Adam walked away, heading in the direction of his parents’ North Harbor home. At the corner, he glanced back to find Abby exactly where he’d left her, looking up the steep staircase to the Beachcomber, as if seeking the fortitude to move forward.

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

On the way through town, Adam noted the Sand & Surf Hotel was back open for business with flags flying and the deck full of guests enjoying rocking chairs that overlooked South Harbor. The sight of the iconic hotel open again made him smile. He couldn’t wait to see his cousin Laura and hear all about the renovations his brother Mac had overseen with his business partner, Luke Harris.

A second sign announced Stephanie’s Bistro, which was also now open inside the hotel. Adam had heard rave reviews about the grand opening of Grant’s fiancée’s restaurant and looked forward to eating there while he was home.

He took a small detour to his sister Janey’s house to see if she was around. He knocked on the door, waited a long time and was about to move on when he heard feet shuffling inside.

His hugely pregnant younger sister let out a squeal of delight when she saw him on her front porch. “What’re you doing here? Come in!”

Adam dropped his backpack on the porch and pulled open the screen door. “I’d give you a hug, brat, but I don’t think I could get my arms around you.”

“Please try,” she said, her eyes filling as she reached for him.

As he’d already had more than his share of emotional women for one day, he did his best to hug his sister around the enormously pregnant belly. Her menagerie of special-needs dogs and cats circled around their feet, sniffing him thoroughly. Over Janey’s shoulder, he noticed her German shepherd, Riley, who sat apart from the others, eyeing him suspiciously—as usual. “No one told me you were having quadruplets,” he said, glancing at her extremely swollen abdomen.

“Shut up. It’s not funny.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Maybe a little funny,” she conceded. “So what’re you doing home?”

“I needed to see the boys, and you and Mom and Dad. Is everyone okay?”

“They will be, but what an awful day that was. I can’t even tell you…”

He put his arm around her and planted a kiss on the top of her blonde head. “I know what you mean. That was one of the worst phone calls of my entire life.”

“What would we have done—”

“Don’t, Janey. Please. Don’t even go there.”

“You’re right. Nothing good will come of that.” She subtly swept away a tear. “Sorry, I’m an emotional disaster area lately.”

“Carrying quads will do that to a girl.”

She play punched him in the belly, putting a little more muscle behind it than usual.

“Um, ow. That hurt.”