Gansett After Dark (43 page)

“You’re all right, Katie. Everything’s all right.”

“I almost killed us both—on the day your sister is marrying my brother,” she said as sobs hiccupped through her.

“Since that would’ve thoroughly ruined their day, let’s just be glad it didn’t happen.”

“I’m so sorry,” she said between sobs. “I panicked. I was so scared. I’ve been swimming at this beach all my life and never had that happen.”

“No need to be sorry. All that matters is that we’re both safe. But we’re going to have bigger problems if we don’t get back to the hotel and get ready for the wedding.”

“Oh God! What time is it?”

He checked his watch. “Twenty minutes till five.”

“We have to go!”

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you.” He got up and extended his hand to her.

She took his hand and let him pull her up, swaying when she got her legs under her.
 

Shane put his arm around her shoulders to steady her. “Take a second.”

She looked up at him with wet blue eyes. “You won’t tell anyone about this, will you?”

He experienced a profound feeling of protectiveness for a woman he’d only known for a day. But it seemed like it had been much longer, knowing what he did about how she’d grown up. She seemed fragile standing next to him with her hair matted to her head and her eyes translucent from tears.
 

She was Owen’s sister. Of course he felt protective toward her. He shook off the weird feelings and looked down at her. “I won’t tell anyone, but we should get going.”

Nodding, she began walking slowly toward the steep flight of stairs that led to the hotel. Her legs, he noticed, wobbled beneath her as she moved.
 

“How about a hand up the stairs?” he said.

“What do you mean?”

He turned his back to her. “Hop on.”

“Oh, I couldn’t. I’m fine. Honestly. I can do it.”

Shane blocked the stairs so she couldn’t proceed unless she let him help her.

“I said I could do it.”

“And I said I wanted to help you.”

“Haven’t you helped enough? You saved my life after all.”

“Yes, I did, so I would think that in your gratitude, you’d
allow
me to help you up the stairs. Now hop on.”

“Fine, but you have to put me down right away. I don’t want anyone to see me on your back.”

He glanced at her over his shoulder. “Why not? I’m not exactly a convicted felon.”

Her face fell, and he immediately realized what he’d said. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

“It’s fine. He is a convicted felon, and he should be. It’s just still kind of…new.”

“I’m sorry.”

She looked up at him. “Is the offer of a ride still good?”

“You bet.”

“Let’s do it, then.”

Shane hoisted her onto his back, and even though his own legs still felt rubbery from the shock of nearly drowning, he managed to get them both up the stairs without further incident. He deposited her on the deck and waited to make sure she was steady before he let her go.

“Everything all right?” a voice inquired from one of the chairs on the deck.

They spun around to find Katie’s grandmother watching them with keen interest in her wise eyes.
 

“Oh, Gran, you scared me. Yes, everything is fine. I fell asleep in the sun, and Shane was good enough to wake me. I’d better go hit the shower, or I’ll look frightful at the wedding.”

Shane wanted to tell her that there was no way she could ever look frightful, but he kept his mouth shut.

“I’ll see you shortly,” Katie said to both of them as she scampered inside.

Shane felt trapped by Adele’s intense gaze. “I’d…ah, I’d better go get ready, too, or Laura will be looking for me.” As one of Owen’s groomsmen, he should’ve been with the groom half an hour ago.

“I saw what happened down there.” She stood and came over to him. “I was about to call the rescue, but you beat me to it.” She crooked her finger at him to bring him closer to her and then kissed his cheek, leaving him flabbergasted. “Thank you, Shane. I don’t think this family would’ve survived losing our darling Katie, and I’m profoundly grateful for what you did.”

“Oh, um… I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

“Thank God for that. I won’t keep you. I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

“You won’t say anything, will you? We don’t want to upset Laura and Owen. Not today.”

“I won’t say a word other than thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’m going to hit the shower and get ready.” Shane raced through the lobby and up the stairs to his room on the third floor. He shaved and showered in record time and donned the white linen shirt and khaki pants he’d been asked to wear as a member of the wedding party.
 

Emerging from his room ten minutes later, he encountered Katie in the hallway. Her hair had been washed and dried and hung in waves to her shoulders. She wore a floral dress that hugged all her curves and landed just above her knee, leaving her exceptional legs on full display.
 

“You clean up well,” she said, breaking the silence.

“So do you—and you clean up quickly.”

“I grew up with six siblings. I learned to be fast in the bathroom.”

“You feeling okay?” he asked.

“A little shaky but otherwise okay, all things considered. You?”

“Same.”

“Did I say thank you? I don’t recall if I ever said that, and I should have.”

“You did, and it’s fine. I’m glad I was there when you needed help.” He extended his arm to her. “How about we try to forget about it and have a good time at the wedding?”

“Not sure I’ll ever forget it, but I’m all for having a good time at the wedding. The Lawry family is long overdue for a celebration.”

“Then let’s get to it.”

Laura stood alone in her apartment, taking in her reflection in the full-length mirror Sarah had unearthed from the basement. Her future mother-in-law had produced a wedding-day miracle. She’d used material cut from the back of the dress to fashion a halter that looked like it belonged there. The designer would have a heart attack if she ever saw what they’d done to her creation.

Laura turned and took a good long look at her back on full display, covered only by the filmy headpiece Sarah had fashioned from tulle she’d found in the attic. Her mother-in-law was astonishingly resourceful, which she had credited to years of making Halloween costumes for seven children.

Laura hadn’t planned to wear a headpiece, but she felt more comfortable with the tulle covering her exposed back.
 

A knock on the door preceded her father into the room. He stopped short at the sight of her. “Oh my goodness, love. Look at you.”

“Good?” she asked with a smile for her dad.

“Exceptional. I’ve never seen you look more beautiful. You’re positively glowing.”

“Thank you so much for marrying us, Daddy. You know I wanted you last time, but Justin’s mother pushed for the church.”

“I know, sweetheart, and I’m much more pleased to be performing this ceremony than I would’ve been about that one. I love Owen. He’s a man worthy of my beautiful daughter.”

“Yes, he is,” Laura said. “But don’t make me cry. I don’t want to be a mess at my own wedding.”

“You couldn’t possibly be a mess.” With his hands on her arms, he placed a tender kiss on her forehead. “Close your eyes so you won’t cry. I have something I want to tell you. Two things, actually.”

“You’re really going to do this to me, huh?”

“’Fraid so.”

Laura smiled at him and closed her eyes as directed.

“One, I love you so very much. You and your brother are the best part of my life, and I’m incredibly proud of both of you. And two, your mother would be, too. She would’ve loved Owen, and she would’ve loved the woman you grew up to be. I wanted you to know that.” The brush of his handkerchief under her eyes caught the tears that escaped despite her effort to contain them.

“Thank you for telling me that. I like to think she’d be proud of me.”

“She would be, honey. Definitely. Now, are you ready to get married?”

“I’m very ready.”

Frank extended his arm to her. “Then let’s get to it.”

Chapter 29

“Everybody out,” Sarah said as she walked into the sitting room where Owen had gathered with his groomsmen. In addition to Evan and Shane, Adam McCarthy and Sarah’s other sons, Josh and Jeff, made up the wedding party. Having all but one of her kids in the same place at the same time was a rare occurrence, and Sarah was loving every minute of it. “The mother of the groom wants a moment with her son.”

Now that their father’s trial was behind them, her kids had a lightness about them she’d never seen before. They laughed easier and smiled more often. It was like they finally had permission to be themselves now that Mark Lawry was out of their lives forever.
 
She should’ve left him years ago, but hindsight was always twenty-twenty, and she was choosing to look forward rather than backward these days.

“You heard her,” Owen said to his wedding party. “Hit the beach. I’ll be right behind you.”

Each of them kissed Sarah’s cheek on the way out of the room. “What a handsome bunch of guys,” she said to Owen when they were alone.

“I feel shaggy and overgrown next to them.”

“You’re neither of those things. You’re gorgeous, and Laura is a lucky woman.”

“I’m the lucky one, Mom.”

“You both are, honey, and don’t ever forget it.”

“I won’t. You look great. I love your dress.”

“It’s not too much?” she asked of the frilly, revealing lavender dress Tiffany had talked her into.
 

“It’s perfect.”

“Your father never liked it when I showed any skin.” With a saucy grin and a wink, she added, “Charlie loves it.”

Owen put his hands over his ears. “I can’t hear you.”

She laughed at the face he made.

“All kidding aside, I’m so glad you’re happy with him. You deserve it more than anyone I know.”

“I deserve it as much as you do, my love. What do you say we give ourselves permission to be happy from here on out?”

“I’m on board with that.”

She picked up the one remaining coral rose boutonniere from the florist box on the table and held it up. “May I?”

“Please do. I had no idea what to do with that.”

“That’s what mothers are for.”

When the rose was in place on his white linen shirt, she flattened her hands on his chest. “I love you more than you’ll ever know. You and your little family and this magical hotel saved my life last year, and I’ll always be grateful.”

“We’re equally grateful to you, Mom. You showed up just when we needed you most.”

She smiled up at him. “Laura will be down any minute. How about you escort your mom to the beach.”

He kissed her cheek. “It would be my pleasure.”