The emotional pain that clouded Maeve’s eyes tore at Fin’s heart. She hadn’t meant to mention her sister. It had to have been devastating for her mother to lose a seven-year-old child to cancer, but what Fin said was true. Maeve should have known what it would be like for Fin to have her baby taken from her with no say in the matter.
“Oh, Finny, ‘tis sorry I am that you had to go through that,” Maeve said, her Irish accent becoming more pronounced, as it always did when she was upset or overly emotional. Wiping her tears with a linen handkerchief, she shook her head. “‘Twas a sad day for this family and one I have regretted all these years since.”
“Then why did you let Patrick do that to me? Couldn’t you have stopped him?”
Her mother shook her head. “I did try. But your da wouldn’t listen and when it became a threat to our marriage, I backed down.”
“You and Patrick had problems because of my situation?” It was the first Fin had heard of it if they had.
Maeve nodded. “Your da is a stubborn man. He put his pride ahead of what was right for you and this family.”
“I never knew.” Fin had always thought her mother supported every decision Patrick made. “The two of you always presented a united front and I thought you let him force me to give up my child without lifting a finger to help me.”
“‘Twasn’t for you to know,” Maeve said, smiling sadly. “What happens between a husband and wife behind closed doors is no one’s affair but their own.”
“I’m so sorry, Mom.” Letting go of the last traces of her misguided anger at her mother, Fin knelt down and put her arms around Maeve’s thin shoulders. “I know how much you’ve always loved Patrick. It must have torn you apart to be caught in the middle of all that.”
“‘Tis done and past.” Her mother soothingly stroked Fin’s hair. “Since we are all gathered for Jessie’s wedding, I think you should tell the family about the wee one you carry,” she said softly as they continued to embrace.
Leaning back, Fin shook her head. “I don’t think it’s the right time. This is Jessie’s day and I don’t want to cause a scene or detract from her happiness in any way.”
“Does she know?”
Fin nodded. “I didn’t want her to hear it from someone else.”
“Was she happy for you and her da?”
“She’s thrilled.”
“‘Tis rare when we all gather at the same time.” Smiling, Maeve rose to her feet, then tugged on Fin’s hand for her to stand. “We should celebrate a new babe on the way, as well as a wedding.”
Fin tried to swallow her apprehension. “I don’t want Patrick ruining this day for Jessie because of me.”
Maeve shook her head. “You needn’t worry, Finny. Your da is different now.”
“Since when?”
“Give him a chance,” Maeve said, her smile encouraging.
As they walked out of the library and down the hall, Fin found Travis standing by the staircase. She needed to warn him about her mother’s request, as well as find Jessie and Cade and see if they had any objections to her announcing her pregnancy.
“We’ll join the reception in a moment, Mom,” Fin said, waiting until Maeve disappeared down the hall before she turned to Travis. “Since everyone is here, my mother thinks we should tell the family about the baby,” she said, careful to keep her voice low. “Are you okay with that?”
He nodded. “I’m fine with it. The question is, how do you feel about it?”
“I’m not sure,” she said truthfully. “I couldn’t be more excited and I want to tell everyone how happy I am that I’ve been given a second chance at motherhood.
But at the same time, I’m apprehensive about Patrick’s reaction. I don’t want him putting a damper on Jessie and Cade’s big day.”
Travis shook his head. “He won’t.”
“You don’t know Patrick Elliott the way I do.” She sighed. “And thank your lucky stars you don’t.”
“He’s all about appearances, isn’t he?”
“That’s all he’s about,” she said, unable to keep the disgust from her voice.
Nodding, Travis smiled. “Then don’t you think he’ll keep his mouth shut to keep from airing the family laundry in front of all these people?”
The more she thought about it, the more she realized that Travis was right. Not all of the guests were family. And Patrick would never dream of saying anything in front of outsiders that would throw the family in what he perceived to be a bad light.