“I hope she feels better soon,” Cooper said.
“Me, too,” Dan said. “I can’t bear it.”
“It’s always hardest on the fathers,” Big Mac said gravely.
The other guys busted up laughing.
“I read your proposal,” Dan said to Cooper between bites of his second doughnut. “You need a massive liability waiver. I can take care of that for you, if you’d like.”
“Uh, yeah,” Cooper said, stunned to have an attorney of Dan’s caliber willing to help his fledgling business. “That’d be awesome.”
“We’ll sew it up tight so there’re no loopholes.”
“I’d appreciate that. So, it sounds like I’ve got the boats I need, and the legalities will be handled. I guess all that’s left is whether you gentlemen are willing to lease me dock space next summer.”
Big Mac glanced at Luke, who nodded.
“We’d be happy to,” Big Mac said. “I also wanted to let you know that we’re working on some wedding package deals and thought your business might make for a good fit.”
“How so?” Cooper asked, intrigued.
“We also own the Wayfarer, and we’re booking for next season’s weddings, as well as planning the renovation of a former alpaca farm that we’re going to use for smaller, more intimate weddings. We’re putting together some packages that would include bridal party massages at our new spa that’ll open next season at the hotel up the hill, along with reduced rates on hotel rooms and reduced dockage for wedding party guests who bring their boats over. It’s a way to combine all our businesses into one big deal. Your bachelorette/bachelor party boats would be a nice addition to the package. We’ve also got the Curl Up and Dye salon on board to do wedding party hair and makeup and the Naughty and Nice shop to provide wedding night attire.”
Cooper couldn’t believe the way this was coming together or how savvy a businessman Big Mac McCarthy was. “I’d love to be part of your package deals.”
“Perfect. I’ll put you in contact with Nikki Stokes, the general manager at the Wayfarer. The packages were her idea, and she’s putting together the details.”
“That’s great. I already know Nikki.”
Dan stared at the ladies’ room door. “Should I check on her?”
“Would she want you to?” Big Mac asked.
Dan shook his head. “She refuses to let me see her puke.”
“Then I’d sit tight until she’s done.”
“I hate this,” Dan said.
“It’s tough to watch the one we love suffering,” Big Mac said.
His words struck home for Cooper. He was watching the one he loved suffer through the possibility of falling in love for the first time. If only he could figure out how to help her understand how good they could be together. His phone chimed with a text from Jared.
Heard from Mike. He talked to Jessie, pitched our idea. She wants a few days to think about it.
Ugh.
“Crap,” Dan said, making Cooper realize he’d been copied on the text.
“Speaking of unbearable,” Cooper said.
“No kidding.”
“Everything all right, gentlemen?” Big Mac asked.
“Just a development with Jared, Lizzie and the baby they’re caring for,” Cooper said. “We hope everything will be okay.”
It had to be. It just had to be.
* * *
Jared was losing his mind. How were they supposed to wait a couple more days for an answer from Jessie? What did she have to think about? She’d dumped her newborn with them almost a week ago and hadn’t so much as checked on her since then. If she thought they’d be returning the baby to her like nothing had happened, she was delusional.
If Jessie wanted her back, she’d have to deal with Blaine and social services first. How could they be sure Jessie intended to care for the child without some sort of formal review?
He stood at the edge of his property, looking out over the ocean crashing on the rocks below, wishing there was some way to resolve this hellish situation immediately.
Lizzie slipped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his back. The baby monitor dangled from her index finger.
Jared put his hand on top of hers. “I’m sorry this is so stressful, sweetheart. I’d hoped we’d have it resolved today.”
“I’m the one who should be sorry. I brought this stress into our lives.”
“You were trying to help someone in need. It’s not your fault she dumped the baby with us and ran.”
“She’s had time and space to think, so I guess it’s only natural she’s reconsidering what she did.”
“It’s not fair to us for her to jerk us around this way.”
“No, it isn’t, but no matter what happens, we’ll be okay because we have each other.”
Jared pulled away from her, but only so he could turn toward her. Then he put his arms around her and held her tight. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Find that inner calm or whatever it is that makes it so you know what I need to hear?”
“I’m not sure how I do it, but the one thing I know for certain is we won’t let this—or anything—break us.”
“No, we won’t.”
“If we don’t get to keep her, I’ll be really sad because I already love her. But I promise either way, I’ll be all right if you are.”
“I am if you are.” Jared held her close as tears burned his eyes. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt like he might cry. Wait, yes, he could. It was after their last attempt at having a baby had failed. His cell phone rang, and he pulled back from the hug to retrieve it from his pocket and put it on speaker. “It’s Mike.” Lizzie kept her hands on his hips as he looped one arm around her. “Hey, Mike.”
“Jessie called. She’d like to talk to you about a private adoption.”
Lizzie let out a whimper.
Jared held her even tighter. “You have a copy of the temporary custody agreement to give her, right?”
“Already done, and I told her you’d cover the cost of her getting an attorney to walk her through the adoption process. She appreciated that. I set her up with an attorney friend of mine, and they’re meeting in the morning to go over the details.”
“And the father?”
“It was a one-night stand during a party, and she doesn’t know his name and doesn’t want to know his name. She was pretty adamant that he’s not in the picture and isn’t going to be. I think that’s a big part of why this was so traumatic for her. She made a mistake and ended up with a baby.”
“Thanks for your help with this, Mike.” Jared was so overwhelmed, he could barely speak. They were going to be parents.
“Don’t celebrate until the paperwork is signed,” Mike said. “She could still change her mind.”
“I hear you.”
“I’ll be back to you in the morning, hopefully with more good news.”
“We’ll be waiting for your call.”
“Hang in there. We’re close to getting this done.”