Page 75 of Beneath Pearly Irish Skies
Chapter Nineteen
The timing of life sometimes annoyed the heck out of Bets.
She’d finally finished the application for the grant after receiving input from Angie and Donal, who both thought she’d aced it. She’d wanted to celebrate some to take her mind off the fact that Liam was spending his last night in their house now that the bulk of his possessions were situated in Summercrest Manor. Her son had suggested the two of them have dinner and a movie at the house for old times’ sake, and she’d looked forward to it. Instead, the arts center needed the help of the whole village to clean it up.
“I’d planned a lovely dinner for Liam’s last night,” she told Donal, putting extra force into her mopping as they cleaned the knitting room. “Dammit! We can’t catch a break.”
“You sent the grant application in—”
“I meant you and me. The electrician can’t get the doorbell to work—”
“I have something else coming,” he said, his voice grave. “I know it’s been a long haul with the electrician.”
“You’ve already spent a fortune!” she said, leaning against her mop. “Paddy MacFadden keeps trying to upgrade my electric box and the wiring, but that damn doorbell keeps blowing a fuse.”
“We’re so close, Bets,” Donal said. “I know this seems like a trial,mo ghrá, but we talked about the kind of sex we want, and by God, we’ll have it. Or I’m not Donal O’Dwyer.”
She was too tired to argue. Truth be told, she was too dejected. “Maybe we should just plan a trip to Paris. Make love there nonstop. Come back and forget we ever wanted anything different.”
He took her by the arms, his green eyes blazing with frustration. “No! I’m not giving you anything less than what we both want. If we can’t get the doorbell to work, I’m installing a car sensor. Anyone comes up the drive, we’ll be alerted. It’s low voltage. It should work. If it doesn’t, I’ll run an electric cord all the way from my house to yours if I have to.”
“Oh, Donal, I love you.” She put her head against his chest.
His arms came around her. “Neither of us is going to settle for less than we want or we’d have thrown ourselves at each other weeks ago, when Liam started to make himself scarce. A good boy, that one. You should keep your dinner with him, Bets. There are plenty of people who can clean tonight. Everyone knows he’s officially moving out tomorrow. No one would think less of you.”
Uncharacteristic tears filled her eyes. She felt pulled in two directions. “This is my center too, and these workshops belong to my cousins and good friend. But yes, it’s Liam’s last night.”
“You’ll never get that back, Bets,” he said, caressing her back. “Trust me. I still remember the last night my girls were in my house. It’s not the same once they leave. But you know that. With Wyatt and Rhys.”
Her tears finally spilled over. Her boys had told her this week they couldn’t come home for the holidays. The vineyard was too busy. The news had come as a disappointment since she hadn’t seen them in nearly a year. Would she see Liam less? He and his friends would spend more time together, living in the same house, and his dating life was always busy.
“You’re right. We should sneak away for our dinner.”
He lifted her chin. “You set all this away now. We’ll be making love soon,mo ghrá. To lift my spirits, I might pack my overnight bag when I get home. How does that strike you?”
She cupped his strong jaw, loving the feel of his five-o’clock shadow. “Make sure it’s a big bag. You’ll be staying for days, especially in the beginning.”
He kissed her soundly on the mouth. “A big bag? Bets O’Hanlon, all I need is a toothbrush and that book Nicola gave you. I plan to fill out the handy little position chart. Just preparing you for how it’s going to be.”
“I can’t wait,” she said, pulling him down for another kiss. “And soyouknow how it’s going to be, if we can’t get either the doorbell or that car sensor to work, I’m calling the quarry and having a lorry deliver an entire load of sand so I can block the entrance but good.”
His eyes danced. “Maybe we tell Paddy to eff off and call the quarry tomorrow. I’m tired of waiting too, Bets.”
She knew it. “Have I told you how much I appreciate your complete singlemindedness about this whole thing?”
He took her mop. “I always keep my eyes on the prize, and you, my love, are that and so much more. Now, go find your son and have a grand dinner. I’ll call on you in the morning.”
After kissing him, her heart filled with gratitude, she went off to find Liam. He was in the kiln room with Declan, both of them wearing protective gloves, picking out the ruined pots and placing them in a rubbish bin. The sight made Bets’ heart clutch.
“Liam.”
He turned, tears in his eyes. “It’s such a waste, Mum. Megan worked so hard for every piece.”
Declan looked up, a fierce frown on his face. “It shouldn’t have happened.”
“No, it shouldn’t have,” she said, coming over and touching Liam’s back. “But it’s done and she’ll make more. Liam, Donal encouraged me to come find you so we can have our dinner at the house tonight. I know it’s bad here—”
“There are plenty of people to clean up,” Declan said, propping his hands on his waist. “You two go.”
