Page 88 of Beneath Pearly Irish Skies
He was right.
His mother was only the beginning, hugging her not once but three times before Killian showed up and welcomed her to the family. When Shannon arrived and said she’d closed the bookshop and left a note that they were off celebrating St. Kade’s engagement, Kade groaned. “The entire village is going to show up.”
His dad only patted him on the back and said, “Then we’d best go to the pub so everyone can congratulate you.”
And so they did.
Gavin poured them each a whiskey before hugging them both with so much enthusiasm that he lifted them off the floor.
Siobhan arrived with news that everyone in Caisleán had indeed closed their shops for the day so they might come to the pub to celebrate the merry occasion. Declan was one of the first to arrive, alongside Seamus Fitzgerald, who had closed the butcher shop and brought congratulatory steaks.
Megan couldn’t believe it, but as she watched the love and affection the people of Caisleán had for Kade, she understood. They knew this was a special moment too, and they wanted to share it with them.
Angie and Carrick arrived with Ollie, who perched on Kade’s knee at one of the tables as more people showed up to congratulate them. Liam let out a giant whoop when he arrived, swooping her up off the Brazen Donkey’s wooden floor, and Brady kissed her loudly on the cheek before doing the same to Kade.
Pints of creamy-headed stout and drams of whiskey were drunk. Ryan showed up with his mother and father to congratulate them again, and Megan was delighted to see Gavin enlist the Dublin bartender’s help in making Irish coffees and any other cocktails the villagers had in mind. She pushed her empty glass of whiskey away and took the first drink Ryan made in the bar, one of the Irish Old Fashioneds she’d enjoyed the night before.
Eoghan, her dear friend, grew so misty-eyed when he congratulated them that he had to pull a wrinkled white handkerchief from his pocket. She teared up too and then hugged the older man gently, feeling Kade’s hand warm and strong on her back.
Bets and Donal finally arrived, and Gavin called out a teasing remark about them not picking up their phones. The old Megan might have blushed, but she was happy for them. Her cousin kissed her on both cheeks, saying she was so glad she’d come to Ireland, and Donal embraced her warmly and ordered her another cocktail after finding out what she was drinking.
And then the party really got going.
Gavin put on some Irish music, and Ollie pulled her out of her chair for a dance. From Liam’s wink, she knew her cousin had suggested it, so of course she went over and danced with him next. Carrick took the following dance, and then Brady, followed by Declan. Eoghan showed her how to dance a proper Irish jig, and then Kade found her and showed her how downright sexy dancing a jig could be. He was full of surprises, her Kade. The crowd clapped as the patrons belted out songs and danced.
Like the Irish saying, it was a grand time.
They had dinner at the pub, a malty Guinness stew served with piping hot soda bread dotted with Irish butter. The meal was as delicious as the second Irish Old Fashioned in Megan’s hand.
Her heart felt like it was tied to a kite, flying high over Caisleán. Kade kept her tucked against his side, his chair pressed against hers all night. Exactly the way she liked it.
Angie and Carrick offered to take Ollie home with them, but she protested. He hadn’t been with her last night. Besides, that would be two nights in a row her sister and Carrick had taken Ollie, and she and Angie had agreed on more balance in their relationship.
Then Liam said he’d love to have a boy’s night with Ollie at Summercrest Manor, and the McGrath twins readily agreed. Her son cried out with joy, hugging them all.
She looked at her dear cousin and her smiling boy and said, “All right. Have a great time.” She knew people still talked about it being haunted, but she trusted Liam.
Kade leaned in and whispered, “Way to go, love.”
She laughed. Before, she’d taken herself so seriously as a mother, but her son had chafed at her rules for him, just as her soul had chafed at the restrictions she’d placed on herself. Their relationship had never been better, and all because she’d lightened up on both of them.
When the time came as it always did for the Lucky Charms to turn on Bon Jovi, she settled back and watched as her sister joined them. They danced to “It’s My Life,” and for the first time ever, Megan felt the words in her heart.
Itwasher life.
She was going to live it like she wanted to. With Ollie and Kade. In this beautiful community of Caisleán where she’d found herself.
Bets motioned an invitation for her to join them. Her heart warmed. She took a moment to ask herself if she wanted to dance with them in front of the crowd. She didn’t. But shedidwant to sing. Louder than she normally would have in the past. Kade’s arm came around her, as if he knew she’d made a decision, and she cuddled in closer.
When the evening came to a close, she savored the hugs of her new friends. The old Megan wouldn’t have been hugged, least of all liked. She’d been too cold. Too disapproving. Too worried about what everyone would think. She was so much happier now, and with love in her heart, she waved to her friends as they sent them off in Kade’s car with another classic Irish song.
Driving through the village with her fiancé, she already felt like a bride.
The sky was a mix of blacks and grays and a half moon, and the wind traced the land as if lulling it to sleep like a mother might her newborn baby.
She thought of the visons she’d had earlier, of their daughters, and smiled in the darkness.
Her world was complete.
Now she only had to finish the final preparations for St. Stephen’s Day, including firing up the kiln again.
This time she realized she had a new reason for wanting to run a successful event.
She wanted to express all the gratitude she felt for her new friends.
