all feel that way sometimes, when we want something we can’t get right now the way people who live on the mainland can.”
“Or when we have to move to the mainland for a month to get ready to give birth while leaving one of our babies behind.” Earlier in the summer, their lawyer friend Dan Torrington had drafted a document giving Tiffany and Blaine full authority to act as Thomas’s parents in an emergency. That they needed such a document had given Maddie nightmares as she counted down to D-Day, as she referred to their departure. “Mac and I debated this a thousand different ways, and we were going to bring him with us until we told him he’d miss the first month of school. He was despondent. More so than he was about not seeing us for a month.”
Francine huffed out a laugh. “Welcome to the years when other people start to become more important to your kids than you are. It’s hard to take at first.”
“Sure is. I remember the first time we were out to dinner, and an adult said hello to him, and I was like, Who is that? It was the PE teacher at school, who I’d never met.”
“They don’t stay little for long,” Francine said, “and they start to get lives of their own separate from us.”
“I’m so not ready for that.” Maddie dabbed at her eyes as more tears leaked from the corners. She was on emotional overload all the time lately. “You don’t have to babysit me if you have other stuff to do.”
“Ned’s going to pop by to pick me up shortly. I wanted to see you and the kids.”
“Thank you for bringing dinner. I’m getting so spoiled with everyone bringing food. I’m never going to be able to go back to normal after this.”
“Everyone is happy to help out. Being on bed rest is a drag, especially in this heat. Why isn’t your AC on anyway?”
“The power is out. Has been for an hour now.”
“Oh Lord, I hope it’s not like the last time when it was out for days. We’ll roast to death if that happens.”
“I can’t imagine being any hotter than I already am. These girls are roasting me from the inside.”
“Dad to the rescue,” Mac said as he came through the slider that Kelsey had opened to let in some air. “I come bearing a generator.”
“For the fridge, right?” Maddie asked, happy to see him as usual. Everything was better when he was around, and it had been that way from the day they met.
“I’m going to rig it up so we get some AC down here, too.”
“God bless you. My hero.”
Mac came over to the sofa and bent to kiss her. “I can’t have my baby mama roasting to death.”
“Any word from Adam?”
Mac shook his head. “Not yet.”
“Are you worried?”
“A little.”
After what they’d gone through losing their son Connor in utero, the thought of that pain befalling his beloved brother and sister-in-law was unbearable, especially since Abby’s pregnancy was such a miracle to begin with.
“Are they still due back for the party?” Maddie asked.
“I haven’t heard otherwise.”
She took a deep breath and released it, saying a silent prayer for her sweet sister-in-law, who’d already been through enough. If anyone deserved a smooth, easy pregnancy, it was Abby.
For her part, Maddie couldn’t wait to never be pregnant again. Mac was getting a vasectomy as soon as possible. She was never having sex with him again unless he got that taken care of. “Is the party still on?”
“As far as I know. I helped Laura with their generator earlier, and she said Owen was bringing coolers of ice from the Surf to his mom’s.”
“Poor Sarah. Of all the things to happen on her big day.”
“It’ll be fine. Islanders are hardy folks.” In a matter of minutes, he had the generator running from the deck, the fridge back on and the low hum of AC filling the room with cool air once again.
“You’re the absolute best, Mac.”
“I know, right?” he said with the irrepressible grin she loved so much. “How’re you feeling?”
“Huge.”
“You’re glowing.”
“I’m sure I’m quite a sight.”
“Best sight I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”
“If this is the best sight you’ve ever seen, your eyes need—”
He kissed the insult right off her lips. “Enough. You’re beautiful, and that’s all there is to it.”
“And that’s my cue to get out of here,” Francine said when she heard the toot-toot of Ned’s horn from the driveway. “He must be busy