Irish Secrets

by Paula Martin

  Jon laughed. "That's how we felt like last Wednesday when Ryan told us your parents were coming to Ireland, and that Linda wanted to meet us."

  Kara's eyes widened. "Ryan told you?" She turned to her father. "I was right, wasn't I? It was Ryan who came to see you."

  "Let's just say I called him last Monday evening to tell him Linda wanted to meet her birth parents, and again the following day to tell him our flight time."

  Jon nodded. "And then Ryan offered to drive us over here from Dublin."

  "Ryan brought you here?" Kara struggled to get her mind around everything her father and Jon told her. "Where is he now?"

  "I'm not sure," Jon replied. "But he said you wouldn't want to see him because he'd let you down so badly."

  Kara winced. "I accused him of – oh, that doesn't matter now. This is so amazing. I need to call him." She started to stand but sank back on the couch. "I don't have his number. He's changed his phone."

  Alistair reached into the inside pocket of his jacket, pulled out his wallet, and extracted a card. "Will this help?"

  Kara stared at the card. "Is this his number?"

  "It's the number I've used to call him this past week."

  Her heart thumped against her ribs as she stood. "Will you excuse me for a few minutes?"

  She sat on the bench outside the house, and drew in a deep breath. With trembling fingers, she pressed the numbers on her phone and listened to the ring tone.

  "Ryan O'Neill," said the familiar voice, and her heart jerked. For a couple of seconds, she was unable to speak.

  "Hallo?" he said.

  "Ryan, it's Kara, and I—" She swallowed past the lump in her throat. "I'm not sure where to start. Except—thank you. Thank you so much. My dad's just told me I achieved a miracle, but the miracle is all due to you. If only you could have seen Margaret and Jon meeting with my mom…" The tears streamed down her cheeks despite her effort to gulp them back. "I wish you were here, Ryan. I've missed you so much."

  There was silence, enough silence for her to think he was about to remind her of her anger and accusations.

  Instead, he said, "Are you sure?"

  Fresh tears stung her eyes, and the sobs shuddered in her chest. "Of course I'm sure."

  "Where are you? I can hear seagulls."

  "I'm on the bench at the front of the house."

  "Wait there. I'll be with you in less than five minutes."

  "Five minutes? I thought you'd be half way back to Dub—"

  She stopped when she realised Ryan had clicked off his phone. Wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand, it occurred to her that she probably looked a blotchy mess after all the tears of the past half hour, but there was nothing she could do about that now, not if he would be here in five minutes.

  "Okay, compose yourself, Kara," she whispered.

  First, she needed to apologise for reacting so angrily, to tell him she understood why he had to maintain the secret of his undercover life, and—

  The sight of a silver grey car coming up the drive confused her for a couple of seconds, until she realised he would no longer be driving the blue taxi.

  She jumped up and ran across to the car as he pulled up at one side of the forecourt. Her knees seemed to have turned to jelly, but her heart still leapt when he got out. He looked different, somehow, but her nerves were too taut to analyse why.

  "Hi," she said awkwardly.

  "Hi."

  For a couple of seconds, they gazed at each other, and realisation dawned on her. "You've shaved off your beard."

  "Yes, I—" As he smiled, his eyes softened. "Oh, come here, darlin'. Let's leave all the explanations for the moment."

  He held out his arms, and joy and relief radiated through her as he crushed her to him in a fierce embrace. She slid her arms around his broad back, hugging him tightly and burying her face against his shoulder. When his hold on her loosened, she looked up at him and smiled.

  "I'm so happy you're here, Ryan."

  In response, he bent forward to kiss her, a long kiss, which deepened from gentle to intense.

  Eventually, she broke away with a small laugh, and glanced back at the house. "I'm surprised they're not all at the windows, cheering us on. Maybe we should go inside and join them."

  He glanced at his watch. "Actually, I was about to set off for Galway. Will you come with me, and we can talk in the car?"

  "Now?"

  "Being Sunday, it'll only take a couple of hours there and back."

  She frowned. "You're going there and straight back here? Why?"

  He grinned. "If you come with me, you'll find out."

  "Okay, let me run inside and tell my dad."

  "Tell him you'll be away for two hours, but don't say you're going to Galway."

  Less than five minutes later, Kara got into the car beside him, and laughed. "I don't even want to think about what's going through my father's mind right now."

  He shot her an amused glance as he set off down the drive. "You said you were going somewhere with me, and we'd be back soon?"

  "Something like that, yes. Are we really going to Galway, or is this a ploy to check into a hotel in Clifden for two hours? Not that I would object, of course."

  He laughed. "Don't tempt me. Anyway, it wouldn't be a hotel, it would be my new apartment. But we're definitely going to Galway."

  "Where's your new apartment? In Dublin?"

  "No, but I'll tell you about that later. The first thing I want to say is I'm sorry I didn't tell you about my real job."

  Kara shook her head. "You don't need to apologise. I'm sorry I said all those awful things to you. Once I calmed down, I understood why you couldn't tell me. I've worked with the police, so I know about undercover operations – and I worked something else out, too."

  “What’s that?”

  “You weren’t brought up in Dublin, were you?”

  He grinned. “No, I grew up in Portumna, which is where my parents and grandparents have always lived. The Dublin background was invented for me by the BCI, but I did live there for three years when I was at Trinity College, and I’ve had an apartment near Dun Laoghaire for the last five years.” He paused and tightened his lips for a moment. "I wanted to tell you the truth, Kara. In fact, I was on the verge of telling you, the day we went to the Cliffs of Moher."

  Her eyes widened. "Really? Why didn't you?"

  "Remember Sinead? She blew my cover on the last assignment I did in Galway. The Chief gave me a real bollocking about that, and I came very near to being fired, or at least, demoted. I had to promise her I wouldn't let myself be distracted this time."

  She nodded. "That's why you said it was the wrong time for you, isn't it? After you kissed me at Lough Derg."

  "It was, but even then I knew you were special, and I wanted to see more of you."

  She hesitated, but knew she had to ask him. "Did you already suspect the cottage was being used for the stolen goods?"

  "Not when I first met you, no."

  "That answers one question."

  "What question?"

  "I did wonder if you only offered to help me with my search because you thought I could be useful."

  He winced. "You mean use you? Kara, I tried so hard not to do that, but I admit you did volunteer some helpful information at times."

  She grinned. "If you'd told me what you were doing, I could probably have given you even more information."

  He was silent for a few moments before he said, "I'm sorry. I should have trusted you."

  She put her hand on his thigh. "It doesn't matter, not now. I've sorted it all out in my mind. Anyway, what you've done for my mom, and for Margaret and Jon, is so amazing, I can't thank you enough." When he chuckled and squeezed her hand, she looked at him curiously. "Why are you laughing?"

  "Because when I came to Mist Na Mara to ask about Jenna's earrings, Charley told me I'd have to do something pretty amazing to win back your trust and respect. I had no idea what I could do until, by complete chance, I met Ma
rgaret and Jon in the café at Glasnevin, and they told me your mother refused to listen to you."

  "So you went over to New Jersey to meet my dad."

  "And came back thinking I had failed when he said your mother still wouldn't listen."

  "Did he tell you what finally changed her mind?"

  "No, he called me the day after I got home, and said they were coming over today with Guy's mother, so I liaised with Guy, and called Margaret and Jon, and – well, the rest you know."

  "It was your photo of me with Margaret and Jon – and Peter Rabbit."

  Ryan's eyes widened. "Is that right?"

  Kara's tears brimmed again. "My mom still has the original Peter Rabbit. I didn't know that until today when she showed it to Margaret." She swallowed. "Ryan, will you stop the car please? Anywhere along here."

  He pulled over onto the grass verge with the wild, unspoiled Connemara landscape all around them, and turned to her, his eyes anxious. "Are you okay?"

  "Yes, but I need to kiss you."

  He switched off the engine and grinned in relief. "I can't say no to that, can I?"

  After a long and increasingly passionate kiss, he rested his cheek against hers. "I love you, mo anam cara. Will you marry me?"

  She caught her breath, and smiled as she smoothed her hand against his cheek. "I might consider it now you've shaved off your beard, but only if you tell me why we're going to Galway."

  "To pick up Sister Gabriel, of course, and take her back to Mist Na Mara to meet Margaret and your mother. Now, will you marry me?"

  "Of course I will. I love you, Detective Ryan O'Neill."

  He shook his head. "District Superintendent O'Neill, if you please."

  Kara stared at him. "District Superintendent? Where?"

  "In Clifden. I was offered the job last Monday, and I'll be shadowing Martin Stevenson until he retires in November. That's why I've just picked up the keys to a rather nice apartment overlooking the harbour, instead of that awful flat on Bridge Street."

  "Does it have a rather nice bed, too?"

  "A very comfortable double bed."

  She laughed. "Good. That's all we need, isn't it?"

  * * * * *

  That evening, all the staff congregated in the lounge at Mist Na Mara to celebrate Linda's reunion with her birth parents. Even Sister Gabriel accepted a small glass of sherry after her emotional reunion with Margaret, and both of them told Linda about some of the lighter moments at the Ballykane home when she was a baby.

  Kara tightened her grip on Ryan's hand. "My mom looks happier than I've ever seen her. It's as if she has finally found herself, somehow."

  "I think we all need to know who we are and where we came from. Maybe we can take her up to Doolough while she's here, and to Glasnevin, too, and the children's hospital where her parents first met, and Galway, and even Cork, where her father lived."

  "And Ballykane?"

  "If she wants to go there, why not?"

  They both looked around when Guy tapped his wine glass with a spoon. "Sister Gabriel has something she'd like to say."

  Sister Gabriel started hesitantly. "At our convent in Salthill, we receive many requests from mothers and children who are trying to find each other. Sometimes we can help them, but more often, sadly, we can't. I can only offer a sincere apology to the hundreds, even thousands, who came to us in the past but received less than the care and compassion that we offer today. We made some grievous mistakes, but once in a while something happens to gladden our hearts." A smile lit up her lined face. "That's what has happened here today. A baby born at Ballykane in the 1950s has been reunited with her birth parents, and I am so thrilled to be here to witness this happy event, especially knowing I have played a small part in helping Kara and Ryan to achieve this reunion." She raised her glass. "To Linda, and to Margaret and Jon, who have spent many years not even daring to hope that today could ever happen."

  Ryan squeezed her hand as they all raised their glasses and repeated the toast, and they both crossed the room to hug the nun, and then her mother.

  "I'm so happy for you, mom."

  "And I'm happy for you, too, honey."

  They both turned as Alistair stood. "I'm sure we all share Sister Gabriel's delight at this happy event. I'm reminded of the legend of the red thread, which connects people who are destined to meet. The thread between Linda and her birth parents has been stretched and tangled over the years, but it has never been broken, and I think another thread has also been untangled today. A few hours ago, Ryan asked me for permission to marry my daughter, and I gladly gave my consent." He stopped when whoops and cheers erupted from the Mist Na Mara staff, and then smiled at her. "Kara, my darling daughter, you came to Ireland to find your ancestors, and you also found the man you were destined to meet. I have absolutely no doubt that you and Ryan will have a very happy life together here in Ireland, the land of your mother's birth family. To Kara and Ryan."

  Ryan pressed her close to him, and she smiled happily up at him as everyone raised their glasses.

  "To Kara and Ryan."

  "And no more secrets," he whispered in her ear.

  About the Author

  Paula Martin lives near Manchester in North West England and has two daughters and two grandsons.

  She had some early publishing success with four romance novels and several short stories, but then had a break from writing while she brought up a young family and also pursued her career as a history teacher for twenty-five years. She has recently returned to writing fiction, after retiring from teaching, and is thrilled to have found publishing success again with her contemporary romances.

  Apart from writing, she enjoys visiting new places. She has travelled extensively in Britain and Ireland, mainland Europe, the Middle East, America and Canada. Her other interests include musical theatre and tracing her family history.

  Please visit Paula on her website at http://paulamartinromances.webs.com/

  Check in on her blog to find out what she's up to http://paulamartinpotpourri.blogspot.co.uk/

  And be sure to send her a Tweet https://twitter.com/#!/PaulaRomances

  If you enjoyed this story, please try another of Ms. Martin's works.

  English actress Jenna Sutton and American artist Guy Sinclair meet when they inherit a house in Ireland. Curious about their benefactress, they discover surprising links to the original owners of the house which leads to an intriguing tale of a 19th century love affair.

  Will their Irish inheritance eventually drive them apart – or bring them together?

  Available in Ebook and Trade Paperback at major online retailers.

  Charley Hunter returns to Ireland despite the tragic loss of her husband there two years ago. The last thing she expects is an attraction to a veterinarian.

  Luke Sullivan tries to balance caring for two children with his veterinary practice. He's vowed to leave women alone, but meets Charley.

  Will their relationship survive when Luke believes Charley has betrayed him?

  Available in Ebook and Trade Paperback at major online retailers.

  Jess Harper's life is turned upside down when her twin sister disappears a week before rehearsals are due to start for a new West End musical in which Lora has the lead role. Jess decides to impersonate her in order to save her career, despite her initial dislike of Kyle Drummond, the determined and arrogant director. The last thing she expects is the irresistible magnetism that draws them together, but there's also evidence Kyle dated Lora.

  Is Jess simply a substitute, in real life as well as in the show? And what will happen when Lora eventually returns?

  Available in Ebook and Trade Paperback at major online retailers.

  Anna Richards has a dream of going to live and study in Paris, but when Matthew Carlton comes into her life, her dream changes direction. Attraction sparks between them, but Matt's behaviour is strangely inconsistent. Anna is shocked when she discovers the reason and is sure there is no future for them.

  Can Pa
ris work its magic and make her dream come true?

  Available in Ebook and Trade Paperback at major online retailers.

  Lisa Marshall is stunned when celebrated volcanologist Paul Hamilton comes back into her life at the college where she now teaches. Despite their acrimonious break-up several years earlier, they soon realise the magnetic attraction between them is stronger than ever.

  However, the past is still part of the present, not least when Paul discovers Lisa has a young son. They can't change the past, but will it take a volcanic eruption to help them change the future?

  Available in Ebook and Trade Paperback at major online retailers.

  Table of Contents

  Irish Secrets

  With grateful thanks to Margaret, Miriam, and Lyn for all your help and support.Irish Secrets

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15