Chapter 33
On Monday evening, the entire clan gathered at Evan and Grace’s new home for a combined bachelor and bachelorette party for Mallory and Quinn. After another day without power, everyone was starting to get cranky, but they put their best foot forward for the bride and groom.
Mallory appreciated that her family went all out for her, despite the blackout, and she was eager to see Evan and Grace’s new home.
“Holy shit,” Quinn said when they pulled up to the huge house with the three-car garage, gorgeous landscaping and a to-die-for view of the ocean. “I need to get busy writing and recording music.”
Mallory laughed. Things had been so hectic at the senior center as they grappled with the blackout that he hadn’t seen his younger brother Cooper, who’d arrived a couple of days ago. “Aren’t you busy enough, Dr. James?”
“I’m plenty busy, but I’m doing something wrong if this is the house your brother bought with music money.”
“You’re doing everything right, and we can buy ourselves a nice house when we’re ready.”
“We can’t afford this.”
“We don’t need this.”
He looked her way. “I do have the money Jared gave me when he first struck it rich. I’ve never touched it because it felt kinda weird to take money from my little brother, but he wanted to share his largess with us. So we have that if we want something really fabulous.”
“I don’t need really fabulous. I’ve been perfectly happy in my sister’s little cottage. As long as you’re there, I’m set.”
“That makes you rather easy to please.”
“You know it.”
“I do know it, and I appreciate it more than you can imagine.”
“Same. I love our stress-free, easy life together. You and me and Brutus make for a perfect little family.”
From the backseat, Brutus grunted in agreement.
They’d brought him because it was too hot to leave him home alone. The poor guy had been suffering in the heat.
“Let’s go to our party!” Mallory said as she got out of the car and led the way up the elaborate stone walkway to the front door.
Evan and Grace were there to greet them with hugs and kisses and excitement for their wedding.
“To hell with the wedding,” Mallory said. “Show us this house!”
“To hell with the wedding, she says the day before,” Quinn muttered.
“Oh hush, you know I’m kidding. Sorta.”
Grace laughed, hooked her arm through Mallory’s and said, “Let me give you the grand tour.”
“Can you believe you live here?” Mallory asked.
“It’s going to take a year for me to believe I live here.”
After the women had walked away, Quinn sized up Evan. “Way to lay down the gauntlet with the best wife surprise in the history of wife surprises.”
“I did a rather good job, didn’t I?”
“Don’t make it worse by being smug.”
Evan laughed and gestured for Quinn to lead the way to the deck, where every form of beverage was chilling in coolers.
“Soda, water and seltzer are in that one,” Evan said.
“Thanks.”
Quinn chose a lemon seltzer and cracked it open. “I’ve had enough of this freaking heat wave.”
“I hear you. It’s like someone set the thermometer to roast.”
“For days.”
“How’re you guys holding up at the center?” Evan asked.
“Hanging in there, thanks to two generators, but they’re just enough for lights, low-level AC and the refrigerators. The residents are grumpy about being without TV and internet service. And I feel for them. It’s their lifeline to the world.”
“That sucks.”
“It really does. Thankfully, our part-time activities director, Jordan Stokes, has been coming up with all sorts of fun things for them to do, but I’m hearing it could be another couple of days.”
“For what?” Grant asked when he joined them on the deck.
“Power,” Evan said, filling in his brother.
“No way. We’re about to sweat to death in our house. No sign of even the slightest breeze there.”
“Stay here,” Evan said. “The breeze off the ocean is pretty good, and this place has a generator.”
“I may take you up on that,” Grant said. “The heat is making Steph sick.”
“My house is your house,” Evan said.
“This place is crazy, and I’m actually pissed with you.”
“About what?”
“I was going to look at this place when we got back to the island.”
“Snooze ya lose, brother,” Evan said.
“You’re being smug again,” Quinn said.
“He gets like that,” Grant replied as he found a beer and took a long drink. “Damn, that tastes good.” He caught himself and glanced at Quinn. “Sorry. Don’t mean to drink and gloat.”
“No worries, man. I don’t even want it anymore.” After so many years in recovery, alcohol of any kind held little appeal to him. “Don’t ever worry about drinking in front of me or Mallory. It’s all good.”
“Did you guys hear the news about Adam and Abby?” Grant asked Quinn.
“We did hear. It’s amazing.”
Adam joined his brothers and future brother-in-law on the deck, holding his son, Liam. “Let’s face it. My boys are the most powerful of all the boys.”
“Oh my God,” Evan groaned. “Is that what we’re in for forever?”
“I’m afraid so,” Grant said. “He’s been insufferable for days.”
“He’s been insufferable a lot longer than that,” Evan said.
Adam made a suggestive motion with his hips and free arm that had his brothers gagging. “I got the goods. Four babies. Top that, a-holes.”
Grant sighed. “I want to have him killed, but I don’t want to have to raise his five kids.”
“I’d help you hide the body,” Evan said.
“Why do they want to kill you now, Adam?” Abby asked when she and the other women came out to the deck.
“He’s talking about his boys and his prowess at knocking you up with four babies,” Evan said. “Congratulations, by the way. I think.”
Abby laughed and tipped her cheek up to receive a kiss from her brother-in-law. “He won’t be thinking about his so-called prowess when we have five babies underfoot.”
“Did I or did I not do a spectacular job of knocking you up, love?”
“You’re starting to sound like Mac,” Abby said.
“Who’s sounding like me?” Mac asked when he came out carrying Hailey and baby Mac. “All my stuff is trademarked. No one can use it without express written permission.”
“Oh shut up, Mac,” Evan said. “Do you ever get tired of listening to yourself?”
“No, not really, and hello to you, too, brother. Welcome home.”
Evan took baby Mac from his brother and leaned in and kissed Hailey, who let out a happy squeak at the sight of her uncle. So he took her, too. “It’s okay to like Uncle Evan better than Daddy. Everyone would understand.”
“Puleeze,” Mac said. “They’re on Team Mac forever. And PS, nice house.”
“Thanks,” Evan said. “We’re still trying to believe we actually live here.”
“It’ll feel like home in no time,” Grant said. “I wanted to tell you all that we’re going to premiere the film here on Friday night. Fingers crossed the power is back by then. Everyone is invited to the theater to see Indefatigable with an after-party at the Bistro.”
“I can’t wait to see it,” Evan said. “I read the article and review in the LA Times. They loved it.”
“The reviews have been awesome so far,” Grant said. “We’re excited for the release.”
“I’m hearing Oscar buzz for my brother,” Mac said. “Couldn’t be prouder.”
“Thanks,” Grant said, “but Steph and Charlie are the stars of this story.”
“By all accounts, you did a beautiful job bringing their story to life, and you should be very proud of that,” Evan said.
“I am,” Grant said, “but I’m even prouder of her. When you see the full extent of what she endured… It’ll blow your mind.”
“Looking forward to it,” Mac said.
“This place is awesome,” Mallory said when she joined the others on the deck. “Congratulations, Evan. You made your wife very happy.”
“She’s made me very happy. Without her, there’s no number one hit and no cool house. There’s no nothing.”
Quinn put his arm around Mallory. By this time tomorrow, they’d be married. That was still hard to believe. He’d never pictured himself married to anyone until she came along and changed everything.
She smiled up at him. “What level of nonsense has been happening out here?”
“The usual level.”
“My brothers are nothing if not entertaining.”
“Speaking of brothers, here come mine.”
Jared and Lizzie came onto the deck, followed by Cooper, who had a gnarly wound on the right side of his face.
“What the hell happened to you?” Quinn asked his youngest sibling as they exchanged a side handshake-hug combination.
“Ugh, go easy,” Cooper said, wincing when Quinn patted his back.
“He’s got two broken ribs,” Jared said, “to go along with the mess on his face, and he’s not talking about how it happened, but apparently, the fire department was involved.”
Quinn told himself he shouldn’t laugh, but how could he not?
Jared joined him while Cooper scowled at them both and then grimaced, in obvious pain.
“The best part,” Jared said, “is he was on a date with Gigi Gibson at the time.”
“Leave him alone, you guys,” Lizzie said. “He’s injured.”
“And probably mortified,” Jared said.
“I’m getting a drink,” Cooper said. “You guys can eff off.”
“I want to know what happened so bad,” Jared said after Cooper walked away, “but he’s not saying.”
“I can find out from Mason,” Mallory said, pulling out her phone.
“Or better yet, you can ask him in person.” Quinn used his chin to direct her attention toward their friend the fire chief, who’d arrived with his girlfriend, Jordan. She was Gigi’s best friend, so there was bound to be more info forthcoming.
Mason and Jordan greeted the others before making their way to Mallory and Quinn. He’d become one of their closest friends and would be serving as one of Quinn’s groomsmen tomorrow.
“There’s the happy couple,” Mason said.
“We want the skinny on Gigi and Cooper, and we want it now,” Mallory said.
“Uh, I’ve been sworn to secrecy by my beloved,” Mason said.
“Oh, come on!” Mallory protested. “Someone knows what happened.”
“You’ll have to hear it from him,” Mason said. “I’m not talking, or Jordan will cut me off.”
“Honestly… Are you that far gone?”
“Yep. Ready for the big day?” Mason asked, apparently eager to change the subject.
Quinn had no doubt that Mallory would get the details during her next EMT shift.
“So ready,” Mallory said, beaming with happiness.