Chapter 8 #2
They hefted and hauled, swearing and laughing, until all the furniture was stored inside.
“What goes down must come back up after the storm,” Evan said.
“Call Adam to help with that.”
“Mac says he’s insane right now, worrying about being stranded here during a hurricane with Abby expecting quads. He’s of no use to anyone, according to our big brother.”
Grant followed Evan up the interior stairs from the basement to the wide-open first floor that had incredible views of the angry ocean through the one small window Evan hadn’t boarded. “Abby’s not due for months. He needs to calm down.”
Evan opened two beers and handed one to Grant. “Can’t say I blame him with the way babies arrive in our family. One niece on the ferry, two more in a helicopter, another born during a tropical storm.”
“There’s a history. I’ll give you that.”
“How’s Steph feeling?”
“Great. Pregnancy agrees with her—and me. It’s made her super horny.”
Evan laughed. “Lucky you. Grace feels like crap almost all the time.”
“Aw, that’s rough. Sorry to hear it.”
“She keeps saying it’ll be worth it, but I’d like to move the clock forward so she can be through it.”
Grant downed the last of the beer and put the bottle in the recycling bin under the counter. “Our babies will be here before we know it.”
“I still can’t believe Adam and Abby are having four. What a couple of overachievers.”
“No kidding. I’d better get home and make sure Steph isn’t doing more than she should. She’s full of energy. I’m apt to find her swinging a sledgehammer at a wall.”
Evan laughed. “Good thing you pulled the trigger on buying the place, huh?”
“Right? ’Cause our damage deposit would be long gone by now.”
Evan walked his brother to the door. “Thanks again for the help.”
“Any time.”
“If we end up without power, come over. We’ve got a generator.”
Grant gave Evan a bro hug. “We’ll be here. Be safe.”
“You, too.”
Evan waved from the door as Grant drove off and then went upstairs to find Grace.
As usual these days, she was sound asleep.
He stroked her hair and kissed her cheek, but she didn’t stir.
He couldn’t wait for their baby to arrive so she could get back to her usual routine of having fun with him.
No matter where they were—on the road or at home—they always had fun together.
That’s what he missed more than anything since pregnancy had made her so tired, she could barely function.
Evan went back downstairs to look out of the small window to the ocean. He thought of Joe and Seamus taking the ferries out to sea in the storm and shuddered.
You couldn’t pay him to be out in this, but he didn’t blame them for wanting to protect the boats they relied upon to make a living.
Evan was startled out of his thoughts when Grace wrapped her arms around him from behind.
“What’re you thinking about?” she asked.
“Joe and Seamus taking the boats out to sea.”
“I’m sick just thinking about it.”
“I know. Me, too. My dad said there hasn’t been a storm like this in all his forty years on the island.”
“I’m trying not to be scared, but…”
“Nothing to worry about, babe. We’ll be fine. This house was built to withstand a Category 5 storm, and we’re too high up to be worried about storm surge.”
“I would’ve preferred to live here forever and not test that.”
“Same, but here we go. How’re you feeling?”
“Better after a nap.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“They say this kid will be worth it…”
“That’s what I’m told.”
“Was someone here? I thought I heard voices.”
“Grant came over to help me move the heavy-as-fuck furniture off the deck.”
“Ah, okay. Are they ready for the storm over there?”
“Yep. He said he needed to get home because Steph might get a big idea to take down a wall while he’s gone.”
“It’s not fair that she got all the pregnancy energy and I got none.”
“You’ll feel better soon. I’m sure the third trimester will be your jam.”
“God, I hope so. I wanted to go back to work while we’re home, but how can I do that when I can’t stay awake for more than a couple of hours?”
“Fiona has everything under control at the pharmacy, so don’t worry.”
“I know she does, but I miss being there.”
As he turned to face her, Evan felt terrible about that.
She’d turned her pharmacy over to Fiona to run while they were on the road, promoting his exploding career while hers took a back seat.
“I’ve been thinking about staying home for a year or two.
I can write and record some new music while you tend to the pharmacy and we enjoy our new little one. What do you say?”
The immediate brightening of her expression told him everything he needed to know about her true feelings about traveling all over the country, from one concert to the next. “I’d really love to be home for a while, but only if you’re sure it won’t hurt your momentum.”
He held her close, thankful every day to have found her in this crazy world. “My momentum is just fine, and I’m tired of the schlepping, too. Let’s stay home for a couple of years and finally make this place our home.”
“Yes, Evan,” she said on an exhale that sounded a lot like relief. “Let’s do that.”