t care what you smell like. I want a kiss from my gorgeous wife.”
“It might be time to get you some glasses. At your advanced age, vision is the first to go.”
Smiling, he hooked his free arm around her waist and gave her an uncompromising look. “Kiss me before I die from wanting you to.”
Shaking her head at his shameless appeal, she gave him a gentle peck. “There.”
“You can do better. I’ll expect a do-over at bedtime.”
“Thanks for the warning.”
“Is this guy fed?” he asked of the baby, who had settled the minute Mac showed up, something that happened often enough that Maddie cried “no fair” at least once a day.
It certainly didn’t break his heart that his son seemed to favor him over everyone else, not that he would ever admit that to the baby’s devoted mother.
“He’s drunk on breast milk and ready for bed.”
“Go on up and take a bubble bath. I got this.”
“You haven’t even taken your coat off yet, and you must be hungry. There’s a plate for you warming in the oven.”
“Go. I got it. Relax. You’re off duty.”
“In case I forget to tell you later, I really love you.”
“I’ll remind you to tell me again.”
She left him with a giddy grin and went to kiss Thomas and Hailey good night. “Be good for Daddy and help him with baby Mac.”
“We will, Mommy,” Thomas said. He took his big-brother duties very seriously when it came to Mac. Not so much with Hailey, whose job it was to be a constant thorn in his side, or so it seemed to Thomas.
With Mac supervising, they picked up the toys and returned them to the toy box and containers.
“Good job, buddy,” Mac said to Thomas, who’d done most of the work.
They went upstairs to put the baby down before Mac supervised Thomas and Hailey in the tub. As usual, he got as wet as they did, just like he had the long-ago first night with Thomas when he’d been brand-new to babies and baths. Now he was a seasoned professional.
By the time he read the three stories he’d promised and got them tucked into their beds, Mac was ready to drop from the long, emotional day.
He went downstairs and had a few bites of the dinner Maddie had left for him and locked up before going back upstairs to shut off the rest of the lights.
Unbuttoning the dress shirt he’d worn to the funeral, Mac stepped into the master bedroom, where Maddie was in bed reading a home decorating magazine.
He took off the wet shirt and T-shirt under it, tossing them on the foot of the bed.
“My hero,” she said, welcoming him with a warm smile. “Is everyone in bed?”
“For the moment.” Bedtime was often a rolling event with a variety of ups and downs until everyone was asleep. “Fingers crossed they stay there.”
“How was it?” she asked.
“As awful as you might imagine.”
“And Shane?”
“He seems okay. It’s going to take a while, I suppose.” He sat next to her on the bed and linked his fingers with hers, feeling like he could finally breathe again after a long, stressful day off the island. “I was out of my mind leaving you guys here while I went to the mainland.”
“We were fine.”
“I know, but the thought of not being able to get back to you for whatever reason made me nuts.”
She released his hand and held out her arms to him. “Come here.”
He crawled into her outstretched arms and breathed in the sweet scent of summer flowers that reminded him of their beginning. “I was thinking about the first time I ever gave Thomas a bath.”
“You got as wet as he did.”
“I still do. My shirt is soaked.”
“Your hair is wet, too,” she said, laughing.
“Some things never change.”
“I’ve never been as happy to see you as I was tonight.”
“You’re really tired?”
“It’s insane! I wake up tired, and I feel like I’m slogging through quicksand all day long.”
“Hopefully that’ll pass after the first three months.”
“I hope so, too, or the inmates are going to overtake the asylum around here.”
“Nah, we won’t let that happen.” He forced his mind and body to relax. Everything was fine. They were okay, so he was okay. “Big family news on the ferry ride home.”
“What’s that?”
“Adam and Abby got a text from the adoption agency. They’ve got a baby boy for them. They’re picking him up the day after tomorrow.”
“Oh, Mac. Oh my God. That’s the best news I’ve ever heard!”
“I know. They’re so excited—and shocked.”
“We’ll have to help them get ready. They’ll need everything. Between all of us, we can get them what they need to start with.”
“I’m sure they’ll appreciate that. Let me up so I can brush my teeth. I’m ready to end this long-ass day.”
He went into the bathroom to finish getting ready for bed, sliding into his side five minutes later and immediately reaching for her.
She turned off the light and snuggled up to him. “Were there a lot of people at the service?”
“It was packed.”
“I never knew her, and I feel so sad about her death.”
“I know. I do, too. Makes me so damned thankful for what I have with you.”
“Me, too.”
“I told my dad about the baby—or I should say, he got me to tell him.”
“And how did he do that?” she asked, sounding amused.
“In his usual Big Mac way. He could tell I was wound up today being off the island while you guys were here. He promised not to say anything about it.”
“I don’t mind that you told him. Everyone will find out soon enough. They probably think we’re like a couple of bunnies.”
Mac snorted with laughter. “Let them say whatever they want. I’m more than happy to be like bunnies with you.”
“It’s not funny.”
“Yes, it is.” He tipped her chin up to receive his kiss. “It’s hilarious.”
“Easy for you to laugh. You’re not the hare in this metaphor.”
“You’re not a hare. You’re a queen. My queen. The mother of my five children, the center of my universe, the love of my life.”
“Don’t be sweet and charming when I’m trying to be depressed.”
Laughing, he kissed the pout off her lips.
“Thank you for saying we have five children.”
“Connor counts. He’ll always count.”
She nodded. “Yes, he will.”
“Close your eyes and get some sleep while you can.”
“Only if you will, too.”
“I’m not going to have any trouble sleeping tonight,” he said. “Being stressed out all day is exhausting.”
“I love you, Mac, and I love the way you love us.”
“I love you, too. You and our babies are everything to me.”