Page 30 of Beneath Pearly Irish Skies
“No, they aren’t.”
“The community will rally around you and the center, and the St. Stephen’s Day fair will be successful, don’t worry,” Kade said. “You settle into that knowledge, and it will help.”
She reached for his hand, and happiness radiated through her as he curled his fingers around hers. Initiating contact had never been easy for her, and she never would have imagined doing something like that with Tyson. He’d…
She cut that thought off. She didn’t want to think about Tyson. She wanted to hold on to this feeling. With him.
“Okay, we have a plan,” she said. Nodding to the pitcher on the wedging table, she added, “And my favorite pitcher to use as inspiration.”
“The greens and blues are like the Irish hills,” Liam said, crossing to examine the pitcher. “I’ve never seen a glaze like this.”
“Neither have I,” Megan said, touching the run lines of the glaze. “The store had no information on the piece, and I couldn’t find the potter online from the signature on the bottom.”
Every potter had a signature, even if it was a symbol. The mark of the individual was sealed in fire for all time. Megan had always loved that. Her signature had been a simple MN carved into the clay. At that time, she’d been Megan Newcastle—her maiden name. She needed to think about a new signature.
“Soon you’ll be making pieces as beautiful as this again and again,” Liam said, touching the exquisitely curved handle.
“God, I hope so.” As she heard voices in the hallway, her stomach flipped. “They’re here.”
Kade put a gentle hand on her lower back, something he often did when she got flustered. He could calm anyone with a mere touch. She’d seen him do it with upset or aggravated kids and also with animals. She took a deep breath and felt herself settle, as if all the tension was draining out of her.
When she looked up at Kade again, he was smiling at her like always. She’d never met anyone who smiled as much as he did.
“You’re going to do great,” he said, squeezing her hand before releasing it. “Be easy with yourself. It’s been ten years since you’ve had a class. Anyone would be nervous. But you’ll remember the way of it.”
She gave a brave smile as she tried to believe it.
“And we’ll be here for you,” Liam said, putting his arm around her sweetly and kissing her cheek. “Megan, this is going to be a grand adventure.”
“An adventure,” she repeated, liking the sound of that.
“Where will you be sitting?” Kade asked. “Liam and I thought we’d flank you for support if that’s okay with you.”
“I’ll be sitting in the center of the back aisle.”
“Perfect,” Kade said. “We’re happy to help you lift anything that’s heavy as well.”
“Thank you.”
She heard laughter in the hallway as well as the clip-clop of heels. Turning toward the door, she had to bite her lip to hold back a smile. Two young women dressed like they were headed out for a night on the town had walked in. She knew her only other female student by sight, so she surmised they were Sarah Roycrof and Hollie Meyler.
“Hiya, Liam,” called out one of them, a curly-haired brunette.
The other, a dyed blonde, called out his name as well, fluttering her fingers in a coy wave. She watched as Liam strolled over to speak with them, his pirate grin firmly in place.
She thought about Barry’s comment about guys showing up for pottery to meet women. It seemed it went both ways. She leaned close to Kade and whispered her suspicions.
He laughed softly. “Everyone loves Liam. Look,” he added, nodding to the door, “Eoghan is here, and he’s not wearing his streaking outfit.”
The older man had on faded brown pants and a threadbare jacket, which mostly came as a relief, although some rogue part of her wished he’d distract her students like he had with Angie’s first painting class months ago. “Hello, Eoghan.”
He lit up when she walked over to him. “Hello, Meg. I was planning on popping by your cottage to talk about the St. Stephen’s Day fair, but Bets and Donal told me to wait until after our first classes. Tragic turn, this mess, but don’t you worry. I’ve been doing some scheming already. We’ll put things to rights and then some.”
She almost hugged him. “I’ll be happy for your help.”
He patted her hand. “As will I with the pottery. Ah, it’s a grand night out for our first class. Not a breath of wind or rain despite how cloudy it’s been.”
“I almost wished you’d worn your boxing robe tonight, but you appear to be a serious student.”
