“Yeah.” Hunter licks his lips. “I’m done. Have better things to do.”
It’s about ten o’clock at night. There’s a light on over the sink across the room, but all of the other lights are out, casting the space in a soft white glow.
I’ve been sitting in this chair for the better part of six hours.
Hunter goes in and out of consciousness, but the doctor said that would be normal for tonight. They’re monitoring him closely.
A shadow falls over the doorway, and I glance up to see Rachel standing there, looking longingly at her dad with tears in her eyes.
“Come here,” I urge her and hold out my hand for hers.
She hurries around the bed and hugs me tightly, clinging to me almost desperately, and then she sits on the bed at Hunter’s hip and holds his hand.
“Daddy?”
Hunter stirs and opens his eyes, smiling when he sees his daughter.
“Hey, baby.”
“Oh, Daddy.” Rachel breaks down and lays her head gently on Hunter’s chest. He circles the arm not attached to the IV around her and strokes her hair.
“I’m okay,” he whispers.
Jay and Angie follow behind their granddaughter.
“We stopped at the nurse’s station to ask some questions,” Angie says and brushes her hand through Hunter’s hair. “You scared us, my boy.”
“Scared all of us,” I agree.
“Danny and Carla are going to jail,” Rachel says. “They were behind it all.”
“Yeah,” Hunter agrees. “I heard.”
“When can you go home?” she asks.
“In a few days,” I reply. “They want to keep an eye on him for a couple of days because of that head injury, and then we’re free to leave.”
“Good,” Rachel says as Hunter reaches over for my hand. Even with a bruised face, he has a cocky grin on those lips.
“I’d like to introduce you all to my wife.”
“Oh, my gosh, that’s right,” Angie says and hurries around the bed to give me a big hug. “Congratulations.”
“Does that mean I can call you Ma?” Rachel asks, surprising me. “You know, like you call Grandma? It’s an Irish thing, right?”
I feel more tears fill my eyes. I would have thought I was completely out of tears with the number of them I’ve shed today, but it turns out I have a few more.
“Yeah, it is. And, yes, you can call me Ma if you want to.”
“I want to,” Rachel says as she hugs me. “Since it’s official and all that.”
“Why does everyone else get to hug my bride but me?” Hunter asks.
“You’re so needy.” I cross to him and kiss his forehead. He takes my hand.
“Yes. I am. I need you. I’ll never stop needing you.”
“Ew, if you’re going to get mushy, we’ll go to the hotel.”
“Get used to the mushiness, stink bug,” Hunter says and kisses my cheek. “Turns out, I’m a mushy man.”
Epilogue
~Maeve~
“Merry Christmas,” I say to Rachel as I pass her a wrapped box with a big gold bow on top.
“I thought we already opened everything this morning,” Rachel says with a frown as she accepts the box.
It’s Christmas Day, midafternoon, and we’re all gathered at my brother Kane’s house to celebrate together as a family. Keegan even shut down the bar for the day. It’s a busy place with new babies and plenty of laughter.
Even Anastasia’s family is here.
It’s a big party.
But Rachel and my da have been huddled together in a corner all afternoon. Da’s been teaching her how to play chess on the new set she got for Christmas.
“There’s one more to open,” I reply with a shrug, and then grin up at my husband.
Hunter’s injuries healed after several months of rest, and then some rehabilitation. I didn’t think the bruises would ever fade.
Danny and Carla were both sentenced to prison time—Danny won’t be out for years. It turned out that Carla was the one who originally called the room to have Hunter go downstairs. She was charged with aiding and abetting.
But we’ve all settled back into a groove here on the island.
“I won’t say no to presents,” Rachel says and tears into the paper.
There are two items.
A T-shirt.
And a set of keys.
“Whoa,” Rachel says with wide eyes.
“You worked hard through driver’s ed,” Hunter says. “But before you make a mad dash for the driveway, read the shirt.”
She holds it up and reads aloud: “World’s Best Big Sister.”
Her jaw drops.
“Are you kidding me?”
“No, ma’am,” I say and laugh when she launches herself into my arms, then she signals to the others.
“You guys! My ma’s gonna have a baby!”
“We know,” Maggie replies with a laugh. “And let me tell you, it was a hard secret to keep.”
“I’m always the last to know everything,” Rachel says, but the smile doesn’t leave her face. “Can I see my car now?”
We follow her outside, and when she sees the little white Lexus with the shiny red bow, Rachel bounces excitedly on the balls of her feet.