Willow Brook Road(78)

“Why is that?” Will asked. A psychologist, he had insights they all relied on from time to time. As the husband of Mick’s youngest daughter, Jess, the owner of the Inn at Eagle Point, Will understood the family dynamics as well as any of them.

“The whole adoption process is taking a lot longer than either of us imagined,” Mack said, his own frustration evident. Around Susie, he did his best to be upbeat and encouraging, but the situation was getting to him, too. “Having this private adoption fall through at the last minute was devastating for her. Susie insists she’s through trying, but I can see the longing in her eyes every time we’re around the other kids in the family. She almost balked at coming today. When I asked why, she came up with some lame excuse, but I know it’s because she wants her own baby so badly. I got her here by warning her that Nell would start asking questions if she missed another Sunday dinner.”

“Still, I can understand her desire to avoid these family meals,” Will said. “Everywhere she turns, there’s either a new baby or one on the way. That’s bound to hurt.”

“Exactly,” Mack said. “It’s killing her. It’s turning her into someone I hardly recognize anymore.”

“Bree’s worried about her, too,” Jake admitted. “Susie was coming around the house pretty regularly to spend time with Emily Rose, but she suddenly stopped. Bree can’t decide whether to talk to her about it or to let it go. And she mentioned that Susie’s been avoiding the women in the family who gather at the café in the mornings, too. Sounds as if she’s withdrawing from everyone.”

“Not everyone,” Abby said, pulling up another chair and joining them. “Sorry for eavesdropping, but Mack, I was looking for you.”

“Any particular reason?” Mack asked.

“Did you need to speak to him alone?” Will asked, obviously sensing Abby’s mood. Even Mack, who could be pretty oblivious to such things, could tell she wasn’t happy.

“Actually, you should probably all hear this. Will, you might have some ideas about how to handle the situation,” Abby said.

Mack regarded her warily. “This is about Susie?” he concluded.

She nodded. “I was coming out of the house just now and overheard her talking to Jess about Sam, Bobby and Carrie.”

Mack could guess from Abby’s protective expression what the gist of the conversation had been. He knew because he’d heard the same or similar comments. “She thinks Carrie’s making a move on Sam because of Bobby and that Sam’s completely lacking in parenting skills.”

Abby gave him a startled look. “Pretty much. She’s said the same to you?”

Mack nodded. “She knows she’s wrong, but she can’t seem to help herself. It’s this whole adoption fiasco. She’s not thinking straight. For some reason she’s seized on Bobby like some sort of lifeline, a child who might need her.”

“Well, I don’t know how often she’s been talking like this or to whom,” Abby said, “but this time not only did I overhear her, so did Carrie.”

“Blast it!” Mack said heatedly. “I am so sorry, Abby. Did they get into it?”

“No, Carrie walked away. I don’t know if Susie even realized she was there. I’m afraid my daughter might not be quite so forgiving next time. She was hurt and angry, but she was trying very hard to put herself into Susie’s position.” She leveled a look at Mack. “The last thing we want is an open feud between those two with everyone in the family taking sides.”

“Of course not,” Mack agreed, then turned to Will. “How am I supposed to fix this?”

“Talk to her,” Will said. “Get her to open up to you.”

“Do you think it’s that freaking easy?” Mack retorted. “She won’t talk about it. If I bring up the adoption, she snaps my head off. I get it. I really do, but it’s taking a toll. I swear there are days when I think dealing with the cancer was easier than this. At least we knew what we had to do then. And we stuck together. Neither of us knows how to fix this and it’s evident to me that she thinks she’s facing it all alone.”

Will regarded him thoughtfully. “I noticed something today that fits what both of you are saying. When Susie was watching Carrie with Sam and Bobby, she looked almost angry, as if Carrie had stolen something from her.”

Mack sighed heavily. “I know. It’s just as I feared when I took her over to the inn to meet Bobby. I think she got this crazy idea of jumping in to save this poor motherless little boy. Except now Carrie’s obviously beat her to it.”