Christmas with the McCarthys (Dangerous Doms 7.50)
The boy nods shyly. “Aye, sir.”
“Come back to the house, both of you.”
Malachy and Daniel gratefully enter the car, rubbing their hand in front of the blast of heat when Cormac cranks it up.
“So good to see you, Keenan, I can’t even tell you. And convenient, too. I wanted a word before we head back to the house…”
CHAPTER 4
Caitlin.
Maeve and I do our best to keep the party going. Games and food, music and laughter. Tully’s the best Santa we could ask for, but the two of us can’t help but pace every once in a while near the windows that overlook the front drive.
“They’ll be fine,” I tell Maeve when I see her go a third time. “You know Keenan will make it right.” He always does.
“Oh, aye,” she says, wringing her hands. “I just feel badly. I should’ve told him about… well, you know.” She looks sad for a moment.
“About Malachy?”
“Aye,” she says with a sigh.
“What about him?” Nolan stands in the doorway looking curiously at both of us.
“Oh, nothing,” Maeve says, giving me a curious look.
“Now, Maeve,” I say gently. I reach for her hand and give it a little squeeze. “It’s time. And you know you can trust Nolan.” The youngest McCarthy son, he’s the gentlest of the lot.
“What is it, mam?” he asks, his brow furrowed with curiosity.
She draws in a breath, then let’s it out in a rush of words. “I’ve been seeing Malachy, son. We’ve gotten quite serious. It’s been a while now, and we feel it’s time you all knew. I wanted him here when I told you, but now that I have…” her voice trails off.
Nolan blinks once. Then twice.
“Malachy?”
Maeve’s lips twitch. “Aye, Malachy. The man from St. Albert’s?” she says gently, though he absolutely knows who Malachy is.
He finally grins. “Ack, mam, good for you. Keenan and Cormac will be surprised like me, but we all want you to be happy. It’s been years since dad died, and Malachy’s been like a father to all of us anyhow.”
Her eyes shine, and her voice is a bit tremulous when she speaks. “Aye, Nolan. He loves you all like sons. It’s partly what… what drew me to him to begin with.”
My mama heart warms at that. How could it not? She loves the man who loves her sons, and I couldn’t blame her for that.
“He’s a bit of a looker, too,” I say out of the side of my mouth so Nolan doesn’t hear. “Those blue, blue eyes and silver hair… oh, you’ve done well, Maeve.”
She grins and winks at me.
“Oooh, someone’s coming!” Little Eleanor says. “Santa, look! Who is it? Is that Uncle Cormac?”
Maeve and I squeeze each other’s hands as we look outside the window. Eleanor’s right. The lot of them are traipsing up the stairs like big, bearded snowmen.
Maeve’s eyes shine. All her sons and Malachy are home safe.
Seconds later, the foyer’s filled with laughter and chatter and piles of snow. The children squeal, touching it with their fingertips. Most have never seen it. The staff stands at a respectable distance, but after they’ve taken off their damp, snowy things, we all head back to the large, crackling fire.
Keenan grabs me in a massive bear hug and fills me in. “We’ll fix the car in the morning, and he’ll stay here tonight. And you’d never believe what Malachy asked me on the way…”
I smile at him. I bet I would.
Drinks are poured and music plays, the children run about playing games, the youngest napping on stuffed chairs and nestled in arms, when Malachy stands by the fire. The younger boy, Daniel, stands by the children. He’s been chatting with Lachlan and Tiernan, who were once both young recruits like him.
Malachy taps his glass, and the room quiets. My heart patters in my chest. I have a feeling I know what he’s going to say.
He clears his throat. Maeve’s eyes go wide, and a light pink flush colors her cheeks.
“Thank you, all. Tonight, when Daniel and I were stranded, the men of the Clan demonstrated the fellowship and loyalty that’s been at our foundation since the very beginning.” He smiles at Keenan, nods, and says warmly, “Thank you.”
Keenan nods. I hold his hand.
“And now, as we’re all gathered here, a few words. I’ve watched as the McCarthy Clan has grown since Seamus’s passing. We’ve brought women and children, cousins and aunts and uncles all together as one. We’ve brought many to school to teach, and graduated boys from our top ranks into men of the Clan.” He smiles at all of us. “And I’ve been honored to see you flourish.” He sighs. “And now, I’ve a request of you.”
His eyes meet Maeve’s. “As some of you know, Maeve and I have been friends for years.” He swallows. “And in recent months, we’ve become a bit more than friends.” He looks to the men, and my heart clenches. Is he going to do what I think he is?