Chapter 33
Mac stepped outside to take the call he’d been waiting for from John Lawry. “Hey. How’s it going?”
“Good so far. They’re settled in the same room, which made them happy.”
“I’m sure it did. What are they saying about Jeff?”
“He’s still being evaluated. Kelsey is scheduled for surgery on her arm in the morning. Her parents are on their way. And rumor has it my mom, Charlie and our grandparents are on their way home, too.”
“Keep me posted on how they’re doing?”
“I will. Hey, Mac?”
“Yeah?”
“They don’t blame you or your family for this. You know that, right?”
“I do, but we still feel responsible.”
“You’re not responsible. Ethel did this. They don’t want you guys beating yourselves up over it.”
“Which is very kind of them, but we’re here for them as long as they need us to be. Any bills, send our way.”
“We’ll worry about that later.”
“I’m worried about it now, and we’ll take care of it. Let them know that.”
“I will.”
“You’ve got the code to my uncle Frank’s house, right?”
“All set. Tell him thanks for letting me stay there.”
“He was happy to make it available to you.”
“I’ll text you with an update later.”
“Thanks, John.”
Mac ended the call feeling slightly better now that Jeff and Kelsey were on the mainland and receiving care at a level-one trauma center.
He took a moment to compose a text to David.
Heard from John that the patients are settled at RI Hospital and scored the same room, which made them happy.
Thank you again for all you did to get them stable enough to travel.
We’re lucky to have you as part of our community.
Funny how life worked, Mac thought. Once upon a time, he’d wanted to kill David Lawrence for the way he’d treated Janey. Now… They owed him so much. So, so much.
So glad to hear they’re safely settled. Glad I was here to do what I could, but at some point, we need to have a talk as a community about upgrading our capabilities here. We’ve had enough calamities to more than justify an investment.
Couldn’t agree more. We’ll talk after things settle down.
Sounds good.
Thanks again. Seriously. We’re all so grateful.
You got it.
Big Mac came outside, looking for his eldest son. “Everything all right?”
“John just called to say that Jeff and Kelsey are settled in the same room. Jeff is being evaluated, and Kelsey will have surgery on her arm in the morning.”
“Glad they’re doing okay. Maybe we can take a deep breath now.”
“John said no one blames us for this, but I still feel terrible about it.”
“As do I, but we’ll do all we can to make things right for them.”
“Yes, we will.”
Big Mac put his hand on Mac’s shoulder. “Are you okay, son?”
“I’m better now that the storm has passed.” He shifted his gaze toward the Salt Pond, which was illuminated by the moon. “It’s easy to forget sometimes how isolated we are out here.”
“I know what you mean. We go along our merry way until a Cat 2 hurricane shows up to remind us of how effed we are when things go sideways.”
“David wants to beef up the clinic. He said we’ve had enough catastrophes to justify it.”
“I agree. I’ll bring it up with the council at our next meeting.”
“It’s probably time for another doctor out here, too. It’s a lot for David, Vic and Katie to manage on their own.”
“I’ll add that to the conversation. I want you to know… You made it so everyone was ready for this storm, and I saw that. I saw your leadership and the ribbing you took when you urged everyone to stock up on plywood and generators. They’re all singing your praises now.”
“I did what I could to prepare us.”
“You did more than anyone to ensure your family, friends and community were safe, and I’m proud of you for that. I really am.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“But I also know how you fret when things go sideways.”
Fret was a good way to describe the anxiety that caused him such distress. He worried about everything, to the point of madness. “I’m working on that.”
“I hope you are, because at the end of the day, there’s only so much we can do. The rest is out of our hands.”
“That last part is what gives me nightmares.”
“You do everything you can to keep us safe, and when you’ve done all you can, you have to let the rest go.
Nothing is ever going to be perfect. Take poor Billy.
We all tried to tell him he was crazy to try to ride out the storm on the boat.
But he wouldn’t hear it, and now he’s probably gone.
” Despite intense searching, there’d been no sign of the missing man.
“I wish he’d listened to reason.”
“We all do, but people make their own choices.”
“I suppose we’re lucky we only lost one person. Could’ve been much worse.”
“It would’ve been much worse without the efforts of you, Blaine, Jack, Mason and a lot of other people who went all out to keep this community safe. It’s time to release that deep breath you’ve been holding and celebrate a job very well done.”
“Thanks, Dad. Appreciate the kind words. It’s important to me that you’re proud of me.”
“Mac… My Lord. You’re a son any man would be proud to call his own.”
“The only man who matters is you.”
Big Mac hugged him and released him when the door opened.
“There you are,” Maddie said. “Everything all right?”
“Everything is just fine,” Big Mac said. “I’ll see you inside.”
“We’ll be right in, Dad.” Mac held out his hand to Maddie. “Are the natives getting restless?”
“Not at the moment. The grandmothers have the babies, and the others are playing with cousins and friends. All is well.”
Mac put his arms around her and held her close as he finally relaxed for the first time in days.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m great now that Ethel has gone away.”
“We’re all glad about that. What’re you hearing about getting the power back?”
“Could be a week.”
“Jeez.”
“You gotta love island life.”
“Thank goodness we really do love it.”
“You know what I love best about island life?”
“What?”
He kissed her softly and sweetly. “That I get to live in this beautiful place with my beautiful wife and our five precious kids.”
After John ended the call with Mac, he texted Niall. Can you talk?
Yep.
John made the call and smiled when Niall answered. Would he ever grow tired of that gorgeous Irish accent? Nope, never.
“How goes it?” Niall asked.
He gave him the same update he’d given Mac.
“I’m glad they’re in the same room. That’ll be good for them.”
“Agreed.”
“How’re you holding up?” Niall asked.
“I’m fine if they are. My mom texted to say she’ll be home by tonight and wants to know why no one is telling her what’s going on. Owen told her to call him when she lands in New York. Slim offered to fly them home, but it’ll probably be quicker to drive.”
“It was the right thing to wait to tell her.”
“I think so, too, but she’ll be pissed we kept it from her.”
“You were thinking of what was best for her when she was so far from home,” Niall said. “Don’t second-guess yourself.”
John appreciated that Niall listened and offered helpful input. He’d never had someone like him in his life and was deeply appreciative to have him during such a difficult time. “Thanks for the support.”
“Of course.”
“It’s not something I take for granted. That’s been a problem for me in the past. Give, give, give. Get nothing back.”
“Well, that’s not how it’s supposed to be.”
“No, it isn’t, but I’m preprogrammed to expect nothing, thanks to the way I grew up.”
“That’s in the past. In the present, you have friends who are there for you no matter what.”
“You can’t possibly know what that means to me.”
“You don’t think so? It hasn’t been easy for me either. My parents still don’t know I’m gay. I keep meaning to tell them, but before I can, they ask me when they can expect some grandchildren. I freeze up when they say that.”
“There’re other ways to have kids besides the usual path.”
“I know, and hopefully, I’ll get there someday and make all their dreams come true.”
“I’m sure it’d matter to them that you’re happy.”
“It does, but I’m under no illusions about how they’ll feel about me being gay.”
“You’re sure they don’t already know? When I came out to my family, most of them weren’t surprised, which surprised me.”
“I don’t think they do, but who knows? Maybe I’m not fooling them. I’ve never had a girlfriend. You’d think that’d be the first clue.”
“Sometimes people don’t want to see what’s right in front of them.”
“That’s so true, but enough about that. You’ve got enough on your plate without worrying about me and my issues.”
“I’m interested in you and your issues. I thought maybe you knew that by now.”
“Oh, I know, and back atcha. You need to stay focused on your brother and Kelsey, your mom and grandparents when they arrive. I’ll be here if you need to talk.”
“That makes everything so much better.”
They talked for a few more minutes before John said he needed to check on Jeff. He promised to be in touch with Niall later.
After spending the night at Frank McCarthy’s, John arrived in Jeff’s room to find the attending physician had come by for rounds.
“This is my brother Johnny,” Jeff said.
The doctor shook hands with John. “Good to meet you. I was just telling your brother that we’re going to do some scans and figure out a plan after we have the films.”
“That sounds good.”
“He’s stable for now, thanks to your doctor on Gansett, who did a fine job and saved his life. Now we need to get him put back together. The ortho surgeon will be checking in shortly, too.”
“Is there any word on Kelsey?” Jeff asked. “They said the surgery would be an hour, and it’s already been two.”
“She’s in recovery. The surgery went well. They’ll have her back here in a few hours.”
“Oh good,” Jeff said, visibly relieved. “That’s great news.”
“I’ll see you after the scans,” the doctor said.
After he left, John pulled up a chair to Jeff’s bedside. “Owen will tell Mom what’s going on when she lands in New York.”
“Okay.”
“You can expect an invasion shortly after that.”
Jeff offered a faint grin that turned to a grimace due to the pain. “I can hardly wait.”
“Are you sure you won’t let them give you something stronger for the pain?”
“I’m very sure. I fought too hard to get free of that shit. I’m never going there again.”
“In case I forget to tell you later, you’re a badass.”
“Whatever you say.”
“I mean it. Even in immense pain, you’ve got an eye on your sobriety. I admire that.”
“Got too much to live for these days to mess up like that again.”
“Yes, you do.”
“We all do.” The nightmare of their childhood was in the past, their father was in jail where he belonged, and they were free to pursue their own joy, no matter where they found it.
“Absolutely.”
Owen was on edge, waiting for his mother’s call. He hated that he had to tell her that Jeff had been badly hurt, but she already sensed something was up, or she wouldn’t have flown back to the States a week early.
The door opened, and Laura came into the apartment, smiling when she saw him sitting on the sofa.
Just that quickly, the tight knot of anxiety in his gut loosened somewhat.
That’s what she did for him. And she still wondered why he’d stayed with her and her son rather than continuing his life as a traveling musician.
Putting down roots with the exquisite Laura McCarthy had been the best thing he’d ever done.
He held out a hand to her, and she sat next to him on the sofa, curling up to him with her head on his chest and her arm around him.
“No call yet?”
“Not yet. They’ve got to clear Customs and all that.”
“Right. That can take a while.”
“And they’re not allowed to use their phones until they get through.” He played with her hair and took comfort in her presence. “I’m not sure how you do it.”
“Do what?”
“Calm and settle me just by walking in the room and snuggling up to me. I forget every worry when I have you with me.”
“You do the same for me, you know.”
“How lucky are we?”
“The luckiest.”
Owen lifted her chin for a kiss as his phone rang. “That’s probably her.” Keeping his arm around Laura, he reached for the phone on the coffee table and took the call from his mother. “Hey, Mom.”
“What’s going on, Owen? And don’t say nothing because I know my children and—”
“Mom. Listen. Jeff was in a building that collapsed in the storm.”
She gasped.
“He and Kelsey were hurt. Jeff was hurt badly. His pelvis is broken, and it was touch and go at first. We were finally able to get them off the island last night, and they’re at Rhode Island Hospital.
Kelsey broke her arm and had surgery earlier.
They’re still figuring out what Jeff needs, but he’s in the best possible place now—all thanks to David Lawrence, who saved his life by operating on him here.
And before you get angry, we all decided it was best not to tell you since there was nothing you could do in Italy. ”
“Oh my goodness,” Sarah said, sounding tearful. “He’ll be all right, though?”
“We hope so, Mom, but it was bad. If David hadn’t operated to stop the internal bleeding, he wouldn’t have lived long enough to get him to Providence.”
“Thank the Lord for David.”
“We’ve been saying that for years now.”
“What about the medication?”
“The doctors are aware of his addiction and are doing what they can to keep him comfortable without narcotics.”
“That’s a relief. You poor kids, having to go through such an awful thing.”
“We’re all right. Johnny is with him in Providence.”
“We’ll go right there from here. Charlie is saying we’ll rent a car.”
“Let me know when you’re there. Johnny is staying at Frank’s, and there’s plenty of room for you guys, too.”
“That’s very helpful, honey. Tell him thanks for us.”
“I will. You’re not mad we kept it from you, are you?”
“No, you did the right thing. There was nothing I could’ve done but worry myself sick. The rest of you are all right?”
“We are. The island is a mess, but cleanup is under way. Power is out for who knows how long, and one man is missing. Billy from the gym. I don’t think you know him.”
“I don’t, but Charlie certainly would know him.”
“Yes, he would.” Owen’s stepfather went to the gym every day. “I’ll let you know if we hear anything. He tried to ride out the storm on his boat. The boat was found sunk, but there’s no sign of Billy.”
“That’s terrible. I’m sorry to hear it. Charlie has already got a car rented for us, so we’ll hit the road to Providence. Keep me posted on anything you hear.”
“I will.”
“Thank you for taking care of everything while I was gone.”
“We all pulled together. You should know that Deacon was also missing at sea for a brief time, but he was found by Joe Cantrell and Seamus O’Grady when they took the ferries out to sea to escape the storm.”
“Thank God he was found. Poor Julia. I’ll call her when I can.”
“Sounds good.”
“Love you, son.”
“Love you, too, Mom.”
Owen put down the phone. “Well, now she knows everything.”
“You’re such a good son, brother, husband, father. You take such good care of everyone.”
He gave her shoulder a squeeze. “And you take such good care of me, which is what makes everything else possible.”