“You never said a word about her. When did you hear about this?” she asked her husband.

“Only last night.”

“You were with her for how long?” Linda said to Adam.

“A couple of years.”

“A couple of years? Why would you keep that from us, Adam?”

“I don’t know. It just seemed easier that way.”

“And she wasn’t at all curious about your family? Your home?”

“She was. We’d talked about coming here together this summer. I’d even thought, fleetingly, about asking her to marry me. But none of that is happening now.”

Chelsea arrived with beers for him and his dad and a glass of white wine for his mom. How comforting was it to be in a place where the bartender knew exactly what they wanted?

“Thanks, sweetheart,” Big Mac said to Chelsea. “You can start us a tab. We’re going to be here awhile.”

Adam bit back a groan when he realized his dad was taking a certain pleasure in watching him squirm.

“Sure thing, Mr. McCarthy. Let me know if you need anything.”

“What about your company?” Linda continued when they were alone. “Surely, you’re not going to let her steal it from you?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Is that right?” Big Mac said. “You’ve changed your tune since last night.”

“I did some thinking, talked to my lawyer and made a plan. It’s all in the works as we speak.”

“Good,” Big Mac said. “You’ve saved me from having a big, fat come-to-Jesus conversation with you about that.”

“Thank you, Jesus, for small favors,” Adam said, drawing a grunt of laughter from his dad.

“So let’s have a come-to-Jesus conversation about what you’re doing hanging all over your brother’s ex-girlfriend,” Linda said.

“I told you. We’re hanging out. Having fun. Helping each other through a rough time.”

“Have you given any thought at all to what Grant will think of this? He’s fragile enough right now after the accident—”

“I talked to Grant about it earlier today.”

“You…you talked to him about dating his ex-girlfriend?” Linda said.

“Yes.”

“And?”

“What can he say, exactly, Mother? It’s been over between them for a very long time. He’s engaged to Stephanie now. What’s it to him?”

“Adam… My goodness! I’ve always thought of you as positively brilliant, but can’t you see the potential for real trouble with your brother over this?”

“No, I can’t. He’s happy with Stephanie. Things between him and Abby were over years ago because he treated her like a piece of furniture in his life. He’d tell you that himself. I like her. She likes me. We make each other laugh. How is that wrong?”