Page 16 of Return
“They did. A few years back, they decided to emigrate, and invested in the pub with my parents. With them on board, Keefe and I aren’t really needed there anymore.”
“I think you and Keefe will do well. The locals will love you because you’re one of us and the tourists will love you because they’ll see you as one of them.”
“I hope we don’t get too much tourist traffic. That was my biggest complaint about working at the pub—the tourists. Keefe swears it?—”
“You mean she.”
Sophie gasped in mock horror. “My mistake, she is out of the way enough that we shouldn’t be overrun with tourists. He’d better be right or there will be hell to pay.”
Liam knew that definitely was not an empty threat. “You know, it’s funny. I haven’t seen you two fight in years but it’s like no time has passed.”
She chuckled a little. “Sure, it has. My aim’s gotten better.”
Liam barked a small laugh not just because of what she had said but because the room he had just stepped into had the ghastliest wallpaper of them all: circus clowns. “Emma must be happy you’ve moved here?”
Sophie nodded. “She is except she’s living in London.”
“What? When did that happen?”
“She moved there about a year ago. Her mother’s trying to get her to move back though. Emma hates it there so I expect her back home soon. Her mom stopped by yesterday and told me the house Emma’s always admired is on the market. I bet that will do the trick.”
“You two were practically inseparable.”
“Except for when I was with you.”
“Well, you and I were friends first anyway which means I got dibs.”
“Funny, every summer I would leave you guys and I was so sad. Part of me expected that one year I’d return and you two would be a couple.”
“I couldn’t be with Emma. You were the only girl for me.” Sophie blushed at the compliment and looked away. “I saw in the papers that she divorced that rugby player.”
“Yeah, the lying, cheating bastard. I’m one to talk though. I didn’t do any better.”
“I’m sorry about your divorce.”
“Don’t be. He was an even bigger lying cheating bastard. That divorce was a long time coming. But it’s done now and I’m starting over. Keefe hasn’t come out and said it but I think the real reason he wanted this place was because he’s trying to help me, you know move on and all that.”
“That sounds like Keefe. He’s thoughtful like that.”
Sophie smirked and raised an eyebrow. “Is that what you call it? He’s an instigator.”
Liam chuckled, shaking his head. Yes, Keefe was most surely an instigator if ever there was one. “Well, I’m glad he called me, regardless. It’s been too long.”
Sophie looked him in the eye and smiled softly. The sound of Liam’s laughter brought back a thousand memories all at once. Yes, yes it had been too long.
Before heading back downstairs, she took the opportunity to apologize while they were still alone. “Liam, I’m sorry I didn’t call you back.”
He studied her for a moment before offering a small smile. “It’s all right, Soph. I understand.”
Once Sophie finished the grand tour, which wasn’t really all that grand because not everywhere was safe, they returned to the dining room where Keefe was seated at a fully laid table of food and a fresh pot of his special coffee, thumbing through a catalogue and marking pages.
Sophie invited Liam to sit down, and she poured them all a cup of coffee. She mused to herself that it was a miracle Keefe had found three coffee cups that weren’t shattered. Then she sat down.
“Keefe, want to put that catalogue away now or do I need to bash you with that too?”
Keefe didn’t close it but he got up from the table and laid it on the bar for safekeeping. “Did you tell Liam about refinishing the bar top?” he asked, returning to the table and slicing the strudel to serve.
“Is that what you do in your spare time? You restore furniture?” Liam asked before taking a sip of Keefe’s delicious coffee. He didn’t know what was in it but it really was the most delicious cup of coffee he’d ever had.
