Page 46 of The Tides of March

“No problem, kiddo. I was too happy to help when I heard you were shacking up with Ronan.”

The pack’s happy barks announced Ronan’s arrival but he sulked onto the dock, ducking bashfully as he offered his hand to Tony’s mother. “Ma’am. It’s a pleasure to welcome ye to Pooles Island. I hope ye enjoy yer visit,” he mumbled, blushing as he avoided her eyes.

“Get over here,” she said, rising on her toes and hugging his middle. “You can call me Celia. Or Mom.”

Ronan blinked at Tony, looking adorably stunned. “You didn’ tell me yer mam was an angel too,” he said, hugging her with awkward gentleness. “Let me get those, Winston,” he ordered and bowed at Celia before hurrying off.

“I think he’s rather dashing,” Celia whispered to Tony, making him laugh.

“I think so too. Is he joining our pack?” he asked, nodding at the puppy.

“Nope. The house was too quiet without you the last time you were away so I called Sheila and said I’d be Rocky’s new mom.”

“Perfect,” Tony said and introduced his mom and Rocky to the rest of their family while Ronan made quick work of the six bins and various boxes his mom had packed. “You did that fast. Is thatallmy stuff?” he asked, wondering if she was in a hurry to get rid of him.

“Sheila helped and she’s building me shelves. I’m finally getting my reading room.”

“I’m not gonna let that hurt my feelings,” Tony told himself.

“Hush! I’ve been waiting for you to find yourself and your soulmateandyou know how many books I have. Think about how nice it’ll be when they’re all arranged by color. It’s going to be my rainbow reading room!” she said dreamily, her hand sweeping in front of her.

“I think it’s great and exactly what you deserve. I think Sheila’s pretty great too,” he said from behind his hand and winked.

“We hit it off,” Celia said with a shrug. “And you know how it is at our age, you either go fast or you grow cold.”

Tony frowned. “You’re fifty-eight. That’s not old at all,” he said and winced in Ronan’s direction. “Anyways! How about a tour of the cottage?” He offered his arm as he changed the subject. “It’s just one room and a loft, but I’m in love with it.”

“It looks so cozy. Can I get a tour of the lighthouse too?”

“No!” Tony and Ronan shouted.

“It’s…” Ronan coughed and shook his head. “Ye don’ wanna see all me tools and old sailin’ gear.”

“It used to be haunted and the staircase could come down at any moment,” Tony added with an apologetic shrug. “He was a really cool ghost, though. Came in clutch when we were in trouble.”

“Oh…” Celia nodded weakly. “Maybe a tour of the peach trees,” she said and Tony, Ronan, and Winston shouted “No!”

Tony shook his head. “The Army used to use the island for training and testing so there could be some…live ammunition or explosives out there.”

His mother’s eyes widened and the grip around his arm tightened. “Oh.”

“The beach is cool and Ronan knows how to get around safely,” Tony said quickly.

Ronan nodded. “I’ve been through there dozens of times with me metal detectors and I’m damn near indestructible.”

There was more truth in that than they wanted to reveal to Winston so Tony laughed it off. “That means you get all the peach preserves and butters and honey you can carry and Ronan promises to send crates of peaches when they’re in season.”

“That’s not so bad, then,” Celia decided.

She loved the inside of the cottage, delighted at all the bookshelves and amazed to learn that Ronan had painted all the watercolors.

“Ye can take whichever ones ye like,” Ronan offered both of their guests, then apologized to Winston for never inviting her in for coffee.

“No worries! You were doing me a favor, taking in all these dogs. It’s a godsend, knowing you’ll take the bigger, older dogs I come across.”

“Isn’t it?” Tony agreed cheekily, trading smiles with his mother.

Unable to tour the lighthouse or the orchard, Tony’s mom and Winston went to work on his bins and boxes. He was unpacked in just a few hours and Tony’s mom heated up one of her lasagnas for an early dinner.

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