They’d already confiscated his phone—but not before he’d called the marina. The place had fared pretty well through the storm, and he felt comfortable leaving Brandon in charge—at least there was that. And though the restaurant was closed today for cleanup, Lexie had volunteered to step into Cheryl’s place temporarily.
Meanwhile, here he was. Connor looked around the quiet room. “What am I supposed to do if I can’t watch TV or eventhinktoo hard,for crying out loud?”
“Sleep,” Tara said firmly. “You’re supposed to sleep. You can just lie on the cold pack.”
“I’m not even tired.” He’d slept in the hospital, as much as he could with everyone coming and going. “I can’t just order myself to sleep, you know.”
Tara turned out the living room light and drew the shades until the room was awash in gray shadows.
“Nighty-night.” She disappeared into the kitchen.
Connor sighed. The next two days were going to be very long ones. His sisters had made a schedule that assured him of a babysitter every single hour. And while they were here they’d no doubt give his house a top-to-bottom cleaning that would assure he’d never find anything again.
The only person he really wished were here was currently at the drugstore, picking up more ibuprofen and a softer ice pack and anything else she might decide he needed. Maddy had been hovering too—but he didn’t mind that so much. In fact, he found himself craving her company.
He was a man in love, there was no denying it.
Waking to the concern in her voice the previous morning had been such a relief. The last he’d spoken with her, she’d been breaking it off. Concern seemed like a very good sign.
And though his memory was a little fuzzy now, he remembered enough of her sweet words to feel like ten kinds of fool for his response. The girl of his dreams had proclaimed her undying love for him, and he’d just lain there like a lump.
Sure, sure, he’d had a brain injury. But come on! It wasn’t like him to miss an opportunity like that. Ever since, he’d been looking for a chance to redeem himself. But betweenhissisters andhersisters and the hospital staff, there’d always been someone around. Was he ever going to get her alone?
He shifted the cold pack under his head. Then he spent a while thinking about what he might say to Maddy when he finally got the chance. But soon his thoughts grew distant and fuzzy. His breathing slowed and evened out.
And then he wasn’t thinking of anything at all.
Chapter 40
Maddy picked up an asphalt shingle and threw it into the trash barrel. She and her sisters were making pretty quick work of the cleanup. The tide was pushing back out to sea. The storm surge had left more than the usual treasures: driftwood, a cracked sand pail, a lawn chair armrest.
The sun rode low in the sky, the storm clouds long gone. The ocean was calm today, not a whitecap to be found. One would never have believed there’d been a storm less than forty-eight hours ago.
Sweat beaded on the back of her neck, but there was a gentle breeze coming in off the water.
The house itself had weathered the storm pretty well. There were a few missing roof shingles, and her landscaping had taken a hit. The mulch had washed away, and the flowers had taken a beating. Not too bad.
Maddy meandered toward the dunes where her sisters were picking up bits of limbs and branches. Her gaze drifted toward Connor’s place. Earlier when she’d dropped by with his pain meds he’d been sleeping soundly. He was covered with an afghan, and his sisters were just sitting down to eat.
They invited her to stay, but she’d grabbed a bite at the hospital. She’d longed to stay with Conner, but Tara and Lexie had things well in hand, and there was a lot of cleanup to do around their properties.
It had been an exciting and exhausting few days. Maddy was ready for things to settle down a bit. She had a lot to digest. They all did.
“Hey, look.” Emma was holding up a sodden sandal. “It’s a nice one too. Birkenstock. Oh well.”
She tossed it into the trash barrel, then finger-waved at Gram, who stood by the back door cradling Pippy in her arms. Emma put a hand on her lower back, stretching.
“Take it easy, little mama,” Nora said. “We don’t need you straining your back and ending up on bed rest or something.”
“I’m fine. It feels good to be out in the sunshine.”
“I didn’t hear you tossing your cookies this morning,” Nora said. “Maybe the morning sickness is passing?”
“I hope so. My appetite has kicked in, that’s for sure. I want to eat everything in sight.”
Maddy smiled. “The baby’s hungry. You have to feed him.”
“Or her. Girls do seem to run in the family.” Nora tossed a chunk of driftwood into the woodpile and cast a sideways look at Emma. “When do you think you’ll tell Ethan?”
