“I get that. It’s bittersweet.”

  “Exactly that.” Jack took a sip of the coffee Piper had made for him at the hotel. “Life goes marching on, regardless of us. Our choice is to either live or not, and once you choose to survive, you’ve got no choice but to get on with it.”

  Blaine was incredibly moved by Jack’s words. “I give you a lot of credit, man.” He wasn’t sure he’d be capable of going on without Tiffany. The very thought of having to would have brought him to his knees if he’d been standing.

  Jack shrugged. “What’re you gonna do?”

  “Thanks for telling me about what you’ve been through.”

  “I’ve wanted to for a while now, but it’s not something you can just pop into a random conversation.”

  “I guess not. I’m glad you told me, but so, so sorry it happened.”

  “Me, too. I’ve been doing better since I’ve been out here. There’s something about this place…”

  “I know, and what’s funny about that is when I was growing up here, I thought it was the seventh circle of hell. Nothing to do. Nowhere to go. It was so confining. And now…”

  “It’s paradise,” Jack said.

  “That it is, and it will be again once this goddamned storm goes away and leaves us alone.”

  * * *

  Tiffany had only just gotten up and started coffee for her guest when McKenzie appeared in the kitchen doorway with Jax in her arms. She had long dark hair that she wore in a ponytail and gorgeous brown eyes.

  “How’d you guys sleep?” Tiffany asked.

  “Very well, all things considered. Thank you again for taking us in.”

  “It was no problem. I’m just glad you’re safe. Coffee?”

  “I’d love some.”

  “What can I get for Jax?”

  “You don’t happen to have any baby food or cereal, do you?”

  “In fact, I do.”

  “You really are a lifesaver.”

  Tiffany brought Addie’s high chair to the table and removed the tray so McKenzie could get him settled. “Does he like Cheerios?”

  “He loves them.”

  Tiffany sprinkled the dry cereal on the tray and laughed when Jax started grabbing the pieces with his chubby hands. “He’s adorable.” He had light blond hair and big blue eyes, which had Tiffany concluding that he looked like his father.

  “Thank you. I’m quite fond of him.”

  “Such a cute age.”

  “How old are yours?”

  “Ashleigh is six, and Addie is one.”

  “And you have another coming soon.”

  Tiffany rested her hands on her baby bump. “Not until the spring, but I’m huge with this one. I think it might a boy.”

  “I was huge with Jax.”

  “I’d love to have a boy, but another girl would be fine, too. As long as he or she is healthy.”

  “That’s right.”

  “What brought you to the island?”

  “I inherited my grandparents’ summer cabin and came out a week or so ago to check on it. I’ve had one issue after another. No power, no TV, no Wi-Fi. That’s how I didn’t know about the storm coming until it was on top of us.”

  “Oh, that must’ve been so frightening.”

  “Especially when it made the house rock like it was going to collapse at any second. I figured we’d be safer leaving than trying to stay. I tried calling for a cab, but none were running, so I decided to walk into town, and we know how that turned out.” She shuddered. “I thought we were going to die out there. Your husband saved our lives.”

  “I’m so glad he spotted you and brought you here.”

  “I’ll be forever thankful to both of you.”

  Tiffany served cereal and fruit for their breakfast and then for the girls when they appeared together, holding hands like always. Ashleigh was the best big sister ever to Addie. “There’re my baby girls. Ashleigh and Addie, this is Ms. McKenzie and her son, Jax. They’re going to stay with us for a bit.”

  “Hi,” Ashleigh said with a shy smile as Addie hid behind her sister.

  “Addie is our shy one,” Tiffany said, reaching for her.

  Addie snuggled into Tiffany’s embrace and popped her thumb into her mouth. “Daddy,” she said over her thumb.

  “He’s gone to work, but he’ll stop in to see you as soon as he can.”

  Addie was the biggest daddy’s girl who’d ever lived, even if she looked just like Tiffany and Ashleigh, with dark hair and the most gorgeous face Blaine said he’d ever seen.

  Ashleigh filled a bowl with cereal for Addie and pushed it across the table, knowing her sister preferred the cereal without milk.

  “You have quite the helper,” McKenzie said.

  “She’s the best.” Tiffany smiled at Ash. “I don’t know what I’d do without her.” Tiffany took a sip of the decaf iced tea that she drank while pregnant. “Is there anyone you need to call to let them know you’re safe? My phone is charged, and you’re welcome to use it.”

  “I should call my mom,” McKenzie said, sounding reluctant. Last night, she’d said there was no one to call, so Tiffany was surprised to hear her say she should call her mother.

  Tiffany got up to retrieve her phone from the counter and handed it to McKenzie. “Jax is fine with us if you’d like some privacy. Make yourself at home.”

  “Thank you again, Tiffany. You’ll never know what this means to me.”

  “I’m a mom, too. I get it.”

  * * *

  McKenzie took the phone into Tiffany’s living room and sat on the sofa to make the call to her mother.

  “Hello?” her mother said, sounding guarded as she took the call from a number she didn’t recognize.

  “It’s me.”

  “Oh, thank you, Jesus. Why haven’t you answered your phone?”

  “It died two days ago, and I had no way to charge it after we lost power.”

  “I’ve been senseless with worry for you and Jax.”

  “We’re fine. The Gansett police chief brought us to his home to ride out the storm. They’re taking very good care of us.”

  “Why couldn’t you stay at the cabin?”

  “The roof blew off, so we had to leave.” She didn’t tell her mother the part about trying to walk to town with an infant and how Blaine Taylor had saved their lives. Her mother didn’t need to know how close they’d come to disaster, especially since she’d told McKenzie she was foolish for taking a baby to a remote island in the first place.

  “That cottage was always a bit ramshackle. I can’t imagine what it must be like now.”

  “It was raining harder inside than out,” McKenzie told her.

  “You ought to just sell the place and use the money to set yourself up in a whole new life.”

  “We’ll see. I’m not ready to make any big decisions.”

  “Can I reach you at this number if needed?”

  “For now. I’ll let you know when my phone is charged again. The power is out on the entire island, so I’m not sure when I can charge.”

  “As long as I know you two are safe.”

  “Sorry to worry you.”

  “I’m thinking of you all the time and wishing I could do something to make things easier for you.”

  “There’s nothing you or anyone can do. I’ve just got to get through this for Jax’s sake, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

  “I’m here if you need anything.”

  She had learned that her mother’s “help” came with strings attached, which was what had sent her to Gansett in the first place. “Thank you. I’ll check in soon.”

  “Sounds good.”

  McKenzie ended the call just as someone knocked loudly at the front door. Tiffany came into the living room, carrying Addie, and opened the door. “Hey, Duke. What’s up?”

  “I, um, I heard that you had taken in the woman and child who lived next to me out on the west side. I, um, I brought some of their things from the house.”

  “That’s so nice of you,” Tiffany said. “Come in.”

  Duke came in bearing two huge bags. One was full of toys, and the other had clothes.

  McKenzie recognized him as the guy who lived next door. She’d seen him in his yard and had wondered about him. At first glance, he’d seemed like someone she ought to be afraid of. He had kind of a tough, menacing look to him. But it was so kind of him to bring things from their house.

  “This is McKenzie,” Tiffany said.

  “Good to meet you. I was glad to hear you’d found somewhere safe to stay. The house collapsed. It’s a total loss. I was so worried about you and the little one. I went to the police, and Blaine… He told me you were here. That was a big relief.”

  The man she’d once thought of as menacing seemed deeply rattled by the entire thing, which was so sweet. She was so amazed by his kindness that she almost didn’t hear the part about her house being a total loss. “It’s so kind of you to bring us our things.”

  “I got what I could find. The clothes are all wet. You’ll need to wash them when the power comes back.”

  Ashleigh came into the living room, carrying Jax. “He was starting to fuss.”

  McKenzie took him from her. “Thank you, Ashleigh.”

  “I, uh, just wanted to make sure you’re all right,” Duke said.

  “Thank you so, so much,” McKenzie said. “I sincerely appreciate this.”

  “Least I can do. Let me know if you need some help at the house. I can get a group of guys together to clean up when you’re ready.”

  “Oh wow. That’d be so nice of you. I inherited the cabin from my grandmother.”

  His brows lifted. “Rosemary was your grandmother? She was a great lady.”

  “Yes, she sure was. I miss her terribly. I was her only granddaughter. We were very close.”

  “I was very sad to hear she’d passed. She used to make banana bread for me and the guys at the studio.”

  McKenzie smiled. “I miss her banana bread almost as much as I miss her.”

  “Tried to talk her into some ink, but she wasn’t having it. Read me the riot act when I did my neck. ‘Duke,’ she said, ‘some day you might need to get a real job, and who’s gonna hire you with that crap on your skin?’”

  McKenzie sputtered with laughter. “I can hear her saying that! She hated tattoos and piercings. I thought she’d have a stroke when I had my nose pierced as a teen.”

  “Believe me, I know. She told me to quit using myself as a canvas and get a hobby. All the guys in the shop loved her.”

  “Thank you for sharing that with me. It’s nice to hear that she was so well loved here.”

  “She was for sure. I looked forward to her arrival every summer. She came right over to hug me and see what a mess I’d made of myself while she was gone.”

  McKenzie laughed as she brushed away a tear. The memories of her grandmother were among the best in her life, and she missed her fiercely.

  “Well, I won’t take any more of your time. Let me know when you’re ready for cleanup at the house. We’ll get you squared away, and you’ll want to talk to Mac McCarthy about rebuilding.”

  Unless the insurance came through for her, that probably wasn’t an option, since there was no way she could afford to rebuild. But he didn’t need to know that. “Good to know.”

  “All right, then. You ladies take care.”

  “Thank you again, Duke.”

  “No problem.”

  After he left, Tiffany said, “That was so nice of him.”

  “Very. He’s not what I expected.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “When I saw him next door, I was a little afraid of him, to be honest.”

  Tiffany put Addie down to toddle over to her toys. “I can see why. He comes off as gruff and intimidating, but he’s just the nicest guy.”

  When Jax started squirming, McKenzie put him down to crawl over to Addie. “I see that now. I feel bad for judging him based on the ink and the ponytail. My grandmother used to talk about having the best neighbors out here. I wasn’t sure if he was one of them.”

  “Now you know they were buddies.”

  “Which is so funny to me. I can’t picture her in a tattoo studio.”

  “Anything is possible on Gansett Island,” Tiffany said.

  “I’m beginning to see that.”

  Chapter 25

  Piper floated on air, even as chaos reigned all around her. Her heart ached for Owen, Laura and all the Lawrys as they waited anxiously for word about Jeff’s condition. The island was without power, the damage was extensive, the storm wasn’t over yet, and still… she floated on air.

  Her night with Jack had been right out of a dream. She ought to be sore and tired, but she was elated and a little freaked out to think she could’ve married the wrong man. As much as she’d loved Ben, and she’d truly loved him, he’d never rocked her world the way Jack had. Everything with Jack was on a whole other level from what she’d experienced in the past.

  Was she getting ahead of herself to feel so altered by one night with a hot man? Probably, but it was hard to contain the abundance of emotions that made her feel like she was made of champagne bubbles or something equally ridiculous.

  On the gas stove that was thankfully still working despite the power outage, she cooked omelets for their guests and made coffee by boiling water that she poured over grounds and then transferred to an insulated pitcher that she carried into the dining room, where the two couples in residence were enjoying fruit and juice.

  “You’re an angel, Piper,” Slim said. “I was just asking Erin how she was going to manage me without coffee.”

  “It wouldn’t have been pretty,” Erin said.

  “This is amazing,” Oliver said when he saw the meal she’d prepared. “Thank you so much for feeding us.”

  “No problem.” She went into the salon to let Laura know that breakfast was ready. “I made some pancakes for the kiddos.”

  “You’re the best, Piper.”

  “Least I can do.” She helped to corral the kids into the dining room, where they had two high chairs stashed in the corner for when the family dined downstairs. When the twins were secured in the high chairs and Holden in a booster seat, Piper went to get the pancakes, which she served with maple syrup and confectionary sugar.

  Then she returned to the kitchen to make plates of eggs and toast for herself and Laura.

  “What would I do without my Piper?” Laura asked the others as she buttered the toast and supervised the twins eating their pancakes.

  “She’s amazing,” Dara said. “We so appreciate your hospitality during the storm.”

  “We’re glad to have you,” Laura said. “And all the hospitality is compliments of Piper.”

  “And Owen,” Piper said. “He cooked dinner last night.”

  “Is there any word on how his brother is doing?” Oliver asked.

  Laura shook her head. “Nothing new. Just that he’s stable for now, and we’re hoping to be able to evacuate him as soon as the choppers can fly again.”

  “I wish there was something we could do for you all other than pray,” Erin said.

  “We appreciate the prayers,” Laura said. “Jeff is the sweetest guy, and he’s already been through so much…”

  Dara reached over to squeeze Laura’s arm. “He’s young and strong. That’ll help.”

  “I really hope so. We’re keeping the news from my mother-in-law, who’s in Italy with her husband and parents. They were so looking forward to the trip, and they’ve been so worried about us and the storm. They can’t get here, so we figure there’s no point in telling them.”

  “It’s the right thing for now,” Slim said. “The minute we can fly again, I’ll do whatever I can to get his mother to him.”

  “We appreciate that, Slim,” Laura said. “When Owen called, we decided we’ll tell her tomorrow so she can start to make her way home. Hopefully, by the time she gets here, we’ll have gotten Jeff moved off the island to a hospital in Providence.”

  “Let me know what I can do to help,” Slim said. “I can pick her up wherever she lands on the East Coast.”

  “That’d be a great help. I’ll pass that on to Owen.”

  As Piper listened to the island’s residents step up for one another, she was thankful to live in a place where people took care of their friends the way they did there. Gansett Island was a place where she could get comfortable and build a life for herself, surrounded by people who truly cared.

  When she’d come to the island for a getaway earlier in the summer, she’d never expected to find the home of her heart there, but that’s what’d happened, and now she knew for sure that she wanted to stay forever.

  And if Jack Downing was part of that forever, well… She wouldn’t object to that.

  * * *

  “Let’s have everyone over later,” Linda McCarthy suggested later that afternoon as the second half of the storm passed overhead. “We’ve got food and power and everything we need for a get-together.”

  “Is it appropriate to have a party with Jeff and Kelsey in the clinic?” Big Mac asked.

  “Everything that can be done for them is being done,” Linda said.

  “I feel sick over one of our buildings falling on them.”

  “I do, too, love. Of course I do, but knowing Kelsey, she wouldn’t want us to be beating ourselves up. How often did she tell us how much she loved that place?”

  “All the time,” he said. “But still…”

  “I know.” Linda hugged him. “It’s awful but having people over who need to eat during a power outage isn’t disrespectful to them. I promise.”

  He put his arms around her and rested his chin on the top of her head. “If you’re sure about that…”

  “I am.”

  “Then let’s have people over.”

  Linda sent a text to the kids as well as their closest friends and told them to bring anyone who needed a meal. Then she got busy cooking and preparing for an invasion. Having all the kids local was the best thing ever, and she couldn’t wait until Janey finished school in Ohio and could be back on the island where she belonged.