Page 31 of Delivery After Dark (Gansett Island #28)

I n Providence, Abby’s doctor and the neonatologist had declared mother and babies cleared to go home the next day.

Adam and Abby had looked at each other in complete terror at the thought of being entrusted with the care of four tiny humans without the assistance of the incredible nurses who’d been such a godsend to them.

If there was an upside to leaving the hospital, it would be the end to the “fundus massages.” No one had warned her how unpleasant it would be to “encourage” her uterus to return to its normal size after the birth.

Add that to the engorged breasts and the litany of other aches and pains, and Abby was thrilled to be done with childbirth forever.

“You’ll be coming with us, right?” she asked Ellen, their daytime nurse who’d quickly made herself essential.

Ellen laughed. “You’ve got this, Mama.”

“Do I, though?”

“I have faith in you.”

“We do, too, honey,” her mother, Carol, said.

“You have to say that. You raised me.”

Linda McCarthy laughed. “You’re doing great, Abby. You’re ready to take this team home.”

“I wish I felt as confident as you all do.”

“We’ve got this, babe,” Adam said.

“No, we don’t.”

“You’ll have lots of help,” Carol reminded her. “Linda and I will take turns spending the night until you find a groove.”

“Thank goodness for the grannies,” Adam said. “They’ll save us from messing up too bad.”

Despite all the reassurances, Abby was filled with anxiety at the thought of taking four newborns—and their two-year-old brother—to the remote island they called home. What if something went wrong that they couldn’t handle there? What if?—

“Abs.” Adam massaged her tight shoulders. “It’s going to be fine. I promise—and I always keep my promises.”

She was reminded of how he’d promised her everything would be okay after she was diagnosed with PCOS and given the devastating news that she might never conceive. Look at them now.

Five sons.

Even with months to prepare, it still boggled her mind that they had five sons.

And then Kane woke from a nap with a hearty cry that roused his brothers, beginning the change-feed-burp cycle once again.

Thank goodness Big Mac and her dad, Tom, had stepped up to take care of Liam, who wanted nothing at all to do with the babies.

They were hoping he’d come around in time, when they stopped making such a racket that he couldn’t hear the TV or get a second of his parents’ attention before one of the babies needed something.

When they got home, they would make a point of spending one-on-one time with Liam each day so he wouldn’t resent his brothers.

Liam’s lack of interest in the babies was a challenge they hadn’t expected.

Linda had assured her it was normal. She said Mac had had no use for Grant when he was first born, and look at them now, the best of friends.

She burped Kane and walked him around the room until he dozed off again while her mom, Linda and Adam tended to the other three.

Four babies was a lot of babies.

Haha, no shit, Sherlock. What’d you think it was going to be like?

When the babies were back to sleep, Adam flopped onto the sofa next to Abby and put his arm around her.

She rested her head on his chest, closed her eyes and fell off the cliff into sleep.

The next thing she knew, it was time for another round of change-feed-burp.

“Too bad this isn’t an Olympic event,” Adam said as they went through the motions once again. “We’d be gold medalists in no time.”

“Right?”

“Aren’t you glad I bought stock in the diaper company?”

“Did you really?”

“Nah, but I should’ve.”

Abby laughed as she burped Beckett while Adam handled Murphy. Her mom had Rory, and Linda had Kane. All bases covered. She’d begun expressing breast milk so each baby would get some every day, as feeding them one by one just wasn’t feasible.

“I know it seems hard to believe right now,” Linda said after they’d settled the babies once again, “but this will all be routine to you guys in no time.”

“I find that very hard to believe,” Abby said.

“Linda’s right,” Carol said. “In a week or two, it’ll be like they’ve always been here, and you’ll be able to handle two at a time like old pros.”

“I guess we’ll see about that,” Abby said, full of anxiety over the looming trip home with four infants and a toddler whose entire life had been turned upside down by the arrival of his brothers.

What could go wrong?

After receiving a text from his dad letting the family know that Adam and Abby would be bringing the babies home the next day, Mac McCarthy sprang into action by calling his father-in-law, Ned.

“I need a huge favor,” Mac said when Ned picked up the call.

“What’s up?”

“Well, it’s like this. The babies are coming home tomorrow?—”

“Heard that. Excitin’ news. Can’t wait to meet ’em.”

“Me, too, but what I need more than anything is a night out with my wife before we lose the help of half the grandparents for a while.”

“Ah, I see whatcha mean. What can I do?”

“Can you and Francine babysit tonight until about midnight or so?”

Ned chortled with laughter. “That’s way past our bedtime.”

“I know, and I feel bad about asking you, but desperate times call for desperate measures. You can sleep over so you don’t have to wait up.” And that would give him more time alone with Maddie. He’d take as much as he could get.

“Lemme check with the missus to make sure she ain’t got somethin’ else planned for tonight. I’ll call ya back.”

“Thanks, Ned.”

“You got it.”

What would they do without the grandparents on call at a moment’s notice? If there was one huge benefit to living on the island, it was having his parents and Maddie’s close by to help out as needed—and they needed the help a lot, especially since their nanny, Kelsey, had been injured in the storm.

That reminded him he was supposed to meet Morgan for a beer after work. He texted his childhood friend. Hey, can we push our beer to tomorrow night? Let me know! Looking forward to it.

He wanted to say that something had come up, which was true, sort of. If things worked out as he hoped, he’d be up in more ways than one. Mac laughed when he imagined what his wife would have to say about the juvenile direction his thoughts had taken.

“What’s so funny?” Julia Lawry, the manager of his construction company, asked as she came to the door of his office.

“Nothing I can tell you.”

“Ah, it’s like that, is it?”

“Yep. I’m plotting and scheming to get a night alone with my wife before my four nephews get home and steal half the grandparents from us.”

His phone lit up with a text from Morgan. No problem at all. Let’s talk tomorrow.

Mac gave that message a thumbs-up.

“What’re you planning for your big night out?” Julia asked as Pupwell came in and curled up at her feet. He rarely let his beloved Julia out of his sight.

“I’m not sure yet. Before I plan anything, I need to make sure I’ve got babysitters lined up.”

“I can do it if the grandparents can’t.”

“What? No way. I’d never ask that of you.”

“You didn’t. I offered. I could use the experience.”

He tipped his head as he studied her, noting a rosy glow to her fuller cheeks. “Are you trying to tell me something, by any chance?”

She smiled as she shrugged. “Perhaps.”

“Congratulations.”

“Thanks, but you have to keep it secret. We haven’t even told our parents yet.”

“My lips are sealed. I’m happy for you and Deacon.”

“We’re pretty happy for us, too. But we’re clueless when it comes to babies and kids, so if you want some help, we’re available.”

“While I’d hate to look a gift horse in the mouth…”

“I assume I’m the horse in this analogy of yours?”

“Stay with me… Our kids are a lot. Twin babies. A toddler. Two older kids who fight. This isn’t your average babysitting gig. You might want to start out with something a little less—how can I say this?—savage.”

Brows raised, she said, “Are you calling your children savages?”

“If the shoe fits…”

Julia laughed. “Wow, something tells me your romantic evening with Maddie might not go as you hope if she hears you describe her children that way.”

“I think she said it first, actually.”

Julia collapsed into laughter. She laughed so hard, she had tears in her eyes.

“In case you were wondering what’s ahead for you…”

“Gee, thanks for scaring the shit out of me.”

“Word of advice… Don’t have three babies in eighteen months when you already have two.”

“I believe there’s zero chance that’ll happen to me.”

“I would’ve said the same thing myself a few years ago, and look at me now.”

“So what’s your plan for romancing your wife?”

“I haven’t gotten beyond finding a way to escape.”

“To go where?”

“Haven’t figured that out yet.”

“Doesn’t your cousin own a hotel?”

“In fact, she does. Great idea.”

Julia rolled her eyes. “That was a gimme.”

“Don’t get cocky. We’ve got more work to do here.” He sent a text to Laura, asking if he could reserve a room for the evening. A fireplace would be a bonus , he added. “Okay, I asked her. What else have you got?”

“What’s the dinner plan?”

“You’ll be shocked to hear I haven’t gotten to that yet.”

“Don’t you have a sister-in-law with a restaurant in your cousin’s hotel?”

“You’re good at this.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“Believe it or not, I’ve been told that before.”

She cackled with laughter. “Believe it.”

“Oh hey, Laura responded that she’s got the perfect room for us, so that’s all set.”

“Why don’t you call the florist and have some flowers sent over?”

“Another great idea. I don’t deserve you.”

“I tell you that every day. Do you want me to do that?”

“No, I want to do it myself so it doesn’t seem like I farmed this out to others, you know?”

“I respect that, even if you’re still an idiot.”

“Stephanie is in to deliver dinner to the room.”

“Doncha just love when a plan comes together?”

“You have no idea how much I love this plan.” He stopped short of mentioning he hoped to get lucky for the first time in months, but more than anything, he couldn’t wait for some precious time alone with his love to reconnect as a couple.

“No one tells you how tough kids can be on a marriage, even though we love them more than anything and wouldn’t trade a second with them. It’s just a lot sometimes.”

“Five kids is a ridiculous number of kids.”

“Six, actually. We count Connor, the one we lost, too.”

“Of course. Six is a ridiculous number, too.”

He grinned. “But they bring a ridiculous amount of joy in addition to the mess, the screaming, the diapers, the never-ending bickering… Maddie likes to remind me that while the days are long, the years are short, and we need to enjoy every stage for what it is. But I’m looking forward to the time when they’re all out of diapers and a bit more portable. ”

“That’s fair. The baby years are intense, even when you don’t have three in eighteen months.”

“I wonder if Adam and Abby know what they’re in for with four babies.”

“I bet they’re finding out.”

“Probably. Okay, what else am I forgetting?”

“How can you surprise Maddie and get her to pack for a night away, too?”

“Hmmm, that’s a tough one. Could I pack for her?”

Julia gave him a withering look.

“Right. Bad idea.”

“How about asking her mother to do it?”

“That’s a thought. Remind me I owe you a bonus.”

She pretended to do something on her phone. “I’ll add that to my to-do list.”

“Despite your sarcasm and snark, you’re rather handy to have around.”

“You already knew that.”

His phone rang with a call from Ned that he took on speaker so Julia could hear, too. “What’s the good word, my man?”

“Yer all set. Francine and I will take the overnight shift so you kids can have a night off.”

“God bless you both.”

Ned guffawed. “Happy ta do it. Ya know we love bein’ with the kids.”

“Thank goodness someone does—besides us, of course.”

“Haha, I won’t tell yer wife ya said that.”

“She knows. Believe me. Do you think you guys could go over a little early, and Francine could pack a bag for Maddie?”

“Yep, we gotcha covered.”

“You’re the best. Both of you. Please tell her I said thank you.”

“Will do. Been a busy week fer the grandparents with baby Adrian arriving.”

“How’s he doing? I need to get over there to see him.”

“He’s a sweet little guy. His sisters are smitten with him.”

“In case I forget to tell you, old pal, seeing you in grandpa mode is one of my favorite things ever.”

“Aw shucks, thanks. Best time o’ my life. I’ll collect Francine, and we’ll get over ta yer place ta get this mission started.”

“I’ll be there around six. Thanks again.”

“Any time.”

“He’s the absolute sweetest,” Julia said. “He reminds me of our Charlie.”

“I can see that.”

“It takes a special man to step up for someone else’s children.”

“Does that make me special, too?” His son Thomas was born before he met Maddie, but he was his child in every way that mattered.

“You’re special, all right.”

“You’re a tough crowd.”

“You already knew that, too. What else do you need to make tonight perfect?”

“Just my beautiful wife. That’s all I ever need.”