Page 45 of An Angel's Share
I knowthat they can’t be far away. Marshall’s phone pings and he looks towards the house. Daddy, Dermot, Marshall, and I are all sat at the back of the house on the terrace. Another long hot day, and we’re in the cool shade, the sun fully traversed around the side of the house. The sun is not yet on its way down, but it won’t be long before it’s ducking behind the trees. We still need the umbrellas to give us some relief. The trees will give us more, but not for an hour or so yet.
Normally I love the heat, but with my extra mini heater on board, it’s hard work. I do love this time of day, though. The old house starts to cast shadows onto the patio stones, the light sandstone gleaming in the sunlight, changing colours constantly, gold to pink to orange. The gardens are wonderful this time of year, too. Full green, and flowers filling every bed. The lawns are striped like bowling greens. Palms mix with the flowers, the ever-dark green bushes highlighting the pinks, lilacs, yellows, and whites of theflowers. I make a mental note to make sure the gardeners know how amazing I think they are. Every year they take such good care of the grounds, showcasing them to the public right throughout the summer.
Marshall stands and straightens his jeans. “Midarlin’ is just about here. I’m going around the front to meet them, Aoife. Dermot are you coming? Seamus?” We all move to the front of the house where a Mercedes minivan and Range Rover come rolling up the drive.
We’re joined by Christy, who comes and stands next to me and away from Patrick, who follows her out. He frowns at her obvious move away. The children come and take her hands and mine. Mammy and Maggie come and stand next to Daddy, Dermot, and Marshall. We look like subjects awaiting the arrival of royalty.
First out of the van is Jonno, who grins at us all before saying, “Stand back, they’re going to be let loose.”
I wonder who, or what, is coming out of the van. My jaw hits the floor when he lifts out two of the most gorgeous little boys I have ever seen clad in matching shorts but different T-shirts, socks and sandals. Dark blond hair frames the faces of their daddy looking at me. But it’s the eyes that capture my attention. O’Clery eyes. Marshall's eyes, that look at us all, then lock onto Marshall.
They squeal in unison and trundle towards him, arms out, staggering like a pair of drunks. He grins and lowers himself to their level, opening his arms wide, and they run into them. He’s kissing them and they’re hugging him, talking, gabbling. I watch Marshall morph into Granda. I’ve never seen him look so happy.
Evie steps out of the van smiling, her driver picking up the baby seat with the baby still in it. I’ve obviously seenpictures of Evie, Jonno was always thrusting his phone at me with her picture on it. But in person, it’s a whole other thing.
It’s not just that she’s gorgeous—small, petite, long dark blonde hair—her eyes are the image of my Grams Dervla. And her aura. The incredible aura of serenity she gives off. It’s like a ray of sunshine on a grey day. You look up and bask in it. I feel the warmth of the sun as she smiles at me.
I can tell she’s pregnant, just, her tummy extending slightly outwards. The boys start up a racket as she moves towards Marshall with a look of love on her face. Marshall has tears in his eyes as he manoeuvres the twins and pulls her into a huge bear hug.
“Midarlin’, I have missed you.” His voice is soft, gentle.
“I know, Dad, me too. Glad to be here. It’s an amazing place. I can’t believe you grew up here.” She looks around at everyone, her smile getting wider and wider as she nods her hello at everyone.
The whole ensemble are stood staring at her. I think everyone, including my daddy and mammy, are blinded by how stunning she is, but also how similar her looks are to Dervla O’Clery.
Her eyes then search for me again. The grin she gives me brings tears to my eyes and I don’t know why.
She comes over and takes my hands. “Hi, you must be Aoife. I’ve heard so much about you.” She kisses my cheeks as she hangs onto my hands. Her eyes dip down infinitesimally, telegraphing she knows about the baby, she knows about Jonno and I.
“This is my dad, Seamus, and my mammy, Mae.”
I introduce the gawping onlookers. They’re still transfixed by her and the beautiful kids. Even the baby looks like she’s been kissed by the angels. Jet black curlyhair, and the bluest of eyes. I remember Xander having the same colouring, the baby looks like him.
“My cousin Patrick, his wife Christy, and their little ones, Ryan and Lara.”
The kids are hanging back as they stare at the little boys, who seem to talk in a mixture of Spanish and English.
“English,” Jonno tells them, and one of them clearly states ‘drink.’
“Their nanny, Valentina, is from Mexico, and they speak a lot of Spanish at home,” Evie explains to the avid onlookers as she points out Valentina, who is stood with the driver.
“Do you want to show them where they can get a drink?” Evie asks Ryan, who nods shyly.
“I’ll take them,” says Marshall, holding his hands out to the boys. They eagerly latch on to him, and then one of them holds onto Ryan's hand, smiling up at him. I nearly faint, the boy looks so much like Marshall when he smiles.
I hear my dad gasp, taking it all in. His face split into a massive grin. “Well brother, I can see I have a lot of catching up to do. I might need some lessons.” Marshall rolls his eyes as we all start to move towards the house.
Mammy has come out of her stupor and starts fussing over Evie, introducing Maggie as Evie picks the baby out of the carry cot, her chubby fists waving at everyone.
We decide to have dinner out on the terrace, as the evening sunshine is keeping the temperatures up and the nights are light. I try desperately to ignore him, but I can't. His voice drowns out all the others. He’s not even speaking loudly, but the chocolate tones are music to my ears.
My hormones simmering away, they hit overdrive when he takes little Rio from her mummy and is nursing the baby to sleep. My heart, that I’ve tried to harden towards him,melts like an ice cream in the sun. I see all the women practically drooling. And I can’t blame them. I don’t think there’s anything hotter than a glorious man holding a baby. I can practically hear eggs being popped out of ovaries, and I’m sure Maggie, who’s looking a bit unhinged, has gone through the menopause.
Evie and Valentina eventually take the little boys up to their beds, they’re drooping with fatigue but fighting it with all their might. Finally, Marshall calls a halt, and they give in and are taken off with lots of hugs and kisses. Sorley, ‘the youngest’ twin, hangs onto Jonno, kissing him.
The fact that the kids and the baby are so comfortable with him gives me a bit of a twinge of jealousy. I’m losing my mind, I can see how close the family are. I knew this from the conversations with her husbands and her son. But still, to see it makes me wonder if he really would have stayed. Would he actually give all this up, like he said he would? Or has he just spouted words to lull me in? Get me comfortable so I admit to something he thinks I’ve done. Trying to smoke out the traitor.
Well, I’m not his thief. And he’s not looking at me like he thinks I’m a thief. Far from it. He looks at me like I’m the best thing since sliced bread. God, he’s so cool, so calculating. I absolutely love it, as well as loathe it. His eyes seem to follow me around the table, in and out of the house. Every time I glance at him, he’s eyeing me. From polite smiles to full on desire. My neck is flushed, my skin heating up. Oh hell, I might not be bothered if he thinks I am a thief. I really might not care, I’m that brazen.
