Free Time for Love , The McCarthys of Gansett Island, Book 9 by Marie Force Page B

and his trademark Ray Bans nestled in his gray hair. He already had a dark tan from the hours he spent on the docks every day. “There she is,” he said, bending to kiss Janey. “How’s my grandbaby today?”
    “Busy. Want to feel?”
    “Um, no, I don’t think so.”
    “Oh, come on.” Janey placed his hand over her rolling belly. “Don’t be silly.”
    “I’m still trying to get my head around the fact that you’re pregnant in the first place,” he said with a scowl for Joe.
    “Don’t look at me,” Joe said, hands up in defense.
    “Who should I look at?”
    “Daddy, knock it off.” The baby gave a good swift kick that made her dad smile.
    “Well, would ya look at that? He’s a kicker.”
    “He might be a she.”
    “Either is fine with me, as long as everyone is healthy.”
    “Here I am,” Linda said as she came in. “Hope it’s okay that I let myself in.”
    “Of course it is, Mom.”
    “Lin, come get a feel of this,” Big Mac said, drawing his wife into their little circle to feel the baby doing its daily gymnastics.
    “Wow,” Linda said. “I can’t wait to meet him or her.”
    “Neither can we,” Janey said.
    “How about some lunch?” Joe said.
    “I won’t say no to that,” Big Mac said. “I’m starving.”
    “Did Stephanie only let you have three donuts this morning?” Linda asked her husband.
    “She cut me off at four,” he said with a pout that made his wife and daughter laugh.
    “Good thing Grant is marrying her,” Janey said. “We need to keep her in the family to manage his cholesterol.”
    “Absolutely,” Linda agreed.
    Joe delivered a tray of sandwiches he’d made earlier and took drink orders as Janey sent him a grateful smile.
    “You’re really feeling all right?” Linda asked as they enjoyed the sandwiches.
    “For the most part. My blood pressure was up a tiny bit, so Victoria wants me to take it as easy as possible.”
    “You’re not on bed rest, are you?”
    “Not officially. We’re keeping an eye on it, so don’t worry. Catch me up on everything that’s going on. I feel so out of the loop.”
    “Let’s see,” Linda said. “Grant is almost done with the screenplay, Evan is recording at the studio for the first time this week, and Adam is officially moving into your old house with Abby.”
    “Oh, good,” Janey said. “I’m so glad they’re making a go of it. I love them together.”
    “I do, too, now that Grant knows about it and doesn’t seem to mind.”
    “Why would he care when he’s crazy in love with Stephanie?” Big Mac asked.
    “People are funny about their exes,” Linda said. “Even when they’re happy with someone else. I’m thankful there was no trouble between them when Adam fell for Abby, and I’m thrilled to have everyone back at home again.”
    “I owe Abby and just about everyone else in my life a phone call,” Janey said. “Did Seamus’s mother get here yet?”
    “She’s due in later today,” Linda said.
    “I’d love to be a fly on the wall over there tonight,” Janey said.
    “Not me,” Joe said to laughter from the others.
    “Can’t say I blame you there, son,” Big Mac said.
    Joe glanced at Janey and nodded for her to get on with what she wanted to talk to her parents about.  
    “So there was a reason I wanted to see you guys today,” Janey said tentatively.
    “I knew it!” Linda said. “There is something wrong with the baby, and you didn’t want to tell us.”
    “Honestly, Mother, there’s nothing wrong! You’re worse than my husband!”
    “I’m in the room,” Joe said.
    Janey gave him a sweet smile. “I want to talk to you about school.”
    “What about it?” Big Mac asked, his brows narrowing. He was always touchy on the subject of veterinary school, because no one wanted to see her become a vet more than he did. His question indicated that her brothers had, in fact, kept her news to themselves.
    “I’ve decided to take this next year off from school,” Janey said, her