Page 30 of St. Lucia Escapades
“Hey, I’m not teasing. I think it’s great. It’s obvious how you talked about her last week and seeing you now that she makes you happy, then she’s got major points with me. You’re my big brother and I just want to see you happy.” Collen stated. “When am I going to meet her?”
“Actually, I suggested she and her folks, if they can, come out when mom’s here. On Sunday she’s telling her family about us and after she tells me how that goes, I’ll be calling up mom and dad and doing the same.” Cord answered.
“Sounds good. It’s been killing me not telling mom and dad. But you better tell them that you swore me to secrecy or I’m gonna kick your ass.” Collen threatened.
“I will.” Cord laughed.
Moira
Moira took a slow breath before she walked into her childhood home. Already she could hear her two nephews running through the house with Sean yelling at them to stop running. They were the first to see her. “Aunt Moira!”
“Hey Brian, Lucas.” Moira grinned, gathering the boys in a tight hug. “Giving yer da a hard time I see.”
“They bloody well are.” Sean grumbled, stepping into the entryway. He pulled Moira into a hug after she released the boys. “Welcome home deirfiúr bheag.”
Moira chuckled at Sean using Irish to call her little sister. “Thanks. And thank you again for the trip.”
“Me and Laura, along with Ma and Da were happy to do it. You deserved it after the last year.” Sean shrugged. “Ma and Laura are in the kitchen and Da is watching the Yankees play.”
Moira nodded. She and Sean walked into the living room where Kiernan was yelling at the umpire for a bad call. Chuckling, Moira dropped a kiss on his cheek and left her Da, brother and nephews to their game. Walking into the kitchen, she found Maureen and her sister-in-law working on dinner. Laura spotted Moira first and moved over to hug her tightly. Moira had loved Laura from day one and the two women were as close as she and Sean were.
“Mom told me you had a good time.” Laura said.
“Aye, I had a blast. Thank you for the trip. I already told Ma and Da they need to go next year after they retire.” Moira replied, slipping into a bar stool at the island.
“That’s what Sean and I said too.” Laura smiled.
“Will ye three let your Da and I ACTUALLY retire first.” Maureen complained good naturedly, causing Moira and Laura to laugh.
As Maureen and Laura finished up the stew, Moira sat there just keeping them company. Occasionally a yell would filter in from the living room causing Maureen and Laura to roll their eyes and Moira would giggle. Maureen and Laura didn’t follow sports of any kind too much, but Moira enjoyed baseball. Unlike her Da and brother however, she didn’t have a favorite team. Her Da was also a fan of football and soccer. When he was asked why soccer he would always say,“I’m Irish aren’t I?”
Half an hour later everyone was seated at the table. Moira fidgeted as she ate. She wanted to say something before they started eating but figured her Da and brother would take the news better if they had full bellies. She knew her mom and Laura would be on her side so long as she was happy, but Kiernan and Sean were always protective of her when it came to dating. Even now despite Moira being thirty-two years old. Dinner at the Donovan house was a lively affair. Brian and Lucas were filling Moira in on their last few weeks of school. Laura, who was a teacher, expressed her relief that another school year was finished.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love being a teacher, but sometimes high school kids can be a bit of a handful.” Laura chuckled.
“I’d never have the patience to be a teacher.” Moira grinned.
“I’m with Moira. I have a bloody hard time training grown men.” Sean added.
After Sean had left the Marines and he and Laura moved to Norfolk, he joined the Norfolk police department. Last year he had been promoted to instructor at the police academy. He loved it and the hours were more convenient with having two younger boys. Brian and Lucas were going into second and fourth. Sean said once both were in middle school, he might try for the Detective’s test and see what happened after that. Moira noticed that everyone seemed to be finished eating and decided now was the time.
“Um, I have something I want to tell all of ye.” Moira spoke up.
Maureen took one look at her daughter and turned to her grandsons. “Brian, Lucas, why donna you two go out back and play.”
“Yes grandma.” The boys answered, hopping up from the table and running outside.
Moira took a slow breath, “While I was in St. Lucia, I…well…I met someone.”
Kiernan’s eyes narrowed slightly, “You met someone?”
“Aye Da. We met that first day. His name is Cord O’Brien. He and his brother Collen, own and run seven bars in and around New York City.”
“He owns bars. Moira, you canna be serious.” Sean jumped in.
“Sean, Cord is a good man. He and I have a lot in common. He’s a complete gentleman. Cord is smart, funny, and not that it matters, he’s wealthy. His bars, O’Brien’s Tap, are remarkably successful. His Ma is a teacher and his Da is an architect.” Moira added
“He sounds like a nice young man.” Maureen said.
