McCarthy, Party of Seven
A GANSETT ISLAND SHORT STORY
Big Mac McCarthy drove Mac and Maddie’s SUV off the ferry in Point Judith and headed for Women & Infants Hospital in Providence to pick up his son, daughter-in-law and newborn baby granddaughters.
“I can’t wait to see those babies again,” Big Mac’s wife, Linda, said. They’d taken clothes and other supplies to the kids a few days after the babies’ dramatic birth, but hadn’t been back again since, as they were helping to care for the couple’s other three kids at home.
“I can’t either. I’m so thankful they’re strong enough to go home.”
The babies had been released from the hospital two days ago and had stayed at Frank’s house in Providence until the doctors declared them ready to return to Gansett.
Mac had called the night before and told them Maddie was nervous about bringing the twins to a remote island.
Big Mac had tried to assure his son that with Dr. David Lawrence and nurse practitioners Victoria Stevens and Katie McCarthy close by, the girls would be perfectly safe on the island.
They also had Life Flight helicopters in cases of emergency, but he prayed to God they’d never again need one of them for his family.
His daughter Janey and daughter-in-law Maddie had both been evacuated by chopper in recent years, and that was enough for one lifetime.
“What’re you thinking about?” Linda asked.
“Life Flight helicopters and how I’m glad we have them if we need them.”
“The twins will be fine, or the doctors never would’ve released them to go home to Gansett.
Plus, David and Victoria have been in consultation with the doctors in Providence.
It’ll all be fine.” The babies had one last checkup with the doctors at the hospital that morning, and they’d be picking them up from there.
Mac had ordered an Uber with car seats to get them to Frank’s and then back to the hospital that morning.
Big Mac and Linda navigated heavy beach traffic that stretched the one-hour ride into an hour and a half. At the hospital, they retrieved the seat portion of the infant car seats and brought them inside.
Linda had texted Mac that they were close, and he said he was waiting for them in the lobby.
He hugged them both and took the seats from his parents. “Thanks for this, guys, and for helping with the other three these last two weeks.”
Big Mac noted that his handsome son looked happy and tired.
“We’ve had the best time with them, and Kelsey was a huge help, too,” Linda said. “They can’t wait to meet their baby sisters. Even Thomas is excited.”
Mac laughed at that news.
Thomas had expressed annoyance at the arrival of two more baby sisters when the one he already had was such a nuisance.
“How’s Maddie holding up?” Big Mac asked, even though they’d gotten regular reports on her and the babies over the last two weeks.
“She’s tired, but glad to know she’ll never be pregnant again.”
“That is a good feeling,” Linda said. “To know you’re done with that part of your life and can settle in to enjoy the rest.”
“She’s got me scheduled for the big V in early September,” Mac said glumly as they rode the elevator to the pediatrician’s office.
“You’ll survive, son,” Big Mac said, thinking of his own vasectomy years ago after Janey was born, and they’d decided five kids were enough.
Little did they know there was a sixth one waiting to be discovered in Mallory, who’d found him when she was nearly forty after her mother died.
Now Mallory was such a big part of their family, it was like she’d always been there.
They found Maddie in an exam room, holding one of the girls while the doctor examined the other one.
She smiled at her in-laws. “Here they are,” she said to the girls. “It’s time to go home.”
“Emma and Evie passed their exams with flying colors this morning,” Maddie said.
“Green light to head home to the island,” the doctor said. “They’re doing great.”
Mac and Maddie loaded the babies into the car seats like the experts they’d become with three previous children.
Twenty minutes later, they had babies, diaper bags and suitcases loaded in the SUV that Big Mac drove south on 95 while the kids rode in back with the babies.
“You girls are getting the best chauffer ever on your ride home,” Mac told the babies. “Grandpa Big Mac is the best of the best.”
Big Mac smiled at hearing those words from his beloved son.
The only thing in the world that truly mattered to him was that his family was happy, healthy and safe.
Everything else paled in comparison to those priorities.
He couldn’t wait to watch those little girls, their siblings and cousins grow up and to spoil them rotten the way a grandfather was supposed to.
Their friend Seamus O’Grady was waiting at the ferry landing for them to arrive and came over to stick his head in the window to get a first look at the new babies. “They’re gorgeous,” Seamus declared. “Joe said to tell you he’s thankful they look like their mother.”
“Haha,” Mac said. “Very funny.”
“Don’t shoot the messenger.” Seamus gestured for Big Mac to back the SUV onto the ferry. “VIPs coming through, people.”
The crew members working on the pier jumped to attention to see to the boss’s orders.
“Nice to know people,” Big Mac said when he had the car parked on the boat.
They unloaded the babies in their seats and carried them upstairs for the one-hour passage to the island.
People they knew from the island came by to say hello, which made the voyage pass quickly.
As they pulled into port, Big Mac saw Ned and Francine with Thomas, Hailey and baby Mac.
They had balloons and flowers and a big sign that said Welcome Home, Emma and Evie!
“The babies have a welcoming committee,” Big Mac said to Linda, pointing to the others on the pier.
“Mac and Maddie will be so glad to see the kids.”
“Let’s wait and let them find out they’re here when they come off the boat.”
They loaded the car seats back into the SUV, and as they rolled off the ferry, Maddie let out a happy cry at the sight of her other three children and her parents.
Big Mac pulled into a parking space so the family could be reunited.
Mac and Maddie got out of the car and caught Thomas and Hailey as they ran to them.
Baby Mac let out a loud screech at the sight of his mother.
Maddie took him from Francine and hugged him tight. “We missed you guys so much!”
“We missed you, too,” Thomas said. “Hailey was naughty the whole time you were gone.”
“Now, Thomas,” Francine said. “What did we say about being a tattletale?”
“Well, she was naughty,” Thomas said.
“Business as usual around here, I see,” Mac said as he hugged his eldest son.
“Can we see the babies?” Thomas asked.
“Sure, come take a peek, but remember to be very quiet and gentle with them.”
Thomas climbed up into the car himself while Mac lifted Hailey and Mac for a look at their new baby sisters.
“What do you think?” Mac asked them.
“They’re tiny,” Thomas said, “like Mac was.”
“They will be for a while, but they’ll be running around before we know it.”
“Great,” Thomas said. “That’s just what I need.”
“Babies,” Hailey said.
“Yes, those are your baby sisters,” Mac told his little girl. “We need to get them home, so you go with Grandma Francine and Grandpa Ned, and we’ll follow you, okay?”
Hailey held on tighter to her daddy as if she was afraid he’d leave again if she let go.
“We’ll be right behind you, sweet girl,” Mac said as he turned her over to Ned.
They got back in the SUV and headed for Sweet Meadow Farm Road.
“The first time I saw this house,” Maddie said, “I never suspected I’d need every one of the bedrooms.”
“I knew we’d need them,” Mac said.
“Sure you did,” Maddie said, laughing.
“We have five kids.”
“In restaurants, you’re now the McCarthy family, party of seven,” Big Mac said.
“They’ll all be in college before we ever take them to a restaurant,” Mac said.
Big Mac smiled at Linda. “Remember how we said that, too?”
“I remember all too well, and it went by in a flash. Enjoy every minute of it, you two. You won’t believe how soon you’ll be empty nesters.”
“That seems like a lifetime from now,” Maddie said.
“You’ll be shocked at how fast it goes by,” Big Mac said.
“We’ve already seen that with Thomas,” Mac said. “How is he already six?”
“And full of beans,” Linda said.
“We wouldn’t have him any other way,” Mac said.
Big Mac could tell his son was thrilled to be home and to have his family under one roof for the first time.
He and Linda made dinner, helped get the three older kids bathed and ready for bed and read them the required three stories before they headed home, promising to be back to help out tomorrow.
“I’m spent,” Big Mac said. “How can three little people run two experienced grannies ragged?”
“Speak for yourself. I’m as fresh and perky as I was first thing this morning.”
“Sure you are,” he said, laughing.
“My back is killing me from hauling baby Mac around. He’s a chunk all of a sudden.”
“He’s growing like a weed, just like this family of ours.” Within a year, they’d have fourteen grandchildren, including the new twins and Adam and Abby’s quads. Evan and Grace and Grant and Stephanie had joked about feeling like slackers because they were expecting “only” one baby each.
“We’re going to need a spreadsheet to remember all the birthdays,” Linda said.
“It’s a good ‘problem’ to have.”
“It sure is. I was thinking earlier today about the first time I ever came here, the day after we met when you wanted to show me the marina you’d just bought.”
“Ah, yes,” he said, chuckling. “The ferries were canceled, and we had to spend the night in the spider room.”
Linda cringed and shuddered the way she did every time he mentioned the spider room.
“I was lucky you ever talked to me again after that,” he said, smiling at the memory.
“Oh please. You had me so hooked on you after twenty-four hours together, I would’ve followed you anywhere you wanted to go.”
“That’s all it took, huh? Twenty-four hours?”
“I think it was more like twelve.”