Chapter Twenty-Two

Watching Ava’s brow contort from a frown to a grimace as the conversation progressed had John wondering who the hell was on the other end of that phone call. It also had him wanting to reach across the airwaves and change the caller’s tune to something that would put a smile on her face.

The bigger challenge for him was defining the line in the sand. Technically none of her life was any of his business. A few hotter-than-sin kisses and a little hand-holding did not give him the right to involve himself in her personal affairs. Still, the man in him, who kept tight control of a multibillion-dollar business, was ready to pounce.

“Ah.” Billy glanced over his shoulder at a nurse in pink scrubs, gleefully nodding at him. “Looks like the latest Everrett is ready to meet the family. Now the rules are only two at a time, but—”

“Mom should go first.” Emily nudged her mother forward.

“I was going to say, since she’s in the room alone, if we promise to keep things quiet, we can all go in.”

Without a moment’s hesitation everyone in the waiting area advanced. Only John remained still. All these people had strong bonds. Having been in Kona only a short while, he didn’t feel right intruding. “I’d better wait here,” he finally said.

Already a few feet ahead of him, Ava drew to a halt, studied him briefly and then shook her head, extending her good hand. “This is no time to stand on ceremony. Come on.”

A thousand and one rules of Dos and Don’ts flashed across the screen in his mind. All of them decrees his father had impressed on him. When to stand, when to shake hands, when to speak first, what to gift, think. He was pretty sure, somewhere in that cesspool of data, his father had probably taught him not to intrude on a family moment.

“Come on.” She smiled at him and waved her fingers.

In that same screenplay in his mind, Maggie’s voice reminded him, you know they live in a different world than we do. Yes. Yes, they did. Accepting Ava’s hand, he followed the excited crowd down the hall and single file into the room. The small bundle wrapped snuggly in a pink blanket was already cradled in her grandmother’s arms. If happiness could be captured in a single snapshot, it would be the look on Maile Everrett’s face. The woman gave off enough positive energy to light up every island in Hawaii. Probably the entire South Pacific.

“Tutu has been waiting a very long time for you.” Maile swayed and cooed.

“Tutu?” John leaned into Ava.

“Grandmother. Well, actually it’s also Grandfather, but…”

And, for the first time since the news of the youngest Everrett’s arrival, John saw a flash of sadness settle in Ava’s eyes. He’d not asked where Mr. Everrett was. Hadn’t given the man a second thought until just now. Love, respect and loss mingled together in her gaze. Sentiments that rarely came to mind when remembering his own father. All that mattered to John’s inflexible Patriarch were rigid standards for success. Even now, as president of a company far grander than anything Ironman Maplewood had built, John had no doubt even that achievement would not have been good enough for his father. The newest Miss Everrett was passed from her grandmother to her aunt Ava, sending thoughts of his controlling and demanding father fading in the distance.

“You only have one arm. It should be my turn next.” Emily stood over Ava’s shoulder.

“She’s all of seven pounds. One arm is all I need.”

But even so, John couldn’t help but notice how she carefully held her wounded arm against her body, away from the baby. “Besides, I’m the oldest. Of course I get her first.”

So maybe the Everretts and the Maplewoods weren’t all that different. Maggie had used that argument—and won—more than once growing up.

Little Isabella stretched and her left arm popped out from the blanket. Ava used her bad hand to grip and tug at the edge of the blanket, her swollen fingers challenged to get a solid grip on the thin blanket, as the baby waved her arm again.

“Here.” John reached out and very carefully shifted the baby’s arm flat and tugged the blanket across, tucked it in against Ava. “There you go.”

At that exact moment the tiny bundle let out an exhausted sigh, and her droopy lids fell completely closed. Ava glanced up at him. “Thanks. Do you want to hold her?”

Expecting a wave of sheer panic to overtake him at such an absurd suggestion, he was instead startled to see his arms reaching out.

“Hold her head,” Maile kibitzed from beside Ava.

“In the crook of your arm is easiest,” Billy added.

John raised his gaze momentarily to Billy, surprised the man wasn’t objecting strenuously to the handoff. Encouragement and pride were the only emotions reflected in the new father’s gaze and gave John another piece of the Everrett family puzzle. The friendships, the loyalty, the respect spanning from family members to former sailors to friends that had been surrounding John like a warm summer breeze fell on Billy’s shoulders, a gentle giant. For a fraction of a second John understood the earlier look in Ava’s eyes. The acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree. A comforting thought for the newest Everrett, and another reason why John was better off building companies than families.

“There you go.” Ava smiled up at him.

Nestled in the bend of his elbow, the tiniest featherweight rested in his arms. The word miracle came quickly to mind. An overused cliché until this moment. One tiny foot kicked underneath the cotton cocoon, and John almost laughed. This kid definitely wanted out of the blanket. He wondered, what would her life be like? Would she be the bookworm, like Maggie? Or the chatterbox, like Rose, or maybe the shopaholic, like Heather? Or perhaps she’d be the one to cure cancer. Maybe the first female president of the United States.

And maybe, just maybe, instead of spending all these years proving he was a better businessman than his father, maybe John should have tried for being a better man. A better husband. A better father. Maybe.

* * *

“This was just what I needed.” Annette Deluca leaned back in the wicker chair at her favorite open-air restaurant. “I’ll have a coconut chichi.”

Maggie set aside the drink menu. “That sounds good. I’ll have the same.”

Heather shook her head. “Nope. I may be in Paradise, but I still don’t care for coconut. I think I’ll try the lifesaver.”

Rose focused on the drinks menu. “That does sound good. Peach vodka, triple sec, orange juice, pineapple juice and grenadine. Oh, and it comes in this pretty souvenir mason jar glass. Yep. I’ll have a lifesaver too.”

“Two chichis and two lifesavers coming up.”

Heather cocked her head to one side, keeping the waiter in her sight, until he turned the corner. “I don’t suppose we could order one of those too?”

“Not unless he comes in a model about ten years older.” Rose continued to peruse the dinner menu.

“Oh, get with it, Rose. Cougars are totally acceptable now.”

“Don’t you have to be over forty to be a cougar?” Annette asked, even though she knew the answer.

“Details.” Heather laughed.

“I’d be more worried about jailbait.” Maggie smiled easily at her sister.

Even though the waiter was nowhere to be seen, Heather cocked her head to one side. Annette could almost see her mentally recreating the man. Shaking her head, Heather straightened in her seat. “Can’t possibly be that young. Those were definitely man muscles.”

Rose rolled her eyes again, and Annette smothered a laugh. All day she’d listened to Heather’s comments, as she ogled one man or another. Tall ones, thin ones, tanned ones. She didn’t seem to have a type. Something that had Rose raising her eyes skyward with every comment. Maggie on the other hand remained oblivious to her sisters’ antics. Though Annette felt sure Maggie’s response was more strategic than clueless.

“This is surfer country.” Annette kept her gaze on the dinner menu. She knew it by heart but took her time rereading it anyway. “No such thing as a wimpy surfer. At any age.”

Frowning, Heather looked off in the distance and gave a resigned shrug. “I don’t have time for men this trip anyhow.”

“Attagirl.” Maggie saluted her sister with her water glass.

“Speaking of men”—Rose clinked her water glass against her sister’s—”did Evelyn find our dear brother?”

“He’s with Ava,” Annette said without thinking, the sudden silence catching her attention in time to notice three sets of eyes staring at her. “And the Everrett family.”

“I still think we should have gone to the hospital.” Maggie set down her menu. “At least made an appearance.”

“Nonsense.” Heather waved. “Babies and hospitals are family events, and we’re not family.”

“Heather’s right.” Rose patted Maggie’s hand. “I know you’re very fond of the Everretts, but, in this case, following standard etiquette is best.”

“Perhaps but I should at least check.” Maggie was tapping out a message on her cell when a short whistle sounded. “It’s him. Long day. Baby is beautiful. Be home soon.”

“Sorry for the delay, ladies. We’re short one bartender, and things got a little backed up.” The waiter set a drink in front of each of them. “Are you ready to order?”

The young man, who Annette had to admit was definitely mighty-fine eye candy, took her order first, then worked his way around to Maggie last. Orders taken, he tucked the menus under his arm, flashed Heather a warm smile and walked away. Annette figured the guy was either a mind reader or had bionic ears.

“Well”—Heather took a quick sip of her colorful drink before finishing her sentence—”if he is with Ava, maybe someone in this family will see some action on this trip.”

Rose did the eye thing again. “I doubt they’re having sex in the maternity ward.”

Maggie remained silent, but a single line appeared between her brows. The same line Annette had noticed whenever Maggie would analyze something one of the children had said or done.

“And besides,” Rose continued, “our dear brother, who doesn’t take the time to build a relationship with eligible women, isn’t going to take time to hook up with a family friend.”

It took a few seconds, but the crease in Maggie’s forehead eased. “The Everretts are a very nice family. I think Rose is right. We can enjoy our meal, confidant Forrest isn’t fornicating among the newborns.”

“But I will say”—Rose looked at her older sister—”I would have expected him to be on the first flight back to his precious office by the crack of dawn after your party.”

Maggie nodded. “I was afraid of that too, but Hawaii has a way of seducing you.”

“I’ll attest to that.” Annette was more than happy to help steer the conversation away from Forrest and Ava hooking up. “Our original plan had been to spend the summer here. I was supposed to finish my rehab back in L.A.”

“But you stayed?” Heather asked.

Annette nodded. She hadn’t been ready to deal with the memories lurking in Los Angeles.

“Do you think you’ll ever go back?”

This time she shook her head. “Not to live. There’s a sense of peace here that’s hard to explain.”

And, if Forrest John Maplewood knew what was good for him, he’d take the time to notice too.