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“Both are free of charge. If you need a ride back ta town, gimme a call.” He handed Jace his business card.
“Thanks again,” Jace said, touched by the other man’s kindness.
“Good luck to ya.”
Jace sent Ned off with a wave and walked toward the house on legs that felt wooden. His entire body was riddled with tension as he approached the door to the home where his children lived. At times like this, the enormity of what he’d lost that night in the convenience store swept over him like an emotional tsunami. While Jess had died, so, too, had Jace’s marriage and any chance he’d had to raise his sons.
He took full responsibility for the series of choices that had led him to being an outsider in his own children’s lives and could only hope that the conversation he was about to have with them wouldn’t ruin everything.
What if they never wanted to see him again?
Jace’s heart broke at that possibility, but he pressed on nonetheless, knocking on the door and holding his breath until Seamus opened it.
“Come in.”
The boys who usually greeted him with the unbridled excitement afforded to someone who gave them a lot of attention were subdued as they sat at the table with an untouched snack of cookies and milk. There wasn’t a carrot stick or block of cheese in sight.
Every part of him ached as he realized Kyle had been told about the photo Jackson had seen, and both boys were upset about it.
Seamus nodded for Jace to take a seat at the table.
When he was seated, Seamus said, “We asked Jace to come by because there’s something we want to talk to you about.”
Jackson looked right at Jace, brown eyes full of emotion. “How did you know our mom?”
John foundBig Mac McCarthy right where he’d been told to look—working on winterizing the family’s marina in North Harbor. He was on a ladder doing something to one of the light poles on the long main pier when John walked up to him.
“Can I help ya?” Big Mac asked.
“I’m John Lawry.”
“Oh, hey. Sorry. I didn’t recognize you from up here.”
“Heard you’re looking for some security help at your place in town.”
“You heard right. Would you mind holding the ladder for me so I can get this done before my son or Luke catches me up here and gives me a lecture?”
Smiling at the older man’s commentary, John wrapped his arms around the ladder and held on tight while Big Mac changed the lightbulb. “I got you.”
“All good. Coming down.”
John stood by just in case he tripped, but he was agile like a cat as he descended the ladder and held out his hand.
“Good to see you again.”
John made eye contact and shook the man’s hand the way his father had taught him. “You as well, sir.”
“Don’t call me that. This is Gansett, and I’m Big Mac to you.”
“Got it.”
“Heard you were a cop in Tennessee.”
“Yes, for eight years until recently.”
“Made any plans?”
“Nothing beyond spending some time with my mom and the family. Beyond that, I don’t know.”
