Dad appears in the doorway.“Summer!”He throws his arms wide and waits for her to reach him.It does my heart good to see her walk right into his embrace, her body settling against him.Maybe this is why Summer is always so relieved to be home.
It’s where she belongs.
Finn shakes my hand.“Congratulations, man.Happy days.”
I nod.“You’re looking at the most relieved dude to ever draw breath.The happiest man on the planet.”
“Sorry, bro.ButI’mthe happiest man on the planet.”
Evander, Cal, and Special K join us in the driveway.
“I think the title goes to me,” Cal says.“I’m married to Victoria.”
“Fuck you all,” Evander says.“I caught Phoebe.”
“No.Fuckall y’all,” Special K says.“It’s likeLove Islandon steroids around here.I’d rather feed myself to the sharks than deal with this shit.”
“The sharks will spit your butt-ugly carcass back onto shore,” I say.
“Just you wait, baby brother.”Cal clamps an arm around K’s shoulders.“Someday, some poor, unsuspecting woman will cross your path and go allLove Islandon your ass, and you won’t know what hit you.”
“And we’ll give you shit for the rest of your natural life,” Finn says.
Special K ducks and spins away from Cal’s embrace.“I will never be domesticated,” he grumbles.“I’ll be the only MacLaine not pussy-whipped.”
“Says the only MacLaine not getting any pussy,” Evander says, straightening his suit jacket.“And believe me—I say that with the utmost respect to our pussy-whippers.There’s never been a more distinguished group of women.”
Jasmine skips across the gravel to join us.“What’re you talking about?”
“We’re discussing what’s on the menu,” I say without missing a beat.Then I lift her up and start tickling.
“Put me down, Uncle Declan!”She’s immediately breathless.“Emma made a roast and Grandpa’s got ribeyes on the grill and I’m supposed to be making corn!”
“Holy crap!Move aside!I got dibs!”I slip Jasmine under my arm like she’s a giggling girl-sized football and serpentine my way up the steps, across the porch, and through the front door.
“There’s enough for all of us!”Cal tries to overtake us.
“There’s no guarantee.Remember the ribeye shortage of 2011?”
“Remember?”Cal asks.“My elbow still hurts when it rains.”
“Then, don’t elbow me!”I shout, elbowing him as hard as I can while Jasmine’s laughing turns into gut-busting guffaws.
I agree with Summer.It’s good to be home.
CHAPTER 57
Summer
Finally, I have the window of opportunity I’ve been waiting for.I can set everything in motion.Because Declan is away on a business flight.
These last two weeks have been right up there with the most difficult of my life.Declan insisted I live at his place during Dr.Goldberg’s ordered two-week recovery period, and it’s been wonderful.But Declan’s been on me like white on rice, refusing to leave me for more than a couple hours at a time, just in case I needed something.
He only wants to pamper me—and fool around without violating the doctor’s restrictions—and I get that.But it’s been incredibly difficult to hide the turmoil inside me.
Because for two weeks, I’ve been biding my time and hardening my heart in secret so that I can summon the courage to leave.I’ve planned it down to the last detail.
I throw on my shearling coat and gloves, leather hat, and grab my backpack.I jump in my truck and take off toward the cabin.
