Page 116 of Beneath Pearly Irish Skies
Brady laughed as his brother shot him another look, but he turned to Kade and dutifully nodded. “I’ll pull him back if he gets too close. Don’t worry. No accidents like Sinead on my watch.”
“Or at your wedding,” Declan responded.
“I know I can trust in you both,” Kade said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Declan, can you man the bar for a while? Brady and I have business outside.”
He turned to face his friend. “We do?”
Kade only gave him a mysterious smile. “Come outside with me for a moment.”
“You’re leaving your bride—the love of your life, whom you just exchanged vows with—to step outside with me?”
“Did you remember he owes you money from when we were kids?” Declan asked.
“You know I never bet,” Kade said with a laugh. “Besides, Megan’s mother has retired from the party and I feel better about taking a break for a moment. Let’s go. Oh, and leave your glass. Wouldn’t want you to drop it or anything.”
Why would he do that? He shared a puzzled look with his brother before following his friend out to Bets’ sleeping rose garden, which oddly smelled of oranges, just like he’d smelled at Kade’s a while back. Could his friend have a new cologne? Usually he would have teased him, but this was his wedding day. “You’re not going to hit me, are you?” he asked, mostly joking.
“I’ve never hit anything in my life, as you know,” Kade said, inhaling the cool night air. “Ah, it was a grand day, and I’m soon to be off with my beautiful bride. But you and I have business apparently before we go, according to someone. Are you ready for your surprise?”
He pointed to himself. “Me?This is your wedding, man. We’re obliged to giveyougifts.”
Kade rubbed his clean-shaven jaw, more dressed up than Brady had ever seen him before, in a fancy formal suit with an ascot tie. “I don’t know that I’d call her a gift per se, but she has been very sweet and helpful of late.”
A woman in a white dress materialized next to Kade. Brady would indeed have dropped his drink if he’d brought it out—he practically jumped out of his bones. “Jesus! Is that—”
“Sorcha?” Her smile was full of the same mischief she’d had in spades while alive. “Hello, Brady.”
“Saints preserve us!” He crossed himself. “Oh, I don’t know— I don’t want…”
“Stop your mumbling,” Sorcha ordered, crossing her arms. “If you weren’t ready to see me, you wouldn’t. It’s your time, man.”
He clutched his chest. “Am I going to die then? Tell me it will be quick and painless.”
Kade slapped him on the back. “You’re not going to die. You’re going to find your woman. Your love.”
His mouth dried up. “My love? Oh, Jesus, she’s not a spirit, is she? We Irish have too many tragic tales. I can’t take that kind of love.”
Sorcha’s laugh rolled out in the night. “A spirit? Oh, Brady, you and your imagination. No, she’s flesh and blood, I assure you. And you’re going to need some help coming together. I’m your help.”
His eyes widened as her dress rippled, and he heard himself utter a little cry some might mistake for a whimper. There wasn’t a trace of wind out. What the hell? “I’m going to faint or be sick. I’m not sure which.”
“You’re not.” Kade pounded him gently on the back. “Take a breath. Sorcha’s gotten Carrick and me married. Her track record is rock solid. Plus, she’s a friend.”
“She’s dead!” He winced when Sorcha cocked a brow. “No offense or anything. But I don’t usually see spirits. This shouldn’t be happening to me.”
“You’ll only see me for a brief time, Brady, so brace yourself for what’s ahead.”
Brace himself? She was out of her mind. Or her body? Maybe it came to the same thing.
Sorcha turned to Kade. “You’ll leave me alone with Brady as we come to terms. This will be the last you’ll see me, my friend. I wish you and Megan well. You know you can call me if you ever need help, but honestly you won’t. Your path with each other is lined with gold, as they say.”
Brady watched as the two shared a smile. The whiskey he’d been drinking roiled in his stomach.
Oh, Jesus, this was too much.
Kade put his hand to his heart and bowed like he’d taught Winston to do. “Thank you, Sorcha.Guh gir’uh d’eeuh uhn tah ort.”
His mind spun.May God put luck upon you?Could you say that to a ghost?
