to accept Big Mac’s invitation to join him and the other guys for an afternoon of fishing. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed anything more than those hours on the water with his new friends. The guys were fun, funny and obviously close to each other.
Big Mac’s son Evan texted while they were out to let his dad know that he and his wife, Grace, were back on the island. Watching the older man’s joy at hearing his son was back in town tugged at the grief that had become such a big part of who Oliver was after losing his son. It made him ache for things that would never be.
“Aw, shit,” Big Mac said. “I’m sorry, Oliver. I shouldn’t have gone on about my son that way.”
“Oh, please,” Oliver said. “Don’t do that. You’re rightfully excited to see your son.”
“Still… I could’ve been less over the top about it.”
“Yer over the top ’bout everythin’,” Ned said dryly, breaking the tension by making everyone laugh.
“I don’t want you guys to worry about what you say in front of me. I’ve got to get back to some semblance of normalcy.”
“You’re not on any timeline,” Frank said. “Took me years to take a deep breath after my wife died of cancer, leaving me as a single dad to my kids, who were seven and nine.”
“I’m sorry you lost her.”
“And I’m sorry you lost your son.”
“Thanks. It’s been a bitch, to say the least. Since nothing else was helping, my wife and I are here looking for a fresh start.”
“You’ve come to the right place,” Kevin said. “Gansett is great for resets.”
“He oughta know,” Ned said. “Came here fresh off a split with his wife o’ thirty years and ended up remarried with a new baby girl.”
“True story,” Kevin said with a grin. “And I couldn’t be happier. That’s not to compare my situation to yours. There’s no comparing. I just mean that being in this beautiful place with these fools turned out to be just what I needed.”
“I can see how that might be the case,” Oliver said.
“You’re welcome with us any time, every day, whatever you want,” Frank said. “If you need a band of brothers, you’ve got one, my friend.”
Moved nearly to tears by the kind words, Oliver could only nod.
“And if you need someone to talk to about it all, Kev’s your guy,” Big Mac said. “He’s an outstanding therapist, and we’re lucky to have him practicing right here in our little neck of the woods.”
“No pressure,” Kevin said. “If you need me, I’m here. Either way, we’ll be fishing and coffee buddies.”
“That’s good to know on both counts,” Oliver said. “My wife and I… It’s been a struggle to get through the days since we lost Lewis.”
“I can’t even imagine,” Kevin said. “My heart goes out to you both.”
“Anyway,” Oliver said, “I didn’t mean to bring down the mood.”
“You didn’t,” Big Mac said. “Don’t worry about us. We’re here for you in any way that you need while you’re part of our community and even after you’ve moved on. Unfortunately for you, my friend, once you’re stuck with us, you’re stuck with us forever.”
“I can attest ta that,” Ned said. “They stick like glue.”
“You like being stuck with us,” Big Mac said to his best pal.
“Yer right about that.”
“Actually, that’s rather comforting,” Oliver said. “We’ve been surrounded by well-intentioned people who want to help but only make things harder for us by adding their grief to ours. It’s a relief to make some new friends.”
“We’ll see if yer still saying that in a few weeks,” Ned joked.
Oliver smiled. He’d done a lot of that since he’d joined them for coffee that morning. “I’m sure I will be.”
Linda talked Dara into coming with her when she went to help out with Mac and Maddie’s kids so Mac could get some work done at the office. Everyone had been pitching in to help them since Maddie had been put on bed rest. Kelsey had been such a godsend, but Sundays were her day off. Francine took the morning shift on Sundays, and Linda relieved her after lunch.
“How long have you all been doing this?” Dara asked as they rode the short distance to Mac’s house in Linda’s yellow VW Bug.
“Since May,” Linda said.
“That’s quite a commitment.”
“With three kids six and under, they need the help.”
“Wow, and now she’s having twins.”
“The last three pregnancies weren’t exactly planned. That includes the child they lost. We were so happy to