Time for Love , The McCarthys of Gansett Island, Book 9 by Marie Force Read Free Book Online

 
    “Mac caught us once when he was about Thomas’s age,” Linda said. “We were on the sofa getting busy, and then there he was. I let out an ungodly scream that scared the heck out of him and my husband.”
    “He didn’t mention it last night, so I don’t think he remembers.”
    “Let’s not remind him,” Linda said.
    Maddie grimaced, which made Daisy laugh some more. “I’d like to forget the whole thing happened, so quit laughing.”
    Daisy dabbed at her tears with the tissue. “Can’t help it.”
    “I’m never drinking champagne again,” Maddie said.
    “Can we get that in writing?” Linda squeezed Maddie’s shoulder affectionately. “I’ve got to run to a hair appointment in town. See you girls later.”
    “Thanks for the laughs,” Daisy said to Maddie when they were alone.
    “Happy to entertain you with my mortification, but that’s not the reason I stopped by.”
    “What’s up?”
    “I wanted to talk to you about David.”
    “What about him?”
    “Even in my tipsy state, I couldn’t help but notice we might’ve interrupted something when we came home last night.”
    “Maybe.”
    “I just hope you’re being careful where he’s concerned. There’re things about him that you should know—”
    Daisy held her hands up to stop her friend from going any further. “I’ve already heard that.”
    “What do you know?”
    “That there’re things he needs to tell me.”
    “And how do you know that?”
    “Because he told me, and I want to hear it from him.”
    “You know that Mac and I are thankful every day for what he did for us when Hailey was born.”
    “Yes, and I know there’re things in his past he’s not proud of. We’re going to talk about that when he gets back on Tuesday.”
    “Where is he?”
    “He had to go to Boston for a couple of days.”
    “What’s he doing there?”
    “He didn’t say, and I didn’t ask. Listen, Maddie, I appreciate you looking out for me. I really do, and I know I’ve given you and all my friends ample reason to worry about me. But I’m okay. And I’m enjoying whatever this is with David.”
    “I want you to be careful. You’ve been through so much, and I’d hate to see you hurt again.”
    Daisy got up and went around the desk to hug her friend. “You’re sweet for being worried about me, but I’m fine and well aware that there are skeletons in his closet that he needs to tell me about.”
    Maddie, who had stood up to hug Daisy, patted her back. “Make sure he tells you soon. It’s something you’re going to want to know.”
    The warning made Daisy’s stomach drop with anxiety. She didn’t want to hear anything about David that would change the way she was beginning to feel about him. But she refused to ignore potential trouble signs. She’d done that too many times in the past, most recently with Truck, and nearly got herself killed. Never again.
    Maddie left to hit the grocery store while Mac was home with the kids, and Daisy went back to work, the warnings from Maddie and Ned weighed on her mind.
    David’s return couldn’t get here soon enough for her.  
    *

Janey sat on the exam table, wrapped in a paper robe that barely stretched around her hugely extended belly. Hoping to relax before her appointment, she flipped through a fashion magazine without noticing much of anything. Her focus had been shot to hell as her pregnancy progressed. At times she felt like she was sacrificing all her own brain cells to the baby.
    Joe paced from one end of the small exam room to the other. “How much longer do you think she’ll be?” He glanced at his watch. “I’m on the four o’clock boat.”
    “I know, babe. That’s why I made the appointment for two. You’ve got plenty of time, so stop stressing me out.”
    “Sorry.” He landed in a chair but tapped his fingers relentlessly on the countertop next to the sink.
    Janey looked at him, then at his fingers.
    “Sorry,” he muttered as he folded his arms. He lasted four whole