Maddie thought about waiting for him to come back down but decided instead to follow him. She fastened the nursing bra and straightened her top before going upstairs, running her fingers through her disorderly curls on the way up. Neither of them had been sleeping well in the last week, and the fatigue was wearing on her. She could only imagine how he felt.

Mac emerged from Hailey’s room and seemed surprised to find her waiting for him. “Where’s Thomas?” he asked of their son.

“Spending the afternoon with Tiffany and Ashleigh.”

“That’ll be fun for him.”

“Uh-huh.” Maddie reached for his hand and led him to their room.

Though he came willingly, she sensed a hint of hesitation. “Where’re we going?”

“In here.” Without releasing his hand, she stretched out on the bed and compelled him to join her.

He lay down next to her. Though he was close, he seemed a million miles from her, which made her ache with longing. The unusual distance between them was unsettling.

She reached for his hand. “What brought you home in the middle of the day?” she asked after a long moment of silence.

He turned his head to look at her. “I wanted to see you and Hailey.”

“We’re glad you came. Everything all right at the marina?”

Nodding, he said, “Adam’s home.”

“Oh, really? Did you know he was coming?”

“No.”

“You must’ve been glad to see him.”

“Yeah.”

The Mac she knew and loved was always thrilled to see his siblings, so his lackluster reaction to Adam’s unexpected visit was yet another reason for worry. “How long is he home?”

“He didn’t say. He’s having lunch with Dad. Maybe he told him.”

“You didn’t want to have lunch with them?” That, too, was unusual.

“I told you. I wanted to have lunch with you.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Not particularly.” His appetite, like his sleep, had been off. That they hadn’t made love since the accident was further evidence that something was amiss.

“Mac…”

“Hmm?”

“I wish you’d talk to me.”

“I am talking to you.”

“That’s not what I mean, and you know it.”

He released her hand and sat up abruptly.

“I’m sorry,” she said, regretting that she’d pushed him. “I don’t want you to go. Please. You don’t have to talk if you’re not ready to. But don’t go.”

A muscle pulsed in his cheek as he seemed to weigh his options. Then he sagged a bit and lay down again.

Maddie was relieved that he’d stayed, but she tried not to show it.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t mean to be so touchy.”

“You don’t have to apologize. I want to help you. Will you let me?”

“I don’t know what I need.”

“Maybe if you talk about whatever is on your mind, you’d feel better.”