“I like it,” Doc said. “What kind of errands and how do we extend his stay when the travel is booked through the firm?”
MJ was quick to answer part of it. “I’m friends with his assistant, Nadine, remember?”
“As for errands,” Nico pulled up his shirt and twisted around to show some of the ink on his back. “Somewhere on here is an illustration of Ross Castle in Killarney. I’ve always wanted to see it in person. I could ask him to go and take pictures for me.”
West ran a gentle hand along the varied ink on Nico’s back. “Why didn’t you ever say anything? I’d love to take you there.”
“That’s a good idea,” Hallie said. “Not you taking him there, I mean. But asking Hud to go. What else?”
Walker lifted his head from the relaxation coma he’d been in. “Jolie has always wanted something from the Waterford crystal factory over there.” Otto stiffened behind him, causing Walker to turn and put a hand on his leg. “Simmer down, hot stuff. Daevon asked me for ideas for her birthday. I told him I couldn’t think of anything, but this would work.”
Sassy stood up from the floor with a squeal of excitement. “The Cliffs of Moher!”
Several sets of eyes blinked at her.
“Remember when I was little and watched The Princess Bride ten thousand times?”
“Yes,” West said. “Of course we do. You made Hudson pretend to be Fezzik and carry you up the cliffs as Buttercup, but then as soon as you got to the top you wanted to be Inigo Montoya so you could sword fight.”
“Good memory,” Nico said with an affectionate squeeze of West’s hand.
MJ rolled her eyes. “Who do you think insisted on being Westley?”
West preened while his sisters groaned and Grandpa and Doc laughed.
“Anyway,” Sassy continued. “The real-life Cliffs of Insanity are the Cliffs of Moher which are in County Clare.”
It was Grandpa’s turn to speak. “You all know he’d never say no to Sassy if she asked him to go there.”
“Ok,” Hallie said, looking up from where she was making notes in her phone. “So far we have three side trips. The tattoo thing in Killarney, the crystal in Waterford, and the cliffs in County Clare. Let’s think of at least one more. Something he really, really wouldn’t be able to refuse.”
There was silence for a few minutes while everyone tried to think. Doc kept sneaking meaningful glances at Grandpa until Grandpa couldn’t take it anymore.
“Okay fine. I have one,” Grandpa muttered.
Doc let out a breath. “You sure, sweetheart? You don’t have to.”
“Liam, love.” Grandpa reached for his husband’s hand and held it tight. “You know Hudson won’t be able to say no. I can ask him to take a picture of their graves.”
“Whose graves?” Winnie asked.
“My grandparents,” Grandpa said softly. “My mother was Irish. Her parents are buried in County Clare.”
A hush fell over the room again before West spoke up. “But you don’t ever talk about your parents. We don’t even know who they were or where you’re from exactly. I guess I just assumed you didn’t know them.”
“He knows,” Doc said, pulling Grandpa closer against him to wrap an arm around the old rancher’s shoulders. “He just doesn’t like to talk about them. It’s painful for him. They kicked him out when he was still young.”
“Who were they?” Sassy asked, coming over to sit on the floor by Grandpa’s feet.
“My maternal grandparents were Moira and Seamus Dugan. I don’t know the name of the cemetery, but I know the name of the village where they lived.”
“You were Weston Dugan?” Sassy asked. “No, wait. That was your mom’s family. What was your dad’s family name?”
Grandpa blew out a breath. “Marian.”