Chapter 28 #2
The last few years had been a total nightmare as she’d lost her once-loving and devoted husband to pain medication addiction and alcoholism that he’d refused to deal with long enough that their marriage had been unsalvageable.
Their divorce was now final. Their home had been sold, their possessions put into storage, and a whole new chapter had begun for her and her boys.
“Can I get you anything?” Lizzie asked as she fed Violet applesauce that the baby lapped up with enthusiasm.
“No, thank you. It’s so nice to be here, away from everything.”
“We’re thrilled to have you and the boys.”
“Said no new mom ever about having three unexpected houseguests.”
“You’re family, Kendall, and we are thrilled to have you here. Jared has been so worried about you guys. He slept much better last night knowing you were here. In fact, he hasn’t slept this late in months.”
“It’s still early.”
“He’s usually been up for an hour by now.”
“I’ll figure out something for me and the boys and get out of your hair.”
The boys had wanted to be near their beloved uncle and baby Violet, so the three of them had stayed at their house rather than in the garage apartment.
Lizzie reached over to put her hand on Kendall’s. “Please don’t worry about that or figuring out anything. Just relax and take a breath.”
“I’m not sure I remember how to relax or breathe.”
“Gansett is a great place to relearn an old habit.”
“That’s what my brothers tell me. All three of them are gone over the place.”
“It’s been good for each of them in its own way.
” Lizzie wiped Violet’s face and put some dry cereal on her tray to entertain her.
“I know we haven’t gotten to spend a ton of time together since I married Jared, but I hope you know you’ve got a friend in me.
If you want to talk or vent or rant or just sit and be silent together, I’m your girl. ”
“That’s very sweet of you to say.”
“I mean it. I can’t possibly know what you and your kids have been through, but I’m here if you want to talk or if I can do anything at all for any of you.”
“My brother is a lucky man.”
“We’re both lucky, and we know it.”
“Thanks to him, I don’t have to worry about the usual things that a newly single mother has to think about.”
Years earlier, Jared had shared his fortune with his parents and each of his four siblings.
“I’m sure that’s only one piece of a very complicated puzzle.”
Kendall nodded. “I’m worried about the boys.”
“You’d know much better than me, of course, but they seem to be happy, well-adjusted kids. Jared is crazy about them.”
Kendall smiled. “And vice versa. He’s always been great with them, giving them his full attention any time he’s with them, no matter what else he had going on.”
“That sounds like him. He’s smitten with our Violet. I swear he’s barely thought about work since she arrived.”
“He worked enough in his past life to take it a little easier now.”
“That’s what he says, too.”
Kendall’s phone buzzed with a text from McKenzie, who reported that Eric had received the letter and was none too pleased about it.
Let’s talk this afternoon about what he had to say and our next steps. Text me when you’re free to talk.
Sounds good.
“Everything okay?” Lizzie asked.
“That’s my first island client updating me. I’m helping her with a situation involving her ex. He’s a real piece of work.”
“I’m glad she’s got you to help her.”
“She’s given me something to think about besides my own problems.”
“Our resident lawyer, Dan Torrington, will be in Maine for a while with his wife’s family. I bet he’d appreciate you filling in for him when he’s gone, if you’re up for that.”
“There’re no other lawyers here?”
“One of the two men who was killed in the storm was an attorney, but his career was kind of over around here due to some poor decisions.”
“That sounds like a story.”
“And a half. He was awful to his ex-wife, who’s very well loved, and blamed Dan for ruining his practice, which he did all on his own. He showed up drunk at Dan and Kara’s engagement party and ended up stabbing Dan.”
“Jeez… And here I thought this was a sleepy little place where nothing ever happened.”
Lizzie’s bark of laughter startled her daughter. “There’s never a dull moment around here. Look at how we came to have our sweet Violet.”
Lizzie had come to the aid of a single mom who’d later left the baby with her and Jared.
“I could tell you stories about what goes on here for days and days.”
“I’ll look forward to hearing all the gossip.”
“Can I ask you…”
“Anything, Lizzie. I’m an open book.”
“How’s Phil?”
Kendall’s deep sigh said it all. “He’s in rehab—for the fourth time. He swears this’ll be the time it takes. I hope for his sake—and the boys’—that’s true, but I’ve learned not to get my hopes up.”
“I have a friend from the city who’s been through a similar ordeal with her brother. Their family has done everything they could think of and then some.”
“None of it will matter until he makes the decision to help himself.”
“Yes, for sure.” She used a wet paper towel to wipe Violet’s tray. “Do you want me to ask Dan about whether he has some work you could help with?”
“Sure, that’d be good. I’ve found it helps to stay busy and engaged in other people’s problems. I turned over my New Jersey clients to my partners when things got crazy with Phil, so I’m ready to get back to feeling productive.”
“I’ll text Dan today. He’s been great helping us with Violet’s adoption.”
“Where does that stand?”
“It’ll be final in a couple of months.”
“Are you anxious about it?”
“Not really. She wasn’t planned, and Jessie was in no position to take care of her. We’ve barely heard from her since she agreed to the adoption.”
“What’s the story with the father?”
“From what I was able to piece together, it was a short-term thing before they went their separate ways.”
“So he doesn’t know about her?”
“I don’t think she knows where he is.”
“I see.” That detail made Kendall nervous, but she’d never say so to Lizzie.
When Jared came into the kitchen, hair standing on end and his face flushed from sleep, Kendall was reminded of being home from college while he was in high school and laughing at his morning hair.
“What?” he asked when he saw her trying not to laugh at him.
“Some things never change.”
“What does that mean?”
“You look exactly the same as you did first thing in the morning when you were fifteen.”
“Thank you. I think?”
“Jared’s morning hair is a thing of beauty,” Lizzie said, smiling at her husband as he leaned in to kiss her and Violet.
“That’s one word for it,” Kendall said. “Good thing the editors of Finance magazine can’t see their favorite whiz kid first thing in the morning, huh?”
Lizzie laughed at the face Jared made at his sister.
“And to think I woke up feeling glad you were here. That didn’t last long.”
“Haha.” Kendall was delighted to be sparring once again with her little brother rather than fighting with her ex-husband. “All kidding aside, thanks again for having us. I slept better than I have in a long time.”
Jared poured himself a cup of coffee and then topped off Kendall’s and Lizzie’s. “I’m glad to hear that, and all kidding aside, I hope you’ll stay for as long as you want.”
“Even if I make fun of your morning hair?”
He smiled warmly at his sister. “Even if.”