Chapter 44
An interview with Shane and Katie…
Your story is so sweet and full of beautiful moments, such as Shane’s letters and Kate’s reply. I love the way you two had to work out a lot of baggage from the past to find your happily ever after.
Katie: We definitely worked for it.
And when Courtney showed up in the middle of it…
Shane: I thought I was hallucinating when I saw her. And when she told me more about what really happened… She sent me into a tailspin right when I was finally beginning to move on.
Later, when she dies suddenly, you’re again revisited with shock.
Shane: I’ll never forget the state police coming to find me to tell me that news. I was so hoping she’d get a fabulous second act, and I’ll always be sad that she didn’t.
Katie: That was a very sad time for us.
And it happened close to when you lost your first baby to miscarriage.
Shane: Yes, that was a rough period, but we got through it together. And then our son, Ben, was born. He’s eight now and fills our lives with such joy and laughter.
Does he have siblings?
Katie: Does he ever! We had four kids in four years, which I don’t recommend.
Shane: What she said. Holy shit, literally… That’s a lot of diapers and sleepless nights and nonstop madness.
Katie: I was getting old. We had to hurry.
Shane: Stop. You’re ageless.
Katie: If you say so, but my eggs were curdling.
(They laugh.)
Four kids. That’s so exciting! Tell us about the other three!
Katie: Our Claire is seven, Jameson is six and Emerson is five. It’s complete madness and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Wow! You wanted a big family, and now you have it. How does it feel?
Katie: Even in the midst of absolute chaos, I’m so, so happy to have this family and to give them the magical childhood I didn’t get to have, except when my father was deployed or we were here on Gansett with our precious grandparents. I do wonder how my mother ever handled seven of us, though.
Shane: Katie makes every day special for our kids and me. She’s the magician who makes it all work.
Katie: You more than do your part, too, Dad. We’re a great team and do far more laughing than crying these days.
Are you still working at the clinic?
Katie: I do twenty hours a week now that everyone is in school all day, but I took a few years off during the baby boom. It’s nice to be back to work and to have that time just to be Katie, the nurse, rather than Katie the mom to four little ones.
Shane, are you still working with Mac?
Shane: I am, and we’re busier than ever. It’s still so much fun to work with him and my other cousins every day. Speaking of laughter… That crew is still a comedy team.
I can only imagine. Congratulations on your beautiful family and life together!