“Do you?”
Sierra was smiling as she brushed her teeth and hair and washed her face. Then she went to the doorway and struck a pose, her arms over her head. “I do. I see that you have a problem controlling yourself around me.”
He got up and crossed the room to hook an arm around her. “You’re damned right I do.” Then he kissed her thoroughly. “Good morning.”
“I thought we already did the good-morning thing.”
“I didn’t get to kiss you then, so it didn’t count.”
“You have a lot of rules. Is there a list somewhere?”
“Nah, I make them up as I go.”
“This is fun.”
“Most fun I’ve ever had.”
“Really?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I texted my dad to tell him I’m bringing a friend home for Christmas. He had questions.”
“What’d you tell him?”
“I said he’d like you and to not be a dipshit about it.”
“You shouldn’t talk to your father like that.”
“That’s the least of what I say to him. We’re more like best girlfriends than father and daughter, so it’s no-holds-barred.”
“I love that.” He paused before he said, “Wait, you don’t tell him everything, do you?”
She shrugged and laughed. “That’s for me to know and you to find out when you meet him.”
“I think I’m busy on Christmas.”
“Wimp.” She stepped back into the bathroom and closed the door in his face, feeling rather pleased with herself—and with him.
* * *
In Providence, panic was setting in as discharge time drew closer. A week after their arrival. Abby simply could not believe they were going to be allowed to leave with four infants to care for on their own. How would they manage without the amazing nurses, many of whom had become like family in the course of the last three months? While there was a different team of nurses working with them now that the babies had arrived, the original group checked in frequently and came to say goodbye on discharge day.
The nurses supervised the bathing of the four babies, each one assigned to a parent or grandmother, and now the boys were dressed in matching navy-blue going-home outfits and buckled into their infant car seats, including the bumpers that Linda had bought to cushion their heads. Abby hadn’t even known they’d need them, so how in the world was she going to be allowed to take these precious babies from the safety of the hospital to a remote island?
She felt like she was hyperventilating.
Adam’s hands landing on her shoulders startled her. “Why are you tight as a drum, babe?”
“Gee, I wonder.”
“Everything is going according to plan. The boys enjoyed their baths, and they’re settling in for their first ferry ride.”
“Do you hear the wind howling out there? You know what that means, right?”
“I asked my dad to grab some seasickness medication for you.”
“You did?”
