Page 86 of The Sailor

Marit nodded. “Surprisingly, yeah. I’ve been feeling off for a while now, and I couldn’t figure out why. More tired than usual. I guess this is the reason.”

“You should’ve said something,” Zach scolded.

She shrugged. “I’m not going to cry about it every time I’m tired or have a splinter, Zach. That’s not who I am.”

“I know, but I still worry about you. A baby . . .” he said again, his voice full of awe. “I’m gonna be a dad. Shit—I don’t know anything about being a father.”

Marit chuckled. “I don’t know anything about being a mom,” she countered. “But we’ll figure it out together. We have your mom to help us out and give us tips, along with probably everyone else we know. And I’m kind of glad that Chad and Britt will go first. Not by much, but still.”

Zach smiled. Then he leaned down and put his forehead against hers. “I almost lost you today. Both of you. It was bad enough knowing you were out there somewhere, going through something terrible and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it. But now, knowing that you were pregnant while he was drugging you, choking you, chasing you around that fucking island . . . it makes me want to go back in time and do things very differently. Make sure Pearson wouldn’t even get the chance to do what he did today.”

Marit put her hand on his arm and stroked soothingly. “It’s done,” she said firmly. “Pearson is locked up, he’ll face the consequences of his actions. But more importantly, he’s been humiliated. When he does get out, there’s no way he can ever come back to Rockville. No one will tolerate that. Not the lobstermen, not the business owners . . . no one.”

“What about Deaton?”

“What about him? The cops say he claimed no knowledge of what Lucas had planned. That he swears he wasn’t involved in the kidnapping, and there’s no evidence, no texts or phone calls that say differently. The man doesn’t like me, but he flat-out said he’s glad I’m no longer in Portland. I think as long as I stay away, he’s happy.”

“But he’s friends with Pearson,” Zach countered. “You said yourself that Pearson admitted to telling the man about his plans. So Deaton lied to the cops about that, at the very least. He could’ve also been an influence on what happened today.”

“I know. But Lucas also admitted that Thorne didn’t want anything to do with the kidnapping. Actually said that he called it ‘stupid.’” She shook her head. “I overestimated what I thought Thorne might do to me, and fled Portland as a result. Then underestimated Lucas here in Rockville. But I had no idea he was Larry Welch’s son. Knowing that might’ve changed how I handled a lot of things.

“But honestly? Knowing how many people were out looking for me, and how many of them agree that Larry and his son are total slime . . . it’s already changed my attitude in a lot of ways. We stick together. We might not always get along, but when push comes to shove, we’re a family. I might never be a part of the ‘in crowd,’ might never get invited to hang out at the local pub and have beers with the guys, but I don’t need that. Not when I have you and Lobster Cove . . . and our baby.”

Marit’s hand went to her belly. It was still hard to believe she was actually pregnant. It wasn’t planned, but this baby was wanted.

Zach sat up and his gaze lowered, and he placed his hand over hers. “I still can’t believe it,” he whispered.

“When should we tell your mom?” Marit asked.

Zach chuckled. “I’d say in a minute or so, when she and the rest of my brothers and Britt appear in this cubicle.”

“Wait, what?”

“They’ve been here the whole time,” Zach informed her. “Waiting to make sure you’re really okay and to escort us home. Britt stopped by Ruckus and got a dozen donuts. Knox called Jack, and he made us the lobster and white bean chili that was our special for this week.

“Harper and Kash arrived with my mom. I guess they weren’t happy to just be sitting at home, with no idea of what was happening, so they went over to Lobster Cove and sat with my mom as they all waited for any kind of information. Then Kash insisted on coming to the hospital with Mom, when Linc called to let her know you were found and all right.

“Chad is hovering over Britt, of course, worried about how the stress of the day might have affected their baby. And Linc is probably standing around with his arms crossed, still pissed off that he wasn’t allowed to have even one moment alone with Pearson after he was hauled out of that hole.”

“Oh.”

“This is what families do, sweetheart. They drop everything and show up when it counts the most.”

“Where are they? I’m done waiting!” Evelyn’s voice was easy to hear over the noise and chaos of the emergency room.

“Ready?” Zach asked.

Marit didn’t have a chance to respond before the curtain was once more shoved back and Evelyn stepped toward the bed. Thankfully she didn’t have the entire family with her. That would’ve probably been a bit much for the small emergency department.

“Are you all right, child?! I can’t believe what that boy did! How dare he? But you’re here now. I’ve got some cream I can give you for that bruise on your neck. It’ll make it fade right quick. What did the doctor say? Can you leave yet? I think you and Zach should come home to Lobster Cove. Let me take care of you for a while.”

“We’re not going all the way out there, Mom,” Zach interjected. “I’m taking Marit back to our place.”

“But it’s so small!” Evelyn complained.

Marit couldn’t help but smile at the exchange between mother and son. She was still trying to get used to being treated as if she were one of Evelyn’s chicklets. It was a new feeling, but one that made her heart grow every time she was around the older woman.

“What did the doc say? Can you leave yet? Are you okay?”