“That’s wonderful! Your mother would be so pleased.”
Pru felt an ache amid all the happy of having the adoption complete and the house full to the rafters with family. “I wish she could be here to see this. To know Flynn and how happy he makes me. And to see our family expand again. You know how much she loved that.”
“I do. As much as I enjoyed helping her do it. I know she’s looking down and smiling right now. She’d love seeing you and Kennedy settled.”
“And be plotting some form of match-making to see that Maggie and Athena follow suit.” Ari hadn’t been the only hopeless romantic in the family.
“Any likely prospects on that front?” Mae asked with interest.
Pru glanced at Athena, who stood by the big Christmas tree with a glass of champagne, talking to Porter. “Not sure. Athena’s been dating a guy from work back in Chicago for the past couple of months.” Apparently whatever had passed between her and Logan at the wedding had been a one-time thing. If Logan was bothered by that, he hadn’t let on. “And Maggie is…Maggie. A workaholic to the core.”
“Their time will come,” Mae said, with a knowing smile. “Love comes when you least expect it.”
“Ain’t it the truth,” Pru agreed. “You know, it helps, having you here. It makes me miss Mom a little bit less.”
“She’d be so proud of what you’ve done here with the inn. And what is it going on next door?”
“Our day spa is finally finished. We did a soft launch and an open house last week so we can start selling gift certificates in time for the holidays, but we don’t have the grand opening until after the new year.” Pru looped an arm through Mae’s. “You should schedule an appointment. We’ll give you the family discount.”
Mae beamed. “I will absolutely do that! Now, why don’t you introduce me to your Flynn?”
“Gladly.” Pru escorted her through the crowd of people who’d shown up for the adoption party. “Flynn, I want you to meet Mae Bradley, a dear family friend. Mae, my fiancé, Flynn Bohannon.”
Flynn grinned and took Mae’s hand. “Miss Bradley, I’ve heard many good things. You’re recovering well from surgery?”
“Slowly but surely, thank you. Congratulations on your new family.”
He hooked an arm around Ari’s shoulders. “I have the best daughter in the world, and that’s the truth of it.”
Ari snuggled in, a matching grin on her face. “We’ll pretend he isn’t biased.”
“I’m not biased. My entire family agrees, don’t you?”
The Bohannons—all six of them, who’d come over from Ireland for the adoption—shouted agreement.
“There, you see?”
His mother Moira laughed. “He’s a proud da.”
“And a good one,” Ari declared.
“The best,” Pru murmured, her eyes going misty.
“Here now, there’ll be no tears today, mo mhuirnín.” Flynn tipped her face up for a kiss.
“Happy tears,” Pru promised. “I’ve been a little watery all day.”
“A woman’s entitled to cry a few happy tears on the day she gains a daughter.” Moira punctuated the pronouncement with a lift of her glass.
“Oh, I don’t have anything to toast with.”
She tucked an arm through Pru’s. “Then let’s rectify that, shall we?” Before Pru could object, she was being steered toward the kitchen.
Once they were away from the others, Moira plucked some tissues from a box and handed them over. “There now. I thought you could use a minute.”
Pru sniffed and dabbed at her eyes. “Thanks. I’m so happy today. It’s just, I’m missing my mother.”
“Sure, and it’s no wonder. I know you wish she were here.”