The doctor had asked them to stay close for the night in case Maddie had any complications, so they were spending another night at Uncle Frank’s house. She’d done nothing but sleep since they’d arrived a couple of hours ago. They’d been told to expect her to be sore for a couple of days with spotty bleeding, but otherwise, she’d be back to normal in a week or so.

They’d also been told they could try again to conceive after she’d had two regular periods. Maddie hadn’t reacted to any of this information, and other than allowing him to help her get dressed, she hadn’t reacted to him either.

Now Mac was left with an entire evening to himself and only his own unpleasant thoughts to keep him company. Would Maddie bounce back from this heartbreaking loss, or would she be different now? Would she ever talk to him about it, or was he expected to get through it on his own?

His dad had left shortly after Maddie came out of surgery, with promises to check in with him later. Mac still couldn’t believe his father had come from the island to sit with him while Maddie was in surgery. But of course he shouldn’t have been surprised. His dad had always been there for him, in good times and bad, propping him up, steering him clear of trouble and supporting him and his siblings in any way he could.

His ringing cell phone snapped him out of his thoughts. Mac glanced at the caller ID and wasn’t surprised to see the word BRAT on the screen. “Hey, brat.”

“Honestly, Mac. I’m calling to check on you and Maddie, which of course you know, and you still have to call me that?” Janey asked.

“Helps to keep things normal.”

“Then by all means, call me whatever you want.”

“Thanks, brat.”

“How is she?”

“Physically, it all went well from what we were told. Routine, if such a thing can be routine. Emotionally? I don’t know. She’s barely said a word to me since we got the news at the clinic.”

“How about you?”

“I don’t know about that either. I’m all over the place. Mostly I’m worried about her and the way she’s internalizing it. It’s like I’m not even here or like it wasn’t my kid, too. Like I said. I don’t know how I am.”

“It’s a fresh loss, Mac. She had to get past the medical business before she could process it. I’m sure she’ll be back to normal in no time.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“When have you ever known me not to be right?”

“Such a brat.”

“That’s why you love me.”

“Yeah, it is.”

“I love you, too, Mac, and I’m so sorry you guys are going through this.”

“Thanks.” He sat on the sofa and pressed his fingers to his eyes, as if that could contain his tears.

“Are you going to be all right?”

“Eventually.”

“I’m here if you need me. You know that, right?”

“Yeah. Thanks, brat.”

“Any time. Will you be home tomorrow?”

“That’s the plan, unless she has complications.”

“I’ll bring dinner over.”

“Sounds good. I’ll see you then.”

After he ended the call with Janey, Adam called, then Evan and then Grant, each of them expressing sorrow for his loss and concern for Maddie—and him. Talking to his siblings made Mac feel less alone and helped to pass the time, but it was still only eight, and he was starting to feel hungry even though the thought of eating made him sort of nauseated.

The phone rang again, this time with a Providence number he didn’t recognize. Thinking it was someone from the hospital, he took the call.

“Hi, Mac, it’s Mallory. I thought I’d get your voice mail.”

“Oh, hey,” he said to the half sister he’d only recently learned he had. “How are you?”

“I’m fine, but I just spoke to… to Big Mac, and he told me you were in town and why. I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you.”

“He said you were staying at his brother’s house on the east side, which is where I live. I was going to leave a message to let you know I was nearby if I could do anything for you or your wife.”

“That’s very nice of you. Thanks.”

“Do you need anything?”

Mac hesitated but only for a moment. “Do you know where I can get a pizza around here?”

“I certainly do.”

“Throw in a couple of beers, and we’ll be friends for life.”

She laughed. “You got it. What do you like on the pizza?”

“Sausage and onion?”

“Hey, me, too!”

“Really?”

“Yep. Thin crust or thick?”

“Thin.”

“We must be related.”

“I heard a rumor that we are, and P.S., this is really nice of you.”

“I’m happy to do it. I’ll be there in thirty minutes or so.”

“Did Dad give you the address?”

“He did. I’m three blocks away. Is there anything I can get for your wife?”

“She’s out cold, and they said she would be for most of the night.”

“All right, then. I’ll see you shortly.”

“Great, thanks again.” Mac put down the phone, feeling oddly grateful to a woman he’d met only once before, when she’d come to the island to seek out the father who hadn’t known she existed. What a strange day that had been, but because it mattered so much to the dad who mattered so much to them, they were willing to make an effort where Mallory was concerned.

Mac had been prepared to dislike her. After all, he loved being the oldest sibling in his family as well as the oldest grandchild on the McCarthy side of the family. Since Mallory was older than he was, she bumped him off his oldest-child pedestal. But there was nothing not to like about her. She’d come into his parents’ home on the day his father told them about her and hadn’t tried to be anything other than a potential new friend to them.

Janey, who’d just had P.J. under difficult circumstances, had chosen not to meet Mallory that day. Hopefully, they would meet this coming weekend when Mallory returned to the island to get to know her new family better.

It was nice of her to reach out to him and to bring him dinner. While he waited for her, he answered a concerned text from Luke and took calls from his mother, Maddie’s mother and her sister, Tiffany, all of whom were looking for assurances that Maddie was okay. What was he supposed to say? No, she’s not okay. She’s traumatized and silent and nothing at all like her usual self.

But that wasn’t what he said. He told them what they needed to hear—that she was resting after a tough day and they’d be home tomorrow, barring any complications.

He’d just hung up with Tiffany when the doorbell rang. As he opened the door to Mallory, her resemblance to his father’s mother struck Mac all over again. The photo of his grandmother as a young woman had been on his father’s desk for as long as Mac could remember, and looking at Mallory with her curly dark hair and brown eyes was like looking at her.

“Come in.” Relieving her of the bag she carried, he stepped aside to admit her, his stomach growling as the aroma of pizza made his mouth water. Mac led her to the kitchen in the back of the house, took two of the beers from the six-pack and cracked them open before stashing the rest in the empty fridge. “Thanks again for this.”

“No problem at all. I hadn’t eaten yet either.” Mallory served up the pizza on the paper plates the restaurant had provided, and they ate in silence.

“Really good,” Mac said between bites.

“My favorite.”

“I can see why.” He noticed her glancing at him occasionally before refocusing on her pizza. “What? Do I have sauce on my face?”

“No,” she said with a laugh. “It’s just… You know, first time I’ve ever had pizza with my brother.” She shrugged. “It’s kind of cool.”

“For me, too.”

“So you don’t all hate me for showing up unexpectedly and staking my claim on your father?”

Mac paused with his beer bottle halfway to his mouth. “Did you stake a claim on him? I must’ve missed that part.”

“He’s the one who staked the claim. I would’ve been satisfied to meet him. He wanted more.”

“We don’t hate you, Mallory. It’s not like you set out to intentionally upend our family or cause trouble. My dad—our dad—is the best guy I know, and I’m not at all surprised that he staked a claim. He wasn’t going to let you walk away after learning you were his. That’s not who he is.”

“I’m starting to understand that. He calls me. A lot.”

Mac chuckled. “Welcome to my world. Not that I mind. When I lived in Miami, I talked to him almost every day. My business partners used to make fun of me. ‘Is that Daddy calling to check on his wittle boy?’ they’d say. I’d just laugh it off. I liked talking to him, and I know my brothers did, too, when they lived away. He’s so happy to have us all home now.” Mac took another sip of his beer and put down the bottle. “He’s probably not going to be satisfied until you live on the island, too.”

“He’s said as much! He’s even told me his buddy Ned can hook me up with a great place to live. I’ve had to remind him more than once that I have a job and already own a house.”

“He can be somewhat of a dog with a bone when he gets a big idea, so stand warned.”

“The funny thing is… He’s got me thinking about quitting my job, selling my house and moving, because it would mean I’d get to see him every day.”

“He can be rather convincing.”

“Indeed.”

A sound from the stairs had Mac on his feet when Maddie appeared in the kitchen, looking far too pale for his liking. “Hey, baby. How’re you feeling?”

“Kinda hungry, actually.”

“That’s great.” He held out his hand to her and was relieved when she took it. “Come meet my sister, Mallory. Mallory, my wife, Maddie.”

“So good to meet you,” Mallory said, shaking Maddie’s hand. “I’m sorry for the reason, though.”

“Thank you. Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Are you up for some pizza?” Mac asked.

“That sounds good. I could smell it from upstairs.”

“I hope we didn’t disturb you,” Mallory said.

“Not at all. I was awake.”

Mac put a slice of pizza on a plate and got her a glass of ice water.

She glanced at him and smiled ever so slightly. “Thanks.”

That hint of a smile unlocked the tight knot of fear that had gripped him for two long days now. She was going to be all right. It might take time for her to bounce back fully, but his Maddie, his love, was still in there.

They visited with Mallory for another hour before she took her leave, promising to catch up with them over the weekend when she came to the island. She wanted to meet their children, and Mac looked forward to introducing them to their new aunt. It was funny to think that they’d grow up knowing her as another of his siblings. They wouldn’t know there was anything “different” about her compared to his other sister or brothers.

After he locked up, Mac followed Maddie upstairs, hoping the small breakthrough he’d witnessed earlier would carry forth. “Do you need anything?” he asked when she was settled in bed.

“No, thanks.”

“Are you in any pain?”

As she shook her head, her golden eyes filled with tears.

“Maddie…”

“No, Mac. I can’t talk about it, so please don’t ask me to. Not yet.”

“Could I just hold you? Please?”

“Okay.”

He got into bed and reached for her.

She turned into his embrace, bringing the familiar scent of summer flowers with her.

Mac breathed her in as he held her close, relieved that she’d let him hold her. “I love you, Madeline. More than anything in this entire world. Don’t ever forget that.”

A soft sob was the only reply he got, but he was comforted to have her close to him. For now, for tonight, that was enough.