Page 19 of Return
“Everyone?” asked Connor.
“Everyone,” replied Keefe and Simon together.
Connor raised his eyebrows in amusement at his notoriety then took a drink. “It’s your turn now, Keefe. When are you going to settle down?”
“Just as soon as I meet a woman my sister gets along with.”
“Good luck with that,” said Simon.
“Tell me about it. Every girl I’ve ever brought home Sophie’s called a slut, a bitch, or a skank.” Keefe sighed. In all fairness she had been right every time. When it came to women, he had terrible judgment. “I’d like to marry, maybe start a family but that won’t ever happen if Sophie doesn’t like her.”
Simon and Connor shared a look of amusement. There was no point in saying that Keefe should marry whomever he damn well chooses because he and Sophie were connected at the hip. All four would need to get along or it would never, not in a million years, work.
“So, has Shamus heard anything from his contacts about the mystery girl?” Simon asked, changing the subject.
Connor shook his head and sighed. “Not a word. We have nothing to go on except that the girl looks just like Cian’s twin sister.”
“And the mysterious wedding present,” Keefe added.
“And the present. I was thinking, was the painting signed? If so, we could trace the artist and maybe find some answers that way.”
Simon answered Connor’s question. “Rory O’Toole. We haven’t found a trace of who that is, though. We looked it up, and all we found was they have a series of prints for sale. Couldn’t find a picture or any personal information. Who knows if we’re looking for a woman or a man, even.”
“So, it’s a fake name.”
“Seems that way.”
“So, we’re no better off than we were before to solving this mystery.”
“Not a jot,” Connor said. Was it too much to ask that his wife give birth in peace? Why did things with Cian have to keep creeping up on them? As much as Connor would like to believe that the stranger in the photograph and the mysterious wedding present were nothing but harmless, his instincts said different. He wouldn’t let this go until they had answers. At the same time, though, he had Darcie to look after. She was his priority, so he needed to let Shamus and the rest of the family handle this one. Anyway, they certainly would not solve the mystery right now, so he might as well relax for a bit with his cousins.
“So, Keefe? What are you going to call the place?” asked Simon.
“O’Brians, of course. What else? We want it to be for the locals you know?”
“It’s a great location. Just out of the way enough that you won’t get too many tourists, not enough to worry over, anyway. They generally go around the ring on those tour buses in a day. I doubt they would stop.”
“That’s my thinking too. Let’s hope it’s true or Sophie will wring my neck. That was the only thing she never liked about working at the pub—the tourists. I don’t think we’ll get nearly as many here. Back home, the place was always packed with tourists.”
“Well, here’s to hoping.” Simon held up his bottle in a toast.
Keefe took a drink then said, “You know, your crew is the best.
“Speaking of tourists, why haven’t you taken Sondra on a proper honeymoon yet?” asked Keefe.
“She wants to be here when Darcie has the twins. She says we can go on a honeymoon anytime but her best friend will only give birth once.”
Connor nodded his head. Sondra was like a sister to him and he couldn’t have chosen a better friend for his wife.
“Besides, she would miss Connor too much.”
“Connor? But why?”
“Because she’s sick and twisted and loves busting my balls every chance she gets. I don’t mind. She’s like a sister to Darcie. And truth be told, she helps out a lot. I would miss her, too. I imagine—if given the chance.”
“Given the chance to do what?” asked Sondra as she entered the room.
“Connor was just saying he would love it if you would go away on a honeymoon so he could have the chance to miss having you around all the time. He doesn’t know what he’d do with himself.” Keefe, ever the instigator, couldn’t help himself.
