driving far too fast down the Safe Haven drive.
Mona sat down, and everyone else did as well. The only sound in the room was Serena gnawing on her plastic teething ring.
Then Annie accidentally knocked a fork onto the wood floor, and the sound shattered the silence.
“Pass the meat,” Christina said. “It’s time to eat.”
So that’s what they did. They ate—scallops, cod, lobster, and clams. A rice pilaf. Roast beef and twice-baked potatoes. Asparagus. Fruit salad and several kinds of homemade breads. They had some wine. Then they had some more. And within twenty minutes the discomfort had faded and the laughter had returned. Even Mona had bounced back. But in the midst of the revelry Clancy flashed occasional glances Duncan’s way, a silent acknowledgment that the two of them
had to do something about Da.
Coffee and tea were served. The dessert was a personalized cake Mellie had decorated just for the birthday boy and then hastily edited. The cake top was nothing but a multicolored smear of icing, the only letters visible being
H-A-P-P-Y.
Duncan excused himself, saying he didn’t care for dessert and needed to rest. He received nine simultaneous inquiries about whether he was okay. He assured everyone he was, then went around the table to kiss his mother, sister, Annie, Mellie, Christina, and baby Serena, who gave him another drill-sergeant stare, and then he headed for the main staircase.
Duncan was lying. He was bone-tired. It had been a long day, the most physically and mentally demanding day he’d had since the ambush eight months earlier. Today had been complicated, too. He had been blindsided by emotions, feelings that hit hard and lingered with him even now. He wasn’t used to that. He’d felt tenderness for his nieces, happiness for his sister, protectiveness for his mother, and maybe even a little jealousy seeing how close Annie and Nat were, along with Rowan and Ash, and Clancy and Evelyn. He almost felt like a crasher at a committed-couples convention.
And then there was his da. What an insensitive dickhead he could be! And yet . . . Duncan was sad for him, too. Frasier seemed lost without Ma. That didn’t excuse his stupidity, but it might help explain it.
Clancy had been right—they would definitely have to do something about their father.
Wait.
Duncan was halfway up the first flight of wide oak stairs when it hit him: this was why he didn’t like staying too long on the island. His family was a mess. Relationships—every single one he’d ever seen or been a part of—were difficult and complicated. Relationships had never been his strong suit and never would be.
Just then he heard the front door open and an unfamiliar female voice float over the hum of conversation and laughter.
“Hello, everybody! I hope you don’t mind that I stopped by.”
“Lena!” Rowan yelled.
“You showed up!” Annie said.
“It’s really great to see you. Welcome.” That was Clancy.
Then Mellie’s voice sounded alive with pleasure and surprise. “You made it,
menina!
Come! Sit down and have some cake!”
“Would you like coffee?” Evie asked.
Duncan froze on the step. He rested his palm on the highly polished railing, sliding it back and forth on the smooth wood, unable to decide. He knew he should go downstairs and say hello. It would be the decent thing to do. He hadn’t seen Mellie’s daughter since . . . God, since right after high school.
But he was too tired to be decent. So instead, he lowered his chin, looked down through the stair railings into the dining room doorway, and spied the outline of a shapely female leg ending in a frilly little sandal. That must be her.
“You missed Duncan by minutes!” Mona said. “I know he would have enjoyed seeing you again after all this time. I can go get him.”
“No, please. Let him rest. I can’t stay, but I wanted to stop by and say . . .” The voice trailed off. Clearly, she’d just noticed the guest of honor was nowhere
Mona sat down, and everyone else did as well. The only sound in the room was Serena gnawing on her plastic teething ring.
Then Annie accidentally knocked a fork onto the wood floor, and the sound shattered the silence.
“Pass the meat,” Christina said. “It’s time to eat.”
So that’s what they did. They ate—scallops, cod, lobster, and clams. A rice pilaf. Roast beef and twice-baked potatoes. Asparagus. Fruit salad and several kinds of homemade breads. They had some wine. Then they had some more. And within twenty minutes the discomfort had faded and the laughter had returned. Even Mona had bounced back. But in the midst of the revelry Clancy flashed occasional glances Duncan’s way, a silent acknowledgment that the two of them
had to do something about Da.
Coffee and tea were served. The dessert was a personalized cake Mellie had decorated just for the birthday boy and then hastily edited. The cake top was nothing but a multicolored smear of icing, the only letters visible being
H-A-P-P-Y.
Duncan excused himself, saying he didn’t care for dessert and needed to rest. He received nine simultaneous inquiries about whether he was okay. He assured everyone he was, then went around the table to kiss his mother, sister, Annie, Mellie, Christina, and baby Serena, who gave him another drill-sergeant stare, and then he headed for the main staircase.
Duncan was lying. He was bone-tired. It had been a long day, the most physically and mentally demanding day he’d had since the ambush eight months earlier. Today had been complicated, too. He had been blindsided by emotions, feelings that hit hard and lingered with him even now. He wasn’t used to that. He’d felt tenderness for his nieces, happiness for his sister, protectiveness for his mother, and maybe even a little jealousy seeing how close Annie and Nat were, along with Rowan and Ash, and Clancy and Evelyn. He almost felt like a crasher at a committed-couples convention.
And then there was his da. What an insensitive dickhead he could be! And yet . . . Duncan was sad for him, too. Frasier seemed lost without Ma. That didn’t excuse his stupidity, but it might help explain it.
Clancy had been right—they would definitely have to do something about their father.
Wait.
Duncan was halfway up the first flight of wide oak stairs when it hit him: this was why he didn’t like staying too long on the island. His family was a mess. Relationships—every single one he’d ever seen or been a part of—were difficult and complicated. Relationships had never been his strong suit and never would be.
Just then he heard the front door open and an unfamiliar female voice float over the hum of conversation and laughter.
“Hello, everybody! I hope you don’t mind that I stopped by.”
“Lena!” Rowan yelled.
“You showed up!” Annie said.
“It’s really great to see you. Welcome.” That was Clancy.
Then Mellie’s voice sounded alive with pleasure and surprise. “You made it,
menina!
Come! Sit down and have some cake!”
“Would you like coffee?” Evie asked.
Duncan froze on the step. He rested his palm on the highly polished railing, sliding it back and forth on the smooth wood, unable to decide. He knew he should go downstairs and say hello. It would be the decent thing to do. He hadn’t seen Mellie’s daughter since . . . God, since right after high school.
But he was too tired to be decent. So instead, he lowered his chin, looked down through the stair railings into the dining room doorway, and spied the outline of a shapely female leg ending in a frilly little sandal. That must be her.
“You missed Duncan by minutes!” Mona said. “I know he would have enjoyed seeing you again after all this time. I can go get him.”
“No, please. Let him rest. I can’t stay, but I wanted to stop by and say . . .” The voice trailed off. Clearly, she’d just noticed the guest of honor was nowhere