“I can see why that would be upsetting.”

Kara huffed out a breath. “I’m okay with the way everything worked out. I just don’t like being made to feel like I was the one who did something wrong. Elizabeth annoys me.”

Sighing, she released the hand she had curled into a fist on the table between them. “But, honestly? Who cares? Maeve and I are happy, and that’s all that really matters.”

“That is the most important thing.”

Kara nodded and gave him a small smile. “So, let’s talk about you again. How were you feeling tonight watching the guys play baseball? Did you miss playing?”

Now it was Scott’s turn to look surprised. “Well yes, actually, I did,” he replied.

“You sound surprised by that.”

“No, I’m not surprised by it. I’m just surprised you asked. Most people assume I miss all the fame and notoriety that goes with playing a professional sport, but they’re not usually perceptive enough to realize that what I really miss is being part of a team and playing the game.”

“So why don’t you ask Mark if you can join his team? He’s dying to ask you, anyway. He just doesn’t know how to. I’m sure he’d love to have you play with them,” said Kara.

“But I can’t play. I haven’t pitched since before the surgery.”

“So don’t pitch, play second base or something. Just go out and be a part of a team again. It must be hard standing on the sidelines watching everyone else do something you love.”

Scott nodded and took a long sip of his beer.

She makes it sound so easy.

“I’ll think about it,” he finally replied.

“Good,” she said and smiled at him as a server appeared at their table with a platter of nachos and a refill of both their drinks.

Chapter Nine

Kara clutched Maeve tightly in her lap as the nurse leaned over and quickly drew the vials of blood she needed from the little girl’s arm. Maeve’s eyes were wide and round. She wrinkled her brow as she watched the nurse work but didn’t flinch or make a sound.

Kara closed her eyes and pressed her lips together. She didn’t mind her own blood being drawn, but anything done to Maeve that might cause her daughter even minimal discomfort made her uneasy.

“There you go,” the nurse finally said and stuck a unicorn Band-Aid on Maeve’s arm over a small piece of cotton. “We’re all done.” She smiled at Kara. “She can have her breakfast now too,” she added.

Maeve blinked up at her.

“You were the perfect patient,” the nurse told the little girl, patting her shoulder. “I’m very impressed.”

“Thank goodness,” Kara replied, and stood up to chase after Maeve, who, as suddenly as Kara had loosened her grip on her, had hopped off her lap and raced out of the room.

“Don’t forget to have her fast once more and come back in three days so we can do this again!” the nurse called out after them. Kara waved over her shoulder in acknowledgment and raced down the office hallway after her little girl.

Skidding to a stop at the end of the corridor, Kara grabbed Maeve by the hand. “Thank you,” she said to the white-coated doctor who had stopped Maeve long enough so Kara could catch up.

“Not a problem,” he replied. “She’s really cute,” he added before hurrying off.

Kara sighed. “Let’s go,” she said to Maeve and reached down to remove the girl’s thumb from her mouth. Swinging her daughter up onto her hip, she headed for the hospital exit, her brow furrowing as she fretted over what the tests might show.

Kara sang off-key to the song playing on the kitchen speaker and scrubbed the last of the dishes in her kitchen sink.

“You know you’ve got the words wrong, right?” Mark asked.

“Probably, but it sounds good to me,” Kara replied, shooting him a smile while she drained and wiped out her sink.

“Well, at least you’re happy. Only cheerful people sing.”

“I’m trying my best to be positive. I keep getting calls from the hospital and Maeve’s pediatrician reminding me about her appointments. They all keep insisting I shouldn't miss them. They're all so serious. Honestly, it’s kind of starting to weigh on me.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. I’ve never missed a doctor’s appointment for her. Ever. So now I’m trying not to imagine all sorts of terrible things.”

Mark sighed and shifted on the kitchen chair he was straddling. “Dire things seem to happen in pairs, don’t they?”

Kara turned from the pot she was putting away and looked over at him. “Dire? What does that mean? What else is going on that’s potentially dire? And why would you think I’m not happy?” she asked, placing both hands on her hips and glaring at him.

“You ask too many questions,” Mark replied, sounding defensive.

Kara raised an eyebrow and stared at her brother. “Maybe. But what’s going on?”

Mark frowned at her. “Nothing.”

“You sure?”

“Of course. Stop harassing me.”

Kara rolled her eyes and was careful not to look at her twin as she continued to put away dishes. She hummed quietly under her breath while she worked. If she waited long enough, Mark would tell her what was bothering him. He always did.

A few minutes later, he stood up and picked up a dishtowel. As he reached for a pot in the drying rack, he cleared his throat. “I heard a rumor, and it’s probably something you should know about.”

Kara put the glass she was holding neatly in line with the others on the shelf before turning to look over at him. “What’s that?” she asked.

Mark finished drying the pot and waved at her to sit down at the kitchen table across from him.

“What is it?” she asked, picking up and straightening a pile of colorful napkins that lay on the table between them. “You’re scaring me. Is everything okay?”

Mark scrubbed one hand across his face. “I think so? Honestly, I don’t know. But I wanted to let you know I was talking to Elizabeth when she was in the pub the other night, and she told me that Jamie has gotten himself a job here in town and is talking about moving back to Larkin Bay.”

Kara frowned and tilted her head to one side. “Really? I called to tell him about Maeve’s blood tests just a few days ago, and he didn’t say a word to me about that. Are you sure? Elizabeth isn’t always the most reliable source of information when it comes to her brother.”

“I know. But Richard Marshall, from Larkin Bay Realty, was also in the pub last night, and he mentioned Jamie had contacted him asking about places that might be available to rent in town. So I think it might actually be true.”

“Well, that’d be good for Maeve, I suppose,” Kara replied slowly. “I can’t say I’d be thrilled to have Jamie living in Larkin Bay again full time, but I guess I’d adjust.” Kara’s brow furrowed as she remembered the heartbreak she had experienced when Jamie broke up with her after she told him she was pregnant with Maeve.