“And Fin’s only been here three weeks. Dad’s already letting him do the books.”
“Fin has more experience than you do, Katie.”
“I’ve been working at the pub almost my whole life. It’s because Fin’s a man.”
“A man with more work experience than you and who understands your father has a hard time making changes. He wasn’t always like that. What you’re not remembering is your dad knows you want to get married and have children. Where will that leave him?”
“But Fin might too. He said as much the other day. Why is that any different?”
“Because until last week, you were going to marry Michael and move to San Francisco. One week, is that really enough time?”
Katie’s head hurt. Her mom was right. She shrugged.
“It doesn’t matter. Dad told me not to go back. We’re both better off.”
“Maybe,” her mom said as she rose and cleared the table. “Tomorrow is Father’s Day. Try to celebrate your father. You’re luckier than you know.”
“Am I? He’s been here, I guess.”
“He’s a good man who loves you and your sister.”
“And you.”
“Yes, and we’re all lucky to have each other.”
“Why don’t you and Dad ever talk about your fathers or your families?”
“Some people are best forgotten. Appreciate what you have. You have no idea where your father and I came from.”
“Because you won’t tell me.” Her mom gave her the look: put a lid on it. “Maybe someday? Or maybe I don’t want to know.”
“We’ve all got enough on our plates. Speaking of, I like the menu changes. Mike told me you worked with him on it. Your dad will love the pot roast and fish pie, but the green pizza…”
“It’s only on the kid’s menu,” Katie said.
Her mom laughed. “I know. You have good ideas. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks.” Katie hugged her.
Even Katie’s dad hugged her the next morning. It was Father’s Day, after all. During their quiet breakfast and church service, Katie thought about Fin, probably sitting in the cottage alone. Or maybe he wasn’t, maybe he was with some woman again. Katie frowned, knowing it shouldn’t matter, knowing she better get herself together since he, Fergus, Maureen, and Rose would be over later for an early dinner.
Katie made her dad’s favorite, pot roast. Maureen and Rose brought dessert. As usual, Rose being there relaxed tensions, though Fin acted unusually subdued. She hoped he felt sorry for how he acted on Thursday night, though she herself felt a little guilty for all the harsh words they’d exchanged as well as her spiteful feelings toward him. Rose entertained them during dinner with her exhaustive tale of brunch at Grandma Mary’s. Katie glanced at Fin as Rose spoke. He ate as if his plate was his only dinner companion, staring at it all the time.
“…and I saw Grandpa James kissing Aunt Aleen,” Rose rattled on, “but it’s okay because they love each other and they’re getting married. But only next summer! Grandma Mary said that’s when they would’ve gotten married a long time ago, but they had a mis…what was that, Daddy?”
“Misunderstanding,” Fergus said.
“A misunderstanding,” Rose said. Fin’s cheeks reddened. “We missed you, Uncle Fin. Is that what’s wrong? You had misunderstandings too?”
“Yes, Rose,” Fin replied, attempting to smile. “I’ll clear the table.”
“You don’t need to do that,” Katie’s mom said.
“I’m not a father. I don’t mind.” Fin rose and took a few plates off the table.
“Oh,” Rose continued, “and they said I can be flower girl. They might get married in Ireland. I hope so. I hope Uncle Fin will come too,” Rose said with a tiny frown.
“We’ll see,” said Fergus. “That’s a whole year away.”
Rose smiled and watched as Fin came back for the rest of the plates.
“Go help Fin,” her mom whispered to Katie.
“But…” Katie started to say, stopping when her mom gave her the schoolteacher “you heard what I said” look. “Excuse me,” Katie said, taking the remaining dishes into the kitchen. Fin had everything stacked in the sink. He measured coffee into the filter and glanced at Katie.
“My mom said I should help.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I don’t mind,” she said, picking up a dish from the sink to wash. After Fin turned on the coffeemaker, he took a dishtowel and started drying and stacking plates on the counter.
“Rose is a smart one,” he said.
“Yes, she is,” Katie said. She watched herself moving the soapy sponge and listened to the clank of the plates. After a few minutes, she glanced at Fin. “She knows you and your dad don’t understand each other.”
“Why should we?” The air sparked between them.
“Because--”
“It was a rhetorical question,” Fin snapped at her with the Dunbar look.
Her throat stung. “You brought it up,” she said in a nasty tone.
Rose ran in. “We’re going to give Grandpa his presents now!”
Katie dried her hands and followed Rose, who pulled Fin along, into the living room. Katie’s mom and dad sat on the sofa while Fergus and Maureen occupied the chairs. Only the little padded bench was left.
“You and Aunt Katie sit here,” Rose directed, seating Fin on the bench. Katie stood. Rose grabbed her hand, pulling her over. “Come on, Aunt Katie, I need to give Grandpa his presents.”
Katie sat next to Fin, their sides almost touching. She pinched her thigh, wanting to stop the tingle that went through her. When that didn’t work, she thought about the busty blonde coming out of Fin’s cottage. That helped.
Rose handed her grandpa his gifts with great ceremony. First came the handmade card from Rose, then the ubiquitous silk tie from Maureen, though her father only wore them a few times a year, and an Irish sweater. Maureen nearly always bought people clothes. Katie gripped her hands together as Rose handed Katie’s dad her gift. Katie itched to grab Fin’s hand.
“What’s this?” her dad said, holding the black binder. He read the spine and frowned. He opened it and leafed through it, glancing up at Katie with a raised eyebrow. She stared at him steadily, reminding herself of all the work she’d put in. “Rose, will you and your mom and grandma go get dessert?”
“Yes!” Rose bounced up, pulling Maureen, who frowned a little, so prettily.
“Mavis,” Katie’s dad said in a hushed voice, “I need to talk to Katie and Fin.”
Her mom nodded and left. Fergus stood. “Should I go?”
“No, you sit down, son. Well, girl, and what’s all this?”
“I’ve put all the accounts on my computer. That has the current book, as well as a new business plan, vendor lists, sample menus, and graphs showing previous years’ highs and lows and projections for my plans.”
“Your plans? Didn’t I tell you I don’t want your plans? You have no respect for me, do you?”
“Yes, I do,” Katie said. “I know you’ve been a good father and you built the pub yourself. I guess there’s a lot more you’ve done. They’re only my ideas. You can throw it all away if you want. I only wanted to show you I love the pub too and I want it to be around for a long time.”
“Fin and I will see to that,” her dad said, throwing the binder onto the table. Fin rose and picked it up. He turned and read each page while her dad crossed his arms and shook his head. “Go in the kitchen, girl. I have nothing else to say to you.”
Katie stood and walked out, not looking at Fergus or Fin, though she felt their eyes following her out. She didn’t want to see their pity or disappointment.
“Is Grandpa ready yet?” Rose asked in an impatient tone when she saw Katie.
“No, not yet,” Katie said. “I think he wants to talk to your uncle Fin.”
“Look how much cake we have, Rose,” Maureen said. “Wouldn’t Mrs. Knight like a piece?”
“Yes, and you
can meet Lancelot!” Rose said as Maureen wrapped up a piece of cake. She followed Rose as she skipped out the side door.
“Well, Katie?” her mom said, shutting the door behind Maureen.
“He’s angry, as I expected.”
“You expected to make your father angry today?” Her mom shook her head. “You two are going to have to work this out, or not. I’ve always tried to smooth things between you, but you’re twenty-four now. It’s time you stood on your own. It’s time your father and I enjoy each other again. Now Katie, don’t look at me like that. We love you. I guess you’ve never really been
in love, have you?”
“What’s that got to do with anything?”
“It has to do with understanding.”
“Maybe I’d understand you better if you both told me more.”
“Do you tell us everything?”
Katie darted her eyes around the bright kitchen. Of course she didn’t. Fergus walked in.
“I’m sorry, Katie,” he said. Katie shrugged. She wouldn’t cry. “But maybe Dunbar and Son can scoop you up? We can offer you a position in Cork, if you’re willing. We’ve had to do a bit of reorganizing and I can’t promise the job will last longer than a year or two. My dad is seriously considering selling the facility there.”
“Sounds great. When can I leave?” Katie’s limbs ached.
“In a couple weeks, maybe. I’ll make some calls tomorrow.”
Maureen and Rose opened the door. Rose hung her head, disappointed.
“Mrs. Knight wasn’t home,” Maureen said. “Everything okay?”
“Good news,” Fergus said. “Katie’s accepted a job at Dunbar and Son.”
“Working with you, Daddy?” Rose said. She brightened as she lifted her face to them.
“Sort of. She’ll be working where Uncle Fin used to.”
“She can’t go. It’ll ruin everything,” Rose whined.
“Mind your tone,” Maureen said.
“Don’t worry.” Fergus picked Rose up in his arms. “Everything will be fine, I promise.”
“You love Ireland.” Katie rubbed Rose’s back. “You can have fun visiting me, like you used to visit Uncle Fin.”
Rose buried her face in Fergus’s shoulder. He whispered to her. She turned to Katie.
“Okay,” Rose said in a quiet voice. Katie’s stomach hollowed from causing Rose’s upset.
“Let’s get dessert,” Katie’s mom said. Fergus set Rose down so she could help. He went to Katie, putting an arm around her shoulders.
“You’ve got good ideas,” he said. “Fin thinks so too.”
“For all the good it does me.”
“It’ll work out, you’ll see.” He squeezed her shoulder before following her mom, Maureen, and Rose out.
Katie wanted to believe him. She wanted to still believe anything was possible, as she had when she was Rose’s age. But there weren’t any fairy godmothers or good fairies to wave their wands and make her father change or cause the problems she had with Fin to disappear. Katie only had herself. She placed her hand on the cool counter. Maybe she could find some magic in Ireland. Rose always claimed that’s where all the real magic was. Katie hugged her arms. She’d always believed her magic was right here, at home, in her own little corner of the world.
Chapter Fourteen
“Thanks, Pat, and Happy Father’s Day,” Fin said while Pat sat muttering about Katie. “I’ll take this, if you don’t mind.” Fin gripped the black binder of Katie’s ideas and work.
“I don’t want it,” Pat said. “You going?”
“Yeah, want to get to bed early.”
“You’ve been working too much. You let me know when you want time off.”
“Will do,” Fin said. “See you.” He rushed into the hall, only to be caught by Rose. Saying goodbye, he peeled her away, giving Fergus a look. Maureen led Rose into the living room.
“Mavis,” Fergus said, “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
She nodded before following Maureen and Rose.
“Not saying goodbye to Katie?” Fergus said as they strode down the front path. Fin shook his head, wondering why Fergus didn’t leave him alone. “You’ll hurt her feelings,” he continued.
Fin faced him once they’d crossed the street. “What makes you think I care?”
“I haven’t seen your cottage yet,” Fergus said. “Rose told me about it.”
Fin put up his hands and walked into the yard, showing Fergus into the cottage. Fergus made appreciative noises and nodded as Fin led him through the four rooms of the tiny house.
“Very homey,” Fergus said once they stood in the living room. The light shone through the windows, dappled by the trees and plants outside. “Rose said it reminded her of her aunt Katie, especially the bedroom.”
“Huh,” Fin said. He shoved his hands into his pockets.
“Though I expect Mavis will change Katie’s room when she moves.”
“What?” Fin said. He’d thought she’d changed her mind. He glanced at the binder on the coffee table.
“She’s accepted a job with Dunbar and Son. She’ll take over the accounting at the Cork office. You think O’Dwyer’s ready to move into your old job? I bet he and Katie would get along well.”
“Sure. They’ll turn the place into a model of efficiency.”
“You sound like that’s not a good thing,” Fergus said.
“Katie needs laughter and fun, not more…” Fin paced but stopped on the second turn when he saw Fergus’s satisfied grin. He’d fallen for the bait again. He slumped onto the couch.
Fergus chuckled. “Why not come back and have dessert?”
“No. I told a friend I’d call. She’s going through a hard time right now.”
“Anyone I know?”
“Remi Johnson.”
“Oh.” Fergus scratched his nose. “Okay, see ya.”
Fin waved. He shut his eyes. Katie was leaving. He went to the phone and called Remi.
They took her daughter, Denise, to the park the next morning. Fin enjoyed himself, but the hour didn’t fill him with the light, warm feeling being with Katie and Rose had. And while Remi was attractive and he knew from their prior relationship they were compatible, she wasn’t Katie.
Katie aroused too many feelings in him, though, from protectiveness to excitement. Being with Remi would be the smart choice. He could be a man about it. He would show everyone he could be responsible, do his job well, build a career he enjoyed, have an adult relationship, maybe even be an almost father. Yet as he worked behind the bar that evening, Katie’s absence shoved into him, leaving him sore and tired.
Two days later, he still ached. He forced his arms to slice through the water of his mom’s pool. Rose had invited him for swimming and lunch. When he glanced up mid-stroke, Katie walked out, turning when she saw him. He called hello. Swimming to the edge, he placed his arms akimbo on the side of the pool, his chin rested on them. His brow crinkled while he watched her. She was sweetly sexy in her little black shorts and blue tee shirt, a puzzled half-smile played on her lips.
“Rose didn’t tell me you’d be here,” she said.
He grimaced. “Always here to disappoint,” he said.
“Aunt Katie!” Rose said, running over and hugging her. His mom greeted her, offering her some lemonade. Katie took a glass and drank it slowly.
“Now we can play!” Rose said. “Come on!” Rose pulled at her. Katie froze, as if she didn’t want him to see her in her swimsuit. Cripes, did she forget he’d seen her naked? He wasn’t going to be denied the next best sight.
“Let Aunt Katie change,” Fin said, though if he kept watching her he was in danger of being inappropriate around Rose and his mom.
Katie shuddered slightly, but she went to a lounge chair and stripped off her shorts and tee, revealing a dark blue tankini. Her light skin gleamed, smooth and firm. She went to the pool, where, though he helped Rose in, Fin stared at Katie. Her thighs jiggled a bit and her nipples were hard under
the tight fabric of her top. Fin dipped into the water and swam to the other side like a shot. He repeated this before emerging by Rose again.
His mom sat in a chair reading a book as Katie climbed in, letting out a shout when Rose and Fin splashed her. They chased each other then tossed Rose in the air before playing motorboat and floating like starfish. Rose practiced swimming back and forth from Fin to Katie then had Fin push her on a float while Katie swam a few laps. An overwhelming longing to touch Katie tingled in his veins.
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