Willow Brook Road(40)

“Of course you do. Give it time, Susie. You can’t expect to go through something like this without it taking a toll. I was probably pushing too hard for us to try again, because I thought that would help. I was wrong. You need time to mourn.”

“That’s exactly it,” she said, seizing on his comment. “I’m mourning this child that was almost ours. When I lash out at Carrie the way I did just now, I can hear the words as if someone else is saying them and I’m horrified at the spitefulness, but I can’t seem to stop.” She sighed. “Maybe I should see Will.”

“That’s your decision, but it might help to have another perspective. I may be too close to this to give you the sort of unbiased support you need.”

“I’ll think about it,” she promised. “And now, if you’re not totally turned off by my mood swings, how would you feel about taking me to dinner? It’s not too late for our date night, is it?”

“It’s never too late for me to spend an evening with you, anyplace you want to go,” Mack said readily, relieved for now.

“Brady’s, I think. I’d like some wine and some excellent rockfish and maybe even a decadent dessert.”

Mack smiled. “Now you’re talking my language. Great food and a date with the woman I love more than anything in this world. Let’s do it.”

Though she cast one last look at the still-silent phone, she grabbed her purse and locked up. Just outside she looked up at him. “Have I mentioned how much I love you and how lucky I am that you’re hanging in here with me?”

“No chance of me doing anything else,” he assured her. “You’re my world, Suze. And whether we ever have kids or we don’t, you will always be more than enough. Please try to remember that.”



When Carrie arrived at the inn in the morning to pick up Sam and Bobby, there was no sign of them. Her aunt Jess found her pacing in the lobby.

“There you are,” Jess said. “It’s crazy around here this weekend. We’re packed, so I’ve been helping in the kitchen and dining room, but I’ve been trying to watch for you. Sam wanted me to ask if you could pick them up at the ball field. Kevin came by earlier and drove Sam and Bobby to T-ball. Kevin thought it would be easier for Bobby if Davey and Johnny arrived at the field with him. Sometimes my big brother demonstrates amazing sensitivity.” She grinned. “Of course it was probably Shanna’s idea.”

Carrie laughed. “More than likely. Thanks for passing along the message. I’d better get over there.”

“Not before you have a cup of coffee with me,” Jess said. “Call Gram and tell her you’re running late. She won’t mind. I spoke to her a few minutes ago and said you might be.”

Carrie regarded her suspiciously. “You told Gram I’d be late?”

“I said it was a possibility, because of having to go by the ball field,” her aunt said blithely.

Carrie tried to protest any further delay, but Jess had a firm grip on her elbow as she guided her into the busy dining room. “There’s a table over by the window. I’ll get the coffee and join you in a minute.”

“Jess, I really don’t have time,” Carrie argued, then glimpsed her mother at the table Jess had pointed out. “Ah, I see. An ambush.”

Jess laughed. “You can choose to see it that way if you want, but I tend to do my big sister’s bidding, especially after she’s handed me a nice, fat dividend check from the investments she’s made for me.”

As Carrie crossed the room, she noticed her mom was distractedly stirring her own coffee. Since she took neither cream nor sugar in it, it was clearly a nervous gesture just to pass the time.

“Hi, Mom. You’re out bright and early on a Saturday morning,” Carrie said, giving her a hug. “How’d you manage that?”

“Trace took Patrick to the ball field. He wants to play T-ball, even though he can barely hold the bat.”

“So, rather than taking advantage of a little time to yourself, you just happened to come by here?”

“I had a check for Jess, but then I heard you were stopping by to pick up Sam Winslow and I was hoping to catch a glimpse of both of you. Apparently I missed Sam, but here you are.”

“Sorry you’re not getting a twofer,” Carrie teased. “And why would you want to meet Sam, anyway?”

“The O’Brien rumor mill has been buzzing. I wanted to see if there was any truth to what I was hearing.” She gave Carrie a chiding look. “You might have mentioned yourself that you’d met a nice young man.”