9. Raina

Raina was about to go upstairs and get into the shower after both babies had been bathed, fed, and changed—how did that take two hours?—when her phone buzzed with a text on the 7 Sis group chat.

Madeline: Hate to do this to all of you, but we have to meet. Very important. At the beach house in half an hour, please.

"Seriously? Now?" Raina murmured under her breath as she stared at the unusual request and tried to imagine why Madeline would send it. Was something wrong? Was she sick or—

"Is there a problem?" Val looked up from the vegetables she was cutting, having offered to make dinner tonight. It was a blessing, since Chase had gotten called away for the whole day to deal with a problem at the hotel and didn't know when he'd be back.

Now this? A Madeline emergency? Did those two words even belong together?

All is well,Madeline texted to the group. But I must see you in person!

"My sister called an important family meeting at my parents' house." Raina groaned and dropped her head back as she realized what this meant. "I just got them down and now…"

"Now you have to pick them up and wake them."

Raina swallowed and looked at her former mother-in-law, fully expecting her to offer to watch them.

Should she let her? Val was a healthy-looking woman. Her color was good. Her strength seemed fine. Her energy level appeared normal for her age, if not better than a lot of seventy-year-old women.

But…was she truly healthy enough to be responsible for two six-week-old babies?

Val answered the unasked question with a shake of her head. "I don't think I should be alone with two infants, Raina."

Raina appreciated that much honesty, at least. Still not the full story, though. "I understand, Val. It's a big responsibility."

The other woman closed her eyes and looked down at the cutting board, clearly holding back from saying whatever she was thinking. Raina almost pressed the point, thinking maybe Val would come clean about her health, but her phone kept buzzing.

She glanced at the screen, skimming the list of questions that could all be summed up into one word: Why? And another word: Now?

It was a little crazy to call everyone to Mom and Dad's house right now. Everyone was so busy.

Rose and Gabe always had kid activities and, if possible, her twin insisted on a sit-down dinner. Tori had a million things to do after the café closed, and Grace would not be happy about upsetting Nikki Lou's schedule. Sadie was keeping the chocolate shop open in the evenings to drum up more tourist business, and Chloe said she'd gotten three new rescue dogs at her shelter.

Not to mention the fact that on weeknights, Suze and Dad could easily have slipped into their pajamas and finished an early dinner. This must be very important, since the spontaneous summons was so unlike firmly-scheduled Madeline.

And Raina had to pack up two sleeping infants.

Actually, there was no time for grilling Val, who seemed to have all her concentration on cutting carrots.

If she did press Val on why she didn't think she could be alone with the babies, Raina would have to admit what she overheard and that she'd seen the caller ID. Not that either one of those things was a crime or an intrusion, but if Val wanted Raina to know, wouldn't she have told her? Or her own son?

Raina had called Jack again, but he'd let her call go to voicemail and had yet to return it.

As she climbed the stairs to her room, she thought about asking Justin for advice. Tori's boyfriend was a neurologist, and maybe he could help. Pausing to look at her phone, she texted Tori privately, asking if Justin would be coming to the unexpected gathering.

She responded immediately with a simple and chilly, "No."

Was something wrong with her, too?

On a sigh, Raina headed into the nursery, where Lily and Charlie slept like the little angels they were. Both were out cold, their tiny lids fluttering, their gorgeous faces in complete repose.

The last thing—the very, very last thing—Raina wanted to do was pick them up, stuff them in carriers, and listen to them cry all the way down to the beach house. They'd be cranky and—

The rumble of a familiar engine in the driveway gave her an injection of happiness. Chase was back! He could stay with the babies.

Rushing downstairs, she met him as he walked in the front door.

"I need a huge favor, Chase," she said. "I have to run to my parents' house for…I actually don't know why, but Madeline has asked us to meet for something important."

"Is she okay?" he asked, looking concerned as he dropped his keys on the entryway table.

"I think so, but the babies are sound asleep, and I didn't want to wake them. So, you'll be here, right?"

"Yes. We had a power outage and some unhappy guests, but all is well now. I'll be here with them."

She darn near kissed him with gratitude, but held back and thanked him breathlessly. Where would she be without him? Packing screaming babies, that's where.

A few minutes later, she pulled through the gate of Dad and Suze's three-story beach house, the wide drive nearly filled with family members' cars. Evening was falling, and it still felt like such an odd time of day to call everyone together.

Could something be wrong with Madeline? Something serious?

A tendril of worry tightened around her heart as Tori's van pulled up, and she parked next to Raina.

"Hey." Raina came around her car and waited for Tori to open the driver's side, peering in to see that neither of the kids were with her. "Any idea what's going on?"

Tori shook her head as she climbed out and closed the door. "I texted Madeline privately and she said it was a surprise."

"An unscheduled meeting with Madeline Wingate? Yes, I'd call that a surprise." Raina scanned the cars, catching sight of Adam Logan's SUV. "And she invited Adam. Why would he be here for an emergency?"

"She never said emergency," Tori reminded her. "She said important. Madeline is nothing if not crystal clear."

Raina eyed her sister, picking up an unfamiliar edge in her voice, and noticing she looked more stressed than she had since she'd moved here at Christmastime.

"Everything all right with you?" Raina asked as they started toward the house.

"Define ‘all right,'" Tori said glumly.

Raina slowed her step. "What's wrong?"

"What's right?" she fired back. "My son is suspended. My boyfriend's answer is to teach him how to kill with his bare hands. And my daughter thinks we're going through a breakup. Oh, and the principal at Finn's school might agree with her."

"Tori! What…Finn is suspended? You're breaking up with Justin? What are you talking about?"

As they made their way to the house, Tori told a tale, fast enough that Raina suspected she was getting an abbreviated version but detailed enough that she knew her sister was in a small crisis.

"I have no idea what to say about Finn, other than he's a good kid and it should work out, but…why are you really fighting with Justin?" Raina asked, zeroing in on the thing that put the most pain in her sister's voice.

"We're not technically fighting, but we don't agree on the kung fu thing. You know, it's one thing to risk your heart and fall in love. But I'm also risking my kids' hearts, and I guess I didn't really think that through."

"Justin isn't a risk," Raina stressed, believing that with her whole heart. "But you should take this time to be sure. Let the kids get used to him and to living here. What's the rush?"

"Stability for my kids. Certainty. No heartbreak if something should go wrong or change."

"Nothing is going to go wrong or change," Raina said, but curtailed the conversation when the door opened before they even reached it.

Rose stepped out, her brown eyes glistening. "You two! Something's happening! Something big!"

They shared a look and then waited for Rose to elaborate.

"Suze and Dad are locked in Dad's office with Adam and Madeline," she said, as if that explained it.

"Why?" Tori and Raina asked in unison.

"I think…well…" She shook her head and dragged them toward the stairs that led to the main level, right past the closed door of the office. "Let's just let Madeline tell us," she whispered excitedly.

"Tell us what?" Raina asked as they climbed the stairs to the kitchen and living area.

There, more Wingate sisters were deep in conversation. Chloe and Grace sat at the counter, heads close as they talked, and Sadie laid out a tray of ridiculously delicious treats she'd obviously brought from Charmed by Chocolate.

"You guys have to try my newest collaboration with Scout," she said, her green-gold eyes bright.

"Another collaboration?" Grace asked. "For a couple of ‘rivals' you two sure do a lot of collaborating. I don't share the latest releases with the other bookstore in town."

Sadie just smiled. "We combine talents."

"Is that all you're combining?" Chloe asked as she reached for a chocolate, her voice and expression rich with insinuation.

They all waited for Sadie to hotly deny the attraction she felt to the man who ran the cookie shop in town. But her smile just grew.

"We are spending a lot of time together," she admitted. "And I had no idea a man could be such a dear. I mean, he's so nice. There's no other word to describe him."

"You say that as though it's a liability," Grace said. "Isaiah is nice and it's the thing I love most about him."

Raina stepped into the fray, putting an arm around Sadie. "What aren't you telling us, Sadie Wingate? Are you in love?"

She gave a fake coy look and lifted a piece of glorious, shiny chocolate. "If you want to love something, love this."

"Can't." Raina held up her hand. "I'm saving room for the dinner currently being cooked by my former mother-in-law, of all the unlikely people."

"Valerie is still there?" Chloe asked. "I thought she was just visiting."

"She's not leaving…for a while." Raina made a face. "I just don't have the heart to kick her out and away from her grandbabies."

Sadie shook her head. "All I remember about Jack's mom is that she was passive-aggressive, with the emphasis on the aggressive part. I'd kick her out."

"No, you wouldn't," Raina said softly. They all looked at her, expecting more, but Susannah's voice echoed up the stairway.

"Hey, all you girls!" Their mother came bounding in, her eyes bright and…wait. Had she been crying?

Instead of a barrage of questions and comments, all six of the sisters grew quiet, no doubt noticing their mother's slightly red eyes and puffy lids. But they were in direct contrast with a beaming smile, so were they happy tears?

"How lovely that you all dropped your lives and came here," she said, sliding an arm around Rose, who was the closest. "Madeline is very appreciative."

"Where is she?" Raina asked.

"I'm right here," Madeline called, coming up the stairs. As she entered the kitchen, they saw Dad behind her, with tall and good-looking Adam Logan bringing up the rear.

Raina studied the man, intrigued as they all were with this acquaintance of Sadie's who had come to town and mysteriously become the one and only man they'd ever known Madeline to date.

He was handsome, with strong features, salt-and-pepper hair, and that slightly irresistible cleft in his chin. He seemed very smart, friendly, and his looks somehow complemented Madeline's, who, at five-eight, was the elegant female equivalent of tall, dark, and beautiful.

So…what was going on here?

Raina looked at Rose, because her twin was never very good at keeping a secret. Her eyes glinted with the same happiness Raina could see in Suze's expression. No surprise, Rose felt Raina's gaze, turned, and tossed her a playful wink.

Whatever Rose knew, whatever brought them all here, it wasn't bad news, that much was clear.

"All right, everyone," Madeline finally said as the chatter died down. "Thank you for coming tonight. This is a little unorthodox, but then, you know me. Always breaking rules."

That got a big laugh—had Madeline ever broken a rule?—but the air of expectancy grew more palpable.

Madeline glanced up at Adam, who smiled at her with that look that…that…

Holy cow, they were in love. Like, really, truly in love. The realization darn near knocked Raina over.

"So, Adam and I want to share our news." With another look at him, Madeline nodded, silently letting him speak next.

He gave a slow smile, tightening his grip around her shoulder, making Raina—and all her sisters, she assumed—wonder why no man had ever looked at Madeline that way before. What was it about him that she allowed those walls to come down?

Raina shook off her thoughts and listened to Adam, who was saying—

"…And Maddie has graciously and happily agreed to marry me."

For a second, Raina thought she hadn't heard right. Did he say…marry?

Madeline was going to marry this guy she'd known for, what, not much more than six weeks or so? Wasn't their first date the night Raina went into labor?

As the realization of what he'd announced rippled through the room, Raina stole a peek at Tori, who looked as stunned as the rest of them, and maybe a little pale as the full reaction suddenly burst forth.

Through the shrieks, cheers, and clapping, Madeline held up her left hand to show off a sparkler that sent another happy cry through the house. They all circled and hugged and congratulated, but no one actually asked the obvious question—

How did this happen so quickly and right under our noses?

Whatever the answer, Susannah and Dad seemed rather elated—especially Dad.

Although he'd never shown any favoritism, Dad and his oldest daughter had always shared a special bond. He was the only person in the family allowed to call her Maddie after Madeline returned from her stint in New York and announced she would no longer answer to the nickname.

Until Adam, who'd only ever called her Maddie…at least since Raina had been paying attention. Truth be told, she'd been wrapped up with newborn twins, so a lot of this had happened without her noticing.

Or anyone noticing, since there were plenty of surprised, even confused, faces in the group. Enough that Madeline held up her hand to say something.

"Let me add a little context," she said as they quieted.

"Yes, please," Tori murmured. When a few gazes slid her way, she tried to look apologetic. "I mean, it's fast and, well, yes, go ahead, Madeline."

"The fact is, Adam and I have known each other for twenty-five years."

This latest revelation was met with another few seconds of silence and shock. Why wouldn't she have told them that?

"Sadie knows this, because she met Adam in Europe," Madeline added. "Which is how we reconnected after knowing each other years ago. We dated rather seriously when I was studying at the Fashion Institute in New York."

All eyes turned to Sadie, who looked a little guilty for keeping a secret, something they just didn't do in this family.

"Hey, it was a shocker to me, too," Sadie said on a laugh.

"And me," Madeline said, "when I realized that they knew each other."

"And how did you know each other in New York?" Chloe asked. "Were you studying wedding dress design, too, Adam?"

Raina could have sworn Madeline and Adam shared the quickest secret look before Madeline answered.

"No, he worked at a company I had to go to frequently, back in the late 1990s. We dated then, and again…now."

Next to her, Adam beamed with the joy of a man in love.

"I know it's fast," he acknowledged, putting an arm around Madeline again. "But after missing the last twenty-five years together, I don't want to wait to marry this amazing woman. We're not getting any younger and we don't have any doubts. At least, I can say that I don't."

Raina's heart shifted a little, and definitely softened at his heartfelt admission. And who deserved love more than her oldest sister? No one at all.

Next to Madeline, Rose wiped the tears from her eyes. "Why wait when you know?" she asked.

"Right," Adam said, sliding another warm smile to Madeline. "That's what I said and why I proposed."

"He insisted we stop into Worthington's for this…" She wiggled her fingers again, making the diamond glint. "And Kitty was there, so we knew we didn't have much time before it was all over town."

Rose laughed. "And you barely made it," she said. "Kitty called me before you got up from one knee, Adam. Sorry, but I knew."

As they buzzed about that, Tori and Raina shared yet another look, silently communicating that they had a lot to talk about.

"And since we don't want to wait," Madeline added when things quieted again, "we're having a private civil ceremony this week. Suze and Dad will host a party right here on Sunday, very small, just friends and family."

Wait. What? Raina choked and she wasn't the only one.

"This week?" a few of them asked in shocked unison.

As the news settled, Raina slipped over to Tori, sensing that of all the sisters, she appeared to be the one most thrown by this. Her comments seemed forced and not as funny as usual, and she still looked stressed and pale.

"You look…shook," Raina whispered, lifting a brow.

"Who isn't?" she retorted. "Do you think this is normal for Madeline, who has her schedule carved into a stone a year in advance? This isn't normal for anyone, but it's really odd for her. If she weren't about to turn fifty, I'd call shotgun wedding."

Dad came up behind them, putting a hand on each of their shoulders. "It's always a happy day when one of my girls finds true love, isn't it?"

As they turned to him, Raina saw the message in his eyes. He supported this, wholeheartedly. And if Rex Wingate was behind this marriage, that was all Raina needed to know.

She gave him a grateful kiss on the cheek and stepped away to get her chance to ooh and ahh over Madeline's ring, hug her future brother-in-law—very near future—and give her own sisterly blessing to the union.

"Yes, before you ask, I'm sure," Madeline whispered when they embraced, while Adam was chatting with Chloe and Grace.

"I didn't say a word."

"I saw your face—all your faces." She leaned back, her eyes gleaming with a joy Raina could honestly say she'd never seen there before. "I know it's a shock, but I'm happy, Rain."

Raina's heart melted at the words, and she felt a little shame for questioning any decision this wise and wonderful woman would make.

"Then we are, too…Maddie." She added a squeeze, looking over her shoulder to smile up at Adam. "Welcome to the family," she said. "You may never be the same, but it'll be fun."

He hugged her, too, and asked about the babies and she got the details of the engagement—right in the middle of town with no one but Kitty Worthington and some random tourists to witness.

After the excitement had died down, the toasts had been made, and everyone enjoyed Sadie's latest chocolate, Raina sneaked over to Tori.

"I have to go home, because one of those two darlings is probably awake by now."

"Which darling? Chase or Val?"

Raina laughed and took her hand. "There's the snarkalicious sister I expect at these gatherings."

"These surprise engagement and oh-it's-happening-this-week gatherings?" Tori rolled her eyes.

"Yep," Raina agreed. "I was starting to worry the shock of Madeline's engagement—still can't believe I'm saying those two words together—put you in a shaky mood."

"Oh, I was already in a shaky mood, Rain."

"I know," Raina said. "Walk out with me, because I have to ask a favor."

A few minutes and many goodbyes later, Tori and Raina were back in the driveway, standing next to each other in the dark.

"So, I have a little news about my former mother-in-law," Raina said softly. "I think she might be dying."

Tori hissed in a breath. "Is that a joke?"

"Not even remotely." Raina shared the story about overhearing Val whisper that she had six months until she was in a long pine box, and that she planned to spend the whole time with her grandbabies.

Tori considered that, frowning. "From what I know about the woman, I'd guess she knew you were in the hall and made up a ploy for sympathy so she could stay."

"She got a call from a neurological surgeon," Raina said.

"Oh." Tori winced. "That's a little more serious."

"I'm afraid that's why the big change—why she sold her house in New Jersey and came down here, and why she's being so nice. I tried to ask Jack, but he won't return my calls. I don't think he or his sister even know."

Tori grunted, her true feelings for Jack never far from the surface.

"So I want to talk to Justin," Raina said. "Not tonight, but will he be around tomorrow?"

"I'm not sure what he can tell you without talking to her, but he doesn't have appointments tomorrow. I was going to leave the café right after lunch to meet him. Swing by my house around two?"

"Honestly, I don't ‘swing by' anywhere," Raina said on a laugh. "I come with an actual carload of small humans."

"We'll come to you."

"No, no, no." Raina shook her head. "Val might hear."

"And would that be so bad?" Tori asked. "She can't keep this from you if she's living in your house."

Raina considered that, then nodded. "Okay. Maybe I'll give her a heads-up that my neurologist brother-in-law is coming over. Then she'll— What?" Raina frowned at Tori's expression. "Why the look?"

"He's not your brother-in-law."

"Oh, whoops. It was a mistake, but I can…" She let her words fade out as she watched Tori's face fold. "Are those tears, Tori?"

"No. Maybe." She swiped at her eyes. "Can you blame me? Madeline dated Adam for a month and they're engaged and Justin and I are…uncertain."

"Listen to me." Raina put her hands on Tori's shoulders. "First of all, they've known each other twenty-five years and—"

"How did we not know that?"

"Whatever." Raina squeezed her sister's shoulders. "You and Justin are not uncertain. You just moved here in December. You need time."

"I know, but the kids are getting attached and…and…" She shook her head. "At least I'm not dying. Poor Val. This isn't about me. I honestly don't know what your not-yet-brother-in-law can do, but we'll come by tomorrow."

"Yes." Raina smiled and hugged her. "Everything's going to be okay, Tori. Bring Hottypants to the rescue."

Tori drew back and grinned, her first real smile of the night. "And I shall call him that forever, no ‘uncertainty' about that."

Laughing, they hugged again extra-hard, because it had been such an emotional night, and Raina headed home, aching for her babies after only an hour away.