“You’re correct,” Stephen said. “After all, we’re on the Vineyard. So it’s only a little bookshop by the harbor.”
That time, both women rolled their eyes.
Then Maddie ate her last bite of dinner and said, “Speaking of phone calls, I hate to depart from this fascinating conversation, but I must excuse myself to call Rex.” She didn’t mention what she was going to say to him. Or that she had to do it right then while her spirits were high. And before she lost her nerve. Again.
With that, dinner was done.
“Here we go,” she whispered to her belly once she was in her room with the door closed. “Time to talk to Daddy.”
With phone in hand, she sat on the comfy rocking chair by the window and only allowed herself to take one long breath. Then she touched the “call” icon.self.
One ring. Two. Then …
“Hi! Maddie, is it you?”
She was startled that he sounded like his chipper, energetic
“I was going to call in a few minutes,” he said.
It really was him. Sounding like himself. Acting like himself. Which threw her slightly off balance.
She stumbled over her words, struggling to remember how she’d planned to say what she needed to say before he had to hang up to eat, sleep, or have another round of PT.
“It’s … you,” was what spluttered out.
“In the flesh. How are you?”
“Me? How areyou?”
He hemmed for a second; hawed for another. “Believe it or not, I’m doing really well. Which was one reason I wanted to call you tonight. I’m so much better that the doctor said I can have my walking papers.”
His walking papers? Maddie hadn’t realized that, in addition to breaking his neck, Rex hadn’t been able to walk at all. She knew he’d been using a wheelchair but …
She stopped trying to think straight. Instead, she simply said, “That’s … great.” An image of him strolling around the bedroom, rocking their baby in his strong arms came to mind.
“Yeah, and there’s more.”
“Yes?” She had good news, too. But his voice sounded eager, so she wanted to let him tell her his news first. She wasn’t, however, prepared for what he had to say.
“I’m coming home, Maddie,” he said. “I’ll be there tomorrow.”
Chapter 24
After they hung up, Maddie shrieked. The next thing she heard were feet scuffling out in the hallway, followed by two sharp knocks on her door, which then burst open. Grandma and Stephen rushed in, no doubt expecting something awful had happened to her. Or to the baby.
She shared the news.
She shrieked again. “No! He can’t come home tomorrow! I see Dr. Mason tomorrow!”
Stephen quieted her down, saying he doubted Rex would be on the red-eye, so chances were he wouldn’t get to the island before her one o’clock appointment. Then he asked if he’d said what time he’d arrive in Boston, if he planned to fly into Logan, and if he wanted Maddie to pick him up at the boat or if Taylor would be there.
Maddie was dumbfounded. “I was too stunned to ask.”
Stephen laughed.
Grandma rubbed her hands together and said this was more fun thanJeopardy!
Thinking quickly, Maddie said, “I’ll text him later and find out when he’ll land. Then I’ll figure out the rest. If Taylor’sthere, that’s fine. But I want to surprise him … and see his face to make sure it’s really him, and that he’s really okay.” She didn’t add that she’d stand there and wait for hours if that was what it took.
