Page 133 of Since We're Here
I take the piece from him. It’s a wooden carving of the state of New Jersey, just like the one of Ireland.
“This is amazing. I love it.” I reach out and touch his arm. “When did you make it?”
“After you left for London. I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I’m not sure what I was planning to do with it... but it makes sense now. It was a gift for you all along.”
I throw an arm around his neck and lean into him, clutching the wooden decor against my chest with the other hand.
“Thank you. It’s so thoughtful.” There’s a lump in my throat and a sting in the back of my eyes. I don’t want to let go of him.
“One more.” Patrick leans back until I release my grip on his neck, then takes the carving from my hand and puts it on the table next to the helmet. His face is flushed, and he gives me a gentle kiss before nodding his head to the sliding door. “Come on. It’s out back.”
“What would be in the backyard?” But I follow him outside. Kitty trots over right away, nuzzling against Patrick’s pockets. He pulls out a treat and the sheep takes it from his palm.
“It’s behind the barn, probably.”
“Behind the barn?” I laugh. “Probably?”
“Maybe hanging out with Turtle.”
“Patrick, what did you do?” But then I find out.
Out from behind the barn trots the tiniest little hooved creature I have ever seen.
“There she is.”
I gasp. “Is that a baby goat?”
“Yes, sure is. And it’s called a kid.”
The kid comes right over to me, and I lean down and reach out to her. She sniffs at my hand and looks up at me accusingly after realizing I have nothing to offer.
Just then, she bleats loudly, startling me. I let out a giggle. The kid turns around and leaps away, bounding in the air before jumping and practically clicking her heels together.
“I love her so much!” I turn to Patrick, laughing.
“Good. She’s yours. I mean, she’s my responsibility. I’ll take care of her. But I thought Turtle and Kitty would like to have a new friend, and I recall you saying how much you love baby goats.”
“I’m not sure the conversation went quite like that, but I don’t care. She is adorable.” I grab Patrick by the waist and look up at him. He leans down and kisses me gently. “What’s her name?”
“You get to name her.”
“I don’t know about that. I think Erin and Niamh will be mad if I don’t let them do it.”
“Fair enough.” He chuckles and pulls me against him tighter. “I picked her up yesterday. My neighbor said she couldn’t keep all the kids her mama goat has had. So here we are. I have two sheep and a goat in my backyard.”
I crack up and kiss him again.
Back in theDingle city center, a light mist falls. I tug the hood of my windbreaker over my head and step closer to Patrick, loving the feel of his arm against mine as we stride down the road.
On the way back from the cottage, Patrick told me all about convincing Sean to come back to Slea Head. Yesterday, he brought the old brewer the new autumn brew—which is apparently delicious—and asked Sean to come back as head brewer. Patrick and Lola will manage all the new product development, taking the parts Sean hates off his plate completely.
“And he really said he thought it would taste like a pumpkin vomited in a bowl of nutmeg?”
“Sean’s got a way with words, doesn’t he?”
I laugh. “I guess so.”
“He hasn’t said yes yet, but I know he will. It’ll all work out.”
