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Sylvia giggled at her too-good-looking-for-his-own-good nephew’s affection and whispered in his ear that she wanted details later. Then she turned her attention to her fuming niece. “Come on inside, Sophie, love. I’ve got just the thing for you.” She took Sophie’s hand and gave it a reassuring pat. “I made your favorite!”
Sophie’s scowl turned into a smile. “Pork pie?” Aunt Sylvia made the flakiest crust and the most delectable pork pie.
“What else? Come on in, love. We’ll get some food in you and you’ll feel better. You’ve been working around the clock and I bet you haven’t eaten all day.”
Sylvia was right, of course. She was always right.
Sophie dropped her head back and said a little prayer, thanking God for Aunt Sylvia and her cooking come to save the day.
Keefe crept up behind his sister, wrapped her in a bear hug, and lifted her high, swinging her around while ignoring her protests to put her the hell down. “Not until you forgive me, sis.”
“Never!”
Keefe spun in circles, making her dizzy and giddy, and kept it up until she smiled. It worked every time.
Once the twins had made up, which they always did, Sylvia smiled and took Sophie by the arm. “Now let’s get you some pie, love.” Sylvia glanced back over her shoulder and winked at Keefe. “Don’t eat the brownies, though,” she whispered.
“Why not?” Sophie whispered back.
Sylvia mouthed the warning, “Sondra made them.”
Keefe and Sophie nodded in understanding. It had been a month since that fateful day of eating Sondra’s well-intended meal, and neither of them could so much as think about lasagna without feeling nauseous.
As they stepped into the kitchen, the twins were welcomed by the smell of home cooking, the warmth of a crackling fire, and the sounds of family. In the living room, Bootstrap played tug of war with Bitsy. It wasn’t really a war at all, seeing as Bootstrap was ten times the size of Bitsy, but Bootstrap seemed happy to play along.
Sondra and Darcie, who had Molly stretched out on her lap, were stretched out on the sofa with their feet up, laughing at the dogs. While Connor and Henry were placing the table leaves on the dining table so it would seat ten. Simon was in the kitchen guarding the food from Sondra.
After saying their hello’s to everyone, Keefe offered to help with the table while Sophie fetched the plates from the kitchen.
“Where’s Aunt Nan and Shamus?” Sophie asked as she stacked plates.
“Nan called and said they would be a bit late. Didn’t say why,” answered Henry as he pushed one end of the table together.
With the table leaves and chairs in place, Keefe no longer had a job. “What else can I do to help?” Keefe asked.
Connor looked at Sophie and Henry now laying the table and chatting away about the pub. “We’re all set, I think. We’re just waiting on Aunt Nan and Shamus. How about a drink?” Before heading to the kitchen with Keefe, Connor went to Darcie. He bent down and kissed the top of her head as his hands ran over her hair. “Acushla, are you comfortable? Can I get you anything?”
Darcie hesitated for a moment and couldn’t help but groan before answering. “Yes, I’m fine.” She rested her hands on her belly, tracing slow circles. “But I’m starving.” It had been a whole twenty minutes since she’d last eaten, and yet she was hungry again. Eating for three was exhausting.
“Are you all right, love? Are you in pain?”
“It’s nothing serious. It’s just if I’m not sitting here on the sofa, it’s over there on my chair or in our bed! And I’ve got two starving human beings kicking me every five minutes and using my ribs as monkey bars! I think I’m allowed to be a little sore, don’t you?” Almost as soon as the words flew out of her mouth, Darcie was more sorry than she could say. It wasn’t like her to take that tone. She knew it was her hormones, and Connor knew it was her hormones, but it didn’t make it any easier.
Connor chuckled, good and hard. “You’re sounding more Irish every day, you know that, love? Can I have a kiss now, or is it too soon?” He laid a hand over hers on her very pregnant belly.
Darcie giggled and blushed and tipped her head back for a lingering kiss from her adoring husband.
“I made brownies. I’ll get you one,” said Sondra, ducking out.
Darcie and Connor pulled apart with a mutual gasp. Those brownies had been secretly placed in the trash by Simon! “No need, Sondra, love. You stay here and take a load off. Can I bring you anything from the kitchen?”
Sondra asked for a glass of wine. Connor winked at Darcie then headed for the kitchen.
Once in the kitchen, Keefe told Connor to sit himself down and he would open the wine himself. “Hey, Momma! What’s cooking? Smells good!” Keefe teased, seeing as Simon was now wearing the yellow apron.
“Hey, Keefe, good to see you. I heard you and Sophie at it when you came in. What was that all about?”
“Oh, that. She was mad at me for calling Liam.”
