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As promised, Keefe brewed a pot of coffee for them while they discussed—argued, more like, but good-naturedly, of course—design decisions for the renovation. Keefe insisted the rustic charm needed to stay, which Sophie wholeheartedly agreed with. However, she did not agree that he needed a fancy, over-the-top, expensive, bougie French stove. “But Soph?—”
“No,” she yawned, “we can’t afford it.”
“We could if?—”
“No.”
“But what about?—”
“No.”
“What if?—”
“No!” Seeing as the coffee was ready, she poured herself and him a cup, added cream and sugar to both, then continued after taking a long whiff and a big drink. Keefe made the best coffee, and it was only made better by the Irish double cream. She didn’t know what made Irish milk better, but it truly was better than anything. “Listen, that stove wouldn’t even arrive in time. This says it needs to be ordered a year in advance. Not to mention we simply cannot afford it. I know you want a great kitchen and I want you to have a great kitchen, but you need to be reasonable.” She picked up the large catalog of restaurant appliances and supplies, ripped out the page with the stove, then slapped it back down on the counter in front of him. “Pick out another.”
Sophie was right, of course. But hey, a guy could try, couldn’t he? He drank some coffee then flipped through the pages, ear- marking possibilities.
Sophie yawned again and took a long sip of hot coffee. “I’ll tell you what we need. We need that oak bar refinished. I can do it myself, but not with all this other work going on around the place.”
“So, we get the dining room sorted first.”
“Yes, but I don’t see how we can do that.” Sophie listed the jobs to be done, and she was right. It just wasn’t feasible. The top of the bar would need to be removed and taken to another location where she could safely refinish it. All the years of spilled beer and elbows rubbing on it had left its mark. So now the big question was, where could the bar be moved to where she could work on it? There wasn’t a space large enough at the house, there wasn’t space enough anywhere they could think of.
When a knock sounded on the front door, Keefe asked Sophie if she would answer it. He was buried in the catalog and couldn’t be bothered.
Before heading to the door, Sophie reminded him that she was promised coffeeandbreakfast.
Sophie left the kitchen, crossed the dining room to the front door where she unlocked it and swung it open, then froze in place.
“Good morning, Sophie.”
Liam.
Liam Gallagher.
Her childhood sweetheart. No—he’d always been more than that. Her best friend. The boy she’d once been sure she’d grow old with. He was part of almost every first in her life—her first tooth falling out, first kiss, first date, her first everything. And now, after all this time, he was standing on her doorstep like a ghost from a life she’d almost forgotten how to want.
His blue eyes were as frighteningly intelligent and kind as ever. His temples showed the beginning of gray—just a slight hint of age. She’d almost forgotten how beautiful he was. Even more so now than when he was younger.
Stupified, Sophie stood there with her hand against the door.
“Sophie?”
“Hm?”
“Can I come in? It’s fucking Baltic out here this morning.”
“Sorry, yes. Of course.” She stepped aside allowing Liam to pass.
Was that really the best he could do? It’s fucking Baltic out here.Not,“Good morning, dear friend. It’s been far too long since I’ve seen your beautiful face.”Nope.
After all this time, he finally stands face-to-face with the love of his life and all he can talk about is the weather.Terrific.Off to agreatstart. You know the saying—start as you mean to end, right?
Liam walked inside and blew on his cold hands then turned around as she closed the door. “You look surprised to see me, love. Did Keefe not tell you he invited me to breakfast?”
“No. He told me the roofer was coming.” She was kicking herself for getting so busy that she’d forgotten all about Keefe calling him. She should have known he was up to something this morning.
One thing about Sophie: she was swift to anger, but she was also swift to forgive and forget.
