Page 5 of Delivery After Dark (Gansett Island #28)

T hey were killing him with kindness, Morgan thought as he shook hands and received hugs from a few people he remembered from back in the day and others he recognized but didn’t really know. They’d known Billy, though, and had nothing but nice—and funny—things to say about him.

His brother had been making people laugh all their lives with his quick wit and sardonic take on just about everything.

“I always looked forward to his greeting at the gym,” Oliver Watson said as he stood with his wife, Dara, her sister, Monique, and Linc Mercer, the Coast Guard officer who’d led the search for Billy and Jim. “You never knew what he’d have to say, but it was always entertaining.”

“That was Billy. He was very proud of being the class clown in high school.”

“I can picture that,” Oliver said, smiling.

“Our parents weren’t as thrilled by it as he was.”

Dara laughed. “I love that.”

“Billy told them it would always be his proudest accomplishment, and they said they feared for his future.”

“He did just fine despite that,” Oliver said. “I loved the atmosphere at his gym. Everyone did. And it came directly from him.”

“That’s nice to hear. He had a special way with people. He always found some way to connect with them.”

“He was great at that,” Oliver said. “We won’t keep you, but please know we’re here if there’s anything we can do for you, man.”

“Thank you. Everyone is so very kind.”

“That’s Gansett for you,” Dara said. “We’ve found the community of our dreams here. We were supposed to come for a year and then move on, but we’re not going anywhere.”

“I’m glad to hear you’ve found a home here.”

“Do you think you’ll hang out here for a while longer?” Linc asked.

“I’m not sure yet. I’ve got to figure out what to do about the gym and clean out Billy’s house and stuff. I’m not making any big decisions yet, but I do have a job and a life of my own to get back to at some point. My company has been supportive of me taking an extended leave.”

“That’s nice to hear,” Monique said. “You should take all the time you need before you make any decisions.”

“That’s the plan. One day at a time.”

Morgan’s high school classmate Luke Harris and his wife, Sydney, came over to speak to Morgan, so Oliver and his family stepped aside.

He’d barely made it inside the room, and he’d been there for thirty minutes.

Duke Sullivan brought him a draft beer. “Figured you might be getting thirsty.”

“You figured right. Thanks.”

“We won’t keep you,” Luke said. “But if there’s anything we can do, please feel free to reach out.”

“Appreciate that,” Morgan said.

“If I may,” Sydney said somewhat tentatively, “I’ve been where you are after losing my husband and children in a drunk driving accident. If you need to talk to someone who gets it, please call me.” She handed him a business card. “Any time.”

“That’s very kind of you. I’m sorry for your losses.”

Sydney hugged him. “And I’m sorry for yours.”

After they walked away, Morgan glanced toward the bar and caught Sierra looking at him—again. He raised a brow in inquiry.

Her face flushed with color as she looked away.

What’s that about? he wondered, intrigued by her, which was ridiculous in light of how tumultuous his life was at the moment.

Even as he had that thought, however, he was still intrigued.

“I feel so bad for Morgan,” Monique said as she sat with Linc across the table from her sister and brother-in-law. “What do you suppose he’ll do now?”

“Hard to say,” Oliver replied. “He’ll probably want to find a way to keep the gym open as it’s a pretty successful business.”

“Is it?” Dara asked. “I wouldn’t think gyms make that much.”

“Billy told me it’s all about the people who sign up and then forget about it. He said half his members rarely came in, but they kept the membership for someday when they decide to get in shape.”

“So it’s like a psychological thing, then,” Monique said. “That’s interesting.”

“I’ve been guilty of that very thing,” Linc said. “Having the gym membership that I rarely use because I’d prefer to run or be outside to work out. Billy has made a lot of money off me since I moved to the island.”

Monique wasn’t sure what possessed her to reach over to squeeze his well-developed biceps. “Where’d these come from, then?”

He grinned at her. “Free weights at home.”

“Ah, I see.” That smile of his made her insides flutter any time he directed it her way.

After weeks of texts and FaceTime chats, she was happy to be back with him again, even if it was for a sad occasion.

He’d told her he dreaded Billy’s funeral after leading the effort to find his body in the Salt Pond, so she’d come to offer her support.

She hadn’t told him she was coming and had truly enjoyed his stunned expression when she slid into the pew next to him in church.

And then he’d made it worth the trip by reaching for her hand and holding on throughout the service.

Under the table, he rested his hand on her leg, which was all it took to set off the low hum of desire that’d been building between them since the first time they hung out months ago. He’d invited her back to his place that night, but she’d declined because she was leaving early the next day.

Fresh off an ugly divorce, she hadn’t been sure she could handle a one-night stand with him. Now, though, she was fairly confident neither of them was interested in one and done. He’d repeatedly asked her to come back to the island for another visit and had offered to come see her on his days off.

They hadn’t made any plans yet, so that was why it’d been fun to surprise him, even if it was for a funeral.

Oliver spotted Jared James across the bar. “Let’s go say hello,” he said to Dara.

“Be right back,” she said as she followed Oliver over to see their friend. Oliver had been working with Jared to learn the investing business and was now doing that full time from the island and having great success with it.

“Alone at last,” Linc said as he put his arm around her.

Monique rested against him, warning herself to slow her roll, to be careful, to not risk more than she could afford to lose. She ought to pull back, to keep her distance, but that was the last thing she wanted to do after missing him so much.

“It means a lot that you came today.”

“I was hoping it would be a good surprise.”

“It was the best. I was feeling really low about it, and you made me feel better.”

“I’m glad.”

“How long can you stay?”

She gave a little shrug. “My stay is open-ended.”

“I love open ends.”

She laughed at the dirty way he said that.

“What about work?”

“I’m off for a bit.” She’d taken a leave of absence from her job as the branch manager of a bank in a Boston suburb. The job bored her, and since she’d received a decent settlement from her ex-husband, she’d decided to take a few months off to figure out her life.

“Is that right? So you’re kind of footloose and fancy-free at the moment?”

“I suppose I am.”

“That works out really well.”

“How so?”

“I’m off for a couple of weeks myself after working around the clock during the storm and extra hours for months since then. My commanding officer told me to get lost for at least two weeks and to not check in or else he’d write me up for being a workaholic.”

“What do you intend to do with this unplanned vacation?”

“I had no idea until about five minutes ago when you mentioned the footloose situation.”

“I believe you’re the one who called it that.”

“Are your feet loose, or are they not?”

“They are,” she said with a chuckle.

“As are mine. What do you say we be footloose together?”

“I’d consider that.”

He pulled her in closer to him. “I’m really glad you came today. The minute I saw you, I felt better.”

“In that case, I’m very glad I came, too.”

Oliver nudged Dara. “Look.”

“Where?”

“Your sister and Linc.”

Across the crowded room, they had their heads together, whispering and smiling, mindless of everything happening around them.

“I told you there was something brewing there,” Oliver said.

“I told you that.”

“When did you tell me that?”

“One of those times when you were nodding but not really listening.”

“I never do that. I hang on every word you say, my love.”

She rolled her eyes. “Sure you do.”

“Is she ready for something new?” Oliver asked hesitantly.

“I suppose that’s up to her to decide, but I like him. He seems like a solid kind of guy, unlike the one she married.”

Oliver would never get over the brother-in-law he’d once been close to cheating on Monique with a twenty-three-year-old recent college graduate.

The shock of that news had stayed with him for months after it first happened, as did the blow-by-blow from one of the ugliest divorces in history.

She was just getting her sparkle back after that ordeal, and he would hate to see her hurt again.

When Dara let out a little gasp, he forgot all about his concerns for Monique and focused on his wife. “What’s wrong?”

Dara rested a hand over her pregnant belly. “I… I felt her move.” She reached for his hand and placed it on her belly.

Oliver held perfectly still until he felt the unmistakable flutter rippling under his hand. His eyes flooded with tears as the memory of doing the same thing when she was expecting their late son, Lewis, appeared out of nowhere, leaving him staggered by the rush of emotion.

“Do you feel her?”

“Yes, there she is.”

A week ago, they’d found out the baby was a girl.

He’d been relieved to get that news, as the thought of another boy had left him unsettled by the notion of “replacing” the son they’d lost so tragically.

A daughter would be a completely different experience for them.

When he’d shared that thought with Dara, she’d agreed with him.

“Everything okay, guys?” Monique’s question roused them out of their private bubble to remind him they were in a room full of people who’d be wondering what was going on.

“I felt the baby,” Dara told her sister.

Oliver moved his hand so Monique could feel her niece.

“Oh wow,” Monique said tearfully. “That’s amazing.”

The loss of Lewis had nearly ruined all of them, but this little girl… She was giving them something they badly needed: hope.

“Will we tell her someday that we were in a bar the first time we felt her move?” Dara asked, smiling.

Oliver brushed the tears off her cheek. “Maybe we can keep that part to ourselves.”

She and Monique laughed and then hugged each other tightly. Monique had been an incredible source of love and support to them during the darkness. She was as thrilled about the new baby as they were.

They reached for Oliver to include him in their group hug.

When they finally pulled back from one another, laughing and wiping away tears, he noticed a few people watching them with curiosity.

“You guys all right?” his friend Jared asked quietly.

“Just felt the baby move. We might’ve overreacted a bit.”

“No such thing. Congrats, man.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you know what you’re having?”

“A girl.”

“I hope she’ll be a friend to our Violet.”

“We’d love that. How long until the adoption is final?”

“Three more weeks. We’re in the home stretch.”

“I hope it goes by quickly for you.”

“There’re my girls now,” Jared said, brightening at the sight of his wife, Lizzie, carrying their daughter into the Beachcomber.

Jared waved to Lizzie, who came over to join them.

“Hey.” She raised her cheek for a kiss from Jared. “How was the service?”

“Terribly sad, but also lovely. Morgan gave a beautiful eulogy.”

Lizzie sought out Morgan in the crowd. “How’s he doing?”

“Seems to be hanging in there.”

“Has he said what his plans are?”

“Not yet.”

“I hope he sticks around,” Oliver said. “I can attest that this is a good place to pass the time while you heal from a tough loss.”

“We couldn’t agree more,” Lizzie said. “We love this island and everyone who lives here.”

“We do, too,” Oliver said.

“Did you find a house?” Jared asked.

“We’ve made an offer on a place on the west side. We’re waiting on pins and needles to hear.”

“Oh, exciting,” Lizzie said. “I’m so glad you’re staying.”

“We are, too,” Dara said. “After spending this year here, we couldn’t imagine raising our daughter anywhere else.”

“Violet can’t wait to meet her.” The baby had light brown hair, big hazel eyes and chubby cheeks.

Morgan came over to say hello, shaking hands with Jared. “Thanks for coming today.”

“Of course,” Jared said. “Billy was a friend. He’ll be missed around here.”

“If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that,” Morgan said, smiling. “The outpouring has been incredible.”

“That’s Gansett for you,” Lizzie said. “People show up.”

Police Chief Blaine Taylor and his pregnant wife, Tiffany, came into the bar and walked over to see Morgan. Tiffany’s ex-husband, Jim Sturgil, had died along with Billy during the storm. Their young daughter, Ashleigh, had taken her father’s death hard.

Tiffany had dark circles under her eyes. Her husband stayed close to her as they exchanged hugs with Morgan.

“How’s your daughter?” Morgan asked.

“She’s doing okay,” Tiffany said. “Good days. Bad days. You know how it is.”

“I do, and I’m sorry she’s hurting.”

“Thank you for caring.”

“Of course. I heard she used to come to the gym with her dad. Tell her she’s got a lifetime membership for whenever she wants to use it.”

“That’s so sweet of you.”

“Tell her I’m thinking of her, and I get what she’s going through.”

“I’ll do that, and thank you again.”

“Everyone here has been so very good to me. It’s the least I can do.”

“You should come for dinner some night,” Blaine said. “You can tell Ashleigh yourself about her gym membership. She’ll think it’s cool.”

“I’d love to.”

Blaine shook Morgan’s hand. “We’ll be in touch.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”