Chapter 17
Alittle before three, Jared James drove into town, cruising past the clinic to see if Lizzie’s SUV was still in the parking lot.
It was. He was worried about her getting overly involved in a situation involving a baby after the crushing disappointment they’d recently sustained.
They’d been so sure that this time would be different, and when it hadn’t been…
His heart had broken for her. It was so hard to watch her go through the grueling treatments and end up with nothing to show for them.
He couldn’t bear to see her disappointed or hurt or unhappy, and he felt so helpless to fix this for her.
Infertility was one thing that all the money in the world couldn’t change.
He’d confess to having had a limited understanding of the pervasive challenges of infertility until they’d been confronted with it themselves.
And now he knew all too well just how many people struggled to conceive and how intense the treatments could be.
They hadn’t really talked about their next steps in this journey or whether they were ready to consider alternatives, such as surrogacy or adoption. He was taking his cues from her, and she hadn’t seemed ready to talk about it. Not yet anyway, and he wasn’t about to ask until she brought it up.
Navigating this situation was like tiptoeing through an emotional minefield, and he was on edge most of the time, hoping he was providing what she needed. Having his irreverent youngest brother underfoot might help to get their minds off their troubles.
He pulled into the parking lot at the ferry landing and walked to the pier to watch the ferry come in.
Seamus O’Grady was at the helm, using the aft controls to turn the ferry and back it into port.
Jared never got tired of watching the ferries come and go, admiring the skill and precision of the captains who made it look so easy to put the huge vessels exactly where they wanted them.
The cars came off first, followed by a stream of people, bikes and beach chairs.
He kept an eye out for Cooper and waved when he saw him coming, carrying a backpack. Jared wasn’t at all surprised to see his good-looking brother surrounded by a group of gorgeous young women, who seemed heartbroken to have to say goodbye to him as they parted company.
The younger man’s face lit up with delight when he saw Jared, who’d had a soft spot for the kid from the minute he was born. Of course, Coop knew that and worked it to his advantage. Jared greeted him with a one-armed hug and a noogie.
Business as usual.
His brother’s hair was more blond than brown this time of year, his brown eyes were usually sparkling with some sort of mischief, and he’d apparently given up shaving. He attracted women as easily as he breathed—and he had from the time he was about fourteen.
“What’s up, old man?”
“Nothing much. Good to see you, punk.”
“You, too. Can’t believe Q’s getting married. This I gotta see.”
Jared took him by the arm and directed him toward the Porsche. “I know, but he and Mallory are awesome together.”
“Yes, they are.”
A month ago, Quinn had sent out a text to the family letting them know that he and Mallory were getting married on their shared birthday, which happened to be a Tuesday, with no fanfare, but anyone who wanted to come was welcome.
Since then, Mallory’s dad, Big Mac McCarthy, had intervened and offered to host a “slightly bigger production” at the Chesterfield.
Lizzie had been able to accommodate the request during their sold-out season since the wedding would be on a Tuesday.
His and Quinn’s parents were visiting friends in Italy, and their sisters had vacation plans they couldn’t get out of on such short notice.
So he and Coop would be representing the James family at the wedding.
It was almost as if Quinn had wanted it that way, but Jared would never say so to anyone.
Quinn tended to keep to himself within their family, especially since he’d lost a leg in combat and hadn’t told any of them.
He’d been found out when he stepped in a hole on Jared’s property, dislodging the prosthetic and reinjuring his leg.
“Can I drive?” Coop asked.
“Hell no.”
“Oh, come on. I’ll be careful with your baby.”
Jared knew he’d regret this, but handed over the keys anyway.
“Whoop!”
“Don’t make me sorry.”
“Of course I will. That’s how I roll.”
Jared chuckled at the cheeky reply. He expected nothing less from his baby brother, who wasn’t such a baby anymore. “Ain’t that the truth?”
Coop started the car and revved the engine. “Fucking A, that’s a sweet, sweet sound.”
“Go easy on my girl. She’s old and temperamental.”
“Just like you.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
Cooper laughed, thrilled to get a rise out of Jared. He pulled the car out of the parking space and took off like a shot toward the exit.
“Watch out, will you? There’re people everywhere. I don’t need to get sued.”
“I’m watching. Relax. Your billions are safe.”
“Why in the world was I looking forward to seeing you?”
“Aw, you were? You love me. You know it.” Coop pulled out of the ferry landing parking lot and took a left, which was the long way home.
Jared wasn’t surprised since he didn’t let Cooper drive the Porsche very often, so naturally, he’d take the long way. “What’ve you been doing with yourself since you graduated?”
He’d gotten an MBA from New York University in the spring, and Jared hadn’t heard much from him since then, except the occasional text about something to do with the New York penthouse Jared had let him live in while he was in school.
“I’ve been working on my business plan, which is another reason I wanted to come see you.”
“What business plan?”
“The one I developed in school that I’ve been fleshing out ever since. I think I’ve really got something cool, and that’s where you come in.”
“What’s it got to do with me?”
“I need investors.”
“Jesus, I walked right into that one, didn’t I?
What happened to the money I already gave you?
” He’d set up each of his family members after he struck it rich, and found out how money changed everything, especially relationships with family.
Things were better now with everyone than they’d been a few years ago, when he’d felt like all he was to them was a personal ATM.
His brothers had never treated him that way, though, and he appreciated that.
“I still have most of it, but my brother the billionaire has taught me to keep the personal and the professional money separate. He’s pretty good with money, so I take his advice very seriously. In fact, I’ve been doing some investing and seeing great results.”
Jared was surprised to hear that. “Is that right?”
“Uh-huh.” Coop recited a long list of stocks he’d invested in and knew the revenue percentages by heart. “Pretty good, right?”
“Very good. I’m impressed.”
“You are? Really?”
“Yes,” Jared said, laughing. “I really am. You’re doing great. So what’s this business idea?”
“After you and Lizzie bought the Chesterfield and turned it into a wedding venue, I got to thinking about how Gansett is a wedding destination, which creates a market for secondary services.”
“Like what?”
“Bachelor and bachelorette parties, for one thing.”
“What about them?”
Cooper glanced over at him. “I have a formal pitch that I want to practice on you, so can I tell you about it when we’re back at the house?”
“Sure,” Jared said, realizing his baby brother wasn’t a baby anymore.
With twelve years between them, Jared remembered every detail of the day his youngest sibling had been born and how adorable he’d been from the beginning.
Coop had been a charmer his whole life, and Jared adored him.
“Look at you, all grown up and pitching a business to investors.”
“I’m twenty-four now,” Coop said dryly.
“Twenty-four. How the hell did that happen?”
Cooper laughed and accelerated once they cleared downtown and headed out toward the north end.
“Go easy. You never know what’s around the next corner.”
“Ain’t that the truth.”
“In this case, I mean bikes, mopeds, pedestrians.”
Cooper downshifted and slowed the car—a little.
“Before we get back to the house, I need to tell you that Lizzie and I have been going through some shit…”
“You’re not breaking up, are you?”
“God, no, nothing like that.”
“Oh, phew, because you two are like hashtag couple goals for me.”
“Is that right?”
“Uh-huh. She’s awesome. I want to find someone like her when the time comes.”
“That’s nice of you to say, and she is awesome.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“We’ve been trying to have a baby for more than a year, and it’s just not happening. Our third round of IVF just failed.”
“Oh damn, man. I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“Thanks. It’s been rough, especially for her. She’s been through hell with the procedures and shots, and all for nothing.”
“Yet. It’ll happen.”
“We’re starting to wrap our heads around the possibility that it’s not going to happen. We have to find a way to be okay with that.”
“Are you, you know, looking at other options?”
“We haven’t been, but it might be time for that, too. We’re taking it an hour at a time right now. We only found out that the third round failed a few days ago.”
“I’m really sorry, Jared. That sucks.”
“Sure does. You spend your whole life trying to avoid getting anyone pregnant, and then when you want to…”
“No kidding. I’m sure you guys will figure out a way to be parents. You’ve never let anything stand in the way when you set your mind to something.”
“Thanks,” Jared said, touched to hear himself described that way by his brother.
“This has been a tough one. I want her to have everything she wants and needs…” He cleared his throat, fighting back the now-predictable surge of emotion.
“I hate that I can’t snap my fingers and make this happen for her. ”
“I hate it for both of you, but you’ll figure out a way. I have no doubt.”
“Thanks for listening.”
“Dude, jeez. It’s the least I can do for you with everything you’ve done for me.”
“Do me a favor and don’t say anything about this stuff to Lizzie. Let her tell you if she wants to talk about it.”
“I won’t say a word. Don’t worry.”
“I just wanted you to know what you’re walking into. Lizzie is excited you’re coming. She said you’re always fun, and we could use that right now.”
“I’ll do what I can to lighten the mood.”
When Cooper drove them into the driveway a few minutes later, Jared was relieved to see Lizzie’s car there. She met them at the door with a welcoming hug for Cooper and the usual warm smile for Jared.
“Um, Jared, could I talk to you for just a second?”
“Sure. Coop, give us a second. I’ll be right back. Make yourself at home.”
“Don’t mind if I do,” Coop said, grinning as he opened the fridge.
Jared walked outside with Lizzie, who seemed nervous about something. “What’s up, babe?”
“So, um, the woman in town who had the baby?”
“What about her?”
“I, ah, hear me out on this… I, um, I brought her and the baby home with me.”
“What? Lizzie! What the hell?”
“She’s living in the Beachcomber employee housing. That’s no place for a newborn, Jared. You know what those places are like. It’s nonstop parties and STDs and God knows what else.”
“How is she even out of the clinic if she only had the baby a couple of hours ago?”
“She insisted on leaving. I think she doesn’t have insurance and is afraid of how much it was going to cost.”
“I told you to give her money.”
“She won’t take it.”
He ran both hands through his hair, trying not to tear it out of his head in frustration. “I can’t believe you brought a baby here in light of everything we’re dealing with.”
“I’m sorry, Jared. I didn’t know what to do. She has nowhere else to go.”
“You could’ve given her money to stay at a freaking hotel, but to bring her here…”
“She needs help. She knows nothing about babies and is in way over her head.”
Jared was rarely ever angry with his wife, but this… “I don’t think it’s a good idea. What happens when you get attached to the baby and she takes off to rejoin her life?”
“I’m not going to get attached.”
He gave her a skeptical look. “Please, Lizzie. You always get attached. It’s what you do, and it’s why I love you so much. Don’t tell me you won’t get attached and then be heartbroken when they leave, because you will be.”
“I’m going to try very hard not to let that happen. You know how impossible it is for me to see people in need and not want to help them.”
Jared felt the anger seep out of him only to be replaced by a surge of love for the incredibly compassionate woman he’d been lucky enough to marry.
“I do know that, sweetheart, and I love you for it. It’s just sometimes I worry about you helping others at your own expense, and I can’t bear to see you hurt any more than you’re already hurting. ”
She placed her hands on his chest and looked up at him, using her potent eyes to implore him to see things her way.
“I’ll be careful. I promise.” Tipping her head, she gave him her most adorable smile, the one he was powerless to resist even when he wanted to be annoyed with her.
“Do you want to come meet Jessie and the baby?”
He didn’t, but he would for her. “Sure.” Jared followed her inside to the family room, where Cooper had already found Jessie and was holding her baby.
Coop looked up at Jared. A million questions that Jared couldn’t answer were reflected in his brother’s gaze.
“Jared, this is Jessie Morgan and her baby girl, who doesn’t have a name yet.” Jessie had light brown hair and hazel eyes. He figured her to be in her early twenties.
“Nice to meet you both,” Jared said.
“Thank you so much for having us. Lizzie… She’s just the most amazing person.”
“She sure is. I see you met my brother, Cooper.”
Jessie’s face, which had been so pale he’d been concerned for her, flushed a rosy red at the mention of Cooper.
His brother’s superpowers were potent, apparently having an impact even on a woman who’d given birth earlier in the day.
Jared didn’t want to be curious, but he found himself leaning in for a closer look at the baby.
Her eyes were open as she looked around, seeming to take in her surroundings with an aura of serene curiosity.
He hadn’t had much experience with babies, other than his youngest brother, but even he could see she was an exceptionally beautiful little girl.
“She’s gorgeous,” Jared said, his voice gruff. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Jessie said, her chin quivering. “She’s so tiny.”
“They usually are,” Lizzie said.
Jared noticed that she forced a smile for Jessie, but her eyes were bright with unshed tears. Despite her bravado, her heart was breaking all over again, and that was not all right with him.