Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
I quickly answered “no” because at the moment, I wanted someone to stay at Imogen’s side every day, and if Finn were here without Mum, I would have time to take care of him. I didn’t want him to come here and have to spend all his time with Maeve.
I wondered if there was a way to trick Mum into accepting Lorcan’s money. I sent her a message, asking her again to take “our” money for the flight since this was a dire situation.
It was still nighttime in Dublin, and Mum was probably still working or had just gone to bed, so I didn’t expect an answer any time soon. I found a note from Lorcan on the table that said Seamus would pick me up at nine and that I should give him a call around lunchtime so he could make sure I was all right.
Something inside of my warmed at his note. I didn’t want to dwell on my own emotions, or what was going on between us. I was glad for Lorcan’s support, no matter what our future held.
I was asleep on the chair beside Imogen when my phone vibrated. Bleary-eyed, I glanced at the screen. It was Mum. I picked up immediately.
“Mum, do you have the money for the flight?”
“No,” Mum said hesitantly.
“Mum, please take the money from us. Imogen needs you here. I need you here.”
“I’ll take the money from Lorcan, as an official loan with interest.”
“Mum—”
“No, Aislinn. That is my condition. Either you agree or I’ll ask the Devaneys here for a loan.”
I shook my head in frustration. “All right. I’m sure Lorcan will give you the money as a loan.”
“With interest. The usual rates.”
I bit back my comment. I could argue with Mum once she was in New York. “Okay, okay, Mum. Just book the earliest flight for you and Finn so I’ll have you here with me, please.”
“I’ll be there soon. Finn won’t stop talking about New York and Lorcan.”
I smiled slightly. Finn would be ecstatic to see Lorcan again. “You won’t tell him why you’re visiting, right?”
“Of course not. I don’t see why I should burden him with the truth.”
“See you soon. Tell me when you’ve booked a flight, okay?”
“See you soon, Aislinn.”
I hung up and released a small sigh. It was one o’clock, and I was supposed to call Lorcan. He picked up after the second ring.
“I was wondering if you’d forgotten about me,” he mused with a hint of amusement.
“I fell asleep and then Mum called.”
“I shouldn’t keep you awake all night.”
I smiled. “It helped with the nightmares.”
“Good to know.” The sound of the harbor, ship honkings and the clanging of metal filled the background. “What about your mother?”
I explained the situation to him, growing agitated again.
Lorcan chuckled. “She’s stubborn like you.”
“I might be stubborn, but I’m not unreasonable. Mum’s both. Money’s already tight. If she takes a loan from you with Five-Leaf-Clover’s ridiculous interest rates, she’ll never be able to pay it back.”
“It’s her decision. I won’t force her to accept me as family and if she prefers Five-Leaf Clover’s rates, then she’ll get her wish.”
I shook my head, frustrated. “I’ll talk to her again once she’s here. I’m sure I can make her see reason.”
“Do what you must. I’ll do what I can.”
“Thank you,” I whispered very quietly. I wasn’t sure if I’d thanked him for his help yet.
He was silent on the other end, and I wished I could see his face. “That’s what husbands do.”
My arm had fallen asleep from the awkward angle of holding Imogen’s hand while resting my head on the mattress for an afternoon nap. Jet lag had definitely caught up with me. A knock sounded and I jerked upright. Maeve poked her head in, smiling hesitantly. Her gaze flitted to my sister and her eyes widened in shock that she quickly masked it. “Sorry.”
“Don’t worry. The first time I saw her, I was shocked too.”
“Is it okay if I come in?”
“Of course.”
Maeve stepped in and closed the door. In the four weeks that we hadn’t seen each other, her belly had grown, now making her look visibly pregnant. She held a plastic container in her hand. “Chocolate muffins with cream cheese filling. It’s one of the few things I can bake well.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
I went over to the small couch under the window, and Maeve followed me. She opened the lid and immediately the sweet scent of chocolate wafted into my nose. Maeve handed me a muffin. I peeled back the paper wrap and took a big bite. The chocolate part was almost too sweet, but the cream cheese filling lacked sugar almost entirely, so it was a perfect combination.
“I’m glad you’re back, even if the reason for it is horrendous,” Maeve said quietly.
“I think I’m glad to be back too. Ireland will always be my home but a tiny piece of my heart is now rooted in New York.”