Page 78 of Renewal After Dark

“If you bring him here, you’ll have to take care of him by yourself.”

“That’s no problem.”

“How will you work?”

“At night after he’s in bed. I’ll make it happen. I don’t want you to worry about anything other than taking care of yourself and those babies. That’s your only job.”

“I’m so thankful they were able to stop the labor and that the babies are okay… But the thought of what’s ahead is overwhelming.”

“I know, honey, but you’re the toughest person I’ve ever met. I have no doubt you’ll slay bed rest and deliver these babies when they’re good and strong.”

“What if we don’t make it to good and strong?”

“We’ll cross every bridge if we come to it. There’s no sense worrying about things that might not happen.”

“Do you think you could snuggle with me for a minute?”

“I’d love to.” Adam moved carefully so he wouldn’t jostle any of the monitors she was attached to as he curled up to her and put his arm around her. “How’s that?”

“Much better.”

“I’m available for bed rest snuggling on demand.”

“That’s good. I’m going to need a lot of it.”

“I got you, babe. Whatever you need.”

“Be careful what you wish for, huh?”

Adam grunted out a laugh. “That needs to be our family motto.”

“For sure.”

“Tell me you know that we’ve got this, and we’ll get through it, and everything will be fine.”

“We’ve got this. We’ll get through it. Everything will be fine.”

“That’s the way.”

Duke wasquiet on the ride home, which had McKenzie wondering what he was thinking about. Naturally, that had her also wondering when he’d become the most interesting person in her world. It’d happened over a series of surreal days after her island home was destroyed and the kindness of strangers, especially him, had shown her a sense of community she’d never experienced before.

She’d known her grandmother had loved the island for many reasons, including the rugged coastline, the pristine beaches, the excellent restaurants and the many other selling points that had Rosemary rushing to the island the minute spring had sprung and staying until the trees were dropping their leaves.

But after a couple of weeks there, McKenzie understood that her grandmother’s love for the tiny island was due more than anything to the people who lived there. She’d seen that tonight as she met countless people who’d been friendly, welcoming and supportive of her and Jax and their goal of rebuilding the cabin to live on Gansett Island going forward.

She was more excited than ever about the prospect of that after having met so many other moms with young children.

“Hope you had a nice time tonight,” he said as they took one of the last turns before home.

“It was great. I’m so glad I went. Everyone is so nice.”

“They really are.”

“I can see why you wouldn’t want to give up this place, even for love.”

“I suppose it wasn’t really love if there was a choice.”

“You love your home more than you loved her. That’s the choice you made.”

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