“I heard she was taking the train to Howth and spending the day with that old friend of hers,” Jeff said. “Matthew told Jo that he and Laila were going along. Surely they must be back by now.” Eyes twinkling, he asked, “Did you give Ma a curfew?”
Mick regarded his brother with annoyance. “Hardly the point,” he grumbled. “What is Matthew thinking by encouraging Ma to spend time with that man?”
Thomas didn’t even try to hide his amusement. “You don’t think Ma is perfectly capable of making her own decisions at this stage of her life? Do you know nothing of our mother? She needs encouragement from no one. She’s always done exactly as she pleased.”
“That’s precisely what I’ve been telling him,” Jeff said, his gaze on his older brother. “Stir up a ruckus at your own peril, Mick. She’ll spend more time with this man, if only to annoy you.”
Mick frowned at the pair of them. “I have half a mind to hire a private investigator to look into this Dillon O’Malley’s past. Ma would never have to know about it.”
Thomas chuckled. “Have you ever known Ma to be oblivious to what’s going on around her? She’ll find out, Mick, and she won’t be one bit happy about it. Leave it alone.”
“I agree,” Jeff said.
“Why am I not surprised?” Mick scoffed. “You’ve left your children to their own devices, haven’t you? How long did it take Susie and Mack to finally marry?”
“They married when the time was right,” Jeff countered. “No amount of interference from me would have influenced them.” His expression turned thoughtful. “Mick, what is this really about? Surely you know that Ma has a good head on her shoulders. And she’s more than deserving of finding a little happiness. Look at all the years she devoted to helping you raise your children. You, of all people, should want this for her.”
Mick frowned. “And you’d be content if she just decided to stay here in Ireland? You don’t think that would rip the heart and soul right out of this family?”
Jeff and Thomas shared a commiserating look.
“I thought so,” Thomas said, sounding surprisingly understanding. “I never thought I’d see the day that something would truly rattle you, Mick, but the idea of Ma stirring up the status quo has done it, hasn’t it?”
Mick knew he probably sounded ridiculous, but there it was. He couldn’t imagine life in Chesapeake Shores without Nell in the middle of things. He counted on her. She’d raised his children, for heaven’s sake, just as Jeff had said. She kept the entire family grounded and, more importantly, connected. Even when he and his brothers had been seriously at odds, it was Nell’s insistence that had kept them together as a family.
“Okay, yes, it scares me to think what it would be like without her,” he admitted.
“She won’t be with us forever,” Jeff reminded him quietly. “That’s the sad reality. Personally I want her to be happy for however many years she has left. If that means staying here, then I’m all for it. You know how much she’s missed being in Ireland. She loved those summers she spent here with her grandparents and that entire last year before she went home to marry Dad. Don’t you recall all the stories she told us? She always sounded so incredibly happy.”
“So you’d let her stay, just like that?” Mick asked testily.
“It needs to be her decision,” Jeff argued.
Thomas held up a hand. “Hold on, you two. We’re getting way ahead of ourselves. Just because Ma is enjoying some time with an old friend doesn’t mean she intends to abandon her family and stay in Ireland. We need to back off and see how this plays out.” He gave Mick a hard look. “Agreed?”
“I still say we need to know more about this man,” Mick countered, determined to have his way on this much, at least.
“I think you’re turning this into a problem because you have too much time on your hands,” Jeff retorted. “Now that you’re back with Megan and all of your children are happily married, you need something new to focus on and Ma’s it.”
Mick bristled at the accusation, but he honestly couldn’t deny it. What he didn’t understand was why his brothers weren’t more concerned. He sighed heavily. Maybe, though, they were right, and there was nothing to worry about.
“Okay, I’ll let it go for now,” he conceded grudgingly. “But I’ll be keeping an eye on things, you can be sure of that.”
“Never doubted it,” Thomas said.
Jeff grinned. “Happy to leave it in your capable hands.”
Mick shook his head. “Why did I ever think the two of you would back me up on this?”
“I have no idea,” Jeff told him.
“We haven’t agreed on much in thirty years,” Thomas added. “The odds were against it.”
Despite his annoyance with the pair of them, Mick chuckled. “Meggie’s always telling me I’m delusional. I guess she’s right.”
“Only about some things,” Thomas consoled him. “Every now and again you show signs of pure genius.”
The sincerity in his voice gave Mick pause. “You almost sound as if you mean that.”
“I do,” Thomas said.
“And I second it,” Jeff admitted.
Mick looked from one brother to the other. “Well, I’ll be. Maybe Ma’s been right all these years, and we will eventually come to appreciate each other’s good qualities.”
Thomas laughed. “I won’t press you to list mine.”
“Me, either,” Jeff said quickly.
Mick regarded them with unexpected warmth. “I’ll work on that list and get back to you. I expect it’s longer than I realized.”
And for the first time in years, he thought he could see both of his brothers with clear-eyed appreciation, rather than resentment. Maybe that was one of those holiday miracles his mother was always talking about.
Laila was surprisingly nervous as she waited for Matthew to come to her room to pick her up for their romantic outing. She’d checked her makeup twice and changed her outfit three times, which was pretty much the limit since she’d brought just so many clothes along on the trip. Short of going shopping, these were her only choices.
When someone tapped on her door, she sucked in a deep, calming breath, then opened it to find Susie on her doorstep. She frowned at Matthew’s sister.
“What brings you by?” she asked, not even trying to hide her suspiciousness.
“Now that’s a lovely greeting,” Susie said, laughing. “I thought we should have a chat, catch up a little.”
Laila immediately shook her head. “Oh, no, we shouldn’t. I already know you’ve been cross-examining Matthew. Leave me alone.”
Susie grinned. “It’s just an innocent conversation,” she promised, slipping past Laila and heading for the overstuffed love seat by the window that looked out on the park. She patted the space next to her. “Have a seat.”
“Not on your life,” Laila said. “And before you start, I am not discussing Matthew with you, period. If that’s what you’re here for, save your breath.”
“Actually I’m here to talk about you,” Susie said.
Laila knew that was only marginally better. “Oh?”
“Are you having a good time?”
No minefield there, she thought, nodding. “I am.”
“I heard you and Matthew went on a day-trip with Gram and Mr. O’Malley. How was that?”
“Wonderful,” Laila said cautiously. “It was a beautiful little town. The marina reminded me of Chesapeake Shores.”
Susie nodded. “Sounds charming. Did you and Matthew have any alone time?”
“Describe ‘alone time,’” Laila replied. “Mostly we were in public or with your grandmother and her friend.”
“But you had time to talk, maybe share a kiss,” Susie speculated.
Laila frowned at her. “Are you fishing or do you have some specific point you’re trying to get to?”
“Just that, the way I heard it, the two of you shared a kiss that set all the hearts in Howth aflutter.”
Laila tried to
imagine Nell O’Brien reporting that. Or Matthew, for that matter. She couldn’t. And it was doubtful that Mr. O’Malley had dropped by the hotel to fill Susie in. So, then, it had to be speculation.
Laila looked directly into Susie’s eyes. “I have no idea where you could have heard such a thing.”
“Then it’s not true?” Susie persisted, looking a little disappointed.
Laila had a choice. She could lie through her teeth and protect their privacy, or admit the truth and deal with the fallout. Actually there was another choice: evasion. That struck her as the best of the lot.
“How’s your honeymoon going, Susie? You and Mack having a good time?”
Now it was Susie’s turn to frown. “I know what you’re doing.”
Laila laughed. “Of course you do. How about this? You stop prying into my private life and I’ll stay out of yours. I know getting me to come on this trip was a personal mission for you, but it’s time to stop worrying about the rest of us and focus on you and Mack. It’s your honeymoon, or have you forgotten that?”
“Hardly,” Susie said, her expression turning dreamy. “It’s everything I imagined it would be.” She grinned. “That still leaves me time to be concerned about you and my brother.”
“We’re adults. We can figure this out all by ourselves,” Laila told her.
“Of course, but I can’t help worrying,” Susie said. “Matthew’s crazy about you, which has to be a first for him. If you’re not taking the relationship seriously, then he needs to understand that.”
“I’m pretty sure Matthew knows exactly where we stand,” Laila said, not even trying to hide her amusement. She’d been watching the meddling O’Briens from the sidelines for years. “You’re the one who wants clarity.”
“Well, of course I do,” Susie said with exasperation. “He’s my brother. I was an early supporter of your relationship, and then things fell apart. It broke his heart. I don’t want to see that happen again.”
“Neither do I,” Laila assured her, relieved to hear another knock on the door. “That’ll be Matthew now.”
Susie’s expression brightened. “You’re going out?”
“We are.”
“Alone.” Obviously recalling her earlier mistake, Susie clarified, “I mean, without the rest of the family.”
“That’s the plan,” Laila said as she opened the door.
Matthew was about to lean in for a kiss when he spotted his sister. “What are you up to?” he asked, his own suspicions glaringly obvious.
“Susie just dropped in for a chat,” Laila said. “No need to worry. She didn’t get what she came for.”
“And what was that?” Matthew asked, his wary gaze still on his sister.
“The inside scoop on the status of our relationship,” Laila said.
Matthew sighed. “Isn’t it enough that you tried to pump me for information?” he demanded of his sister. “Did I not tell you to stay out of this?”
Susie stood up, crossed the room and gave his cheek a pat. “You involved me months ago. Don’t you recall crying on my shoulder because some unnamed woman—Laila, as it turned out—had dumped you? Now I’m just doing my sisterly duty to see that it works out this time. If you don’t like it, you’ve nobody to blame but yourself.”
“It was a weak moment,” he conceded. “I should have known it would come back to bite me in the butt.” He gave her an earnest look. “You can stop worrying now, Suze. I’ve got the situation under control.”
She looked vaguely disappointed, but she nodded. “Okay, then. I’ll leave you to it.” She grinned. “But I will be watching, little brother. Don’t mess this up.”
“Not my intention,” he assured her, giving her a fierce hug. “Love you.”
“Love you back,” she said, then turned to Laila. “You, too, by the way. I want you happy, that’s all.”
“And I appreciate that,” Laila assured her.
After Susie had gone, Laila turned to Matthew. “We are on track, aren’t we?”
“We are,” he confirmed. “And getting more on track every minute.” He reached for her, settled his lips over hers and kissed her until she was weak-kneed and breathless. “What do you think?”
She met his gaze, barely able to speak. “I can’t think at all at the moment.”
He gave a nod of satisfaction. “Exactly what I was going for. You ready for our date?”
She nodded. If she was any more ready, they’d never get out of this room.
Matthew and Laila were just finishing their decadent dessert when he gazed into her eyes and announced casually, “I think we should talk about children.”
Laila choked. “I beg your pardon? Whose children? Caitlyn and Carrie? Little Mick?”
“Ours,” he said calmly.
She swallowed hard. “I’m not following. Give me a minute to catch up.”
Matthew waited patiently as she tried to process the abrupt introduction of the subject of the two of them having children. He’d figured it was time to get to the heart of the kind of future they were likely to share.
Eventually, though, she shook her head as if to clear it. “Still not following,” she admitted.
“We’ve never talked about kids before,” he explained. “Do you want them? How many? I think it’s an important thing for two people to discuss when they’re getting serious about each other.”
“Don’t you think it’s more important to discuss if they’re getting serious about each other first?”
“I figured that goes without saying.”
She shook her head. “There you go again, making assumptions. I agreed with you earlier that we’re on track. We’re not pulling into the station. I’m not there yet, Matthew.” She gave him a chiding look. “Children? Really?”
“I’d like to have several,” he said, pressing forward despite her obvious discomfort with the topic. He liked the blush he’d managed to bring to her cheeks. Keeping Laila off-kilter generally worked in his favor. She claimed to hate it, but he knew better. She thrived on the unpredictability of their relationship and the audaciousness of their conversations.
“I’m thinking five,” he added. “I always envied the size of Uncle Mick’s family.”
“Envied?” she asked skeptically. “I thought you were just daunted because they outnumbered you, Susie and Luke.”
“Which is why I want my kids to have a lot of backup. Since we don’t know if Susie and Mack will wind up adopting—though my money’s on that happening—and who knows what Luke might do, then expanding my side of the family could be up to us. What do you think?”
“I think you’re certifiably crazy,” she said.
“So, five’s too many?”
“I mean you’re crazy if you think I’m going to commit to anything like this now.”
“It’s a discussion, not a commitment. I’m just interested in how you feel about having kids in general.”
She didn’t look as if she believed him. “In general, I favor the idea of having kids,” she said cautiously.
“How many? Two? Ten?”
“Three or four,” she said eventually, picking numbers out of thin air just to end the subject.
He nodded. “I suppose I could compromise at four,” he said agreeably. “See how good we are at this? Marriage is all about compromise, or so they tell me. Now let’s talk about your dream house. What would it look like?”
“I haven’t really given it a lot of thought,” she claimed.
Matthew was skeptical. Didn’t women start thinking about that kind of thing about five minutes after they started imagining the kind of wedding they wanted?
“Really? Heather certainly knew exactly what she wanted Driftwood Cottage to look like when Connor was having that remodeled for her. Uncle Mick said she had a whole folder crammed with pictures. And, believe me, Susie had very specific ideas for her house with Mack.” He regarded her doubtfully. “You sure you’ve never thought about this?”
“I’ve thought about what
I don’t want,” Laila admitted eventually. “I don’t want a house that’s so big and formal that people are scared to have fun in it.”
“Like your parents’ house,” he guessed.
“Exactly,” she said with a shiver. “I’m still surprised at the way Caitlyn and Carrie tear through the place without giving my mother a breakdown. I certainly never felt I could spill anything or leave my toys or schoolbooks lying around.”
“How do you like Susie and Mack’s place?”
Her eyes brightened. “What’s not to love? The views of the water are completely awesome. You did an amazing job of making the rooms airy and bright, yet incredibly cozy.” Her expression turned wistful. “I’d give anything to have a house on a piece of property by the bay.”
Matthew smiled. “Good to know.” Fortunately he had his own piece of property just like it a few feet down the shoreline, thanks to a very wise investment his father had made years ago. The land had been held for Susie, him and Luke. Now he knew exactly the kind of house to put on his lot, something similar to Susie’s, but distinctive in its own ways.
He reached in his pocket for an ever-present piece of paper and pen, then began to sketch. “Something like this?” he asked, shoving the paper in Laila’s direction.
Her eyes widened. “How did you do that with just a few strokes of a pen?”
“You like it?”
“Of course. It’s amazing. I really love the porch and the huge sunroom.”
“Anything you don’t like?”
She shook her head. “You’re a wonderful architect, Matthew. I’m sure it will be incredible. Where are you building it?”
“Next door to Susie and Mack.” He held her gaze. “Eventually.”
Once again, she looked startled. “You own the land next to theirs?”
“Technically Dad does, but he’s giving each of us a piece of it. There will be a sizable lot for Luke whenever he’s ready. Of course, if he persists in thinking he’s crazy about Kristen Lewis, living two doors down from Susie and Mack could be awkward.”
“When will you build your house?” Laila asked, her gaze still drawn to the sketch.
An O’Brien Family Christmas Page 8