In short, everything is a mess, and we need a change badly, but we can’t afford the cost of an expensive move. When I saw your lighthouse keeper ad online, I told Dara about it, and we agreed it certainly couldn’t hurt to apply. That’s the first time we’ve agreed on anything in a long time.
I’m not sure if our marriage is going to survive the devastating loss of our son. But I am sure that we can’t go on the way we are. We appreciate your consideration of our application and look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Oliver and Dara Watkins
“I’m so glad you hired them,” Linda said.
“We didn’t hesitate to offer it to them after we read their letter.”
“Gansett will be good for them. We’ll surround them with friends and love and a whole new life. It worked for Jenny and Erin, and even Sydney when she came to the island after her terrible loss.”
“I hope you’re right. It sounds like they desperately need a fresh start. And thank you for rolling out the welcome mat for them.”
“I honestly can’t begin to know what they’ve been through. It was horrible enough losing a baby we never got to meet, but losing a three-year-old…” She shook her head. “Unbearable.”
He scooted his chair closer to hers and held out his arms to her. “Completely.”
Linda leaned into his embrace, appreciating the comfort after reading Oliver and Dara’s devastating letter. “Why do bad things happen to good people?”
“I don’t know, love. It seems so unfair.”
“Sure does.” After a long moment of contemplative silence, she looked up at him. “Did you see Mac today?”
“He was at the marina all morning but went home after lunch.”
“That poor guy is still so wound up.” They wouldn’t soon forget the fright their oldest son had given them when he collapsed in the spring. Thankfully, he’d been at the clinic when it happened, and it had been determined he’d had an anxiety attack. “I can’t wait to get those twin babies here safely so he can finally relax.”
“I worry he’s going to give himself a heart attack before they arrive,” Big Mac said with a sigh.
“It’s not as if he doesn’t have good reason to be concerned after what happened when Hailey was born, as well as Janey nearly dying having PJ and Vivienne being born on the ferry.” Linda let out a huff of nervous laughter. “Our grandbabies tend to arrive with a bit of drama. You can’t blame Mac for being worried about what the twins have in store for them.”
“At least they’re leaving soon to move to the mainland for the last few weeks. Did you hear if they decided whether Thomas is going with them or staying here?”
“He’s staying with Tiffany so he can start school on time,” Linda said of their six-year-old grandson.
“That’s probably what’s best for him.”
“But it’ll add to his parents’ stress, being separated from him for up to a month, potentially.”
“Tiffany and Blaine and the rest of us will take very good care of him.”
“Of course we will, but his parents will still fret. I hope the babies come early so they can get home and get settled in sooner rather than later.”
“I hope so, too. If there’s one downside to life on an island, access to hospitals and advanced medical care is it.”
“For sure.” Linda’s cell phone rang, and she got up to retrieve it from the counter where she’d left it to charge. “Hi, honey,” she said to her daughter, Janey. “What’s up?”
“Joe and I were wondering if we could stop by for a minute.”
“Of course you can. You know you don’t have to ask first.”
“We’re all a little terrified of the second honeymoon you two have got going on over there at the White House.”
“Oh hush. Are you bringing my grandchildren?”
“Yep. We’ll see you in a few.”
“I’ll put the light on for you.” Linda ended the call and turned to Big Mac. “They’re coming by.”
“So I heard.”
They were always happy to see the kids, especially when they brought their grandchildren. Having all five of their children and Big Mac’s daughter Mallory living on the island was a dream come true for them after their four sons had scattered as soon as they’d been old enough to leave home. One by one, they’d all come home, met the loves of their lives and settled into island life.
Janey was the only one who’d come home after college at UConn. A self-described homebody, she’d left the island to attend two years of veterinary school at Ohio State. She’d decided not to go back to school after her son PJ arrived in extra dramatic fashion with a placental abruption that had nearly killed them both. As Linda flipped on the front light for Janey, she shuddered as she relived the sheer terror of that day.
Big Mac came up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “I hope she’s not coming here to tell us they’re expecting again.”
His statement told her he, too, thought it was odd that the Cantrells were coming over so close to the kids’ bedtime, which meant something was up.
“I hope not either. Joe was planning to get a vasectomy, but that hasn’t happened yet.” Their son-in-law, who co-owned the Gansett Island Ferry Company with his mother, Carolina, worked a lot during the summer when the ferries ran almost constantly.
“I vote to get a two-for-one deal for him and Mac after the season,” Big Mac said.
“All in favor, say aye.”
“Aye,” they said together, laughing at their own foolishness.
“Who knew that having them all home would mean lots of worries about babies being born on a remote island?” he asked. They’d managed to have all of theirs in a hospital on the mainland, but that hadn’t happened for their children.
“I have to confess I didn’t really think too much about that until Hailey was born during a tropical storm with the only doctor off-island.”
“That was a wakeup call for sure.” He massaged shoulders that went tight with tension whenever she thought about the many things that could go wrong on an island with limited medical facilities. “We thought it was worrisome when they were teenagers, but it’s even more so now.”
“Definitely.” She sighed with pleasure at the way he kneaded the kinks from her muscles. “It’s the only downside to island life that I’ve ever found.”
“Here they come.” He kissed the top of her head. “Whatever it is, try not to worry. We’ll figure it out. We always do.”
Since that was the truth, she tried to take comfort in his assurances. But she wouldn’t breathe easy until she knew what her daughter was coming to tell them.
Chapter 2
Janey’s belly fluttered with nerves as they pulled into the driveway of her childhood home, and she saw her parents standing in the doorway waiting for them.
Joe put his warm hand on top of her cold one. “It’s going to be fine. You know they want this for you as much as I do.”